Repurposing an existing structure not only preserves culture but also cuts down on waste and gives a building its new life and purpose by revitalizing it and celebrating the architecture that the building has been displaying for generations.
In urban settings, adaptive reuse contributes to the creation of compact, walkable communities by reusing existing built environments. It supports sustainable urban expansion by promoting infill development and the effective use of already existing infrastructure.
The Context
In an ever-growing metropolis like Mumbai, with such a great architectural history, every street has structures with stories to tell facing threats of getting white-washed or demolished for redevelopment aspirations of builders today. In such settings, lies a ray of hope where architecture is supporting and protecting architecture.
The Loft, located in a 100-year-old Victorian Building, is an architectural studio space repurposed by the Studio PKA Architects in one of the leading art districts of India- South Bombay. This precinct within the city houses a blend of various architectural styles including Neo-Classical, Gothic, Art-Deco, and Victorian.
Setting an Example
The architectural studio emphasizes the heritage and its inherent tactility through subtle refurbishments. Situated atop a historically significant building, the area was purchased with its windows boarded up, wood trusses supported by metal bracing, and brick walls dividing several areas. The reception, a formal meeting room, and the machine room, which is located atop the wooden lift, are all located in the atrium, which also serves as the entrance. A constant stream of light enters the atrium via the skylight above.
Beyond the atrium, the formal division and articulation of spaces continue throughout the floor plate, eventually leading to the studio, the cafeteria, the principal’s area, the client zone, and the library.
Beyond the Conventional Approach
Studio PKA was founded on the belief that environments should reflect the spirit of the places they are in. Working together, experimenting, and continuously challenging traditional standards are key to the studio’s culture. This is highlighted through the firm’s space of work, where all the magic happens.
The concept of investigating and discovering was chosen over a predetermined, required approach to prestige, preserve, and celebrate the place’s character as well as to address the variety of experiences various areas could deliver. Using either visual connection or specific space arrangements inside a single zone, the facility investigated a specific impression of scale and the concept of zones within zones. Designing the space with the goal of making the most of the many viewpoints, natural light, and ventilation were paramount.
Structural Exploration & Efficiency
The structural supports of the intersecting gabled roofs had a significant role in creating the studio’s spatial language. To produce a strong flavor, the sturdy metal-clad trusses, hardwood purlins, and rafters have all been removed and refurbished. Every distinct taste gazes down at a distinct area. Since transparency makes it possible for the different segregations to blend together harmoniously, the facility as a whole retains its own identity.
By keeping its original character, exposing surfaces beneath layers of paint and plaster, and recycling elements like abandoned doors that were salvaged from city buildings that had been demolished and given new life, the tactility pays homage to the space’s raw, unkempt, and stark quality.
The renovated studio space now occupies the same front office as the old, but its floor plate has been shrunk to 2,100 square feet. This is even though the former studio space had a significantly greater floor area—3,500 square feet—and a ceiling height that could reach 21 feet. Even though the flat-slab ceiling has decreased the spatial volume, the studio’s attractiveness remains unaffected.
Spatial Flexibility
A versatile and adaptable design solution is how the studio is intended to be used. One that challenges the conventions of traditional studios, offering a space for group projects, seminars, and displays, as well as a means of bridging the divide between professionals and students and sparking fresh conversations within the fraternity.
A projection screen is hanging from the gable end of the brick wall of this studio, and events for cinema screenings have previously taken place there. A staff library and a café for shared meals are located on the mezzanine level. There’s a cozy nook chamber in one corner that offers a peaceful area for study or reflection.
The studio, which is the focal point of the workplace, is furnished with a variety of seating options and large windows that let in enough of natural light to enable people to work at their most creative.
Redefining Architectural Workspaces
The Loft | Redefined is a synchronic fusion of Studio PKA’s additions and the elements that were previously present. The studio has developed into a massive design that defies the notion of a regular workplace and introduces a flexible design. Studio PKA has been an intermediary to the general public, effectively bridging the gap between experts and students.
A trip through time, reflecting on the past, living in the present, and gazing towards the future, is suggested by the space’s metamorphosis in this studio.
References:
- Caballero, P. (2024, February 25). The Loft Studio Space / Studio PKA. ArchDaily. https://www.archdaily.com/924685/the-loft-studio-space-studio-pka?ad_medium=gallery
- Future, R. (2023, December 27). Studio PKA: Crafting Spaces with Identity and Purpose. RTF | Rethinking the Future. https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/architect/studio-pka/
- Block, I., & Block, I. (2021, March 10). Studio PKA turns heritage building in Mumbai into own architects’ studio. Dezeen. https://www.dezeen.com/2020/08/29/studio-pka-mumbai-the-loft-architects-studio-india/
