Advocate Office Design | Studio Infinity

The project is an Advocate’s Office spread across two floors in a 3 storied mix use building. The initial challenges revolved around creating a visual relief in the tight space available and developing a design vocabulary that will redefine the way one looks at an advocates office and moreover considering the fact that most people come there under stress due to their legal issues.

Thru’ out the project, our efforts were primarily based on three fundamental aspects, viz: creating a seamless transition from the entry into the site and then into the interior spaces. Secondly, we wanted to define inter-relations of spaces thru’ visual connectivity and lastly, work around a common design vocabulary to bind all spaces together.

The public or visitor areas and the semi-private spaces like consulting cabin and conference room were segregated with a wide corridor. The planning is largely open with all spaces visually inter-linked.

The material palette is more on an earthen side and subtle changes in detailing give every space its’ individual identity. A series of courts have been introduced to break away from the tight nature of space at our disposal.

The client, a young advocate couple wanted primarily an office that will accommodate their present & future staff and have a large front office to accommodate large people coming for consultation. One of the briefs was to have an office that will aesthetically be different from the other legal offices in the vicinity.

Our response to their requirements started by understanding their way of working, the clientele they had and the kind of growth they were aiming to achieve in the near future.  One of the major constraints in space planning was the structural & services grid, which was defined by the residence above. So our space allocation started by addressing this aspect.

Then considering functional requirements, we segregated the user and visitor spaces. Separate entries were defined for office staff and visitors. A fore-court was designed to act as a transition space between the first-floor office & ground floor entry. Efforts were taken to maintain a visual connection with the adjoining street.

The first floor acts like a semi-private space where visitors are attended, while the second floor is a more private space where all advocates work. Considering the stressful state of mind of clients coming to consult an advocate,  we designed a  double height tree-court which overwhelms the reception – waiting zone.

Further, keeping in mind the level of concentration required by their staff while working with documents and legal terms, the second-floor designs were defined. Looking at the client’s working style, all desks were placed facing in one direction so that he is able to oversee each person’s screen.

The contextual setting also played an important role in helping us define our spaces. The plot is surrounded by residential development all around and except the front side; there are buildings at a mere 18 feet distance. Thus, we decided to respond to this situation by creating a largely inward-looking space.

Fore-Court is designed to be a  welcoming space for visitors, while a Tree-Court helps to create a connection with nature. It also acts as a visual breather in the otherwise compact space.  The openings are derived to respond to directions in which they are placed and the functions happening around them.

For us, one of the key highlights of this project was to be able to address the initial set of constraints arising due to client’s requirement,  planning around a fixed structural and services grid,  site forces and tight space available at our disposal in comparison to overall space requirements.

Secondly, our effort was in creating an office space that will not look like a typical advocate’s office,  so that the visitors who come here,  get a subtle sense of relief from the high level of stress that they carry due to their legal problems.

Our designs focused around conceiving a formal office space that will enhance the sensorial experience which a user or a visitor goes thru while moving around in these premises.  Textures, colors, greenery, and materials were all intended to create this experience.

Lastly, the integrated use of traditional Gondh art and handcrafted elements in wood and copper defined our design vocabulary. We wanted these elements to overwhelm aesthetics and in turn govern the overall special outlook of the entire office.