Suspended Office | DIG Architects
This 1,200-sq-ft office site, located in a low-lying precinct of suburban Mumbai, was one of those yearly victims of the rains; being usually submerged at least twice a year in up to two feet of water. These field conditions shaped the architects’ response to a call for refurbishment for a functional workspace for around 30/35 staff and a training room facility which could be accessed independently by in-house staff as well as guests.
Visit: DIG Architects
Attempting a present solution that was contextual and meaningful rather than being merely functional and aesthetic, the new flood-resilient design disregarded the floor for any sort of permanent placement of elements and centered its strategy on the suspension to ensure minimum damage to the property and data.
This central idea is impactfully articulated as an arm that tethers each legless workstations to the ceiling, giving the project its name — Suspended Office. Colour — a bright yellow — is used on the suspension members to draw attention to them, making them ever-present and assertive markers of their own raison d’être, as well as injecting brightness into dreary, rainy days. While the walls and floor of the workspace were seamlessly waterproofed and then cladded with vitrified tiles till the height 1 mt, the tiles of the training centre were replaced by water resilient carpet which also bettered acoustic quality of the space.
Elements of design, woven into the central ‘suspension’ strategy, make the visual narrative of the Suspended Office more interesting and complex. The action, so to speak, is concentrated off the floor, on the upper portion of the volume where the legless, levitating workstations occupy center stage. The suspension members that connect them to the ceiling ‘bloom’ mid-way into three-armed LED lights, catering to the functional requirement of lighting in an effortless, aesthetic manner.
Services and materiality contribute to the visual interest in an uncontrived way as well — the geometry of the electrical conduits and the blue AC vents, together with the brown of the marine ply, the grey flooring and the yellow of the suspension members and the floating staircase that leads to the upper level, lends a pleasant graphic flavour to the interior environment.
FACT FILE:
Design firm: DIG Architects
Project: Suspended office
Location: Santacruz (E), Mumbai
Area: 1,200 sq ft
Principal architects/founders: Advait Potnis and Amit Khanolkar
Photo Credits: Photographix
Website: http://www.digarch.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digarchitecture
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/design.dig/
There is a particular kind of challenge that comes with designing a space that must feel like a home, but isn’t one. A guest house sits in an interesting in-between. It needs the efficiency of a hotel, the warmth of a home, and an identity entirely its own. When the brief for Serenity Suites landed […]
Project Guru Prasad began with a simple yet nuanced brief — to design a home inspired by Japanese aesthetics while maintaining a minimal and grounded sensibility. The 3BHK apartment, spread across 1350 sq. ft. of carpet area, became an exploration of form, material, and composition. Inside the 3bhk Apartment Where Japanese Aesthetics Meet the Quiet […]
Some homes are designed around a view. This home is designed around a fleeting evening moment, when the Arabian Sea sky turns saffron, rust and plum. That daily transition shapes Sea Between Stories, a 3,500-square-foot Bandra West apartment by The Concreate Story for Shantanu Powle and Saily Lad. Arabian Sea Apartment in Bandra Frames Moments […]
In the Bustling neighbourhood of Oberoi Sky City, Borivali, Mumbai, Quiet Opulence unfolds as a refined 1,100 sq. ft. residence that celebrates the beauty of Understated luxury. A Square Designs created the home as an exploration of contemporary Sophistication enriched by timeless classical influences. The design brings together elegant, inviting, and deeply personal interiors. Rather […]
Project 774 House is a thoughtful exploration of how compact spaces can feel layered, immersive, and deeply personal. Designed as a seamless blend of warmth, functionality, and character, the home balances aesthetics with practicality while ensuring every space carries its own identity within a cohesive design language. The Compact Spaces In This Home Are Designed […]
In the pulsating heart of Gujarat, India, where the shimmer of the ‘Diamond City’ meets the rich tapestry of the ‘Silk City’, Surat has preserved its legacy of craftsmanship across generations. Amidst the precision of diamond cutters and the rhythmic hum of textile looms, the homeowners’ story began. They were not merely entrepreneurs but inheritors […]
Perched on the ninth floor of a high-rise apartment in Pune, this 1,600 sq. ft. apartment opens to sweeping views of the city’s tekdi, the tree-lined hills that define its horizon. For its owners, a lawyer couple with demanding careers and a shared love for travel, the view was the home’s greatest luxury. For the […]
This home is a thoughtful expression of the modern interior design style, infused with creative and personalised touches that make it both distinctive and inviting. Every material, colour, and finish has been carefully curated to achieve a sense of timelessness, with a clear emphasis on balance and harmony. The muted colour palette seamlessly extended across […]
When it comes to enhancing the kitchen window over the sink, various design ideas are possible to decorate Indian homes. From rooted in tradition to Western-style modular kitchens offer both functionality and attractive aesthetics. Apart from the sleek profile and raised breakfast counter, the kitchen window over sink is another spot to add appeal and […]
In Indian homes with dynamic spaces, identification of standard interior door dimensions can have a positive impact on space optimization. First impressions matter, right? Beyond spaces inside the homes, doors carry long-time impressions through various panel sizes, intricate details, and more. While most of us remember the material and design, we tend to forget the […]