Ellie Administrative Office Design

Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University in Alexandria

Project idea

Project: Ellie Office — Siwa Oasis
Designer: Sama Mostafa Mohamed Elemam

Concept Overview
The design of Ellie’s office is a physical manifestation of the brand’s soul — rooted in authentic craftsmanship, natural textures, and a deep respect for the earth. As a pottery-based home accessories brand, Ellie celebrates the tactile beauty of clay, terracotta, and stone — and this office in the heart of Siwa Oasis becomes a seamless extension of that identity.

Design Philosophy
Inspired by the organic forms found in both pottery and desert landscapes, the entire office is composed of curved, flowing lines that mimic the fluidity of hand-sculpted vessels and wind-sculpted dunes. These organic geometries encourage calm movement and emotional connection within the workspace.

The space is not just a place of work — it's a creative sanctuary where nature and design coexist in harmony.


Material & Color Language
Materials: Every surface and element embraces natural materials — untreated wood, hand-crafted terracotta, raw natural stones, and textured clay plasters — creating a tactile, grounded environment.

Colors: A palette of earthy tones reflects the natural beauty of Siwa: warm sands, sun-baked clay, olive greens, and soft ochres, connecting interior life to the outside oasis.

Contextual Harmony
Being located in Siwa, the design pays homage to local traditions, indigenous techniques, and the land’s serene energy. The building doesn’t overpower its environment — it emerges from it. The interior layout is open and collaborative, encouraging natural light and ventilation while respecting sustainable practices.

Conclusion
This office is more than a workplace — it’s an extension of Ellie’s ethos: raw beauty, human touch, and conscious living. It offers a sensory experience where creativity is nourished by nature, and where the line between brand and space dissolves into one organic whole.

Project description

Spatial Zoning Description — Ellie Office Design

Location: Siwa Oasis
Design Intent: To reflect the organic nature of Ellie’s pottery-based identity through fluid spatial organization, natural materials, and harmonious zoning.



Flow & Spatial Organization
The office is thoughtfully zoned to follow curved, organic pathways, evoking the gentle flow of nature and hand-crafted pottery forms. The space is not strictly linear — instead, it unfolds like a journey, guiding movement naturally and softly from one function to another.



Zoning Breakdown

Reception & Arrival Zone
As you exit the elevator, you're welcomed into a central reception area, acting as the heart of the brand’s hospitality. This space introduces Ellie’s earthy color palette and tactile materials from the first step.

Executive Wing (Behind Reception)
Behind the reception lies the CEO's private office, designed with serenity and authority in mind. Adjacent to it is a dedicated meeting area, offering a quiet, professional setting for high-level discussions.

Administrative Wing (Left of Reception)
Turning left, you encounter the CEO’s secretary’s desk, followed by a calm, enclosed HR and internal meeting room, ideal for interviews and staff discussions.

Showroom Experience (Right of Reception)
To the right unfolds a sculptural showroom, a signature space for Ellie.

Organic stone platforms at varying natural heights display the brand’s signature pottery pieces like art in a landscape.

Behind the display, a double-height glass wall frames the natural beauty of Siwa — blending product and environment, inside and out.


Administrative Cluster (Adjacent to Showroom)
Next to the showroom sits the finance and accounting office, offering a grounded, focused space for critical operations.

Lounge & Social Core
At the heart of the office lies a coffee break and lounge area, designed to be both social and restorative. Natural textures, soft lighting, and curved furnishings make it an inspiring pause space.

Double-Height Marketing & Branding Room
In the middle of the layout, surrounded by curved lines, is a glass-enclosed, double-height space for the marketing and branding team. The room celebrates openness and transparency, with a creative energy enhanced by natural light and visual flow.

Designers' Studio
Moving deeper into the space, the designers’ room offers a semi-workshop setting:

Includes pottery wheels and materials tables for experimenting with new forms and textures.

Designed for both daily design work and creative workshops or collaboration.


Production & Operations Zone
Beside the design room lies the production and quality control room, allowing immediate transition from creative idea to material realization.

Open Office Pods
Adjacent are organically shaped open office pods for the web management and sales teams, designed to encourage flexible working, interaction, and digital collaboration.

Support & Privacy
The WC facilities are subtly tucked behind partition walls, directly behind the elevator core for central access and minimal disruption to the spatial flow.

Overall Circulation & Feel

All circulation flows organically, inspired by natural movement and pottery curves.

Walls, paths, and furniture avoid rigid lines, creating a calm, handcrafted experience.

The material palette — terracotta, clay, natural stones, and light wood — supports a sensory connection to nature, in tune with Siwa’s soul.

Technical information

Sustainability & Technical Integration

The Ellie Office is designed with a deep commitment to sustainability and environmental harmony, aligning with the brand’s core values rooted in nature and craftsmanship. Every element of the space reflects eco-conscious choices — from the use of natural, locally sourced materials like clay plasters, untreated wood, terracotta tiles, and raw stone surfaces, to the minimal use of synthetic finishes.

To ensure both aesthetic purity and functional efficiency, the entire office employs a raised flooring system that discreetly houses all drainage and service piping. This includes greywater lines, freshwater supply, and ventilation channels that serve the central WC, the CEO’s private washroom, and the coffee break/kitchenette area — without disrupting the organic flow or visual language of the design.

This invisible integration supports not only clean execution and future maintenance access, but also preserves the uninterrupted, organic curvature of the architecture. The result is a space that is technically smart, eco-responsible, and true to its natural design ethos.