Project/Client: Hodara Property Management Office

Address: 468 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA 02215 USA

Task: Design and Build New Office Space

PROJECT SCOPE:

Redesign of 850 sq. ft. empty space into a cohesive office space with a receptionist area, conference room, office and connecting hallway.

DESIGN ELEMENTS:

Industrial design

A high-energy urban industrial design was the perfect look for Hodara Property Management. They are a young and aggressive Real Estate firm in Boston and we wanted to convey that image. The basic elements we chose to employ was 1/2" polished plexiglas, exposed steel beams and exposed fasteners for a very machined look. The walls are juxtaposed to each other either by contrasting colors or angled walls that intersect each other.

Partition Walls

The partition walls became the focal=point for the whole design. The whole design is actually a shell within the confines of the original large room. We took the position that these partition walls could perform independently. We angled the main wall to gain some more square footage in the Conference Room which by default gave the newly created hallway a very dramatic look. Another wall which is perpendicular to the main wall is also angled up towards the ceiling. This perpendicular wall intersects the main wall by protruding through it. To maintain sight-lines and maintain airflow we made all the partition walls 3/4 height. The wall in front is plexiglas which shows off the Conference Room.

Color Palette

The color palette is a high-octane mix of gray and orange. The existing walls we painted a light gray while the new walls we painted a dark gray and orange. Along with the plexiglas and exposed steel beams this color scheme makes a bold statement.

Office Doors

For the two new office doors, we chose to custom design and custom build them. We wanted Hodara to have a truly unique piece that could be found nowhere other than in their office. We wanted to balance the austerity of the industrial design with some material that is both contemporary and elegant. Our design ended up being a solid wood door hollowed out and fitted with a frosted plexiglas inset finished with vertical and horizontal strips of wood. In reality this is somewhat of a throwback to the great era of Art Deco design. These doors are a truly unique design element that fits beautifully into the whole design scheme.

Lighting

In keeping with the whole design concept we chose brushed aluminum monorail lighting that spans both the Conference Room and the office. This serves two purposes, (1) it provides necessary lighting to both spaces and (2) it visually connects the two spaces.

Media Wall

Hodara Property Management has been fortunate and successful enough to attract a fair amount of local and national media attention. They had already wisely framed all the articles but had nowhere to display them. The hall that we created with the angled main wall immediately proved to be the ideal place to display the media. The display has an almost art gallery appeal that is quite commanding.

Branding and Signage

The crowning jewel of the whole office is the sandblasted 2' x 3' glass sign with Hodara's logo. We wanted this office to have strong identity and branding so anyone who walked in would immediately know they had arrived at Hodara Property Investments. This is a strong and elegant piece that is center stage. The choice of materials is so appropriate as it matches beautifully with the plexiglas and steel. This is an absolute piece of art that is both dramatic and stunning.