In Hyderabad’s dry, hot climate, the vast majority of office-goers are resigned to spend their entire day within the confines of air-conditioned space with very little access to fresh air from the outdoors. Hyderabad–a once laid-back town– is now a competitive cosmopolitan city, attracting many big-tech companies, who build millions of square feet of office space per year.
Editor’s Note: “In the heart of Hyderabad, Spacefiction Studio reimagines office design with a poetic blend of form and function. Embracing natural ventilation, vibrant facades, and open balconies, this project breaks free from conventional glass boxes. It offers a fresh, climate-responsive workspace attuned to the city and its people.” ~Simran Khare
This Office in Hyderabad Repurposed an Existing On-site Concrete Structure | Spacefiction Studio
Very few of these new structures consider local climate and culture conditions in their design. Most of these new office buildings are sealed-off glass boxes that rely heavily on air conditioning to maintain a specific indoor temperature consistently throughout the year, whatever weather fluctuations Hyderabad’s seasons might bring: hot summers, pleasant monsoons, and tolerable winters.
This building paradigm, mechanically controlled and indifferent to context, perpetuates a corporate office typology that first emerged post-WWII in North America, and which soon spread to anywhere hoping to participate in the new high-speed world economy.
Tasked with repurposing an existing concrete framed structure on-site into an Auto dealership office headquarter, we focused on design elements that could optimize the building’s climate responsiveness in ways overlooked by the original design.
To this end, we built on our practice’s ongoing research into perforated screens as a way to blur the boundaries between inside and outside.
Here, a system of screens rhythmically placed on the 1st, 3rd and a future 5th envelops the building. A 3mm metal sheet with 8mm perforations, held together by a well-integrated metal frame, makes up the screening system.
The western edge of the building that typically receives a majority of direct sunlight is blocked by placing the staircase and toilets along that edge, making it an austere facade.
This leaves the remainder of the column-free floor plate for the main program – workspaces. The southern edge, which also receives a brunt of the harsh daylight, happens to be the street-facing facade of the building.
An important consideration for us was the details of the assemblage. It is also the appearance of the screening system on the facade. The geometric pattern at which we arrived at the screen has a playfulness and lightness. This gives the building a distinct identity on the street.
An additional consequence of the colourful facade is the visual interest. Thus, it generates for our tiny neighbours in the kindergarten across the street. We carve niche seating areas from the underutilized, dark stairway spaces, providing the staff with spots for gatherings or solitude.
We organize the main workspaces in a typical, hierarchical manner across the 4 floors. Moreover, the 4th floor dedicated to the executives. However, every individual, anywhere in the building, has direct access to the outdoor space: a generous, democratic provision.
Easy-maintenance plants populate the balconies, creating a striking contrast between the green foliage and the yellow-orange screens behind them.
All the windows and doors are operable making the balcony accessible from all the workspaces. Thus, enabling the opportunity to open the windows for cross ventilation. This also gives the users the option to reduce their dependency on air conditioning.
The MGB headquarters transcends the most common approaches to deal with Hyderabad’s heat, and offers a method for passive cooling that benefits its occupants and as importantly, challenges the typical glass box typology of the office building.
Fact File
Designed by: Spacefiction Studio
Project Type: Office Architecture & Interior Design
Project Name: MGB Headquarters
Location: Hyderabad
Year Built: 2021
Project Size: 1981.63 Sq.ft
Principal Architects: Baba Sashank & Vindhya Guduru
Photograph Courtesy: Vivek Eadara & Monika Sathe Photography
Design Development & Site Co Ordination: Anusha Dasari
Fabrication: Fab-Tech
Manufacturers: ALU-K, Armstrong Grid Ceiling, Asain Paints, Featherlite, Intex Concepts, Luminary Studio, Urban Ladder
Source: Archdaily
Firm’s Website Link: Spacefiction Studio
Firm’s Instagram Link: Spacefiction Studio
For Similar Project >>> A Multifunctional Co-Working Space Focusing on Natural Materials and Zero Wastage
Located in the coastal village of Pererenan, Bali, House Terra is a contemporary response to tropical living, designed by Biombo Architects as a family retreat. The project balances built space and landscape, creating a strong connection between architecture and nature while offering shelter from the island’s monsoon climate. Editor’s Note: “House Terra, more than a […]
Located on a 15′ x 95′ ancestral plot in a pal village, Surat, India, this residence is designed for a multi-generational family of seven. This minimal home interior design solves light and space challenges within a narrow plot. The family wanted to stay connected with their community and preserve their cultural roots. The site has […]
“The sky’s ever-changing canvas, painted with hues of blues at dawn and greys and blacks at dusk, seamlessly weaves itself into the very fabric of this home’s architecture and interior.” Located in a comparatively narrow lane of bungalow plots, this modern exterior house design borrows its modern straight-line form and color from the sky. A […]
Timeless architectural features, such as courtyards, are always associated with bringing the naturally public forms to the world’s heart, building the most peaceful, secluded outdoor areas. These outdoor spaces maximize the living experience with their private space feature, which gives one the option for leisurely relaxation, recreation, or gardening. Furthermore, it has also been a […]
The residence is sensitively designed and compatible with the neighborhood. Distinct from neighboring structures, the building creates a strong relationship to the streets by virtue of its large windows in facades. While there are dramatic and larger scale elements that define the building, it is also broken down into comprehensible human scale blocks with an […]
This contemporary residence, covering 7500 square feet, combines modern design with timeless elegance to create a peaceful and luxurious retreat within a busy urban environment. The home is built around large frames that open up to nature, blending the interior with its surroundings. The design focuses on craftsmanship and harmony, making the simple contemporary house […]
Imagine walking into a sunlit room with high ceilings, warm wooden floors, and a view of a leafy courtyard. How do you feel? Calm? Inspired? At ease? That’s not just your mood—it’s your brain responding to the space around you. Neuroarchitecture is an evolving domain that merges the understanding of neuroscience, psychology, and architecture to […]
Architecture is more than just the construction of buildings, it is a reflection of our values, art, culture, and society. It is a movement towards new, promising, and philosophical design strategies. One such movement that significantly influenced the architectural landscape is Postmodernism architecture. In this research article, readers will find a comprehensive guide for Postmodernism […]
Mango Tree House is an artfully designed personal residence that seamlessly integrates traditional architectural elements with the comforts of modern living, embodying the essence of traditional modern home design. Some houses are more than just structures; they hold stories, memories, and a deep connection to the land. Mango Tree House is one such space—one that […]
What if the home of the future didn’t have walls? Modern architecture homes aren’t just about aesthetics – it’s a rebellion. A conscious break from tradition. In a world obsessed with innovation, our homes are becoming laboratories of design, sustainability, and radical thought. Modern architecture homes are sharp-edged, glass-wrapped, tech-infused sanctuaries that defy the standard. […]