Roar fuses work and play at The Supreme Council for Motherhood & Childhood

Images: courtesy of Roar

Interior design and architecture studio Roar has designed the Abu Dhabi offices of UAE’s The Supreme Council for Motherhood & Childhood (SCMC), an organisation that aims to promote welfare and development for all mothers and children in the region. 

Spanning across three levels, the brief was to create a comfortable and functional workspace to complement the existing headquarters of the General Women’s Union built on the adjacent plot – a welcoming and purposeful environment designed for both adults and children, that could accommodate SCMC’s current team and any future expansion.

The ground floor reception area has been designed to mimic a traditional Emirati outdoor courtyard, with the incorporation of arches and seating alcoves combined with a green palette made up of soft ombre on the walls and biophilia. Meanwhile, the nursery space take cues from time-honoured Emirati craftsmanship manifested in a range of design components: the handmade sadu composition – a traditional weaving technique using palm leaves – is applied on the ceiling, and structures that nod to the local desert landscape are placed within the design. “We wanted the design narrative to subtly allude to different cultural elements from the region while drawing attention to the SCMC’s core mission: to foster innovation and creativity in the fields of motherhood and childhood,” says Pallavi Dean, founder and creative director of Roar.

The first floor is the main office space, featuring a series of seamless open offices, enclosed and translucent meeting rooms as well as a flowing library for research, reflection and relaxation. For Her Excellency’s Office situated on the second floor, Roar has introduced an elegance to the overall theme of playfulness by adding bespoke design elements and a more formal tone in this space.

Roar has imagined several design moments to allow for vertical and horizontal play including the Lego wall, the sadu teddy bear, and climbing walls with many pockets for exploration and play. “Here [in the office], the interiors remind the decision makers how their work impacts little people,” Dean adds. “This was done by infusing a playful energy across the three floors of the building, with each level offering a unique experience.” 

“A number of patterns and morphologies have been used throughout to create distinct pockets of functionality and pivotal moments within the space. The outcome is a workplace for education professionals to do their job – from deep, solo work to collaboration – but with a dynamic vibe.” The new SCMC offices were delivered in partnership with Summertown Interiors, a Dubai-based fit-out contractor specialising in sustainable interiors.