Balancing Work and Tranquility Brac International Headquarters
With changing generations, the working culture along with its surrounding environment is evolving. As employees’ lifestyles become more comfortable, there is a greater demand for modern work life and space. One such example is the newly renovated headquarters of BRAC International. The office on the 14th level of the BRAC Centre is an exception in itself. BRAC International is an international nonprofit organisation that works to empower individuals and communities affected by poverty, illiteracy, diseases, and social injustice. BRAC’s institutional expertise has successfully implemented programmes across 10 countries in Asia and Africa, impacting the lives of over 100 million people by adapting the models according to the context of the specific country. As an international nonprofit, BRAC International wanted to give a fresh look that reflected their cross-regional work as well as create a space that employees would feel proud to work in. Chinton Architects Ltd. implemented and executed the designing process, closely working with the Executive Director, Shameran Abed. The design draws heavily on BRAC’s values and their core brand DNA. The principal architects, Md Ishak Miah and Neeman Karim, along with the project architect Md Shakiful Islam Proshun and the team, designed a modern yet humble office space that draws heavily on earthy and nature-oriented office interior by using many leafy plants in the indoor office premise. There are also many beautiful photos of programme participants throughout the office to inspire the staff. “Our new contemporary office interior is one of the first of its kind in the BRAC building and several other floors have been inspired to implement similar design elements on theirs. As BRAC International staff, we feel proud of our office and enjoy working here, while welcoming our colleagues from country offices who also feel good to have such a modern and beautiful head office,” Tania Ashraf, Head of Strategy, shared with Ceramic Bangladesh. The eye-dragging view of the whole Banani and beyond is a very complimentary factor and helps the employees to release stress amidst working hours, not making them feel claustrophobic. The offices along the sides of the building are semi-frosted glass partitions with maps and skylines of major cities and countries where the organisation has a presence. The main meeting room features the Dhaka skyline. “We wanted to create a workspace where people feel inspired to come and work. We wanted our colleagues to feel proud about working with Brac International.” A few featured walls are dedicated to showcasing photos of programme participants. The four columns passing through the f loor showcase the organisation’s values – Integrity, Effectiveness, Innovation, and Inclusion. There are separate meeting rooms, which are interestingly named after the working regions. The big meeting room has clocks showing the timing of all the internationally affiliated countries. The office also has standing desks for employees to take breaks from long hours of sitting. Tania Ashraf added, “The lobby area has a collage of photographs from the f ield and reflects our DNA which is very much a part of our daily work. Every morning when we come to work, we feel inspired by seeing these images as soon we get out of the lift. We wanted to create a workspace where people feel inspired to come and work. We wanted our colleagues to feel proud about working with BRAC International. As all of us work very hard, it was important for us to create a beautiful space where we can be productive as well as remember our purpose. Authored by Rehnuma Tasnim Sheefa
Reminiscing the memories in new urbanscape SHERATON DHAKA, BANANI
Since the 90s, Sheraton has been one of the prominent names in the luxury scene of Dhaka city. Many of us have fond memories of weekend morning strolls and fun with parents near the poolside landscapes. As the city grew, so did the urbanscape, the economy, and hence a shift of luxury being more contemporary with the time. Sheraton Dhaka in a new location in Banani is an excellent example of the recall value of a brand. The interesting friction with the prior location is that the city dwellers are still getting familiar with and accepting the nostalgia within the new vertical opulence. The contemporary and trendy expression is a boon to the new generation of entrepreneurs and business enthusiasts, alongside the youth crowd. The location of Banani is in a merging mesh of formal and informal zones, may it be corporate offices with the big business companies or a hub for youth to hang out and collaborate. “The new business model of the brand is to connect these dots,” shared Md. Al Amin, Hotel Manager and In-charge of Sales and Marketing. He also added, “Sheraton’s slogan is ‘Where the World Comes Together’ and Sheraton is community which is about ‘We’ rather than ‘I’.” A premium hotel is not just about a beautiful architecture or posh interiors serving the brand value, but the services and how the functionality works. One of the basic