The project brief called for an Architect’s studio to be accommodated in a heritage building, and needed to accommodate between 8 to 12 architects, a flexible meeting space, cabin -cum -meeting room, pantry, and store.
Project Name: Architect’s Studio
Studio Name: Urban Tree
Location: Pune, Maharashtra
Built Up Area: 1266 Sq. Ft.
Image Credits: Hemant Patil
The main challenge in the project was to restore the built mass to it’s former glory, since most of it’s heritage elements had been distorted over the decades, such as original stone flooring being replaced by glossy vitrified tiles, and timber elements being painted over.
Urban Tree dealt with the design and execution, including restoration works of the entire project. The intervention dealt with both, the interiors as well as the exteriors. This included surface cleaning, treatment, and enhancement of the exteriors as well.
Materials used : The material palette used was kept minimal, maintaining a delicate relation between the heritage and contemporary elements. Timber and wooden finishes played an important role in tying these elements together. Existing 90-year old brass handles and aldrops were complimented with new brass hardware. Uniformly white painted walls create a neutral space where each heritage element and aspect of design is accentuated. A red discussion table in the studio is the only pop-out piece in the overall design.
Architect’s Concept note: The design began with the determination that the new intervention would not overpower the heritage character of the space but would rather blend with it in a manner to make the contemporary and heritage elements co-exist in perfect harmony, blurring the sub-conscious boundary between the two.
