VOLUME 05 ISSUE 01 JANUARY-MARCH 2022
DESIGN CONNECT PROMOTING GOOD TASTE
RUG REPUBLIC HEADQUARTERS
RESSURECTING AN OLD DILAPIDATED BUILDING INTO AN ENITICING OFFICE SPACE
THE ONESPAN OFFICE BY INSIDE STUDIO BE BOLD. BE SECURE
THE MILL PROJECT A WABI-SABI INFLUENCED CONTEMPORARY OFFICE IN ERODE, TAMIL NADU
BIBELOT BY OPEN ATELIER MUMBAI A CONFLUENCE OF DIVERSITY
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rchitecture and design have consciously made an attempt to recreate timelines. In doing so they have brought to the fore a design narrative which connects the past with the present. One of the projects in this league is Moët Hennessy group’s new workspaces in Paris designed by Barbarito Bancel architects. The project not only enhances the site’s art deco heritage but reflects the firm’s cultural transformation by presenting contemporary workspaces, amid a profound questioning of working methods and the spread of distance working. Workspace design is also all about promoting a layout where employees can easily communicate with each other, the intervention needs to combine private areas ensuring the need for physical distance for the protection and well-being of everyone, as well as meeting spaces, rest stations and areas for sports and entertainment. The EG project designed by Jean Verville elucidates this fact quite effortlessly.
Editor’s Note
Back home in Delhi, India ‘The Works Interiors’ design Ridge View Home nestled at the edge of a ridge and facing the sylvan panoramas commonly known as the lungs of Delhi, the home paints a pretty picture of a buoyant, yet tranquil lifestyle. It bestows upon its inhabitants the blessing of dwelling in the city centre, yet away from the chaos of the metropolis. Likewise in Okhla, often referred to as the heart of New Delhi, the Rug Republic headquarters is a reaction to its industrial setting. The headquarters is setup in a dilapidated building which was made reusable again. In designing this project, the designers have laid a great emphasis on reclaiming the usable spaces, by undoing ad-hoc alterations in the building’s spatial layout and removing layers of the flooring that was done by its previous occupants. The result is quite enticing. Meanwhile Open Atelier Mumbai designs Bibelot, a residence which reflects the choices and lineage of each member with diverse Jewish, Maharashtrian and Muslim roots. Nestled in the queen of Mumbai’s suburb’s, Bandra, the home narrates urban lives by reflecting the identity of all its inhabitants, juxtaposing co-existing styles harmoniously and serving as an ode to their rich and multi-faceted lineage. Each area and corner are unique, and each element is a well-thought-out marvel.
Editor Vikas Bhadra vikasbhadra@designconnect.biz Designer Darshan Palav
1,263.4 km away in Tamil Nadu, Quirk Studio designs a mid-century modern and wabisabi influenced contemporary office based in Erode, that houses an heirloom textiles operation. A sense of calm continuity presides over the segments of the office with curated furniture, curios, and lighting fixtures endowing the space with a harmonious vision through the mediums of colour, texture, and sleek silhouettes. The doses of greenery introduced indoors don a sculptural presence with their form and tall forms scaling up to ten feet, iterating the voluminous spaces. This and more in this issue of Design Connect. Happy Reading
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Project EG by Studio Jean Verville Architectes At the crossroad of architecture and installation intervention
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Rug Republic: Turning an old dilapidated building in Okhla,New Delhi into an eniticing office space
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In conversation with Priyanka Singh, Director, VO Living
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The Mill Project: Quirk Studio designs a mid-century modern and wabi-sabi influenced contemporary office in Erode, Tamil Nadu
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Ridge-View Home: A buoyant, yet tranquil lifestyle
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The OneSpan Office by Inside Studio: Located within the confines of historic Windsor station, this project espouses the brand ethos ‘Be Bold. Be Secure’
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Moët Hennessy Workspaces by Barbarito Bancel: Celebrating cultural transformation whilst enhancing the art deco heritage of the site
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Bibelot by Open Atelier Mumbai: Bibelot reflects the diverse choices and lineage of each member it is a home to
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Project EG by Studio Jean Verville Architectes
The EG project is part of an actual hybridization between architecture and installation intervention. Project Designed By: Studio Jean Verville Architectes Photo Courtesy: Félix Michaud
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Project EG by Studio Jean Verville Architectes
PROJECT EG: EXPERIMENTAL, FUNCTIONAL AND AESTHETICALLY PLEASING Design Connect|January-March 2022
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Project EG by Studio Jean Verville Architectes
Addressing the fictional potential of architectural space, the EG project is part of an actual hybridization between architecture and installation intervention. Fascinated by the photographic worlds illustrating the eclectic production of Jean Verville, clients, eager for unusual creative experiences, adopt the playful approach of the architect with passion, rigor, and sensitivity. The result is an architecture that is both functional and aesthetic, offering a minimalist and playful experience distinctive of the work of Studio Jean Verville architectes.
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A complicit, mischievous adventure...an amazing result for and, above all, worthy of our team! » Vincent Drapeau and Samuel G. Labelle, co-owners, Les Entreprises d’électricité E.G. Ltée.
