The Building is an Artist's
perception of an Architect and
his Studio. The building was designed
in collaboration with a fine Artist to integrate this perception in the Art, Architecture and Interior design of the Office Building. Abstract paintings were
made before floor plan layout was designed. Once the theme was decided upon, we
went back to the basics of Architecture, to create something which is true to
its use, context and climate.
SITE AND VIEWS
The Site enjoys access through main road on the Northern
side and overlooks the skyline of the city from the above levels of the
building, lending an ever inspiring view,
while the West sets perfect frame for
sunsets every evening.
PLAN AND LAYOUT:
The plan is based on the spatial requirements being arranged around a stair core on the South Wall, which is a dead common wall
shared with adjacent building. The spaces are primarily divided into three sub
categories:
(a) Working Area: Studios
and Partners' Cabin
The working areas
are optimally lit by natural light.
They are spacious and are visually
connected to either of the partner's
cabin and waiting area. The
studios are air conditioned to maintain a calm and machine friendly
environment.
(b) Meeting Area: Conference
Room and Discussion Area
These areas are
no regularly used, hence are placed in the West
as heat buffer space. Conference Room
also encourages a beautiful view of the city, which is often used as a
reference for the clients to understand.
(c) Waiting Area: Seating
and Reception
CLIMATIC CONSIDERATIONS:
The region is synonymous with hot and arid climate for most
part of the year. Thus, to make it energy efficient, various strategies were
applied:
(a) Software Stimulation:
The basic form
was analyzed for sun ,wind and light through applicable software and
thus zoning was derived out of it. The idea was to merge the climatic consideration in
planning rather than the 'build and
shield' approach to counter the climate.
(b) North:
The Northern facade
is composed of full height glass and full height open able Wooden Louvers.
The studios, the most used space, were thus zoned here so that they borrow
optimum day light and an ever inspiring view of the skyline to the designers. Also
sheer roller blinds gives the users
the option to avoid distraction when required.
(c) West:
The West
overlooks the common plot and the predominant wind direction in the region is
from South West. Thus, it could not be completely blocked. Hence, projections were designed on this face
in such a way that they act as wind catchers while shielding harsh sun. The openings are shielded by louvers to filter direct
sun while allowing wind to flow through. Also, full height storage is
designed on the west wall to act as buffer space.
(d) East:
The East has an
adjacent building, thus louvers have
been used consistently on this side to block view, yet encourage ventilation.
(e) South:
The South wall is
a common wall and has no punctures,
thus it is designed as a backdrop for the
dramatic staircase with a skylight
on top to borrow natural light throughout the core.
(f) Green Roof:
The terrace garden not only mitigates the Urban heat Island, but also provides a relaxation place in an otherwise stressful work environment. It also acts as lunch place during good weather.
FORM DERIVATION:
The form was
derived primarily adhering to the corporation by laws for maximum utilization
of permissible space. Next, it was sculpted as per the climatic consideration
and proportion. Later it was designed in perspectives from prominent view
points to enhance the massing. At
last, material contrast and detailing was done to complete the
composition.
MATERIAL PALETTE:
Natural materials were expressed in the construction to give a very earthly feel to the building. Materials
used are the ones without any artificial
pigments, so that the building never fades, but grows with nature and time.
The ageing of the building seems natural and ever evolving.
(a) Exposed Brick:
Exposed Brick
work with neat grooves acts as a
background and base in the building composition.
(b) Exposed Concrete:
The bold
projecting exposed RCC frame in the front, which resembles a cube, is the subject in the composition, and is
eventually subdued by full height clear glass
windows on the second and third floor. The ceilings are finished and also left uncolored in exposed RCC. The
stairs are also exposed with tread in Kota
Stone in exterior and in Wood in
Interior.
(c) White Stonecrete:
White Stonecrete
Plaster, a composition made of white
cement and dolomite, was used in
the subsequent cubic masses in the
back.
