Ministry of Design reveals a self-designed workshop for a post-COVID world

Photography: Jovian Lim

In answer to the evolving demands of post-pandemic working, Singapore architecture and design studio Ministry of Design (MOD) has exchanged its former HQ of 13 years (an award-winning space known as the Bar Code office) for a new workshop just a third of the size. Despite its 95 sqm footprint, the contemporary all-white studio works hard, with as much as 60% of the concept now dedicated to face-to-face collaboration. As a self-designed base created both for and by employees, the aim of the MOD Workshop is to enable its architects and designers to work remotely with the help of integrated technology, but also to make their less frequent in-person interactions truly count.

Through a series of interlocking, three-dimensional metal scaffolding, the workshop is split into distinctive zones without feeling siloed or blocking the flow of natural light from its generous south and west facing windows. Keeping the workspaces flexible and agile, frosted polycarbonate and fluted glass screens not only contribute to a bright, contemporary feel, but can also be flipped into a horizontal plane and used for storage, display and occasional worktops when needed. Centred around a ‘war room’ table, staff can freely engage in creative collaboration and make use of an adjacent magnetic display wall, which is crafted from lengths of cable tray. This display wall enables a wide range of working styles and hands-on meetings, including material explorations, design discussions and formal presentations.

Aside from the collaborative zones tailored to creative brainstorming and internal meetings, the rest of the workshop is dedicated to hot desking and discussion areas, as well as a pantry, printing services and concealed storage to maximise the compact footprint. Another crucial element of the space is an extensive MOD material and artefact library, carefully constructed with display scaffolding to ensure products stay within easy reach and remain a constant source of design inspiration. The materials library occupies the full length of the workshop and acts as a perimeter around the central war table, above which hangs a customised adjustable lighting system for staff to conduct light simulations during the design process.