workplace design

A leading visionary design firm known for its immersive concepts, Conduit Interior, has delivered a series of transformative projects for Bryte Insurance across three major centres in South Africa, with its head office in Rosebank being the most recent. Founder and director, Grant Johnson, and his expert team have showcased their expertise in creating innovative and functional workspaces that prioritise employee well-being and organisational success. 

Moving with change 

When addressing the in-depth process of Conduit Interior’s approach and vision for the office spaces, Johnson highlighted the evolution of Bryte’s workplace needs in response to the changing dynamics brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic, emphasising a new hybrid working policy and a focus on employee wellness. 

 Johnson says: “Bryte’s workplaces needed to support its new hybrid work policy. Globally, research has shown that the top three things that employees want from the office are all productivity related: To collaborate with others effectively, easier access to tools and resources, and the ability to focus. 

“With this in mind, smart space optimisation and dynamic space planning are necessities – the space needs to effectively evolve with the business requirements. So we had to keep this at the fore when we started to design their nationwide offices whilst still considering what each space would allow us to achieve.” 

workplace design

Each location features vibrant cafes that serve as social hubs within the office spaces. Shown: Bryte Café, Johannesburg.

Individualised spaces  

Even though it was the same client going into multiple buildings, Johnson was determined to create a unique look and feel for each location, while maintaining the same flavour throughout. “Upon entering any of their locations, we wanted it to be immediately obvious that you’re walking into a Bryte environment, but with each office tailored to suit the location.”  

For example the Gauteng head office is corporate and mature, with a very sophisticated palette, whereas the Umhlanga office being near the ocean is colourful and playful. However there is the common thread of warm welcoming materials, clean elegant lighting and carefully considered layouts. “We believe there is no one size fits all approach, and this applies not only to different clients, but also to the same client in different locations,” confirms Johnson. 

User-centric 

workplace design

The reception areas contrast the warmth and richness of expansive timber with a slick composite reception desk. Shown: The Bryte reception area in Cape Town.

One of Conduit Interior’s key design philosophies is to put the client at the centre of the project design. Johnson elaborates: “We don’t copy-paste our own aesthetic stamp onto our clients at the detriment to their brand identity and functionality. Instead we aim to remain agile and flexible in our design thinking, placing out client at the core and designing an environment around them that is 100% specifically tailored to suit their needs, both in terms of visual outcomes as well as ultimate practicality.” 

With a team of 800 making use of Bryte’s offices, it was critical that all of Bryte’s operational needs were not only met but exceeded. Conduit Interiors achieves this by getting to know and their needs intimately, by means of bottom up surveys and interviews across all levels of staff. “We then measured success against the flows and usability of each completed space. This approach is applied to all our clients,” he affirms. 

On brand  

The selection of colours, materials and textures also played a crucial role in achieving the desired aesthetic for the Bryte office spaces. Leveraging Bryte’s well-established brand identity, Conduit Interior expertly created inviting reception areas and collaborative workspaces that seamlessly integrated with the company’s ethos. The workspace is designed to encourage behaviours that are consistent with the brand. 

workplace design

Inviting and welcoming furniture pieces and fabrics in the guest waiting area. Shown: The Bryte reception area in Durban.

“Bryte has a beautiful, well-established brand identify, and this was an excellent starting point for us to interpret and build on. It lends itself perfectly to the multilayering of finishes and textures, which is right up our alley. In each of the reception areas, for example, we were able to contrast the warmth and richness of expansive timber against a slick composite reception desk, coupled with inviting and welcoming furniture pieces and fabrics in the guest waiting area.” 

 “Bryte’s ‘Partnership Seal’ was an excellent asset in our designs since we were able to interpret it in multiple ways. Ranging from the formal reception sign to a town hall bench seat, to a triple volume installation,” says Johnson. 

Design features 

For each of the Bryte Insurance projects completed over the course of the last decade, the standout design features include the striking receptions and vibrant cafes that serve as social hubs within the office spaces. 

Reflecting on the projects, Johnson reiterated: “Conduit Interior’s design philosophy starts with placing the client at the core of the design process. By tailoring each environment to suit the client’s specific needs and brand identity, we ensure that every space is a true reflection of the client’s vision and functionality requirements.” 

 As Conduit Interior continues to push the boundaries of workplace design and innovation, the Bryte Insurance office projects stand as a testament to their commitment to excellence and client-centric approach. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for creating inspiring workspaces, these spaces have set a new standard for interior design in the corporate sector. 

 

Design that promotes culture, social interactions and productivity within the workplace, and encourages behaviours that are consistent with the brand. 

 

For more information, contact Conduit Interior: 

Tel: +27 82 700 0649 

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