The spaces are carefully planned to encourage collaboration, support diverse work preferences while at the same time, maintaining a strong connection to nature. Our architectural studio has undergone a transformative relocation from a bustling urban landscape to the tranquil suburbs of Ahmedabad. This decision came from not only lack of space in the existing studio, but also the need to be away from the chaos of a very fast paced city. The new studio campus, set within an open expanse, attempts to redefine a workspace, harmoniously integrating nature with the working environment.

Designed with this in mind, the Studio adapts itself around landscape to nurture a flow of creativity. The spatial planning is a careful orchestration to foster collaboration, accommodate diverse work preferences and seamlessly connect with nature. The entrance to the studio, which is to the southeast corner of the plot, is intentionally kept at the farthest end, making every individual take a short walk after parking their vehicle. This walk is along a tall and long, almost fort-like, stone rubble wall covered with bougainvillea creepers.

The entrance itself is through a low covered gateway acting as a threshold which sets the tone for the studio’s mood. The journey then unfolds through a courtyard covered with gravel and 8 large gulmohar trees into the first built form of the campus dedicated to visitors. This building encompasses a small entry porch and a couple of meeting rooms, one of which overlooks another courtyard to the northeast. The court, surrounded by tall lemongrass, acts as a spill-out space from long meetings. The journey then further leads into two directions, with a small block in the south which houses management functions and a service block in the north with washroom and a pantry.

From this point onward, the site is modulated to incorporate sunken areas to soften the contrast between the towering blocks in the west and the shorter trio of buildings in the east. The sunken central courtyard formed by five surrounding building blocks, acts as a focal point, fostering collaboration and providing visual continuity. The block in the southwest which houses cabins for all the partners, strategically positioned for privacy, serves as a haven for focused work. The largest block is the main studio space in the northwest, which houses workstations along with a library, a material sample display and a printing area.

Half the studio is currently a large double volume looking onto 2 Neem trees through a north light, while the other half has an upper level mezzanine which becomes a multipurpose space used for lunch, making models and so on. The upper level is designed with future expansion in mind such that it can later accommodate more workstations. Both the studio block and the block with the cabins are connected by a bridge on the upper level and a pathway through the water body on the lower level. Every corner of the campus is designed for optimized views of the surrounding landscape, ensuring occupants can connect with nature while having ample natural light.

All the building blocks are connected by open walkways, creating a seamless transition between different levels, while also forcing the people in the studio to step out through the day. These walkways not only facilitate movement but also serve as communal spaces, encouraging chance encounters and fostering spontaneous collaborations among the studio's inhabitants. The aforementioned land modulation in the studio campus is not merely a sculptural endeavor, but a deliberate effort to increase the perceived height of the three blocks to the east.

That, along with the peripheral tall grass on the northern and eastern edges of the courtyard, create a very cozy scale to the courtyard. Here, amphitheater-like steps face a large lily pond in the center, providing a perfect place for one to have their evening tea. Lush greenery and carefully selected flora adorn the courtyard as well as the pond, infusing the space with a sense of tranquility. The water contributes to the sensory experience, creating a soothing ambiance, while helping the courtyard stay cooler through the day.

Visitors in the courtyard become active participants in this unfolding narrative of a day at the studio. One can find people in this space all through the day, having enthusiastic discussions over a coffee, having a heated argument with someone over a phone, watching tiny fishes in the pond getting eaten by herons or just sitting and sketching. Locally sourced basalt stone walls, measuring 400mm in thickness, serve as an effective heat barrier against the southern sun. The building features a predominantly steel structure with corrugated steel sloping roofs, crafted without welded joints, imparting a temporary character that allows for future dismantling and reuse.

Reflective double glazed windows provide another heat buffer in the summer months of Ahmedabad, while a large glass northlight in the studio block gives ample daylight without direct sun. Tactfully planted flora in the landscape goes hand in hand with the glazing, filtering beautiful sunlight in all spaces throughout the day. The neutrals of the black stone walls, concrete bands and gravel along with the earthy terracotta tones of the brick pathways, plastered walls and corrugated roofs blend harmoniously with the diverse shades of green in the surrounding landscape, contributing to a serene and balanced aesthetic.

All the roofs gather rainwater through gutters and rain-chains, which along with the rainwater in the sunken courtyard, all get harvested to a tank under the parking. The largest roof of the campus on the studio block is designed at an angle to most efficiently accommodate solar panels. A majority of the artificial lighting is custom made to work seamlessly with the project. Tall lights positioned in the water body are designed to resemble the adjacent reeds. The brass table lamps in the studio are made to create almost a warm library-like vibe in the evenings.

One can see a warm glow of lights uplighting all the spaces, where the lights are designed to be discreet and specifically avoiding a glare in one’s eyes. The outdoor lighting is consciously kept to a minimum such as to be able to enjoy the evening skies, at least until the city expands up to here. This extends the mood and atmosphere of the studio in the late evenings as well. Driven by the core vernacular principles of western Indian architecture, the courtyard and the surrounding pitched roof blocks give a definitive contemporary form to the studio.

The integration of local materials, natural and artificial lighting, and flexibility to move, work and have conversations enhances the studio’s aesthetic appeal and underscores the commitment to creating a workspace that thinks about the people that use it. The result is a tranquil fusion of tradition and modernity, where architecture becomes an integral part of its natural surroundings, resonating with a sense of timelessness.