architects of invention: silknet

‘silknet sales office’ by architects of invention, tbilisi, georgia all images courtesy of architects of invention

alongside the main avenue in the center of tbilisi, georgia is the ‘silknet sales office’, a retail space for an internet, telephone and television service company by london and tbilisi-based firm architects of invention. derived from an information transmitter, a central desk for communication between representatives and customers becomes the primary location for communication within the store. the focal element is formed with 70 layers of plywood sheets which have been CNC routed, painted and stacked in their specified order. undulating voids pass through the horse-shoe shaped working surface, creating a 3-dimensional swiss cheese effect.

circles of diverse sizes become a motif throughout the space, generating portals and protruding signs on the entry elevation along with an interior backlit partition with a digitized graphic and downlight diffusers. replacing typical square acoustical panels, french plastic translucent fabric is stretched across the ceiling and may be easily removed for ventilation maintenance. at night, a blue glow blankets the white surfaces exuding the brand’s trademark color to passersby.

view from the main avenue

entry elevation

entry facade is comprised of circular portals and protruding signs

view to the interior through the circular portal

interior at night

blue glow at night

transmitter desk at night

transmitter desk

entrance

interior view

interior view

(left) entry into circular desk (right) view from outside the desk

crevice of the desk

aerial view of crevice

edge detail

glass work surface

detail of plywood layers

floor plan / level 0

exploded axonometric

top view of desk

aerial view of desk

exploded axonometric

rendering

conceptual diagram

diagram of desk layers

wireframe model of desk

project info:

project: sales office interior
 status: built location: 22 chavchavadze av., tbilisi, georgia program: sales hall, ip tv viewing area, back office, kitchenette, wc
building area: 60m2 budget: 50.000 USD niko japaridze, gogiko sakvarelidze, eka kankava, kakha maisuradze, lasha barblishvili
general contractor: archtrade
engineering systems: gesko
reception desk:- switch ltd. 
lighting: modular lighting instruments photos: nakanimamasakhlisi photo lab client: silknet architects: architects of invention ltd. address: 22 chavchavadze av. 0179 tbilisi, georgia project managment: silknet general contractor: ‘archtrade’ contractor: ‘archtrade’ mep: ‘gesko’ facade: stainless steel, ‘archtrade’ suspended ceiling: gibsum board paint floor finishes: vinyl flooring (machine cut, hand assembled) wall finishes: saturated glass, mdf, corian reception table: switch ltd. furniture: vitra, arper furniture custom made: machine cut mdf layers, switch ltd. lighting: http://www.supermodular.com/ area: 60 кв. м construction period: 2011 г.