A good office or showroom starts with a clear brief: how many people, what you display and how customers move. Settle frontage, shading for glass façades, lighting, electrical load and parking before the drawings, because these are the expensive things to change later.
Start with the brief
- How many people work here today, and in five years?
- Which teams sit together, and who needs privacy?
- For a showroom: what is displayed, how large, and how do customers move through it?
- What storage, back-office and staff areas are needed?
Frontage, glass and heat
Showrooms want large glass fronts, but a glazed west or south façade in Kanpur or Lucknow turns into a heater in summer and floods the display with glare. Deep canopies, fins or set-back glazing keep the frontage visible while cutting heat and reflections, and lower the air-conditioning load for the life of the building.
Lighting decides how products look
In a showroom, lighting is part of the display. Plan general light, accent light on products and daylight together, and fix fitting positions before the ceiling is designed. In offices, aim for even daylight at desks and avoid screens facing windows.
Services to settle early
| Service | Decide before drawings |
|---|---|
| Electrical | Total load, backup power, socket and data positions |
| Air-conditioning | System type, outdoor unit space, duct routes |
| Plumbing | Toilet and pantry positions, water storage |
| Parking and access | Customer and staff parking, loading, step-free entry |
Commercial buildings also need fire safety provisions, and larger ones a fire NOC, before approval. Check the requirements for your building's size and use with the development authority early.
Design fees
Space Designers' indicative design fees are ₹150 per sq ft for offices, ₹140 for showrooms and ₹280 for corporate buildings, per square foot of built area, with architecture and interiors designed together.
Common questions
- Should the same firm design the building and the interiors?
- It helps. One team coordinates the structure, services, ceilings, lighting and furniture, so fewer things clash on site.
- How much does it cost to design a showroom?
- Space Designers' indicative design fee for showrooms is ₹140 per sq ft of built area, confirmed in a written proposal.
Planning a home?
Space Designers has designed homes and interiors across Kanpur, Lucknow, Jhansi and Uttar Pradesh since 1996. Tell us about your plot and brief.
