Champaklal Estate bang next to the Sion Telephone Exchange, doesn't exactly qualify as a 'with-it' destination.
On a rainy evening in June, workers are unloading tin sheets with an appropriate amount of noise at the main gate, even as a family of four sits at the threshold to a rundown garage on the premises, reading the paper and chatting. They are dressed in their pyjamas, as rain lashes the ground strewn with leaves and muck. Inspiring? Hardly.

Walk into the Eternity Lifestyles office on the first floor of this very ordinary looking building though, and the dry, industrial fa ade makes way for a funky-looking office that's completely out of sync with everything; the watery staircase lined with gunny bag and soot remnants that led to it, included.

For starters, the floor mat, not the wall in front of you, screams the name of the company. Step in, and you are greeted by glass fa ades that carry funky graphics of men and women wearing sunglasses, smart wisecracks, and a profusion of colour.

Hardly what you'd expect to find in the office of an eyewear marketing firm.

But that's the point. As Ronak Sheth, director, Eternity Lifestyles puts it, "I wanted an active office environment that gave people the opportunity to enjoy what they do. A few months ago, we rebranded the office and roped in Red Lion (a design firm located at Lower Parel) to come up with an interiors plan that would reflect our philosophy, and make the workspace fun."

He is not the only one. As employers struggle to retain staff in the face of an expanding job market, they are discovering that an employee-friendly environment is just one way to keep employees satisfied, and up productivity.

An employee-friendly environment in 2011 includes everything from a minimalist approach to space utilisation, the use of colours and graphics to convey the brand philosophy, to a sharp emphasis on comfort since most employees spend between eight to 10 hours at work.

Corporate interiors, therefore, are going from housing functional cubicles and conference rooms to spaces where personal expression is encouraged. Hierarchy is making way for a more linear structure that is, in turn, expressed through an open plan officeu00a0 and the use of natural light.

We take a look at some of the coolest corporate offices in the city, unique for their attempt to straddle creativity and corporate jargon, to make a lackluster location into an inspiring one, and just for pure, sheer, creative and technical brilliance, among others.

Mumbai, Wadhwa developers
Real estate firm
Look out for: An egg-shaped
Building that balances at an angle



This structure deserves a mention purely because of its never-before-seen, futuristic design. The landscape of Bandra Kurla Complex will change forever when this iconic building, commissioned by the Wadhwa Developers and conceived by James Law Cybertecture International and Ove Arup, comes up in a year from now.

Although under wraps because of ongoing changes in the site of the building, the Cybertecture Egg is already being spoken about as one of the landmark building of the 21st century.

Over email, Kevin Lo, assistant marketing manager, James Law Cybertecture International, tells us what 'cybertecture' means. "Cybertecture forges architectural design into digital and telecommunication information systems. It comprehensively enhances the use of building materials, interior products hardware and multimedia software within an architectural design."

What this refers to is the integration of high-end computer-controlled technology into a futuristic architectural design, a concept pioneered by James Law in 2001, Lo says.

Slated to come up in the middle of Mumbai's emerging business district, which is at present populated by skyscrapers built using the existing construction methods of 20th century, The Cybertecture Egg is envisioned as an egg-shaped building that will enable the use of less surface material to achieve spatial volume for its inhabitants.

"The Cybertecture Egg challenges the norm that a building can be supported only using traditional beams and columns. It relies on sheer exterior fa ade strength to support itself," Lo explains.

Symbolic of a planet, the Cybertecture Egg will stretch into 33,000 sq. metre of office space stacked in 13 stories.

"The Egg is further orientated and skewed at an angle to create both, a strong visual language as well as alleviate the solar gain of the building. By using the egg shape, over a conventional building shape with angles, this building will use approximately 10 per cent to 20 per cent less surface area," Lo adds.

Mumbai, Sony music
Audio company
Look out for: The terrace that doubles up as a live performance venue, and Hunter Douglas acoustic panels that absorb sound

In the case of the Sony Music office on Linking Road at Santacruz, the challenge was to create an environment that would appeal to artistes who walked through the office's glass doors, as well as allow for a professional feel that was in sync with professionals who managed the careers of creative minds.

As Ayaz Basrai, of Bandra-based design studio The Busride, who did the interiors, says, "The brief we had was to create a space that would be welcoming for a Kailash Kher, but also conveyed that this was a serious, international brand that manages the careers of major international faces and artistes." The result, therefore, is a space that merges furniture in soft wooden hues with walls lined with funky CD covers of Christina Aguilera and Kesha. These are changedu00a0 frequently. Cubicles too have made way for semi-individual workstations separated by a low board.

Arjun Sankalia, director, international music and special products, says, "The use of white across the office lends it a sense of space as well as a certain softness, while the murals give it a touch of colour and funk."
This is in sharp contrast to the earlier office located in a dreary basement just down the road. "This office has also been designed so that it lets in natural light, which makes it a welcoming place to work out of. We can literally feel the positive energy that comes with the addition of sunlight and great design," he says.

The entrance to the office, therefore, is called the Pipe, in an attempt to recreate the tunnel in the centre of a crashing wave as you surf.

The best part, however, is the terrace, which doubles up as a live music venue. "It's call the Tank because it's where we get tanked!" Sankalia laughs.

Pune, Tain
Real estate firm
Look out for: classic black and white portraits that line the walls. The monochromes are also reflected in employee uniforms