The industrial character, offered by the raw surfaces of the concrete, the shine of the stainless steel, and the translucent partitions unifying in an entity energized by accents of orange color, loads the space with an aesthetic cohesion emphasizing the re-interpretation of the open-plan office concept. Both minimalist and expressive, EG offers an environment indulgent of accumulation and excess to stimulate the participatory experience that is part of the daily life of its users.
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Project EG by Studio Jean Verville Architectes
Prioritizing an architectural intervention with an assumed scenography, and falling within a strategy of minimizing its environmental impact, the project proposes the rehabilitation of a disused industrial building from the 1980s in order to establish the head office of Les Entreprises d’électricité E.G. Ltée, founded in 1951. By deploying 250 stainless steel strut channels, an imposing architectural device organizes distances and proximities, circulations, and groupings. These metal profiles, common in the electrical field, are used to fix the partitions, to support the furniture, and to camouflage all of the wiring. This profusion of elements composes an irregular frame that marks the space with vertical lines structuring the spatial delimitations.
Project EG by Studio Jean Verville Architectes
Promoting a layout where employees can easily communicate with each other, the intervention combines private areas ensuring the need for physical distance for the protection and well-being of everyone, as well as meeting spaces, rest stations, and areas for sports and entertainment. The portion dedicated to offices, a space distributed in half-levels and proving too cramped for the needs of the company, requires a complete reconfiguration (reception, administrative offices, conference room, kitchen, employee room, and storage).
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In order to maximize the contribution of natural light, the huge garage door is replaced by a curtain wall. On the roof, the addition of six skylights, with dimensions that fit into the existing structural framework, helps provide increased natural lighting. These multiple light sources, filtered by translucent partitions, wrap the space in kinetic lighting that contributes to the theatricality of the experiment. Connect Online@ www.jeanverville.com
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Project EG by Studio Jean Verville Architectes
The individual and collaborative workspaces, requiring a large area, are set up in a portion subtracted from the huge storage space of the building. Partially deconstructed, the existing firewall, made of concrete blocks, is transformed into an articulated railing and a staircase offering visual and physical access to this new sector located below the administrative spaces. This work area, defined by a new enclosure also in concrete blocks, constitutes a generous volume with a height of six meters below the ceiling, benefiting from level access with the immense warehouse area in order to optimize the functionality of the premises.
Rug Republic HQ by Architecture Discipline
RUG REPUBLIC HEADQUARTERS: AN ODE TO THE PAST AND PRESENT 12 Design Connect|January-March 2022
Rug Republic HQ by Architecture Discipline
Designed by Architecture Discipline the design of the Rug Republic Headquarters is a reaction to the building’s industrial setting. Having said that, it does not shy away from making a contemporary statement which keeps the onlooker hooked. Project Designed By: Architecture Discipline Photo Courtesy: Jeetin Sharma Design Connect|January-March 2022
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It’s fascinating to take something forgotten and to give it new life: this is the century of recuperation. There is no space, no forests, no water anymore for continuous production of new things. So, take something old and make it special.’
Rug Republic HQ by Architecture Discipline
Emerging from this thought, the design of the Rug Republic headquarters in Okhla, in the heart of New Delhi is a reaction to its industrial setting: an indictment of what we have brought our cities to. The brief presented by the client was to make the existing dilapidated building usable again, within a limited budget and with minimal interventions. Hence, a great emphasis has been placed on reclaiming the usable spaces, by undoing ad-hoc alterations in the building’s spatial layout and removing layers of the flooring that was done by its previous occupants.
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Rug Republic HQ by Architecture Discipline
The design, a weeping transformer, is a reinterpretation of an expression of warehouses that emerges from the architect’s understanding of the physical context and the challenges it posed. By equating Okhla to a war zone, a metal shell has been enveloped around the structure to protect the interiors from the hostile and acrid environment.
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Rug Republic HQ by Architecture Discipline
An inward-looking building, therefore, finds its justification in the site’s industrial skyline that offers nothing of visual interest at eye level. Furthermore, acrid air quality and ruckus created by the monkeys in the neighborhood demanded a deviation from the conventional glass architecture and prevented large openings on the facade. Within the building, the movement is centered around a helical staircase, thereby a curved aperture creates a sharp contrast against the rectilinear ceiling and establishes a visual connection between all floors. The curved form is further reflected on the exterior facade and helps draw the eye towards it.
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There is a well-defined hierarchy in the spatial organization. Frequently used spaces such as offices and temporary exhibitions are housed on the ground floor, while permanent exhibitions for the company’s diverse products and private office cubicles are accommodated on the upper levels.
Rug Republic HQ by Architecture Discipline
Two container areas have been designed as a spillover space during the work breaks and a small terrace on the top provides views of the distant greens. Since the building has been designed for one of the largest international exporters of rugs and soft furniture, the idea was to create a bare shell that generates a non-intrusive backdrop to celebrate their exquisite work. This has been enabled using bare black interiors, rebar cage and other inexpensive interventions for the exhibition that offer unfinished aesthetics to the space.
