Unconventional to the core

Geetu Vaid

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Shorts and a T-shirt paired with flip flops as office gear, and a hammock under a tree or a lounge chair as work station are no longer unrealistic and bizarre as office space is getting redefined in the new millennium. With the focus being on innovation, creativity and productivity, the staid and stiff cubicles, corner offices and meeting rooms are fast giving way to more fluid and flexible work spaces. 

Set up in a quaint farmhouse in Chattarpur, this “office” of ScoopWhoop is an ideal example of the direction that new-age work spaces are taking.  

What started off as a conscious effort by the founders of this start-up to stay away from typical glass buildings in concrete jungles, has now turned into the ethos of India’s most exciting youth media platform for social news and entertainment. Set in the clean, green and serene location, this work space serves as  an oasis for young minds to think creatively and give their best output. The young team here has an average age of 24 and the office has been conceptualised to reflect this work-space vibe.  

ScoopWhoop started from an outhouse in a farmhouse which came at a monthly rent of Rs 15,000. “At this budget most, bootstrapped entrepreneurs would have had to decide between a one -room flat or a co-working space, to begin with, but we were lucky to find a nice little two room kitchen set in the farmhouse area of Vasant Kunj which clicked with us instantly”, says Sattvik Mishra, Co-founder and CEO, while travelling down the memory lane.

The early days, however, weren’t easy as the entire team of four was crammed into one of the two rooms in the outhouse. “We faced a lot of teething troubles like leaking ceiling and often non-functional washroom”, reminisces Mishra. “However, we had the most fun in this office and the team quickly grew from four to 15. That’s when the team moved into the main farmhouse from the outhouse”, he adds. 

Today the office is in almost 20,000 sq. ft area  with an open area of 10,000 sq. ft. 

One can see a lot of open workspace where people can jam with each other. There are no fixed seats for employees, however everyone’s found a spot in office which they can call their own. 

Special features

At ScoopWhoop one can often find team members ideating in outdoor spots, sitting on the grass and thinking of the next viral-worthy video or just taking a break from work to jump on the trampoline or play cricket/football.

The place has been designed to be functional and efficient as a Silicon Valley office, yet it is fun and easy-going as a college dorm. The place has an open-floor seating plan with warm and bright lighting. There are cool couches in the corner for naps, coffee counters, and an all-day cafeteria. 

There are also special facilities for four-legged friends (dogs), who serve as stress busters and gaming companions when needed. ScoopWhoop is  also passionate about animal rights and has created a safe space for many street animals, right inside its Delhi HQ.

This workplace is a unique blend of freshness, energy and unconventional set-up. The team is young and has no restrictions on what one can wear to work. One can see a lot of graffiti, exposed walls, and lounge chairs that reflect a young, vibrant, energetic and fun work culture.

Design vs productivity

An open office combined with several types of smaller meeting/ discussion rooms, cabins and lounges has created the perfect ambience for collaboration as well as private and quiet work. It's a very dynamic and happening place that  offers a huge growth opportunity in terms of cross-collaboration with teams. ”We have a very open culture at ScoopWhoop. An intern can walk into the CEO’s room to discuss ideas or team meetings can break out in any corner of the office. At ScoopWhoop we believe best work comes out of organised chaos our design reflects that”, says Mishra.