The architecture and interior project for M/s. VCSMED INDIA PVT. LTD. in Chennai involved designing and executing a versatile office space with distinctive materials and a dynamic interior to enhance openness and workflow. The design breathes personality into the office complex, and we have thoughtfully ideated details to shape the end user’s experience, transcending traditional notions of office design.

Architecture and Interior of the Office Revolves Around Versatility | Millimeter Affair Inc.

The project site for this standalone building is located in a semi-urban environment in Chennai. The site lacks specific context, a relatively featureless plot without significant topographical variations or existing vegetation cover.

The design had to be versatile to suit this nondescript location. The surrounding roads and infrastructure are developing, and our emphasis was on creating a unique and engaging internal environment rather than responding to external site characteristics.

Client Brief

Functionally, the interior of the office is to be optimised for workflow and production efficiency, with areas for collaboration and transparency. It was important to maintain sanitary standards by separating the office spaces from clinical production spaces like clean rooms, Make in India rooms, production line rooms, and storage godowns.

The front office space includes a lobby, manager’s cabin, conference room, pantry, restrooms, and production areas. The production part of the building is required to be of the highest sanitary standards. Spaces have to encompass the machinery, worker’s movements, and production flow in mind.

Different departments in dealt with each aspect of the production process but were constantly involved cross-monitoring and discussions. This would be frequently visited by expats and international business partners, one of the key inputs given by the clients in our first meeting.

Design Intent

Given the lack of specific site context, the design philosophy was to embrace versatility from the intrinsic architectural and interior design of the office building. We explored ways in which textures of concrete, shades of grey, grains of wood, and hues of colour would unravel in a serene, bright, monochromatic white platter. Clean lines and geometries were thought of to bring about spatial continuity.

The production part of the building is conceived to be a larger space with glass partitioned cubicles of the required sizes to fit in the machinery and a tight material movement. It was required to be clinical, well-lit, open, transparent, and minimal. As much as the front office space is experimental and dynamic, we adhered to strict clinical standards and protocols, striking a balance between functionality and aesthetics in its truest sense.

Scope

The turnkey project included designing and executing the architectural layout, structural design, and facade development. It also covered interior layout optimisation, comprehensive interior design, and installation of flooring, electrical and data cabling, HVAC systems, CCTV, biometrics, and fire safety systems, including evacuation routes. 

These comprehensive interventions were essential to realize the design intent and philosophy. Thus, ensuring the office building is both functional and visually striking while meeting the specific needs of the client.

Spatial Configuration

Spatially, we zoned the front-end office with easy access and visibility from the main road. The back-end production wing is segmented into a private access zone by an 82-foot-long fluted white PU partition with a hidden access door.

The main glass door entrance opens directly to the lobby, flanked by public access spaces on both sides. The manager’s cabin and the meeting room are adjacent to the reception for ease of access. They carved out a linear pathway to connect these spaces with toilets and pantries, enhancing the fluidity of the environment.

They divided the production area into glass cubicles, requiring constant monitoring and collaboration throughout each phase of the production process. The process involves raw material collection and storage, inspection, laser marking, ultrasonic cleaning, warehouse, sterilisation, and clean rooms. They lined it up adjacent to each other according to the production flow.

Multiple doors and passageways between these spaces ensure linear material movement and communication. They placed the Make In India rooms, clean rooms, and godowns with a receiving bay for loading and unloading of materials along the edges, restricting public access.

Design and Materiality of Spaces

The front facade greets the user with a distinguished character achieved by toying with proportions, scale, projections, and niches. We have strung characteristic materials like stone composite slabs, WPC slats, and an articulative living green wall system to form this composite cladding. However, moving away from the generic glass box or ACP/HPL cladding used in projects of similar typology. 

The building envelope provides adequate thermal and acoustic insulation to enhance energy efficiency and comfort. As an ode to the tranquil nature of the client’s medical device and instrument manufacturing business, we envisioned a monochromatic palette. Moreover, it comes in layers of white, and thus abundant natural light floods the front office space. 

We have embraced materials such as fluted white PU panels, white and grey stone veneers on feature walls, and white solid acrylic bent to form geometric shapes. This is for the front desk alongside clear glass partitions to enhance openness and light distribution. Pigmented liquid acrylic signage is backlit and placed on the fluted panel. 

The flooring features cloud concrete tiles flowing through the space punctuated with colourful geometric patterns on the pantry floor and wall. Moreover, textured greys and striking wooden features complement the timeless appeal of white. Hues of blues enhance the conference room and the manager’s den, adding emphasis.

The colour palette seamlessly transitions to dual tones in restrooms, where grey terrazzo tiles take centre stage. The design juxtaposes these elements with white subway tiles to create a calming abode. Built-in solid acrylic vanities fit perfectly into niches, providing a seamless look.

Highlights

The defining feature is the parametric wooden wave ceiling crafted to seamlessly integrate the lobby, manager’s cabin, conference room, pantry, and restrooms with a singular and striking linear pathway softened by alternating warm lights. Skilled craftsmen masterfully craft these solid wood panels with precision, creating a dynamic and engaging visual experience. 

Challenges

The challenging part was to execute the parametric design of the wooden ceiling to attain a seamless flow of the pattern. We numbered every single one of the 200 pieces of solid wood panels in a sequence to attain the statement ceiling. The mounting detail was carefully worked out to take each piece out. However, this was for if needed to re-polish or for maintenance purposes in the future.

Fact File

Designed and Executed by: Millimeter Affair Inc.

Project Type: Office Architecture & Interior Design

Project Name: VCSMED India’s HO

Location: Chennai, India

Year Built: 2024

Duration of the project: 13 Months

Plot Area: 8000 Sq.ft

Project Size: 4200 Sq.ft

Principal Architect: Ar. Aishwarya Ganesan

Head of Operations: Er. Braghadeesh Gopalakrishnan

Team Design Credits: Ar. Vivek S

Team Execution Credits: Er. Isravel & Er. Kamesh Raj

Photograph Courtesy: Chasing Pixels

Landscape Consultants: Elt India Pvt.Ltd

Products / Materials / Vendors: Exterior Cladding: Stone Composite E-slabs by Kitchdeck, Simpolo / WPC Louvers by Straton Composites / Greenwall cladding by Elt India Pvt.Ltd / Exterior Lighting by Philips India / Doors and Partitions by Kubik Systems / Sanitaryware by Jaquar / Solid Acrylic Countertops by Staron Solid Surfaces / Aluminum windows by Aluwind Architectural Ltd / Fixed Furniture and Woodworks Customized by Millimeter Affair Inc. / Loose furniture Customized by Millimeter Affair Inc. Flooring from Qutone Ceramics, Simpolo and Mytyles / Modular Pantry by Millimeter Affair Inc. / Paints by Asian Paints / Hardware from Ebco Furniture fittings and Accessories

Firm’s Instagram Link: Millimeter Affair Inc.

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