Brick Office-Subtle Yet Bold | Firki Studio
‘Brick Office’ is a small office building in Karnal, a town in the state of Haryana, India. The office had to be relocated from a busy commercial street to a residential area with no great architectural character.
The intervention had to be subtle yet bold in its identity. The office space had to be built as an annexe to the residence, for a family of Chartered Accountants.
The space identified was a terrace of 75 m2 on the first floor and a small portion of the garden on the ground. The house being a corner plot allowed two independent entries, one for the residence and the other for the office. The new structure had to house three cabin spaces and workstation for eight to ten employees and one waiting lounge.
The constraint of 3.5m x 20m as the site proportion did not permit many possibilities in terms of zoning and layout of the office functions. The brief required the workstations and cabins to be in close proximity, and as a result these functions were allocated on the first floor, while the ground floor accommodated the waiting lounge. Packed between the neighbouring building and the existing house, the space draws natural light and ventilation from a skylight, in addition to its front and rear end openings.
A double height landscape court adjoining the reception-waiting lounge marks ones entry into the office, which comes across as a pleasant surprise. The landscape court is also reminiscent of the original garden. The double height transition space visually extends the landscape court to the sky enhancing the indoor outdoor relationship.
The well-lit office is accentuated by its light colour palette and plays with simple elements of furniture, light and shadow compositions to create a warm and modern workplace.
In contrast to the interior spaces, the exterior is earthy and robust in its aesthetics. A 3.5m x 7.5m façade on the West side is the only interface the office has with the street, while a small portion on the north side interacts with the garden of the existing house. The gesture of one “entering from the street by moving aside a curtain” has been captured through this elevation. This intent is brought about by a surface that indents and curls like a fabric.
Simple corbelling of an easily available material like brick enables the elevation to be earthy and still maintain the dynamic expression. A repetitive system of brick laying was deployed to enable local masons to carefully craft the 90 degree twist over the entire height of the façade.
The rest of the elevation was developed as a composition of brick jalis and textures complimenting the curved wall. The elevation acts as a threshold between the street and the inner court and gives a fresh identity to a 30 year old firm that could have been lost in the process of relocating itself.
Location: Karnal, Haryana
Lead Architects:Vasanth Packirisamy, Sakshi Kumar
Design Team:Vasanth Packirisamy, Sakshi Kumar, Shiv Pratap, Sneha Pillai, Girish Kumar
Client:R.K. Bhushan & Co.
Area:80.0 m2
Project Year:2018
The site of this south east facing house is next to an old house of the client’s parents. There are few farmlands and plenty of trees – neem and tamarind trees, surrounding the site area. This South East Facing House Is Next To An Old House Of The Client’s Parents | RP Architects Design Strategy […]
Ar. Anup Murdia and Ar. Sandeep Jain, the founders of Design Inc. share their journey of embarking architecture with the passion for understanding spaces. Design Inc. is an architectural firm situated in Udaipur, founded by Ar. Anup Murdia and Ar. Sandeep Jain in 2011. The firm believes in creating spaces with overall understanding of certainties […]
Ameer Residence is a visionary architectural endeavour melding the elegance of contemporary kerala house design with minimalistic approach and vernacular. With contemporary architecture’s use of large glass facades and skylights, this project redefines the contemporary Kerala house. It infuses with vernacular sophistication and a sense of openness. Situated amidst Kerala’s lush landscape, this glass house […]
An earthen house on a forestry farm in Coimbatore for a client committed to feasible living represents a harmonious marriage of environmental awareness and conventional craftsmanship. An Earthen House On A Forestry Farm In Coimbatore | Bhutha Earthen Architecture Studio The design of this earthen house prioritizes constructing a symmetrical living space that encourages interaction […]
Nestled in the picturesque Rajliya Village, this neoclassical house design in Rajasthan epitomises opulence and functionality. It is located away from the busy city and in the scenic embrace of the beautiful Aravalis and Khejri trees. Additionally, the panoramic sunset from the large open terraces imbues the area with a serene vibe. This Neoclassical House […]
This 7000 square feet house has a fusion style of traditional Kerala architecture with contemporary sustainability principles. Thannal, a stunning architectural marvel crafted by Montimers Architects And Interior Designers, Kochi, Bangalore, stands proudly in the bustling heart of Bangalore city. It creates a harmonious abode that seamlessly blends tradition with modernity. “Thannal” is a Malayalam […]
There are a lot of challenges that one faces while designing the interior of the house. One of which is giving the right choice of the types of ceilings. While looking out for the theme a house sets, the elements through which the theme is directed are also important. One such important element of the […]
The home in Surat stands as a testament to minimal intervention and contemporary design as per the client’s vision, harmonizing architectural and interior elements to craft a serene living space. Nestled on a corner plot, the “Nilkanth” project spans 1400 square feet, its facade meeting the road on one side and embraced by lush greenery […]
The interior of this luxurious 5 Bedroom House is a testament to impeccable design, attention to detail, and an unwavering commitment to luxury living. The design of each space pivots around the purpose of its end use and has been carefully curated after exploring material and design alternatives. A home is not made by the […]
Stilt floor, staggered cutouts and skylights are highlights of this home called the Slender House. It is a private residential project designed for a family of five. The home nestles within a small and slender site measuring 6 meters by 18 meters. The vision for this home was to create a space that not only […]