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It is fitting, of course, that the new offices of The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi are inspired by the topography of the United Arab Emirates. The sabkha, or salt flats, that line the coast; the dominant desert landscape; the mountainous terrain that snakes along the Omani border; the dunes of the Empty Quarter; and the islands that hug the coastline; all had an influence on this interior design scheme.

RW Armstrong, a US-headquartered architectural, engineering, project management, planning and design consultancy with a presence in Abu Dhabi, was responsible for the interiors of the three-storey office. “The project brief was for 12,000m² of office space that would house the entire Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi.

“The agency was interested in a design that reflected its values and that showcased the UAE’s environment, but was also sustainable,” explained Mona Salem, senior associate and programmes director, RW Armstrong.

The Environment Agency is a govern-mental body that was established in 1996 to protect and manage biodiversity, create a clean environment and promote sustainable development in Abu Dhabi. “We are also committed to giving environmental protection, regulation and natural resources conservation a high priority on the national agenda. We provide a direction for government, business and the community to build environmental considerations into the way they plan and live, without compromising Abu Dhabi’s development,” says the agency’s mission statement.

As a highly prominent entity, the Environment Agency receives a high number of dignitaries from around the world, Salem explained. Furthermore, the offices are located in Abu Dhabi’s prestigious Al Mamoura Building, which presented an additional incentive to get the design absolutely right. Home to the Mubadala Development Company headquarters, Abu Dhabi’s Urban Planning Council, The Council of Economic Development, the Emirates Foundation and various other high-profile inhabitants, the Al Mamoura building is no stranger to good interior design, Salem pointed out.

“What we did initially is we developed a concept that was based on the environment of the UAE. There are, I think, seven different environments in the UAE so, for example, we looked at the dune environment, the marine environment, the sabkha environment, the wadi environment, and we looked at the desert. We looked at all these different environments, at the colours, the textures, the type of animals and wildlife, the patterns, and incorporated those influences into the interior de-sign,” Salem detailed.

RW Armstrong introduced two distinct themes on each of the office’s three floors. Each theme was characterised by a specific set of forms, textures and colour schemes, which shaped the flooring, ceilings, façade and furniture.

Throughout the design, the focus was very much on sustainability. “The office has a luxurious feel, but it’s still sustainable. That’s a tough balance to strike but we believe that we accomplished that. We used a lot of recycled materials, environmentally-friendly materials, and materials with a low carbon imprint,” Salem said.

“Most of the materials were sourced locally or from a nearby source. Electrical consumption and MEP systems were a major focus and we introduced intelligent lighting and intelligent security systems. We also did a lot of customisation when it came to furniture and artwork.”

But while sustainability was a primary concern, it was equally important to create an intelligent space that facilitated the agency’s work flow and promoted progressive working principles. “We put in a RPX digital conference room, which is the first of its kind in this region,” Salem said. “We are very very proud of it.

“We spent a significant amount of time with the agency, developing the space programme. There are a total of 270 work stations. We took the structural hierarchy of the organisation and looked at having the majority of the staff occupying open workstations. Even the enclosed offices have sheer doors and sheer partitions to allow natural light to seep through and fl od the rest of the space.”

In this, and many other ways, the new office is strictly in keeping with current trends in workplace design, Salem pointed out. “The main trend in office design right now is sustainability. Use of technology is very important too – being able to plug in anywhere, not being limited and not having wires all over the place.

“IT is playing a major role in high-end commercial offices and conference spaces. Minimising bulk is also important, so there is a trend towards lightweight, modular furniture that can be assembled and moved around, and materials that are lightweight. Being able to use spaces for multiple functions is also popular.

”All in all, the Environment Agency project took nine months to complete, a time scale that presented significant challenges, given the size of the space. “The schedule was the greatest challenge. The agency was moving and had to vacate its old premises. They had to move into a temporary space and were very anxious to move into their new offices,” said Salem.

In spite – or perhaps because – of this, the project was particularly re-warding, Salem noted. “It was a fun job to do. It turned out very nicely and was well worth the headaches caused by the tight schedule,” she said.

“It’s a project that we are extremely proud of, for many reasons, but mainly because of the sustainability angle; the client’s mission was very near and dear to our hearts so we were happy to be a part of the project, and hope to do many more like it.”