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Architecture

2023

Text provided by Vipul Lunia

The Liberty is an office building standing tall among the antiquated residential bungalows in a multi-faceted area of Surat, Gujarat. It’s a seven floored exposed brick structure on a corner plot. Ground plus two floors are secured for the commercial purpose, thereby allowing the surrounding city to interact with the building while the top four floors are to be consumed as the product exhibition cum office space. The top floors offer unencumbered views of the circumjacent area, thereby bringing the outer environment in the purview of the day to day work.

The vertical mass of the building is divided into four broad sections reflective in its façade. Top floors, with all the decision making, are presented with the recessed openings in the solid mass for the intrinsic and extrinsic to interrelate, to make the experience more connective and thereby fruitful. Exhibition and backend functional spaces are bifurcated with vertical fins on the façade while the lower commercial floors are treated with a different material and color palate. Even with the distinctly fashioned façade, the building exudes a harmonious vibe.

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Architects	:	Yellow Studios
Area	:	27,300 sq. ft.
Year	:	2023
Website	:	https://www.instagram.com/yellow_studios/?hl=en

Exterior view of The Liberty by Yellow Studios

Functional spaces in the building are designed around the play of light and heat. Major work spaces are aligned along the south-west face of the building thereby ensuring maximum utilization of natural light throughout the day. Natural light is carried even to the inner parts of the building through the cleverly placed skylights and windows, minimizing the energy consumption and making the building energy efficient.

Façade is predominantly adorned with brick acting as a shell and an excellent insulator against the exhausting heat. Use of brick renders a certain character to the building showing its deep-rootedness and faith in the local material.

Exterior view of The Liberty by Yellow Studios

Reception area of The Liberty by Yellow Studios

Waiting area of The Liberty by Yellow Studios

Staircase of The Liberty by Yellow Studios

Lounge of The Liberty by Yellow Studios

Inner layout allows the flexibility of usage and broad spacing wherever necessary. This is reflected in the double heighted reception and elegant 60sqmt Director’s cabin. Majority of the functional spaces are well-knitted but can be used interchangeably while the designated working spaces towards the back of the building acts as the axis around which the work flows.

Client’s request of a green work space was a challenge to inculcate as an integral part of the design. Besides the potted plants this is also achieved through the vertical gardens in the façade of the building, reaching its pinnacle on the terrace, which also serves as the dining area, in the form of a full-fledged garden.

Another key element introduced to enrich this experience was the chamfered window. Besides the aesthetics, the chamfered windows are elemental to not only manage the light and heat but also to make the vertical gardens more inclusive and appreciable.