Furthermore, the use of temporary interventions adds to a degree of flexibility to the internal layout. The floors are lined using fire bricks to allow ease of removal for re-working in the future. On the exterior facade, a visual connection to the outside has been maintained using controlled apertures crafted in corten steel. The jaali allows minimal daylight to penetrate within and prevent monkeys from entering the premises.
On the lower floor near the entrance, split-face granite stones have been used for their ease of maintenance and rigidity. To achieve functional efficiency and ease of maintenance, the services have been planned on the outside.
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The building is a reflection of the current time and creates a strong impression with the onlooker. It has been designed as a protective armour offering very little views of the outside, keeping the hostile and acrid environment away. By doing so, it puts forth a pressing question “have we brought ourselves to this? And, even if we have, can we still make it interesting?” Instead of hiding under a veil of glass and granite, the design aims to make a postindustrial statement that would intrigue the visitor. With carefully engineered design interventions, a new life has been leased to the structure and made it pertinent for years to come.
Rug Republic HQ by Architecture Discipline
Connect Online@ www.architecturediscipline.com
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In conversation with Priyanka Singh, Director, VO Living
LUXURY ADDS ELEGANCE AND STYLE TO A ROOM In furniture, the perfection of luxury is the amalgamation of high-quality finishes, materials and a thoughtful design says Priyanka Singh, Director, VO Living. What is your take on the furniture designs India as a nation is famous for? India is famous for its wood. Woods such as teak, sheesham wood, and rubberwood are commonly found and used here. Not only does wood look splendid, but it is also durable and sturdy. India is well known for the quality of its craftsmanship, as seen in traditional handmade furniture. As a result,The combination of raw material and expert craftsmanship distinguish Indian furniture design from the rest of the world.
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In conversation with Priyanka Singh, Director, VO Living
Over the years what has changed when it comes to the evolution of this taste? Although procurement of raw material and craftsmanship techniques have not changed much over the years, people’s design choices have evolved constantly. As a result, the Indian furniture market is witnessing a huge boom due to the demand for contemporary designs with a global appeal, yet uniquely Indian. Minimalism has hit furniture design too, what is the appropriate way to respond to this development?
Priyanka Singh
Minimalism in furniture design means using a few furniture pieces to create maximum impact. Select bold and attractive pieces which can curate thoughtfully to create a distinct look. This approach sets us free from the clutter and brings attention to the furniture in the room.
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To what extent are Indians willing to splurge on interiors and especially on the luxurious furniture? Most of the furniture market is in the luxurious segment. Indians are house-proud, and they love to spend their limited budget on their furniture and decor for luxury. While each individual has their own budget, people still tend to splurge on interiors and decor to a great extent. When it comes to furniture design itself or selection of furniture what are the finer aspects to be kept in mind?
Comfort, scale, and color are essential while choosing the furniture that matches your style. Also, keep in mind the furniture’s scale; it should neither be too big nor too small for the given space. You can also use furniture in vibrant color as accent pieces to brighten the room. Which material do you believe will continue to remain in vogue as far as designing furniture is concerned ?
The material which can never go out of style or trend is wood. It has an artistic value and adds warmth to the given room. The best aspect of wood is its different type, a wide variety of textures and fine finishes available in the market.
In conversation with Priyanka Singh, Director, VO Living
What epitomises luxury in furniture or furniture design?
Luxury adds elegance and style to a room. The perfection of luxury in furniture is the amalgamation of high-quality finishes and materials and a thoughtful design. These elements will help give your space a luxurious feel as per your style.
Who are some of your favourite product/ furniture designers? In India, I adore the work of Sussanne Khan. The design and elements that she builds into her furniture designs are commendable. We are looking forward to collaborating with her as well.
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It came from our vision to help our clients realize their dream spaces. The essence of the room comes from the furniture and decor. VO Living helps them bridge the gap between the demand for global trends and their availability in the country. Tell us something about the products you offer?
We have a wide range of products, from bespoke furniture to antique lamps, wall art, sculptures and other accessories. In addition, we have globally sourced collectables from 8 countries like Asian countries, Europe, Vietnam and Africa. We will soon bring in artwork, fabric and prints from South America as well. Connect Online@ www.voliving.com
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In conversation with Priyanka Singh, Director, VO Living
What led to the inception of VO Living?
The Mill Project by Quirk Studio
THE MILL PROJECT 24 Design Connect|January-March 2022
The Mill Project by Quirk Studio
Quirk Studio designs a mid-century modern and wabi-sabi influenced contemporary office in Erode, Tamil Nadu that houses an heirloom textiles operation. Project Designed By: Quirk Studio Photo Courtesy: Kuber Shah
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The Mill Project by Quirk Studio
The balmy city of Erode is the nucleus of Tamil Nadu’s thriving textile industry and is cloaked in a riot of sound and colour. The location celebrates the harmonious binary coexistence of the old and new, both tingeing the city’s history. With its terrain dotted with the presence of factories and industrial plants, Erode is a melting pot of modernised trade and enduring heritage that its residents have kept alive. Sequestered in one such remote factory premises, abuzz with activity is The Mill Project(Ālai - translates to ‘Mill’ in Tamil) — an office crafted for a family-run enterprise wherein the patriarchal head and his two sons shoulder the operations. The rugged natural landscape on the fringes of the city, houses the built mass in its vast entirety, offering the space a unique topography to occupy, and evocative of creating an oasis amid barren lands.
