The DCA office simultaneously inhabits a setting shaped by a plethora of influences, the strongest of which is the dichotomy of adaptive reuse within an old structure and the local context of an indigenous settlement.
The main challenge in designing this studio was to retain as much of the original structure as possible, while retrofitting the interior to meet the stringent parameters laid out in the design brief created by the partners.
The remarkable features that greet visitors at the entrance are a steel planter bench, a rough-hewn stone wall on the right, a stark reception area that divides the space into two parts- the common interaction zone and the studio itself which is the bulk of the workspace. Between the two zones and strategically situated next to the entrance is a visually engaging pantry space. On the other side of the reception, a cavernous studio space reveals itself. Four glass boxes within the studio enclose cabins for the partners and the finance and projects heads.
The use of raw wood, rough unpolished Kota stone and unfinished steel in the pantry and toilets with a basic lacquering/waxing to seal off the untreated surfaces is noticeable here. The ceiling insulation was tackled at the outset to ensure the efficiency of the air-conditioning system. The finishing and joinery of the materials and details is maintained as natural and minimalistic. Rubber wood is used for the work desk partitions, tables, and glass supported ceilings in cabins. A carpenter’s work table, commonly known as an “adda”, has been ingeniously repurposed as a conference table.
The space has been successfully transformed from an old storage unit to a fully functional work space. A combination of old and new furniture and elegantly detailed new lighting aids in creating a befitting ambiance. The executed design successfully employs a complex layering of spatial hierarchies that caters to the flexibility essential for a growing design services firm.
