Lighting in Design Q2 2020

Integrating light into architecture

A series of architectural volumes creates an office for a furniture contract company within its factory in India. Lighting is integrated into the design in innovative ways.

V olumes within volumes at Office @63 in Navi Mumbai, India lend each functional part of the office its own identity. A large reception space is punctuated by a 36 m high seating area in the form of elliptical pods floating in a shallow reflecting pool at one end and a landscaped court- yard at the other end. Towards one side, a 36 m high multifunctional space with movable modular platforms is designed to be used as a furniture display space, a seminar hall or a social interaction space. A cantilevered sweeping stairway spirals asymmetrically through this volume connecting the three levels of the office. Each of the spaces within the office is formed by elliptical volumes that create organic circulation spaces between them. A material palette of glass, metallic paint walnut and wood, sound insula- tion boards, cork and concrete accentuate each area differently.

Lighting is integrated into the design in multiple ways. Perforated partitions of wood fused with Plexiglas, pyramidal module ceilings, and a con- ference room with an installation of light-infused aluminium pipes are the obvious highlights. On each level, large openings allow natural light into the internal spaces from the northern side and unob- structed views of the factory on the southern side. Exposed ducting and exposed structural steel supports allude to the industrial space of the fac- tory along with the steel finishes for most of the partitions. Each of the workstation areas, the discussion rooms, the cabins, conference room, multi-func- tional space and video conferencing room based on the client’s brief is individual in identity and arranged organically over three levels forming an architectural interior with a composition of varying volumes.

13

LiD Q2 - 2020