The client wanted to create an iconic, modern, corporate office building for a private firm in the city of Udaipur. RBL Office is an amalgamation of architecture, interiors and landscape lending a fresh corporate identity to the firm. The building, one of the first to be created along that street, had to set the bar high for the surrounding environment in the smart city of Udaipur to be able to make a mark for themselves in the evolving urban fabric and contribute to a cohesive urban growth.
| Location | Gaurav Path, Udaipur, Rajasthan |
| Details of the space (area in sq ft) | 12000 sft |
| Seating capacity | Staff capacity of 60 + 3 directors’ cabins + 1 boardroom + 2 meeting rooms + executive lounge |
| Concept and interior design | Kunal Khandelwal |
| Design team | Kunal Khandelwal, Khushboo Khandelwal, Swapna Neogi and Pooja Zimbar |
| Structural engineering and site coordination | Abhinav Mantri of BL Mantri & Associates |
| Electricals | Naresh Jain |
| Interior contractor | Kisan Sharma, Delhi |
| Furniture | Sunon (China), sourced by Defurn, Mumbai |
| Graphics and Creatives | Logo designed by Colourcraft, Mumbai |
| Plantation | Mrs Usha |
| Photograph credits | ©PhxIndia I Sebastian Zachariah |
The architectural form was rooted in an idea of creating something that would be unique and hold its own in the urban context, yet not be an aggressive, chest-thumping statement. On this concept were overlaid the principles of vaastu and a plan was drawn up on a square grid, by dividing the building along a horizontal axis (parallel to the road) and demarcating the general staff areas from the directors and the visitors areas.
The structure was conceptualized as a solid cube, punctured with voids and hollows from within and outside, sitting on a green landscape, with a crisp homogenous interior architectural language.
The entrance lobby is cut vertically, forming a large void, to allow for transparency, visibility and optimize light penetration. A simple bridge connects the two ends around the void and thus becomes the conversation point within the building. This void marks a very clear segregation between public and private areas of the building.
The entire building is a solid stone mass, with the corner on the director’s side, carved out and covered by a transparent glazing, fronting a landscaped lawn.
The design brief was translated to create a quiet landmark within the urban fabric, integrating the structure to its surrounding to mark a congruence of business culture, corporate identity and aspirations. This led to a design language incorporating at the entrance of the building where a projecting, overhanging canopy and locally-made laser-cut screen at the entrance marks a strong design element adding scale to the entrance. The glazed corner accentuates the locally-sourced greyish-beige mint stone facade, forming the highlight of the building.
A double-height stone wall (stone from the clients’ own mines in Vietnam) with a quiet etching of the company name provides a backdrop to the reception desk, while a solid black Marquina table with VIBIA lights hanging from the second floor slab adds volume to the space.
The directors’ cabins, the conference rooms and the executive lounge speak a brisk, modern language. Walnut and Zebrano veneer panelling runs through these spaces as a binding visual factor.
Neutrals, beiges, greys and their variations dominate the material palette. The landscape is incorporated as one of the design elements with the glass facade, inviting light and greenery into the interiors and blurring the division between the inside and outside.
Thus, the office conducts a soft dialogue with its surroundings, blends quietly with the environment and yet stands tall with the intended contemporary, crisp-lined identity.