Bathed in natural light and rooted in thoughtful intent, the new extension of the architectural office of ARA Designs Studio embodies a quiet elegance. It is an open plan office space born not just out of necessity, but of vision — a continuation of a story already unfolding one floor below. For the team, this expansion was deeply personal. They sought to preserve the spirit of their original office while evolving into a more open, collaborative environment. “Designers imagined this new level as a breath of fresh air — one that invites interaction, nurtures creativity, and amplifies the sense of community, replacing the earlier space that held structure and intimacy.”0

This Open Plan Office Invites Interaction And Nurtures Creativity | ARA Designs

Brief

Someone rooted the brief in simplicity and clarity. There was a desire for calm — a visual and spatial serenity that would allow design thinking to take centre stage in this open plan office. “The designers pared down the aesthetic language to its essentials: wood and white.”

Sculptural Elements

These two elements form the foundation of the material and colour palette, with warm timber bringing in an organic softness, and white providing a neutral canvas against which ideas can unfold. “The designers made every choice here — be it the materiality, spatial planning, or subtle textures — to support a balance between focused work and fluid exchange.”

Wabi Sabi Design

Drawing from nature and the rhythm of travel, the design of this open plan office reflects a wabi-sabi sensibility. There is beauty in imperfection and authenticity in the tactile choices. Terrazzo flooring made from real cement adds earthy character beneath the foot. Birch ply sculpted into a striking parametric installation anchors the entrance.

Reception Area

This central installation isn’t just an aesthetic gesture; it is functional, forming the reception area, collaborative seating, and extended work tables. Its presence is commanding yet soft, built from half-inch birch ply sheets carefully stacked and assembled on site, its fluid form setting the tone for the entire office.

Open Plan

The open-plan layout is equally deliberate. “As you enter, the expansive space draws your eye to every corner — nothing hides, and no cubicle confines.” Tables line the periphery near windows, reserved for senior architects who benefit from both quietude and daylight. At the heart lies the collaborative zone, where teams come together to ideate, sketch, and build.

Conference Room

To the left, a conference room becomes the forum for client reviews and presentations, adjacent to a discreet pantry and dining space. On the right, a private cabin for Amey and Pooja Dahanukar offers a quiet retreat — part studio, part sanctuary — for deeper work and strategic discussions. “Amey’s design for the limestone-crafted work desks reflects their honest tactile relationship with the material.”

Textures

Textures are subtly layered to add depth without distraction. Walls and ceilings share a unified texture, achieved with soft, tactile paint that blurs the boundary between surfaces. The ceilings, treated with the same care as walls, offer continuity — a quiet backdrop that allows design thinking and materials to resonate more strongly.

Sustainability

Sustainability was approached with the same understated intentionality. The floor plate is lined with large windows that wash the space in daylight, minimizing the need for artificial lighting during work hours. There is no decorative clutter — greenery is the only adornment. Plants, carefully placed, are both biophilic and pragmatic, reinforcing the natural material palette while improving air quality and ambience.

Challenges

Though there were no major setbacks, the challenge was in restraint. Being designers themselves, the temptation to push boundaries is ever-present. Yet, the team chose to stay grounded, favouring timelessness over trend. Every element, from the terrazzo floors to the custom carpentry, was made bespoke — crafted with care, designed to endure. Only the chairs and computers were sourced externally; everything else was born from their vision, down to the last joint and grain.

Conclusion

What makes this space sing is not any single object but its wholeness — its spirit. The transparency of the layout, the softness of the materials, and the generous light. Yet, if one were to choose a favourite, it might be the parametric design that greets each visitor: sculptural yet seamless, artistic yet utterly usable. It is a distillation of everything this space represents — precision, purpose, and the poetic beauty of natural materials brought to life.

Fact File

Designed by: ARA Designs

Project Type: Office Interior Design

Project Name: ARA Designs Studio

Location: Santacruz, Mumbai

Year Built: June 2024

Project Size: 2000 Sq.ft

Principal Designer: Amey Dahanukar

Photograph Courtesy: Talib Chitalwala

Styling Credits: Samir Wadekar

Firm’s Instagram Link: ARA Designs

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