The Innovation Lab is MTA Architects’ own satellite office, located in Chennai. The project was built as a working studio and client lounge, and also as a chance to build the way they believe buildings should be built – with local materials, passive environmental strategies, and construction techniques rooted in the region’s traditions.
This Innovation Lab Is Also A Working Studio That Merges With Nature | MTA ARCHITECTS
The concept behind the project is the Convergence of Culture and Nature. Rather than imposing a design, the building draws from its context – the climate, the site, and the materials available in the region. The site includes a planted garden of native species, a pool, and a generous outdoor area. The building sits snugged in the landscape rather than on top of it.
Rammed earth forms the primary wall construction. The rammed-earth walls were formed on site by compacting layers of locally sourced soil. The technique produces thick, thermally stable walls that keep the interior cool during the day without mechanical assistance.
The surface of the walls carries markings of compressed earth, hence the natural variation in colour. The roof is a vaulted brick structure, which has been integrated with glass to introduce natural light. Country roof tiles and locally quarried stone complete a material palette that is very region-specific.
Perforated brick screens nearby filter light through the day. Executing the project with these materials required skilled craftspeople familiar with the technique. The finished structure is a direct result of the quality of labour involved.
The spatial organisation is linear. A thinnai — a traditional semi-open verandah – runs along the front of the building and forms the main point of entry. It shades the facade, catches the breeze, and provides a transitional space between the outdoors and the working interior. The plan then moves through a formal client-facing zone, a studio for the architects, and service spaces. At the rear, the building opens to a pool and garden, which function as an extension of the workspace and a setting for events.
The project features manually carved boulders used as a centrepiece, tables, and a hand-wash pedestal — locally sourced stone shaped entirely by hand, serving both as functional elements and as a reflection of the project’s material approach. The building has no mechanical ventilation system.
Its Orientation, Wall mass, shaded overhangs, and cross-ventilation keep the interior comfortable passively. It stays cool during the day and retains warmth in the evening. For MTA Architects, the Innovation Lab is a working demonstration that thoughtful, climate-conscious design with locally available materials can produce spaces that are genuinely comfortable, well-crafted, and worth spending time in.
Fact File
Designed by: MTA ARCHITECTS
Project Type: Office Architecture Design
Project Name: Innovation Lab
Location: Chennai
Year Built: 2024
Project Size: 6750 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Ar. Ramesh B & Ar. Uma Shankar D
Photograph Courtesy: 0nebox photography
Construction And Skilled Labor: Aagaram Architects
Source: Archdaily
Firm’s Website Link: MTA ARCHITECTS
The Firm’s Instagram Link: MTA ARCHITECTS
Firm’s Facebook Link: MTA ARCHITECT
For Similar Projects >>> This Mumbai Office is a Dashing Representation of a Fashion Fiesta
Editor’s Note: Some places feel rooted because they belong to their surroundings rather than trying to stand apart from them. Coffee Sangam in Andhra Pradesh takes this approach through a raw, tactile palette of brick, stone, teak, and mild steel. The random rubble compound wall extends the landscape into the architecture, while the Corten steel […]
Envisioned as a contemporary home rooted in Indian sensibilities, this residence sits on a south-facing urban plot. The design accommodates the evolving lifestyle of a multi-generational family. The project integrates architecture and interiors to create functional, climate-responsive, and emotionally connected spaces. Each level balances privacy with interaction. The design also allows flexibility for changing family […]
Editorial Note: Some homes are shaped by the memories, objects, and stories their residents carry with them. Ungana in Chennai, meaning “merge” in Swahili, brings together a well-travelled family’s collection of antiques and everyday rituals within a narrow urban plot. A double-height living space becomes the heart of the home, connecting the kitchen and dining […]
House of the Framed Atrium explores how a contemporary home can revolve around light, connection, and shared experiences. The design follows the ideas of a Living Atrium, Living with Nature, Framed Volumes, Vertical Living, and Timeless Materiality. The residence connects a sequence of interconnected spaces around a dramatic triple-height atrium. The atrium forms the heart […]
A Mock-up That Became a Home – For an architecture practice, a mock-up often helps test an idea before the team translates it into a larger project. It allows architects to work at full scale, examine materials and construction techniques, and understand their limitations. The process also gives them room to test different brick bonds and […]
The house began not with a formal brief, but with a conversation about the kind of life the clients hoped to build within it. Set between the denser urban fabric of Kannur and the quieter residential landscapes of North Kerala, the project responds to a desire for openness and connection. At the same time, the […]
“Pravah” — A House That Breathes is envisioned as the main concept of this home revolves around a fluid, light-filled home where architecture becomes a continuous experience of movement, air, and connection. Located in Pal Gamtal, Surat, the project is a residential redevelopment on a 1,850 sq.ft. plot within a dense urban fabric. The site, […]
Timeless architectural features, such as courtyards, are always associated with bringing the naturally public forms to the world’s heart, building the most peaceful, secluded outdoor areas. These outdoor spaces maximize the living experience with their private space feature, which gives one the option for leisurely relaxation, recreation, or gardening. Furthermore, it has also been a […]
Architecture font choices go beyond style—they shape how your work is perceived. From portfolios to presentations, the right architecture font instantly communicates clarity, precision, and personality. As architects, we design not just with space but with every detail, including typography. Selecting a strong architecture font shows your commitment to visual storytelling and design consistency. In […]
The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]