COLLABORATIVE STUDIO
Located within the vicinity of Qutab Minar and Mehrauli, the site is an integral part of historical Delhi. The existing single storey building within an organic fabric, a large front yard and a large floor plate, ample parking and located strategically from all possible public transit nodes, offered an appropriate place for a collaborative design studio. Intended as a shared space for a communication design firm, a master planning firm and an architecture studio, the idea was to maximize cross disciplinary interaction.
To incorporate an estimated 50 people office within an existing residential building, the internal layout was completely remodelled, leaving the external lines of the boundary intact so as to not disturb the surrounding fabric. Ample openings made on the North and the Eastern edges allowed as much natural light as possible into each interior space. The openings in the south were protected by the existing boundary wall and a metal trellis that acts as a shading device. Bamboo and wooden venetian blinds were used to control internal lighting levels.
All the internal partitioning was done in exposed 3”x 3”x 8” Fly ash Brick masonry which has a very low embodied energy. All the zones are divided with their own individual master switches for air-conditioning and electrical outlets which lets zones get shut off when not in use. All lighting fixtures are LED and have a very low combined electrical load. Lighting in the toilets is controlled by motion sensors to optimize the electrical consumption. The entire rainwater and air-conditioning drainage is fed to a harvesting tank which stores water for cleaning and landscaping.
The majority of the flooring and wall panelling is made from reclaimed wooden packaging material picked up from stone importers and put together in an intricate pattern which forms the character of the internal space. Reclaimed tiles from manufacturers and traders have been used for broken tile mosaic finishes, and cut tile patterns in toilets and pantry areas. Some of the furniture was reclaimed and remodelled from the previous premises.
The roof has been covered with two layers of 50 mm thick over deck insulation, protected by a reclaimed tile-mosaic floor which in itself reflects a considerable amount of heat. All the openings in the building are fitted with airtight UPVC windows and doors which restrict losses during the summer and winter months and are operable for the humid months when cross ventilation is a must to achieve comfort.