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The design atelier has created pragmatic zones within the bare shell of the industrial enclosure. This forms functional spaces that work jointly to induce a functional flow in the office. The minimalism sewn into the workplace’s construct allows each space to honour the brief while engaging playfully with elements of scale, light, and materials that ink the saga of the office.
A raw material profile encompassing cement finishes, lime plaster textures, and wooden nuances is juxtaposed against the panache of marbles in monochrome palettes. The omnipresence of glass partition systems in the interior layout ties together the floor plan visually, lending it a seamless character while the intriguing interplay of light and shadow through the glazed surfaces washes the interiors fleeting daylight. The workplace’s narrative is a compelling collage of Wabi-Sabi and Mid-Century Modern timeless design styles that converge to create a functional and luxe work environment. The commonalities that make the chosen design styles the idyllic fit are derived from their shared penchant for clean geometry which departs from inessential ornamentation, the celebration of materials in their untainted form, and the prevalence of an understated yet artistic simplicity across spaces and their objects.
A sense of calm continuity presides over the segments of the office with curated furniture, curios, and lighting fixtures endowing the space with a harmonious vision through the mediums of colour, texture, and sleek silhouettes. The doses of greenery introduced indoors don a sculptural presence with their form and tall forms scaling up to ten feet, iterating the voluminous spaces. The office’s unassuming exterior façade composed of a double-tiered band of rectilinear wood and glass windows steals glimpses of the interior workspace and is speckled with modernist black and white gooseneck wall sconces, planters, and a spindled bench. Attributed to its remote location, the site often faces prolonged spells of power outages, hence the need for active air ventilation and the presence of natural light assumes pivotal importance. The windows lining the exterior elevation enable conducive flow between the factory and the office, allowing spaces indoors to maintain habitable indoor conditions during unforeseen outages.
The Mill Project by Quirk Studio
A mandate of the client’s needs dictates the requirement for a workplace that is an ode to the rooted context within which the built form is situated, a tribute to the suburban habitat where it all began. The inspiration to sculpt the blank industrial canvas stems from the architecture of the building intrinsically — towering fourteen-foot-high ceilings punctuated with large floor-toceiling fenestrations overlooking abundant stretches of tropical verdure and the azure skies above.
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The Mill Project by Quirk Studio
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The entrance leads into the compact reception space that is framed by a stone veneer adorned by swirling marbling patterns in charcoal, grey, and browns. A monolithic concrete-body reception desk is coupled with a black and white globe cluster chandelier; this preliminary space acknowledges the ingrained design inclination of the office.
ers while maintaining viable circulation. The ensemble of cement-finished flooring, bright ivory walls, and the grid of wooden rafters on the ceiling create a pared-down yet stimulating aura. Bordered by the window-lined façade wall on one end and a wood and fluted glass partition system on the other, the workstation bay is coherently distinguished from the private cabins by a spinal circulation passageway. The custom partition administers privacy for the private cabins towards the rear of the layout and also filters in light into the main workspace, eliminating the need to utilize mechanical lighting until dusk. A private discussion room occupies a glass-enclosed cabin within the workspace which is bathed in a monotone palette and can host concentrated groups around its suave round table and upholstered taupe chairs.
Tucked into the quiet perimeter of the layout beholding external views, the conference room bears a stated demeanour that exudes tactful material play and creates vignettes of alluring design. The pièce de résistance is the expansive ten-seater marble conference table that commands the room. A vision in monochrome with stunning accentuated veining that envelopes its body, the table is paired with slender off-white upholstered chairs that build on the tonal play. The restrained lime plastered walls and deep-toned wooden flooring humbly bear themselves to allow the design elements to take the spotlight. The ceiling bedecked in teak finishes is layered with a grid pattern of rafters, lending it an added sense of dimension is the poised contemporary black minimalist chandelier. the grid motif of the ceiling trickles onto the wall, creating a visual linkage between the surfaces.
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The Mill Project by Quirk Studio
The communal workstation bay is the epicentre of the open-plan layout and is devoid of obsolete mammoth partitions witnessed in bygone corporate spaces. The articulate placement of furniture defines the zones and renders it with a clean aesthetic via the employment of ergonomic wood and black metal furniture — a material alliance synonymous with Mid-Century modern aesthetics. The placement of community desks encourages conversation and interaction among end-us
The Mill Project by Quirk Studio
A crossover amidst modernist sensibilities and intuitive forms, the Managing Director’s cabin is set apart by its grooved wooden focal wall which poses as the backdrop to the space. A suede grey sofa dominates the lounge in the cabin, a stark marble desk rests boldly in the foreground, and is complemented by classic Jeanneret-inspired chairs in an olive hue. The desk area is canopied by a neoteric pendant that unites spherical and cylindrical forms gracefully. The cabin soaks in boundless views of the topography through its lofty fenestration whilst experiencing uninterrupted privacy.
