CEMENTE'D

The client is a cement dealer in Gujarat, who wanted a standalone office. When an old 40-year-old residential building located on the highway leading to the airport came up for sale, he purchased it with the intention of converting it into an office. The ground plus two storey structure has a long, narrow footprint measuring 50 feet x 12 feet, covering a total area of 1,200 square feet over two floors. This was eventually extended to a third level covering a total of 1800 sq.ft. We didn't have to look far for an appropriate concept on which to hinge our design, and decided to concentrate on the use of cement and its characteristic to bond, seal and fuse spaces. Within, the old flooring has been replaced with an in-situ white cement terrazzo, while the walls are a dark grey. We opened up the spaces into clean rectangular areas extending to both ends of the plot. Anchoring the spaces in the centre lies the staircase, which was retained from the original layout connecting the upper floors. Like the site itself, the approach to the main door too is a narrow strip, flanked by other properties on both sides. Working within a tight budget, we simply planted trees along both walls of the approach strip for privacy. The ground floor houses the reception as well as the sales staff and Manager's cabin. In the centre of the space, a staircase leads to the upper floors, its wall becoming a showcase for a story on the history of cement starting from its earliest formations and its use by mankind. The first floor houses the owner's cabin as well as work stations for the staff, while the second floor is a community space with a pool table which doubles as a conference table for board meetings. Within the tight spaces, all the exposed electrical conduits are laid out in a no fuss, practical manner. Table tops are in cement boards, the light fittings also being designed in house from cement sheets. In the corridors, recycled boards have been mounted on the ceiling, with the AC system within. On the roof, solar panels generate the 6KW energy requirement of the office and replenish to the grid what is consumed. Minimal, spartan and with clean lines, this office is sustainable and cost effective. Basing our material palette and aesthetics on the product which the client deals in, our team has skillfully employed cement on floors, walls, lighting and furniture surfaces, to deliver a low maintenance design which is also meaningful in its context.