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/
This residential project is a celebration of material purity and timeless simple design. Here, the rich, warm tone of natural walnut becomes the unifying element across the entire home. The clients, an elderly couple, envisioned a house where walnut would dominate the interiors. Here, no other colors disrupt the visual harmony. This simple yet demanding […]
Chit Chat Chai is a tea cafe that sits in the busy cityscape, in the lanes of Hyderabad. It’s an offbeat sight to its contrasting surroundings. Nestled within the lanes of a commercial neighbourhood, this cafe brings warmth that one seeks to experience after a tiring day at work or a quick hangout session with […]
In a city where homes often compete for attention through ornament and excess, The Nordic Luxe Residence takes a far more assured route. It wins you over with restraint, clarity, and a quietly elevated hand. It is designed for a family that wanted a fully move-in-ready 4BHK modern Indian home delivered within an uncompromising four-month […]
The Archive Home is not just a home—it’s a narrative of two extraordinary souls who call themselves wildlife enthusiasts. Their journeys take them deep into the wilderness every few months, capturing rare frames that have found their way into renowned magazines and the wider world of wildlife. Add to that a husband who can mesmerize […]
Spanning 2200 sq. ft., this 4BHK apartment designed by Studio Inside Out is a finely tuned symphony of rooted design, soft tones, tactile finishes, and thoughtful detailing. “Every space has been planned with a balance of aesthetics and practicality, creating a home that feels rooted, personal, and intuitively luxurious,” shares Ms. Samruddhi Kulkarni and Mr. […]
The concept was to bring the warmth of a traditional South Indian home into a modern city apartment. The goal was to blend two worlds. One of them was the nostalgia of the client’s roots and the practicality of their current urban lifestyle. It is a fusion where traditional materials meet modern shapes. It creates […]
In an era where a retail space are increasingly required to perform beyond the act of transaction, Mangroove emerges as a carefully choreographed spatial experience—one that translates brand identity into architecture through nuance rather than spectacle. Conceived as a contemporary menswear store, the project reimagines understated luxury through an architectural language of fluidity, restraint, and […]
OneDot1 Design Studio approached Neptune Residence with a clear design intent: to create interiors that feel timeless, welcoming, and emotionally grounding. The vision centered around soft tones, natural textures, and warm lighting—an environment where modern aesthetics meet the subtle richness of lived-in comfort. Avoiding unnecessary ornamentation, the design relies on material expression and spatial clarity. […]
Designing the Gupta family’s four-bedroom residence meant crafting a home that could gracefully evolve with time. The clients—a couple and their two sons—approached us with a clear brief: a home that feels modern but endures, elevated yet comforting, and above all, one that functions seamlessly for a family that values both togetherness and privacy. They […]
Designing a home is always a dialogue between functionality, aesthetics, and the people who inhabit it. The Rathi Residence, designed by interior designer Bhavana Chandak, is a thoughtful exploration of modern contemporary living. Completed in 2025 in Aurangabad, this 1800-square-foot residence with a pop of color transforms a compact footprint into a home that feels […]