search
  • An Experience Center Creating An Emphatic Built Presence | Utopia Designs

    An Experience Center Creating An Emphatic Built Presence | Utopia Designs

    The project for Shivshakti Laminates involved creating a distinct, memorable experience center for leading Surat-based purveyors of laminates and veneers. This was aligned to the client’s brief, which indicated a desire for an entity with a unique and high recall value, one that would maximize and experiment with merchandise display strategies.

    Visit: Utopia Designs

    The site was a disused textile manufacturing plant located in one of Surat’s industrial precincts. The ground floor, which was outside the scope of the assignment, is a warehouse/storehouse used by the clients. The EightxFour Experience Centre by Shivshakti Laminates and the allied office activities were to be housed on the first floor. With the aim of creating an emphatic built presence in a miscellaneous urban fabric, the facade was clad in materials that stood at the intersection of pragmatism and aesthetics: low-maintenance grey tiles, accented with faux wood HPL (high-pressure laminate, an external grade material) and ACP.

    Barring the entrance to the experience center, the treatment to the ground floor largely ‘erased’ it from the overall visual scheme. The entrance portal, situated at one side to minimize the disturbance to the functioning of the warehouse, was designed as a canopied block recessed within the main structure and further highlighted with the HPL. The long row of windows on the first floor was outlined, again in HPL, emphasizing the low-slung, rectilinear volume. ACP jaalis, installed at regular intervals, shield the outdoor units of ACs.

    Inside, the constraints posed by two elevators (a passenger lift and a goods lift) in the compact foyer necessitated interpreting the first flight of stairs as a simple folded aluminum sheet — which then ‘blossoms’ into a sculptural teakwood and glass element when it gets enough space as it progresses upwards. Here, a cultured stone-lined wall seems to ground the light, graphical series of steps. The stylistic quotient of the entire composition is heightened by cascading illuminated glass orbs.

    Back in the foyer, a cladding of black mirrors around the elevators alleviates the tightness of space by adding a reflective lightness. This design attention lavished on the entry was deliberate — and was done to reduce the discomfort that could have sprung from having to enter a warehouse before stepping into the experience center proper. Designing the entry, according to the architects, was one of the challenges in the assignment owing to its compact nature, the presence of structural members, and the fact that it had to be Vaastu-compliant.

    Upstairs, given the programmatic requirements, the architects positioned the office/admin block along with the windows, leaving a large part of the 6,500-square-foot area for the product display. This way, the areas used by the staff and the management could benefit from natural light that flowed in from the plantation-lined windows, creating a work environment that was conducive to the wellbeing of the users.

    The shell of the experience center was kept subtle, to maintain the focus on the products on display. The earlier industrial flavor of the space was kept intact through exposed ceilings and services, its gravitas toned down and warm up with wood and wood finishes. While some display strategies — like configurations that allow customers to turn sheets of laminates much like the pages of a book, and small ‘swatches’ of basic laminates being arranged in a grid-like fashion on a wall — toed the tried and tested routes, others took a less-beaten track.

    Among the latter are groups of MS frames (taller than is the norm), orchestrated in a maze-like fashion. Within these are inserted sheets of laminates in pairs (back to back), leaving the edges open. This creates visual porosity, offering the visitor edited glimpses of other parts of the showroom. While the double-sided display invites the visitor to walk around and explore, often releasing him to another part of the center, the height of the frames subliminally celebrates the generous 13-foot height of the ceiling.

    Another innovative strategy is treating ‘swatches’ of laminates as objects of ornamentation, by deploying them within an MS partition that allows such small pieces to be arranged in different ways within its framework. Coming up with innovative display ideas that balanced newness and fulfillment of purpose was the second challenge posed by the project.

    Interspersed among the display are seating clusters, as discussion tables and benches, that allow customers to discuss intended purchases or view products in comfort. Flexible track lighting puts sheets of veneers and laminates in the limelight, much like art in a gallery.

    The response to the design has been more than encouraging. The client states that the appreciation from visitors had crossed expectations. The success can also be gauged from footfalls that are now from pan-India — which was not the case earlier. The sale of products across old and new verticals has seen an upward trend.

    Treading the path between the known and the new, the Shivshakti Laminates Experience Centre has successfully dovetailed user comfort, innovative showcasing, and efficient display into a distinct narrative.

