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Interior

2021

Photographer : Hemant Patil

Wrapped within leafy surrounds of the city, this architectural studio is an effort to manifest our ethics and aesthetics into physical reality. The studio is located within a quieter nook of an oth-erwise bustling neighbourhood in Pune, India. The humble area of 550sq.ft. tries to bring har-mony through simple and efficient workspaces.

The idea was to translate the essence of having a studio on ground with greens and gravel, onto a terrace garden. To weave a workspace alongside an open court, skylight and large openings to facilitate maximum use of natural light was the key concept behind this project. We have tried using materials in their true nature, texture and colour. Muted tones, subtleness and earthy textures are an expression that inspires this space. This narrative of design seeks to create a tropical and ruminative experience.

The office space overlooks a communal open area – vibrant with greenery, that provided quite a favourable context to the studio. This office has been imagined on the topmost floor of a five-storey building. Planning of the studio space was guided by the existing elements on the site which served as a notional grid to demarcate functions and create a seamless flow throughout. This process was further aided by the existing ducts on either ends of the site, which helped in discerning the placement of the pantry and the powder room. The main office area was then outlined by converting these distinct lines into spatial elements.

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Architects	:	Studio G+A
Area	:	550 sq,ft
Year	:	2021
Website	:	https://www.instagram.com/studio.ga.pune/

On arrival, the conventional notion of expecting a reception area is replaced by an open to sky court with the soothing sensations of the earth’s elements. The sound of trickling water, the richness of foliage, and the sway of light and shadow strives to bring this space to life. The court has been designed to act as a continuation to the vividness of the foliage brought in from the borrowed views, and also to tie the entire space together.

With the use of a semi-open brick floored passage, the idea was to create a soothing and earthy experience. The entrance door to the main office area is a glass fabric sandwiched panel that connects the brick passage to the team space. The work desks are subtly illuminated by a sky-light that runs through the length of this room. The team space leads into the principal architects’ cabin, which is separated partly with a polished cement sheet partition. A wooden door with fluted glass carries the northern light received by the cabin, into the team space while also considering the privacy that it might occasionally require. The principal architect’s cabin is fe-nestrated using a modern interpretation of the traditional ‘Wada’ windows that open up to the greenery outside. The leaf imprints in the IPS flooring guide the way throughout the space, cul-minating the journey into the red gravel-laden court. The lines between interior and exterior are diluted using diverse textures and materials.

Bringing innovation to functional detailing was an earnest effort attempted throughout the space. The air-conditioning vents have been tucked into the panelling that fits in with the overall palette of the office. Water collected from the roof is brought down into an earthen pot along metal chains to guide its flow and enhance its descent. On the other end, is a sit-out sheltered by a pergola that serves as a social space for the entire team after a long work day. Shades of subtle olives, ochres and greys, derivatives of the hues found in the central court, hem the ties that weave this space. Handpicked artefacts and curated artwork pieces from various places reflect on the studio’s inspiration and what speaks to us the most.

This office space has truly been ‘the raw canvas’ to experiment, innovate and explore the ideo-logies of the studio, which can foster a vibrant and positive environment for the users as well as the visitors.