AN EXPRESSION OF THEIR WOR
International project
Spaces offices
The whole idea behind the studio for Spaces Architects@ka in
New Delhi, India, was to create a culture, an environment where
people can work, play and interact. A space which encourages
happiness in working.
S
paces Architects@ka believe that the environment is
very important for a person to feel oneness with his/
her surroundings and feel motivated. It holds true
for any creative being, for example a writer, painter
or a dancer, who needs an environment which may
be a natural or a man-made setting for their creative
process. The project is the journey and retrospect of
Kapil Aggarwal’s thought process over the years.
“The whole thought process of designing this studio
was based on three major criteria. The first was personal. When I
talk of personal, the process of creating the office space has been my
journey through different experiences and practice over the years.
The second was intended for the people who visit the office without
any predefined notion, to feel the space and to experience the firm’s
ideology. The third and the most important factor were the people
working in the space. A lot of emphasis was given to what they
require. A place where they can feel good and comfortable to work
in,” says Aggarwal.
The space is perceived as open office with physical space division
created, not through walls, but through transition in levels, ceiling
and flooring. The space constraint with a narrow rectangular area
of 12 foot by 58 foot in the front and widening at the rear with a
further split level of 350 square feet, three foot below. The narrow
front space is used as project gallery space utilizing both the walls.
The front area is used as an informal conference space.
The existing steps to the lower floor are replaced by steps from
the front utilizing the front space. The lower level is used as studio.
The reception visually divides the office into two parts with the
rear being used as breakout spaces and workstations for senior
architects and the services are kept at the rear end.
When the architects were developing the concept, they thought
they should have a green space inside due to a lack of connectivity
with the outdoor space to facilitate interaction. Therefore, they
came up with the idea of having a sitting area in an elliptical form
oriented in such a way that it forms a semi-private space. This space
is effectively used as a breakout area where a person can start a
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