A Symphony of Hues

Nilkanth Bharucha

• Interior Architects

The project

The project involved transforming a non-used dark space into a vibrant and functional corporate office, harmonizing refreshing hues, natural light and ventilation, and minimalist design principles to create an amusing work environment.

photo_credit Nilkanth Bharucha — Nilkanth Bharucha

The site

The site, nestled in Baben, Bardoli, held a unique promise despite having initial constraints, it offered the advantage of a picturesque view of the nearby lake. This picturesque view became a pivotal element in the project’s design, as we sought to harness the beauty of surrounding and infused it inside.

The site presented an initial challenge with its dim and enclosed environment. The space was formerly a professional Spa, compromising the maze of partitions, each inhabiting a shower area. Its outer façade was defined with fixed glass, resulting in complete absence of natural ventilation.

The transformation from this windowless and confined space to an open, well-lit and naturally ventilated office was remarkable endeavour.

The brief

The functional requirements were upto the mark as it was an Immigration Office. The functional requirements were as follow : MD’s Office, Admin office, Reception area, Waiting area, Examination area, LED display area facing towards outdoors. Their vision was to have a vibrant, well lit and functional environment that aligns with their business goal.

The design intent

Our design intent for the project is rooted in the pursuit of elevating functionality to the realm of artistic harmony. We aim to create a space where the functions spaces seamlessly intertwines with the uplifting qualities of aesthetics and natural elements.

We seek to strike a delicate equilibrium between professionalism and comfort, infusing every corner with a sense of purpose and visual delight. The MD's office embodies prestige while maintaining an open connection to the outside world. The reception and waiting areas welcome clients with warmth, offering a serene respite enhanced by captivating views of the nearby lake. Natural light and ventilation play a pivotal role, breathing life into the space and connecting it with the outdoor beauty.

In essence, our design intent is to craft an environment that not only facilitates our professional endeavours but also elevates the human experience within these walls, creating an inspiring and functional sanctuary that speaks to our commitment to excellence.

The civil intervention

As the site received by us was full of partitions and too many un-necessary shower areas it demanded the demolition of existing partitions and shower areas. We completely cleared the entire site, resulting us to optimise the site in its full capacity. Apart from civil demolition work we changed the fixed glass to sliding window at MD’s office and Admin office to have naturally ventilated office space.

The spatial configuration/flow

The journey commences at the Pastel Red Door, an emblematic threshold that breathes life into the very essence of this architectural masterpiece. A red door, pivoting gracefully to an astonishing 180 degrees, weaves seamlessly into the fabric of the wall when opened. It is a theatrical performance, a poetic overture to the surrealism that awaits within meticulously sculpted chambers.

Within these walls, the color palette dances like verses in an architectural poem, with taupe-clad partitions as the backdrop for pastel accents that punctuate the spaces. In this office space barriers fade into oblivion, allowing for an open stage where furniture and floor takes center stage and becomes an integral part of the whole narrative.

The transition from waiting area to administrative cabin marks a shift in mood, a transition from the lively embrace of taupe walls and pastel hues to the warmth cocooned within. Textures within these spaces become voices, each speaking eloquently to create a surreal and immersive experience for the end user.

Stepping into The Blue Room, the MD's cabin, is a foray into an intricate ballet of details, an elegant choreography of form and function.

The design and material details of each room/area of the project

In the midst of this spatial tapestry, spanning 800 square feet, we embraced minimalism as a guiding principle, crafting a space that is both versatile and functional. Upon entrance through the Red Door; the arched ceiling, like a masterful brushstroke, paints a visual path for those who traverse this sanctuary, while the linear flooring pattern serves as a poetic roadmap. Glass partitions are introduced to infuse the compact space with an aura of openness, an invitation to explore beyond.

A cubist mass, serving as the reception area, introduces another layer of volume, where the application of Neo-cement (from colortek) allows tactile communion with the wall's texture.

Each furniture piece is crafted out neatly giving each space its unique character of its own.

Most of the Art Work featured in the project were crafted in-house by the design team to add the personal touch.

The highlights

The Blue Room, the MD's cabin showcases the floor as a Carpet. Here, the flooring becomes an intricate tapestry, where diagonal tiles interlace with circular patterns, enriched by the interplay of grey and blue epoxy inlays. The capsule-shaped side table mirrors the circular drum on which the table rests, an elegant choreography of form and function. Grey ceilings and floors act as a canvas, upon which pastel blue fluted wall panels are a crescendo that elevates the mood of the space to a poetic climax.

The challenges

So far, there were very few challenges during the execution stage. Within time frame of 90 days this project was supposed to finish, including design, demolition work and new design execution work. So that was quite a challenge.