Most public utility spaces were designed decades ago, with layouts and interfaces optimized for paperwork, clerical tasks, and passive service delivery. Today, these same spaces must support a far more complex ecosystem—smart grid monitoring, real-time data visualization, personnel training, and citizen engagement.
Nowhere is this evolution more evident than in the power and energy sector. With innovations like smart meters, phasor measurement units (PMUs), and advanced energy controls, utility boards like BESCOM are becoming increasingly intelligent and integrated. However, the physical infrastructure supporting these systems hadn’t caught up—until now.
Our approach was simple yet ambitious: design an environment that not only accommodates these advanced technologies but actively demonstrates and supports them. The goal was not just to show the future of energy distribution, but to experience it.
We developed a comprehensive spatial strategy built around three core functions:
This was more than a visual overhaul. It was a complete functional reinvention.
.jpg)
To translate invisible energy systems into visible, understandable experiences, we used light as a narrative tool—a medium that mirrors the intangible yet powerful nature of electricity.
The centerpiece of the experience was a 300 sq. ft. scale model of Bengaluru, embedded with an intelligent lighting grid. This interactive replica responded in real time, mapping the energy flow, identifying overload points, and simulating power disruptions. Visitors could engage with this ecosystem through surrounding kiosks, enabling them to operate scenarios, view consumption data, and witness the city’s energy behavior.
To reflect Karnataka’s comprehensive power infrastructure, the experience was divided into six distinct sectors—representing BESCOM, CESCOM, GESCOM, HESCOM, MESCOM, and KTPCL. Each section was supported with live data dashboards that covered major urban and semi-urban zones, including Mysuru, Mangaluru, Davanagere, Tumkur, and Chamarajanagar.
The environment was fully adaptive, shifting between training, exploration, and presentation modes with dynamic lighting cues—removing the rigidity of static interiors in favor of a responsive, multi-purpose design language.
.jpg)
A space like this does more than impress—it performs. By turning government interiors into experiential platforms, we helped:
We also prioritized sustainability and precision. The entire 6,000 sq. ft. was executed as a full-service turnkey solution—including MEP, design, PMC, and build. Materials, lighting systems, and user interfaces were chosen to maximize longevity, reduce waste, and ensure long-term operational ease.
Government services are evolving—and so should their spatial counterparts. At Rubenius, we see every public office not as a static institution, but as a live interface between systems, citizens, and progress.
Design has the power to decode complexity. It can bridge the gap between what the government does and how people experience it. In the case of BESCOM’s smart grid integration, thoughtful experiential design made invisible systems tangible, transforming a traditional utility office into a dynamic, intelligent hub.
Smart governance requires smart design. And with the right strategy, even a government utility space can become a beacon of innovation, engagement, and future-forward thinking.
.png)
.png)
.png)
%401x.svg){kind=icon}
