Concrete Enthralled: A New Age in Office Design

Abhijit Kothari's Award-Winning Transformation of a Ceramic Showroom into a Modern Office Space

Abhijit Kothari's inspiration for 'Concrete Enthralled' stemmed from a desire to reinvent interior spaces from an architectural perspective. The aim was to create a contemporary, eco-friendly environment that would serve as a brand image for an upcoming developer. The design showcases natural materials in their purest forms, highlighting their textures and rendering traditional techniques to fit modern aspirations and lifestyles.

The project's unique properties lie in its architectural and urban sensibility. Instead of being contained within its walls, the design distorts its boundaries by carefully reconsidering and altering volumetric experience, circulation, climate, and urban interface. This creates a more habitable, relevant, and contextual environment for its users as well as the public at large.

The realization of 'Concrete Enthralled' was a challenge, given that it was a renovation project. The design team had to understand the existing structural grid and make new interventions while keeping the existing structure in mind. They used a five-layered wooden plank of 5" each width shuttering without screws for concreting to achieve the desired texture. The shuttering material was later reused for the pergolas defining the residential entry, demonstrating a commitment to sustainability.

The design team faced several challenges during the project, the most significant being the transformation of the existing space to suit a complete shift of requirements. The existing shell had to be focused on to bring about a meaningful transformation. The team also had to conduct extensive research, including the study of the existing structural column and beam grid for the new intervention, sampling of concrete to achieve the desired finish, and training local masons.

The result is a 2000 sq.ft office space that celebrates materials in their purest forms, highlighting their textures. The overall material palette works with the orange hues of exposed brick, well complimented with the grey concrete, which has become the signature for the project. This project is a testament to the power of problem-solving, aesthetic parameters, and careful space planning and management.

In conclusion, 'Concrete Enthralled' is a remarkable example of architectural transformation, demonstrating how an old, disconnected ceramic ware showroom can be converted into an interactive urban space. The project's success is a testament to Abhijit Kothari's innovative approach to design, earning him a well-deserved Silver A' Design Award in 2019.