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The two private cabins have been conceptualised with a shared vision in which functionality layered with statement materials, hues and textures manifest the design scheme. The former cabin employs slate grey grooved paneling that assembles to form an array of rectilinear motifs; this pattern is replicated on opposite walls to generate visual symmetry in the space.
The second cabin sheaths its walls in a mild grey grid box paneling which is carried over on the opposing wall of the room. Both private cabins are peppered with marble work desks, olive-tone chairs, offwhite lounge sofas, sculpturesque indoor plants, and geometric-inspired monotone task lighting. The cabins too witness the stretched-out scenic views through their ample windows that look into the surroundings.
The Mill Project is a dexterous design endeavor that has inverted the approach towards conceiving spaces in the realm of industrialisation. Its acute devotion towards the adapted design grammar has allowed the workplace to redefine stated opulence in a novel light! The project liberates itself from archaic design directives to bestow its end-users with a venue that honours their bona fide roots while weaving together a perceptive narrative that straddles the past, present, and future with empathy. Connect Online@ www.quirkstudio.in
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The Mill Project by Quirk Studio
Supplemental zones in the office are a cluster of the pantry and the powder bathroom. The utilitarian pantry assumes an L-configuration and emanates minimalism which is summoned forth by the usage of marble as a running countertop and backsplash material and muted cabinetry. The tessellated indigo, black and grey cement tile flooring pervades the pantry and dining nook, adding a touch of zest to the space. The slick powder bathroom is veiled in blackveined marble ubiquitously, where the framed mirror, dapper wall sconce, and Venetian blinds accent the space.
Ridge-View Home by The Works Interiors
A BUOYANT, YET TRANQUIL LIFESTYLE Project Designed By : The Works Interiors Photo Courtesy: Andre Fanthome, Studio NAC
Spread across 1800 sq.ft the Ridge-View Home is a warm abode that is cosy yet effervescent.
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Ridge-View Home by The Works Interiors
Located in a quaint, cloistered corner in the heart of New Delhi, is a cosy apartment that is the epitome of life and vigour.
Nestled at the edge of a ridge and facing the sylvan panoramas commonly known as the lungs of Delhi the home paints a pretty picture of a buoyant, yet tranquil lifestyle. It bestows
upon its inhabitants the blessing of dwelling in the city centre, yet away from the chaos of the metropolis. Envisaged for a couple with a keen interest in all things colours, the design scheme weaves the whims and fancies of the well-travelled clients into the design story of the tangible, colourful and stimulating piece of art that is the Ridge-View apartment. Having retired after a 20-year stint in a high-profile corporate job in Mumbai, the client wanted the home to embody the finer things in life that bring him closer to his intrinsic love for fitness, reading, fashion, coffee and art.
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Ridge-View Home by The Works Interiors
With a frontal of almost 60 ft., the apartment enjoys vistas of the panoply of nature, through all key areas which includes the living and dining area, along with the three rooms. Ample sunlight washes the interiors in warmth and comfort, endowing dynamism into the spaces and becoming a canvas as the shadows change patterns through the day. The apartment tapers towards the rear end, where the kitchen and the utility areas are tucked in.
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The 1800 sq. ft. home opens up through a wide foyer passageway into an open livingcum-dining area with expansive windows that frame the verdant neighbourhood. Mirroring the outdoors, a botanical print wallpaper forms the backdrop of the living room, syncing harmony with the pastel blue sofas. A set of lounging chairs against the window become the clients’ sanctuary, where they spend time relaxing and basking in nature’s glory and turn the chairs around when entertaining guests. A shelf and a console in deep blue, the client’s much-loved colour pick, become the showstopper elements that house interesting memorabilia, books and a royal chessboard.
Ridge-View Home by The Works Interiors
Set adjacent to the living area, the dining space is an unconventional design intervention that attempts to break away from the customary model of rectangular tables. A curvilinear, bean-shaped table, oriented diagonally in the space radiates gusto, adding a fun element and an informal vibe to the room; it does not remain just a dining table anymore, but also a place for interaction and recreation. These semi-private areas are free of partitions, flowing into each other seamlessly, opening up the apartment into a lively, breezy abode.
Aligned with the living and dining area, the walk-in closet flanks the hallway passage on the other side. Tall shutter doors embellished in delicate fabric open up to reveal a fully mirrored room in soft brown undertones, complete with a myriad of wardrobes and drawers accommodating the clients’ eclectic range of fashion accessories.
The plush carpets allow one to sink their feet in as they take in the luxurious feel, whilst the centre island table tied in with the subtle neutrality of the browns enables clothes and accessories to be laid out and to pop with their vivid colours.
