Urbane Address

By Pari Syal

Bigor small, a design professional thrives on challenges. When Hiren PatelArchitects (HPA) from Ahmedabad were asked to transform an old vacant schoolbuilding in suburban Mumbai, into a chic corporate office for a leadingindustrial tycoon, their thinking caps began to revolve around an energyefficient edifice with the focus on four core features: smart exteriorelevations, regimented interior layout, seamless inside-outside integration ofbuilt-structure with landscape and a naturesque thematic.

Focussingon the premise that the office should be a far cry from any regular workingenvironment and sport an open, interactive equation, thearchitects chiselled varied spaces – for meetings, brainstorming sessions andthe like, encouraging the staff to quit their staid desks and ideate.

“Itis an out-and-out interior project,” says Mr. Hiren Patel, “Except for somefine-tuning in the elevation, with especially designed weather shades for protectionfrom direct sun rays and the heavy Mumbai rains.” While these weather shadesalso become the planters that beautify the building’s exterior face, the‘nature’ theme is sustained inside via graphics, paintings and signage withalmost all meeting rooms and offices named after a flower; and every areaadorned with graphics (designed by Allen Shaw) providing the requisiteinformation about the respected flower assigned to that space. Further theselection of works of art, whether paintings or sculptures or even anunderstated wall mural in steel, have been assiduously synchronised with details in the interior make-up viz., line and form of panelling, lightingsolutions, glass canopy, down to details in the furniture design as well.

Theresultant simplicity is efficacious; with a material and colour palette thatrejuvenates whilst it soothes the senses. Neutral backdrops abound, making roomfor a latent vitality through colour in soft furnishings and the works of artthat dot the office. A generous inclusion of plants in the interiors tends tousher in the landscape outside; floor-to-ceiling glass partitions and premeditatedfenestrations further promote a seamless integration of interior-exteriorspaces all along.

Whileone could safely say that a healthy measure of art and nature anoint thisoffice, it is the God in details that essentially wraps it into a well-groomedcorporate set-up, refined and chiselled to upbeat suaveness.