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Architecture

2020

Photographer : Ricken Desai

Brief required a temporary office space to be executed within a limited budget and time frame of 2 months with minimal intervention of site, as the site is used as stock yard for machinery.

To occupy minimum foot print of the plot, office building was planned in two levels and is positioned in such a way so that the remaining site can effectively be used for stocking of agricultural machinery.

With limited time line for execution and also considering budget & the structure to be a temporary one, metal was preferred as construction material for its multitudinous usage. Metal was used for structural framework, roof, walls, staircase, pergola, railings and even furniture which were entirely fabricated on site giving it an industrial look.

The focus of the design was to give an open & clutter free zone to create space with clean lines.

Hyderabad, Telangana, India

Architects	:	Lokirev Designs
Area	:	1100 sft
Year	:	2020
Website	:	https://www.instagram.com/lokirev_designs/?hl=en

The 1100sft space in 2 levels was designed to become an office with employee strength of 7 people consisting of work station, accounts and anti-room for meetings in the ground floor. There are two cabins for MD and COO with a small waiting lounge on the first floor.

MS box section was used for structural members. Chequered sheet was used for roof that was welded to the structural frame work.

Corrugated sheet which is generally used as fencing material for its strength and rust proof properties is used here for the walls. To provide thermal insulation, two layers of corrugated sheets filled in-between with 4” thermocol is used for internal and external surface of the structure. This entire process was executed and built on site.

Two levels are connected with an artistic approach by fabricating the left over material of chequered sheet that was used for the roof to design the staircase. 8mm chequered sheet is sandwiched and made into staircase thread and is painted in maroon against the grey back drop. MS wires painted in yellow were welded to the threads to make the staircase railing.

MS flat is used for veranda railing which not only gives free flowing unobstructed views to the outside but also make the building feel light.

The external pergola is planned in such a way that is not only aesthetically appealing but also is a structural support to the building.

Use of expansive glass windows not only admits ample natural light and ventilation into the building but also helps to oversee the work of constant loading & unloading of the stock. View of sky from glazed clearstory on all sides creates an apparent sense of large spatial scale and volumes. The clear glass partitions make the space feel as an open floor plan whilst demarcating the zones.

We cannot underestimate the power of greenery; a small pocket garden was squeezed in between the existing container and the present office which acts as a break free zone for the employees. The green pocket garden can be over looked from MD’s cabin and the whole of ground floor.

Material palate is kept to minimum and all the materials are used in their exposed form which in a way connects with the nature of the work undertaken there. Ridges of the corrugated sheet on the wall, texture of the exposed chequered sheet of the roof, exposed wooden finish are all raw and unique in their own way.

Grey neutral tones, warm wood finishes and cool greens are punctured by bright yellow and maroon shades to break the monotony making the office space friendly, creative and vibrant by striking a balance to the young team working there.

Pocket garden, veranda’s overlooking the greens, clear storied roof bringing in natural light from all sides are just some of the features here.

All the office furniture is made on site using MS box sections and wood to make tables and storage cabinets. The loose furniture and artefacts are sourced from local stores.

Teak wood finger jointed boards fused with metal frames as tables & storage cabinets were designed keeping in mind the clients comfort & the longevity of the furniture pieces. The eye catching furniture in the anti-room strikes a contrasting balance and completes the space.

Track lights adorn the ceiling in white paint and keep the narrow ceiling clean and simple by adding to the linearity of the space.

The simplicity of the nature of the metal helped to create an open space with linear planning, limited barriers, transparency, cool colour palate, functional furniture making the space simple yet visually and physically appealing.