Early last year I received a trust that for me is very meaningful. A local government official asked me to design the interior of his office room in a government building in the district where I live. Not only as designer, he also trusted me to handle the construction work as the contractor. For someone like me who work in design and construction field, this kind of opportunity is always special. Without thinking too long, I went directly to meet him in his office so we could talk about what kind of space he wanted.
All image source ismy personal documentation
Our first meeting was quite interesting because we discussed many things about the room. He explained the atmosphere he wanted for his workspace. It should look formal and respectable, but at the same time not too expensive. Government offices usually have budget limitation, so the design must be smart, simple, and efficient. We talked about possible materials, color tone, furniture layout, and also how to make the room feel comfortable for working and receiving guests.
The next day I came back again, this time bringing measuring tools. Before making any design, understanding the existing condition of the room is very important. I measured the width, the length, the height of the ceiling, and also observed the position of windows and natural light entering the room. Sometimes small details like this can influence the final design more than people imagine.
My documentation when I took measurements of existing buildings
When I started the design process, I did not open the computer immediately. My first step was simply drawing lines on a sheet of paper. I always like to start with hand sketches because ideas flow more freely that way. I tried several compositions for the main desk, guest seating area, storage cabinets, and wall elements. Some sketches worked, some did not, so I kept adjusting the lines until the spatial balance started to feel right.
Drawing of the floor plan and view of the condition of the existing head office work space
After the layout pattern felt correct, then I began thinking about colors, materials, and lighting. Because the budget should remain reasonable, I had to choose materials that look elegant but still affordable. I considered using wood panels, neutral color palette, and warm lighting to create a professional but calm atmosphere. Cabinet placement was also important, because an office like this always needs many storage spaces for documents and official files.
And this is the result
After finishing the design concept, I started to translate it into technical drawings using AutoCAD. In this stage, there were several components that I decided to change. For example, the main entrance door which was previously planned as a UPVC sliding door, I changed it into a double leaf frameless tempered glass door to give a more open and elegant impression. I also replaced the lighting system with LED hanging lights to create a more modern atmosphere. In addition, I added LED strip lights between the WPC wall panels to give a soft indirect lighting effect.
Finally the design was ready and I presented it to him. I felt very happy when I saw his reaction. He looked enthusiastic and satisfied with the concept I proposed. For a designer, seeing a client appreciate the idea that started only from simple sketches on paper is always a rewarding moment.
Now I am still waiting for the contract signing for the construction stage. Hopefully everything will go smoothly so the design can soon become a real space, not only drawings on paper.
