Starting from a shell-and-core unit with no existing infrastructure, Motif’s team delivered the complete design concept, technical documentation, MEP coordination, full fit-out and furniture package across 22,000 square feet. It is one of the studio’s most comprehensive mandates to date, and the result is a workspace that competes as much on atmosphere as it does on functionality.

Centrum already operated a business centre in Dubai. For Abu Dhabi, the ambition was to go further. The client’s vision was to launch a new branch at Reem Mall, one of the UAE capital’s most active retail and lifestyle destinations, and following several workshops and collaborative sessions, a concept was agreed and the brief was set.

“When we started designing the space, the goal was clear from the client’s brief: to create a productive workspace that would attract companies and professionals to work from here,” says Charlie Speechley, VP sales at Motif Interiors. “The design has to draw people in. The look and feel of the space has to be really attractive to prospective tenants.”

The brief called for a full spectrum of workspace typologies reflecting how professionals actually work today: a relaxed café zone at the entrance, open hot desks and shared workstations, acoustic phone booths for focused calls, private offices for companies needing dedicated space, and formal boardrooms in two configurations.

Following collaborative workshops with Centrum, Motif Interiors settled on a concept rooted in Japanese design principles, a deliberate counterpoint to the glass and steel aesthetic that dominates the region’s coworking landscape.

The signature piece is a monumental mural installed across the main lounge feature wall. Dark walnut panelling, curved archways, fluted wall treatments and curated shelving build architectural depth throughout, while cognac leather seating and marble surfaces bring material warmth to the workstations and social zones.

“We introduced several key design elements, the arches and the customised wallpapers, and brought them together to create a strong visual identity and give Centrum its own statement within the space,” explains Rita Estephan, Chief Operating Officer at Motif Interiors. “The overall intention was to create a space that feels refined, welcoming, productive and unique to Centrum.”

Sultan Holding, part of the group behind Centrum, also operates a marble supplier, and Motif’s designers were given access to an exceptional stone selection. The result is striking white-and-green marble countertops at the café bar and reception desk, features that establish the quality of the space from the moment a visitor arrives.

Lighting became both a technical and experiential priority. The unit’s depth and layout meant natural light was limited throughout. Motif responded with stretch ceiling lighting across the café, the bar area and within the phone booths, calibrated to replicate the quality of natural light and sustain a warm, comfortable ambience across the workspace.

Space planning presented an additional layer of complexity. As a licensed business centre, Centrum is subject to Abu Dhabi Municipality regulations governing minimum square metreage per cabin, desk counts and spatial configurations. Motif’s team developed a layout that satisfied all regulatory requirements while preserving the intuitive circulation and atmosphere that the space needed to function as a premium environment.

“It was a bit of a jigsaw to fit everything in,” Estephan says. “You still need the space to flow nicely, corridors at the correct width, but also hit the required numbers. That was probably one of the biggest space planning challenges on the project. The client was very supportive throughout these circumstances, and together we managed to overcome the challenges successfully,” she shares.

Photography by Intelier

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Designed by Sneha Divias Atelier, the project responds to a brief that demanded more than a conventional playroom. The client sought a space that could inspire creativity and independence in children while offering comfort, reassurance and visibility for parents. Durable, hygienic and safe, yet emotionally intelligent, Titter Totter was envisioned as a sanctuary where play, discovery and rest could coexist seamlessly. Rather than adopting themed graphics or cartoon references, the design embraces a measured, almost civic approach. Architecture itself becomes the primary tool for engagement, learning and exploration. Montessori-inspired principles inform the layout, privileging independence, sensory awareness and self-directed movement. The result is an interior that feels calm, intuitive and quietly engaging – an environment that allows children to author their own experiences rather than respond to pre-scripted ones.

A restrained palette of light oak, terracotta accents and moss-green details establishes warmth and continuity throughout. Curves dominate the spatial language: arches, rounded walls and carved-out niches soften the interior and cultivate a sense of safety and approachability. The architecture avoids rigid zoning, instead unfolding as a sequence of interconnected spaces that follow the natural rhythm of a child’s day.

Active areas – climbing structures, padded ramps and a marble-run wall – are deliberately balanced with quieter moments. Reading pods offer retreat, while a workshop room supports art-making and storytelling. Movement is carefully choreographed: bursts of energy give way to pause, encouraging children to navigate intuitively between stimulation and calm. The space remains open and legible, yet articulated through smaller niches that allow for both sociable play and private exploration.

“Children don’t need noise to be inspired,” says Sneha Divias. “Give them proportion, texture and light, and they will create the story themselves.” That philosophy underpins every decision. Rounded edges, tactile surfaces and furniture scaled precisely to young bodies encourage confidence and independence. Rather than directing behaviour, the space functions as a form of architectural pedagogy – where spatial fluency and aesthetic literacy are absorbed instinctively.

Titter Totter also rethinks the role of adults within children’s environments. Parents are not relegated to the margins but considered integral to the experience. Lounge seating in durable, refined finishes and built-in benches provide comfort without intrusion, while clear sightlines allow for supervision at a distance. Quiet corners support reading, light work or pause, transforming the venue into a shared family environment rather than a transactional drop-off point. Behind the project’s calm aesthetic lies a rigorous technical framework, executed with a level of precision more commonly associated with boutique hospitality interiors. Impact-absorbing floors, rounded radii, antimicrobial finishes and fire-rated upholstery ensure durability and safety without visual compromise. Acoustic treatments, concealed within ceiling clouds and upholstered panels, absorb excess noise so that even at peak times, the atmosphere remains composed rather than overwhelming.

Environmental systems further support sensory balance. Climate control and air purification maintain consistent comfort, while programmable lighting shifts subtly from energetic play to quieter storytelling sessions. These elements operate discreetly in the background, reinforcing the sense that every detail has been considered. Beyond its immediate function, Titter Totter reflects a broader cultural shift in the region. As Abu Dhabi continues to invest in family-focused infrastructure, there is growing recognition that children’s spaces deserve the same design intelligence as galleries, hotels and cultural institutions. This project treats young users as discerning occupants, capable of appreciating beauty, order and subtlety.

“Designing for children is designing for the future,” Divias reflects. “These are the spaces where first memories are formed.” Playful yet composed, tactile yet restrained, Titter Totter stands as a quiet counterpoint to visual excess – setting a new benchmark for how children’s environments might be conceived, with intention, care and enduring quality.

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