(d) Kota Stone Flooring:
Kota Stone, in
various finishes, are used for flooring in the entire office building. Rough finish in the parking and exterior, Corduroy finish strip in waiting area
and mirror polish in the rest of the interior spaces.
(e) Chill Wood
Cladding:
Chill Wood from the centering frame of Exposed Concrete Ceiling was re used to clad the lift core and lift interior.
DESIGNER’S NOTE:
The project is a
reflection of the design firm’s philosophy of subtle Interior Design. Coupled
with an Artist’s perception of an Architect’s office, the interior was treated
like a work of modern art, where each furniture, finish, texture, light and
painting was conceived as a composition. Complimenting the Palette of Natural
Materials used in Building, Interior Design too uses natural and recycled
materials to give the decor an earthly and calm feel while symbolically
examplifying the sustainable approach towards the design. The idea was to make
the stressful work leisure and increase efficiency. Idol of Buddha in river
washed wood, at the entrance, was used as an icon to reflect serenity. The design
components can be subdivided into the following parts:
PLAN AND LAYOUT:
The plan was organized
according to the climatic analysis of the building shell and the aim was to
physically divide, yet visually connect all the spaces so that coordination is
simplified and space is psychologically enlarged by making the shell at all
ends visible from the inside. Thus the partitions were all made in full height
glass. Also the Work Triangle between working, meeting and waiting spaces was
woven at its best, using optimum space requirement in the limited space
available. As primary to a space having multiple users, circulation was defined
to have unhindered access to all places, and furniture was designed around it.
STORAGE:
The requirements were analyzed and fit in the best possible manner
according to needs, accessibility and users. While the Studios had adequate
space for file storage and sheet storage was designed in excess. Office space
had more file and book storage. The Book Library was clubbed up with the
occasionally used conference room. The material/sample library has been
designated the Basement for its ease of access from outside. Also, full height
storage cabinets were placed along the West façade wherever possible to provide
a heat buffer for the inside. The designs emphasized on maximum utilization
considering future needs and aspirations.
WORKSPACES:
The workspace, especially studio was designed for gaining
optimum natural lighting required for efficient work surfaces and visually connects
with the Partner’s Cabins. Sheer Roller Blinds were added to control light
intensity. The Furniture arrangement was made to ease working in small groups
of 4-6 people. Sheet and file storage was segregated within the storage to
maintain an organized storage. The Partners' cabin, which is also used for
meetings, was designed as an optimum space with minimum furniture to avoid
clutter.
MATERIAL PALETTE:
Natural and Recycled Materials are emphasized as an effort
to promote basics of sustainability and have a subtle earthly work environment.
The Chill Wood from shuttering while casting exposed RCC Slab was recycled for
making centre tables in waiting area and paneling the lift core. Rattan was
woven over recycled steel pipes to make sofa and chairs. Teak, with exposed
joinery, was used to make louvers and tables. Flooring in Kota Stone and
exposed RCC ceiling and unpainted wall surfaces complete the feel of the space,
connected with nature and harmonious in its existence within a city. No
artificially pigmented color or paint was used in the making of the interiors. Thus,
it differentiates the natural inside from the artificial outside in a pleasant
manner.
VIEW
One of the main objective of the layout and furniture
arrangement was to create viewpoints from inside the building and create frames
to emphasize them. Main Road on the Northern side, overlooking the city's
skyline, and common plot and beyond on the West displaying the Sunset are
perfect views.
DESIGNER’S NOTE:
The interiors were
designed in the form of a journey as one enters the premises through the parking and reaches his/her designated
place. As one is greeted by the Buddha Idol, he is given the idea of what is to
follow. The feeling of calmness and serenity derived through the interior
design was the highlight of the project. The design process was an exploration
of simplicity in form and natural essence of the materials. The planes and
textures play with light and shadow, defining each surface distinctly. The
design itself reflects the firms identity.
Project Architect - Modi Srivastava & Associates
Ar. Amit Srivastava , Ar. Hitesh Modi (Published in 17th Issue Of Interior Exterior Magazine)