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Ridge-View Home by The Works Interiors
A passage abutting the foyer leads to the master bedroom and the den. A neutral theme in the bedroom allows bursts of colours to draw attention to the pieces with stories to tell. A wooden herringbone-patterned panel sweeps across one end of the ceiling, adding drama to the otherwise plain opus. Two pendant lights are suspended from the panel, hovering gracefully over the side tables. A cosy chair in a bright, canary yellow, the wife’s favourite, overlooks the sombre landscape outside, emanating a meditative, spa-like feel.
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Insistent on avoiding wastage of space on the rarely used guest bedrooms, the clients wanted the smallest room to be converted into a cosy den that echoes their passions and hobbies and allows them to research and reflect. Peppered with lush planters, the den weaves a playful visual story replete with checks and abstract patterns in hues of blue to fashion a narrative that truly speaks of the family. The furniture pieces crafted in natural oak wood keep the colour tones light, giving the illusion of expanse. A treadmill sits in a nook, while a comfortable work desk faces the window, inviting one to squeeze in a quick, impromptu workout session in the day or curl up to read a book amidst the warm glow of sunlight.
Tucked towards the rear, the kitchen has been designed as a minimal, sturdy and easymaintenance utility space. The sleek cabinetry combining light brown laminate with high gloss blues is brought to life with a backsplash of dazzling Moroccan-style tiles. A white quartz countertop gives a clean, pristine look, complemented by glass shutters in overhead cabinets that fuse flair and finesse to make a modern, practical and decluttered kitchen space.
Ridge-View Home by The Works Interiors
Every furniture accessory whether a fixed or a loose piece has been handcrafted in the workshop by the studio’s team of seasoned artisans with utmost love, labour and acute attention to detail. The pieces are bespoke and made to exact sizes, with the ability to be refurbished, upcycled and repurposeddefining luxury in its true sense. The oak wood used in the home is procured from plantation timber that is sustainable and versatile to different shapes and colours. Wall adornments are neatly fitted to the wall, avoiding legs or supporting columns that make cleaning the floor a hassle. Indian white marble in the flooring was retained to help keep the house cool in the sweltering Delhi weather.
In the Ridge View Home, modern flirts with mid-century as a striking range of artwork, luxurious handcrafted furniture and murals bedecks the walls and fills the house with warmth, merriment and memories. Unafraid of colour, the design merges comfort, style and functionality to curate a vibrant home with surprises in every corner. Connect Online @www.theworksinteriors.com
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The OneSpan Office by inside Studio
OneSpan: Fun, Bold and Whimsical 38 Design Connect|January-March 2022
The OneSpan Office by inside Studio
Lighting played a large role in inside Studio’s design of the OneSpan office, with more than a dozen lighting products selected for very specific functions. The project’s lighting consists of a combination of fun, bold and whimsical choices . Project Designed By: inside Studio Photo Courtesy: Stephane Brugger
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LumiGroup, Quebec’s largest lighting agency, recently unveiled its collaboration with inside Studio, designers of the OneSpan office in downtown Montreal. Located within the confines of historic Windsor station, the 55,000 sq. ft. space is a melding of inspired architecture and bold interior design, with inside Studio’s unique perspectives, sequences, and discoveries being recognized by Canadian Interiors as a Best of Canada Award winner in the office category.
The OneSpan Office by inside Studio
The Task at Hand inside Studio was tasked with relocating the company’s head office to a more central setting of the city, and an initial space study led to the historic grandeur of Windsor Station, the former downtown passenger depot of the Canadian Pacific Railway. In addition to checking all of the boxes in terms of available space, flow, and building services, the unique setting provided the designers with a blank canvas upon which to visually capture OneSpan’s new identity and branding ethos – Be Bold. Be Secure.
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A Bold Interpretation of The Past The client immediately embraced the vision, recognizing the potential of a space already adorned with expansive windows, poured terrazzo floors, and sections of exposed original brick. However, the core design elements of the space still reflected their original purpose, so inside Studio embarked on a lengthy demolition process to strip it down to its bare essentials. As if entering a time warp, that process led to a plethora of intriguing discoveries, including additional original brick, arches, fireplaces, and original wood panelling.
With so much character and history, the building also exuded a vibe reminiscent of a trendy SoHo loft apartment. With the client’s ethos firmly in mind, the designers set out to marry the bold branding concept with the original elements of the building. The harmonization of contrasting characters included the introduction of certain SoHo elements, such as the strategic placement of pop art on the walls, and a focus on an overall eclectic look and feel. The firm also infused a degree of ‘whimsical’ elements into the space, including its choice of furnishings for the office’s common spaces. They also decided to retain some of the original building’s ornate doors for the office’s conference rooms, which sealed the marriage between past and present with an application of ‘bold’ colours and modern glass framing that brings the doors to vivid life.
The OneSpan Office by inside Studio
“The client’s ethos was incorporated into our design concept from the outset, as well as their requirements for groups working in clusters and loops,” says Susie Silveri, Principal Designer and founder of inside Studio. “Architecture dictates the flow of a space, and this beautiful building offered ideal possibilities for navigating through OneSpan’s operations.”
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The OneSpan Office by inside Studio
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“We wanted the overall space to remain fairly neutral, but with punches of boldness that stand out and clearly define certain areas and functions,” explains Tina Rahaniotis, inside Studio’s Lead Designer for the OneSpan project. “The meeting rooms are also appointed with equally bold textured carpeting, and those elements collectively distinguish the space.”