guidelines for any hotel is to design the circulation and utility of the spaces. As we visually experience the front of the house and its ambiance, the back of the house provides smooth services subconsciously yielding ease. Since 2016 the 81 years old operating Sheraton Brand became a part of Marriott International. This shift has been an improved revamping session for the brand protocols. As per the brand guidelines, all the designs are executed. High-end and prominent local architectural consultants and a Singaporean design consultancy firm collaborated with the Marriott International design and management team for the execution process. The active participation and suggestion of the local owner, a seasoned hotelier, added value to the output. The hotel has a gourmet café called Toastina, a buffet restaurant and alfresco named The Garden Kitchen, On the Rocks -a whiskey bar, and a high-end Japanese restaurant, Yumi. One of the biggest column-less ballrooms in the city, spanning approximately 8000 square feet. A club Lounge for Club Room Guests and for top-tier Marriott Bonvoy members, a gym with the best city view, spa facilities, and many other support features of a modern and upscale hotel. Marriott International is specific about the arrangement as they achieved the class over the years. Everything is per the standards, from the washroom amenities, mattress, and bed linen to the kitchen layout and room sizes. The restaurant has all freshly imported ingredients to maintain the quality. The hotel is a no-smoking zone. Due to the new branding value of communal developments, the sitting arrangements are for a larger group of people. “Sheraton being a full-service hotel does not just limit itself to bed and breakfast, but rather the ambiance ambiance and overall experience of the service. Sheraton has one of the largest hotel footprints overall within the Marriott’s Brands. Sheraton considered as a flagship in the Dhaka is region,” shared Mr. Al Amin. In an Exclusive Interview with Daniel J Muhor General Manager, Sheraton Dhaka 1. As per the memories of the 80/90’s people and kids, luxury hotels meant the Pan Pacific Sonargaon (existing) and the Sheraton Dhaka, at the present premises of Intercontinental. That shift of nostalgia from a lawn-based architecture to an urban upraised scraper. How do you feel this change is appropriate? There are advantages and disadvantages. People are experiencing a positive shift, just at times struggling between the present and previous location, but still adaptive. For better reference, we are addressing it more emphasized as Sheraton Dhaka, Banani. People are responding to the recall value of the brand. As the land occupancy is getting concentrated in Dhaka city with land as such from Banani, one of the most expensive ones in the world, it is tough to plan the layout horizontally. The location shifted alongside the architectural style from horizontal to vertical planning. Having the fact of generating revenues, every square foot matters. If land such as in Banani gets used for urban landscaping and ground-level outdoor spaces, it would have been tough for the owner to generate revenues. But we have kept an open alfresco area that serves as an outdoor landscape, and at the top, the poolside area adds to it as well. And the panoramic views as you go up the floors add a new experience. Overall, we feel it is an urban retreat within the hassle and bustle of the city. 2. Most people are observing the contrast between Banani supermarket and a five-star rated hotel. How was the selection of the property made keeping such an interesting combination? Initially, the Banani supermarket was a worrying factor. But the existing structure has been a great fortune. The podium coverage that we have is approximately 44000 square feet. And there are lots of examples of shared land-use systems of commercial spaces worldwide. Many premium hotels are operating this way. The owner is investing to improve the ambiance to smudge the contrast. Hence, the supermarket is getting upgraded, increasing its value and the property value parallel. The lower few levels of the market are louvered from outside. The entrance is more decorated, providing a better experience for the people visiting the market. The roots are important too, and the addition of Sheraton will cocreate the landmark. The users need help to be educated about the usability of the facilities in a better way. 3. Hotel and their hospitality differ in many experiential and served ways. How Sheraton, Dhaka is planning to be exceptional in this developing range of upcoming hotels? The hotel’s one of the best-selling points is one of the biggest pillars less ballroom, in a busy
Delifrance’s baked items are made with flour from the Grands Moulins de Paris, a major French milling company operating since 1919. The recipes served follow the franchise standards, and the new recipes also get approved by Paris. Hence, the international-quality chefs bring to the table a range of savoury dishes alongside croissants and other finger foods.
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