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Office space: Radioheads : The Radioheads reception, which includes a kitchen and a bar, is where staff like to entertain clients after recording wraps for the day. Astrid centred the scheme around the company colour, orange. -
Office space: Radioheads : The unisex toilets downstairs tie in with the rest of the hip decor. -
Office space: Radioheads : Designer Astrid van der Heim added interest to the stairwell by making her own chandelier out of 32 different light fittings hung at varying heights. The 3D wallpaper brings a glamorous dynamic and anchors the space.
PHOTOS: Dook | PRODUCTION: Annemarie Meintjes & Klara van Wyngaarden | WORDS: Taryn Lamberti
Astrid van der Heim’s brief for doing up the new headquarters of Radioheads was to make it hip and reflective of the radio industry it serves.
Interior designer Astrid van der Heim’s brief for doing up the new Johannesburg headquarters of ad agency Radioheads was to make it hip and reflective of the radio industry it serves.
“It was a drab space – buttercup yellow walls with a dado rail,” says Astrid, describing the scene when she first saw the offices in Houghton Estate. Today it’s a designer environment decked out in the company colour – orange.
General Manager, Dicksy Ngqula, explains that Radioheads needed to expand into a bigger space. It also needed two new production studios to do voice-over recordings and live radio broadcasts. “Space was at a premium so we needed someone who could really help us make the most of it,” he says.
Unexpectedly calming
Astrid sought to create an uplifting environment and, although she used a strong colour, the effect is unexpectedly calming. That’s because there is no clutter and lots of storage space in which to tuck away untidy office paraphernalia. Even the files are colour co-ordinated in orange and grey.
“The energy levels have certainly been raised since we moved in and staff are taking pride in the space by keeping it clean and tidy,” says Dicksy.
The reception area includes a kitchen and bar, which makes it a sociable space for entertaining clients. The two recording studios open onto the foyer while a staircase leads to a boardroom and open-plan office upstairs.
The entire area has been wallpapered in a graphic print of deep-buttoned leather, providing a strong visual element that harks back to a time before modern soundproofing, when sound studios were padded.
A touch of glamour
Working within budget constraints, Astrid cleverly made her own chandelier to add glamour to the staircase. She bought 32 light fittings and had them installed at varying heights. The happy coincidence is that they look like glass microphones hanging upside down.
“Radio stations used to be very hip spaces with jocks and groupies. They were glamorous, and I tried to get back to that,” says Astrid.
Stylish Radioheads project manager, Phemelo Molefe, is totally at home in this überchic environment. Pointing to a series of black and white portraits of South African radio personalities, she explains that each employee was allowed to choose a personality to go on the wall. “I chose Alex Jay because I think he is really iconic,” she says.
“These guys spend eight, nine, sometimes 10 hours a day at work, so it was important for me to create an environment in which they would be comfortable,” concludes Astrid.
According to Dicksy, her designs have certainly had the desired effect.
• Astrid van der Heim: 072 799 0829, vdhinteriorsintcc@vodamail.co.za
