1. What was the brief from the client? And how did you achieve the same intertwining of your style?
The thinKitchen by Seeba Group is one of India’s leading kitchen & home shopping destinations aimed at the premium market. The space is occupied by young Indians, and it caters to Indian Kitchens. Hence, the design has an earthen connect to harmonize with the client’s demand of delivering the local vibe.
The planning of the office was of crucial importance to adhere to the client’s needs of designing internal spaces. The 3750 sft office area is divided into about 6 to 7 spaces. As this was a combination of 4 different smaller office spaces – amalgamated as one, we had to counter structural elements at places and work around them to create the perfect layout which would maximize efficiency and make the utmost utilization of space.
The reception area forms the central core of the office with spaces divided on either side. The staff seating area, the MD’s cabin, the smaller meeting rooms, the accounts room, the conference room, the live kitchen area, and the display room, together form the office space.
2. How did you bring the best of the brand thinKitchen through your design?
As it is a space occupied by young Indians, and since thinKitchen was catering to Indian Kitchens, we decided that the design also had to have an earthen connect as it would be more in harmony with what the clients wanted to project.
As you enter into the reception area, the backdrop is treated in a white square paneling design – sporting the company’s name.
When we thought of the material palette, we thought raw, natural and earthy. Red clay bricks is a material which instantly clicked with us as it resonates with an earthen feel and we used it at strategic spaces to allow warmth and a homeliness to the space.
3. What are the environment-friendly initiatives taken for this project?
Keeping things, the way they are and working around them, have been emphasised in this office. Nontoxic wall paint, sustainable furniture choices. Cotton fabric for screens and blinds.
A lot of the material has been locally acquired. Like the red clay bricks have been acquired from a local brickmaker. The shelving unit has been fashioned from m.s pipes left over from the earlier occupant with mango wood shelves.
4. Can you give us insights on the selection of furniture and finishes of the project?
The Design philosophy had to reflect natural materials as they are related to the thought that “The kitchen is the heart of the home–the hub of all activities where memories are made.” Since kitchenware and tableware is a part of every household, the interior design theme was to emulate a residential feeling by creating informal seating spaces, using vibrant colors, book shelving, biophilic elements, and a rich palette of natural earthen materials like red brick, concrete, and pinewood. The shelving unit has been fashioned from M.S. pipes left over from the earlier occupant with mango wood shelves.
5. What were the difficulties, or first setbacks encountered?
The office is in an old building with low ceiling height and low beams. The area is a residential area and doesn’t see a lot of traffic. But the surroundings are not very pleasing and nothing to look out at. So, we had to design the office in such a way that the outside did not affect the inside.
6. If you had to name the design style used, what would it be?
The design is oriented towards Indian tradition and local crafts. However, there are earthen materials along with industrial as well as deco elements for a vibrant appeal.
7. What were the inspirations and key concepts for the development of the project?
The major inspiration for the design was the locality of the site, which led to an inward-focused design style. For a sustainable approach, we kept things the way they were and worked around them. Additionally, sensory and spatial experiences were emphasized.
8. What is your favorite element of design in the project?
The office is a vibrant space with earthen materials and industrial as well as deco elements. The design narrative is defined by the astute use of materials and textures.
9. If you had to describe the project in 2-3 words what would it be?
The project is an example of delivering traditional Indian appeal to the modern workspace.
10. Explain the use of colors and/or other details to add value to the design.
Along with red clay shade, an electric blue runs through the office which can be seen on the washroom doors and the deco laser cut screen in the reception area. The colors used are nontoxic wall paints.