    Fact File:

    Designed by: Utopia Designs

    Project: EightxFour Experience Centre by Shivshakti Laminates

    Project Type: Retail (Experience Center)

    Year of completion: 2020

    Area: 6,500 sq. ft.

    Location: Surat

    Principal Architect: Ar. Apurva Desai, Id.Urvakhsh Chichgar, Id. Bhavin Swami, Id. Vipul Nakrani

    Design Team: Abhishek Ribinwala & Kaushal Savani

    Photography: Photographix India

    Website: http://utopiadesigns.in/

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/utopiadesigns/

    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/utopiadesigns.in/

    Ivory Colour Interiors In This Courtyard Residence Makes It An Architectural Statement | Amit Agrawal and Associates

    Nestled in the serene surroundings of Swarnabhoomi, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Ivory Courtyard is more than just a residence—it is an architectural statement that harmoniously blends Indian traditional values with modern contemporary living. With its pristine ivory colour exterior symbolising purity and sophistication, this home stands as a beacon of elegance and comfort for the two families […]

    Read More

    Nestled In An Ecological Environment, Eden Moss Tells A Story Of Purity | Urbane Ivy

    “Even within the smallest green lies all the purity and freshness of Eden.” This idea became the seed for Eden Moss, a home nestled in an ecological environment and imagined as a breath of freshness, evoking the scent of mud after rain, and seamlessly intertwined with nature while still embracing comfort and contextual charm. Nestled […]

    Read More

    Sanctum Is A Home Within Nature, Built With Nature | ma+rs

    Nestled in what was once a coconut orchard, Sanctum serves as a sanctuary for a retired couple. Their daughter & a feline companion join them to offer a tranquil environment for everyday goings-on. The site is a 60’ x 90’ portion of land with six coconut trees. Two teak wood & silver oak trees, each […]

    Read More

    Openness In Structure And Spirit Is The Soul Of This Urban Home | Archemist Architects

    Tucked into the calm, tree-lined lanes of Nagarbhavi in Bangalore, Avani Residence rises as a poetic response to the chaos of the city, a vertical sanctuary where light dances, materials breathe, and space unfolds in gentle rhythms. Designed by Archemist Architects for a family of four, the residence is a nuanced interplay between constraint and […]

    Read More

    This Home With An Earthen Design Opens Out To Lush Farms Outside And Cosy Interiors Inside | Bhutha Earthen Architecture Studio

    Adorn, a home filled with earthen design and the laughter of a family of four, nestles in the peaceful neighborhood of Selvapuram, Coimbatore. “On one side, it shares boundaries with cozy family homes; meanwhile, the other side opens to expansive fields dotted with tall trees.” The fresh air scented with greenery sets a calming atmosphere […]

    Read More

    Farmhouse Designs in India: 15 Inspiring Styles To Know

    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 […]

    Read More

    This Tropical Home Design Features A Striking Sloped Terracotta Roof In Kerala | Vriksha Architects

    Aangan is a modern residence that seamlessly integrates with the lush environment of Kerala, showcasing a tropical home design. Designed to embrace the region’s warm climate, the house features a striking sloped terracotta roof at varying levels, enhancing both its aesthetic appeal and functional efficiency. The structure is enveloped in a vibrant tropical landscape, adorned […]

    Read More

    50 Indian Door Design For Main Door To Enhance the Curb Appeal

    The door design for main door is a defining feature of any Indian home, embodying both style and cultural significance. In a country rich with diverse architectural traditions, the entrance to your home reflects not only personal taste but also cultural heritage. Whether you’re drawn to the intricate carvings of traditional Indian door designs or […]

    Read More

    50 Best Pillar Design Ideas And Inspirations For Indian Spaces

    Pillar design is a cornerstone of architectural elegance, seamlessly blending structural support with aesthetic appeal. Our blog, “50 Best Pillar Design Inspirations,” celebrates this essential element, showcasing a variety of styles from classical Doric and Ionic to contemporary and avant-garde innovations. Whether you’re an architect, interior designer, or a design enthusiast, these pillar design inspirations […]

    Read More

    This Simple Farmhouse Design Responds To The Climate And Site | Dipen Gada & Associates

    This simple farmhouse design is a humble residence that responds to the climate and site. It is a fun fact that the house is both an inward and outward looking house at the same time. One of the USPs of the simple farmhouse design project would be that it connects well with the most playful […]

    Read More
  • What To Expect When You Move Overseas

    Create the Home You Want Without Going Broke