Lighting played a large role in inside Studio’s design of the OneSpan office, with more than a dozen lighting products selected for very specific functions. The project’s lighting consists of a combination of fun, bold, and whimsical choices pre-selected by the designers, as well as general lighting schemes hashed out through close consultations with LumiGroup, a lighting agency representing a global array of manufacturers.
“It’s so important to work with a lighting consultant that understands your vision in terms of quantity, intensity, colour and design, and we have turned to LumiGroup for more than a decade whenever we have a lighting challenge or a particular specification,” notes Ms.Rahaniotis. “Lighting was a critical part of the OneSpan project, particularly given the space’s gallery-like ambiance.” In the conference rooms, the firm opted for decorative lighting solutions that temper the ambiance of traditional meeting rooms with a more residential feel. Linear lighting from above illuminates individual workspaces, while sleek track lighting, with powerful outputs, helps showcase the architectural elements meant to be emphasized. Transparent Connectivity Other creative design elements include the installation of Tailored solution Enclosed Movable office walls executive office cubes in the center of the main workspace. The strategic positioning of the floating offices, bathed in glass and framed in vivid colours, frees up space for common lounge areas to benefit from the natural light provided by the building’s expansive windows, where offices would traditionally be located. Furthermore, the central office pods provide greater connectivity between their occupants and their surrounding teams. Connect Online@ www.inside-studio.ca www.lumigroup.com/contact Design Connect|January-March 2022
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The OneSpan Office by inside Studio
Shining Light On Aesthetic, Function and Efficiency Upon arrival at the OneSpan office, original brick walls and archways frame the expansive reception area. An adjacent corridor, floored in white oak and bordered by accents of OneSpan purple and lilac, lead into the heart of the L-shaped floorplan. In playing with scale, the firm selected large, pivoting disc lights that hang from suspended fixtures, which succeeds in animating and providing shape and size to the corridor.
Moët Hennessy Workspaces by Barbarito Bancel
MOËT HENNESSY, PARIS:
DENOTING THE NEW NORMS IN WORKSPACE DESIGN xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Moët Hennessy group’s new workspaces in Paris respects the firms past keeping in mind the contemporary need of modern workspaces.
Project Designed By: Barbarito Bancel Photo Courtesy: Alessandra Chemollo and slowphoto.studio
44 Design Connect|January-March 2022
Enthusiasm, curiosity, and pleasure: these three keywords guided the approach of the architects of the Barbarito Bancel practice in designing the Moët Hennessy group’s new workspaces. The group, representing excellence in wines and spirits, has established its French headquarters above the Grande Épicerie de Paris, on the upper floors of Bon Marché, with a floor space of over 10,000 m² in the gastronomic heart of Paris.
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45 Moët Hennessy Workspaces by Barbarito Bancel
Moët Hennessy Workspaces by Barbarito Bancel
The stakes were very high in both image and use. The project had to reflect Möet Hennessy’s values, enhance the site’s Art Deco heritage, design a sustainable project, embody the group’s development strategy in the project, and initiate a cultural transformation of the company by presenting contemporary workspaces, amid a profound questioning of working methods and the spread of distance working.
The aim was to create a unique, outstanding project that would benefit Moët Hennessy’s staff. Driven by the vision of Philippe Schaus, the company’s President, the method of the architects Barbarito Bancel was based on listening, with the aim of designing tailor-made spaces and bringing out the potential of the place and its hidden virtues. Common sense, high standards, and the quality of the result are the foundations of sustainable architecture.
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The challenge was to design contemporary workspaces in partnership with the Moët Hennessy teams, including Sylvie Atienza, director of human resources, aiming steadily at transformation, creativity, and results. In an increasingly digital, “augmented and algorithmic” society, offices can still convey feelings, pleasure, well-being, and renewed peer relationships. They are a vital ingredient in the performance and success of any business. The space for “productive work” becomes a “place to live”, “a place of empathy”, promoting personal growth, confidence, and sharing. At first glance, the quality of the architectural space is visual; it then touches the sphere of the invisible, relating to individual feelings and favoring well-being that goes well beyond immediate comfort.
The adoption of current thinking about workspaces and the embodiment of the Moët Hennessy group’s values in architecture was the first step in the project. Excellence, know-how, craftsmanship, attention to detail, authenticity of materials, nobility without ostentation, the festive spirit, the pleasure of celebrating, the art of living, and the art of tasting: Moët Hennessy’s values have been a source of inspiration. In these ways, the project exploits “natural light as its raw material” and creates sightlines towards the Parisian urban landscape or the central patio laid out with vegetation. This combination defines comfortable workplaces, bright, soundproof, and filled with greenery. Likewise, the project seeks the right balance between shared space and individual space, with an efficient organization between servant spaces and served spaces, and offers a clearly legible plan that conveys a sense of security and serenity. In keeping with these values, the Barbarito Bancel practice offers a comprehensive and holistic design to develop a tailormade, coherent, and unique spatial ensemble: glazed steel frames in the façade, removable partitions, the design of the furniture, flexible floors, parquet, carpets, lighting, chandeliers, signage, and iconography. In all regards the MH142 project is a precise exposition of architectural, human and entrepreneurial adventure conducted with the desire to combine efficiency, elegance, and feeling.
