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A New Office in Mumbai Highlights Sustainable Design

10.09.24 | By
A New Office in Mumbai Highlights Sustainable Design

The Vibrant Group India, a leading real estate development company in Mumbai, specializes in apartments and commercial properties with an emphasis on today’s eco-friendly living. The design by Sanjay Puri Architects reflects the organization’s own portfolio and commitment to environmental stewardship. “We wanted to convey their message of building green,” says Sanjay Puri, founder and principal of his eponymous firm. The workspace is better known as Office@27, a nod to its location on the 27th floor in one of the more than 4,000 high rise buildings in Mumbai. Puri relied on Vastu principles to enhance the office. This ancient Indian system maintains that aligning a structure with five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space) and energy flow, it ensures harmony – or here, a prosperous business.

A modern reception area with wooden walls and ceiling, a reception desk, a plant, and a woman sitting on a bench reading a magazine.

A person sits alone at a modern wooden desk in a sleek, contemporary office with curved wooden paneling, a wall-mounted screen, and large windows with blinds.

Modern office with wooden furniture, large windows with blinds, unique ceiling lights, a desk with chairs, and a seating area with a sofa and a coffee table.

The architects focused on facets that would highlight the 20-foot ceilings, a rarity in the city’s new buildings. The client initially liked the look of exposed steel beams. However, the designers preferred a solution that would minimize noise and boost acoustic comfort. They envisioned the often overlooked surface above as a unique canvas that they could actually decorate.

Modern office interior with wooden finishes, a unique geometric desk, an ergonomic chair, a computer monitor, a potted plant, and decorative lighting fixtures on the ceiling.

Modern office with wooden walls, a circular conference table, and artistic light fixtures. A bulletin board with various pinned items is mounted on the wavy wooden wall. Glass partitions are in the background.

A wooden wall with wavy grooves and a built-in TV screen next to a potted plant by the window with blinds.

The team sourced 400 cardboard tubes of various sizes from a local packaging factory. Covered with a fire-retardant coating, the cylinders placed overhead form a collage interspersed with lights that cast a soft glow. This surprising treatment set the tone for the rest of the project, which features sustainable materials throughout.

A ceiling design featuring numerous cylindrical tubes arranged parallel to each other, with some cylinders illuminated from within, creating a pattern of light and shadows.

Rather than specify ready-made pieces, all of the furniture and other fixtures were fabricated by craftsmen on site. Much of the leftover scraps were reused and transformed into key objects. The six main cabins that line the perimeter, plus the tables and credenzas inside, are made from recycled plywood strips.

A modern, open-plan office space with wooden cubicles, ceiling ducts, and large windows letting in natural light. Empty desks are equipped with computers and chairs. A plant is in the background.

A modern office space with cubicles, wooden partitions, ergonomic chairs, and a mix of transparent and opaque paneling. The ceiling features geometric designs and the flooring is polished.

The partitions that surround the workstations in the center of the office are reminiscent of geometric art composed of wood and glass. Screens of cane and jute applied to some of the panels offer the right blend of transparency and privacy. Coiled light fixtures made of fabric double as modern sculptures that provide illumination.

A modern office space with wooden partitioned workstations, computer monitors, ergonomic chairs, and large glass windows allowing natural light.

A modern office space with wooden furnishings, computer workstations, and a corridor leading to private rooms with glass and wood partitions.

A breakout space at the far end of the workplace overlooks the city skyline, a place of respite for staff, who often sit at the counter perched on barstools to read or enjoy quiet time during the day. In the conference room, another installation of cardboard is the centerpiece, paired with a custom table and benches crafted of a lightweight concrete foam.

A modern office space with partitioned desks, blue and gray chairs, and wooden cabinetry. A single person is seen standing near the glass-walled conference room in the background.

Material and color palettes echo the soothing tints found in nature, paired with organic textures and shapes. Walls are finished with a matte lime plaster, and terrazzo flooring brings in a hint of sheen. The office not only has special touches, it also serves as inspiration for the staff’s own work. “It’s a small space, but surrounded by glass. It is amazing to look out at all of the new construction and growth that’s happening everywhere,” Puri adds.

Modern open office space with wooden partitions, ergonomic chairs, workstations, overhead lighting, and large windows providing natural light. Bar stools and small tables are at the far left side.

Modern lounge area with a long counter and bar stools facing floor-to-ceiling windows. In the background, two people are seated on a couch with a green gym ball nearby.

A person sits at a high counter reading a newspaper in a bright room with large windows offering a city view. Empty stools are lined up along the counter. Another person is in the background by a large plant.

To see more work by the architect, visit sanjaypuriarchitects.com.

Photography by Vinesh Gandhi.

Anna Zappia is a New York City-based writer and editor with a passion for textiles, and she can often be found at a fashion exhibit or shopping for more books. Anna writes the Friday Five column, as well as commercial content.