Connect Online@ www.barbaritobancel.com
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Moët Hennessy Workspaces by Barbarito Bancel
Today’s workspaces are capable of developing qualities similar to those of living spaces. Creating emotions, stirring the senses, offsetting the expansion of virtual space, and the presence of digital technology: are the new requirements that architecture has to fulfill. The wish for renewed ties with nature resonates with the urge to disconnect from the virtual world. The desire for “beauty” is no longer superfluous; it has become an elementary need, an essential quality.
Bibelot by Open Atelier Mumbai
Bibelot: A Confluence Of Different Backgrounds
48 Design Connect|January-March 2022
Bibelot reflects the choices and lineage of each member it is home to a family with diverse Jewish, Maharashtrian and Muslim roots. Project Designed By: Open Atelier Mumbai Photo Courtesy: Prashant Bhat
Design Connect|January-March 2022
Bibelot by Open Atelier Mumbai
A family is a confluence of different backgrounds, varying choices and vivid personalities. An abode for a family of juxtaposing choices that are amalgamated together is what is termed as the Bibelot. Nestled in the queen of Mumbai’s suburb’s, Bandra, the space is home to a family with diverse Jewish, Maharashtrian and Muslim roots. Professionally, one of them is a renowned celebrity and an event manager. Conjugating all the traits, the home narrates urban lives by reflecting the identity of all its inhabitants, juxtaposing co-existing styles harmoniously and serving as an ode to their rich and multi-faceted lineage. Each area and corner is unique, and each element is a wellthought-out marvel.
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Bibelot by Open Atelier Mumbai
The living room of this three-bedroom apartment basks in the cultural representation of the Maratha and Rajput design styles. The eye-catching orange jharokha, fitted with a mirror, adds depth and character to the space, complemented by the earthy-toned furniture in deep green and browns. Toning down the space is the textured concrete ceiling and floor that allow the exquisite peacock painting on the wall to take centre stage. In contrast, the concrete floor is intricately detailed with liquid metal to shape a striking flooring pattern that adds drama to the overall setting. A subtle flow of the cultural language flows into the dining space, which dons an ornate dining table and a delicate console in orange hues. Classic black chairs with rattan bases complete the retro-meet-art deco dining space with a solid textured grey wall, detailed with piping and cornices. The kitchen is a piece of art, a juxtaposing section with classic wooden cabinets shutters, white brick-like dado tiles and Warli art engraved on the shutters below the counter. Portraying Maharashtrian culture art, the shutter is a threedimensional tectonic sculpture in stone finish milled on a CNC, an exquisite piece of art in itself.
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Adapting another contrasting visual language and vocabulary, the master bedroom is an amalgamation of art-deco and bohemian design styles. A playful collaboration of a vivid colour scheme includes shades in poppy pink, egg whites and a delectable blue. The hues are accentuated with cornice details, drop lamps and vein coding panels. Sharply standing out is the circular embedded ceiling in a burnt orange that adds a warm retro feel to the space, while flamboyantly defragmenting the design language.
The other room in the house tells another distinct story, one that is contemporary and rooted in the organic style. Belonging to the client’s daughter, the room is made with an exposed ceiling adorned with textured concrete patterns, a detailed cornice running along the edges and a rustic chandelier. One surface of the room is made up of wardrobes that are made with polished timber shutters and rattan screens, imported from the local market in Oshiwara.
Materially, the home exhibits different experiments, all unique in character. However, the extraordinary ‘Top Flex’ flooring by Italian company San Marco steals the show. The micro concrete surface is unlike the more common IPS flooring which is glossy and prone to cracking and instead is matte in effect and creates a distinctive character., On top of the concrete, liquid metal is seamlessly incorporated to achieve eclectic patterns and motifs that run across the house, basking it in an exquisite characteristic that creates visual impact.
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Bibelot by Open Atelier Mumbai
Breaking the solidity of the walls is the distinct capsule-shaped cut-out that offers glimpses of the white and green shower tiles of the bathroom. The room is a loud personification of the inhabitant’s vibrant personality that is hard to miss and can be defined by one singular style.
Bibelot by Open Atelier Mumbai
52 Design Connect|January-March 2022
Bibelot by Open Atelier Mumbai
In its entirety, the collaboration with the gifted artist Rutuja Padwal effortlessly explains this home as an aesthetic oxymoron, a flux of experiences that cause a rush of different emotions. The power in her strokes and use of colour, for example, the vibrant orange, brings out the facets of the family members’ personalities, which was essentially the design intent. Moreover, an artistic perspective from Rutuja brings contrasting design styles together yet is fresh and imaginative. Her personal touch renders the harmony and cohesively embraces every space to become a haven for united living.
Connect Online@ www.openateliermumbai. com
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