Mitsubishi Engineering

Mitsubishi Heavy Engineering wanted to set up an office in India anticipating future growth. With limited staff and a fluid roadmap of the future, they wanted an office designed as per their global standards of quality and one that could handle sudden increases and decreases of people based on their on-going projects at any point.

The leased space was a quadrant in a high-rise tower in Gurgaon, a suburb of Delhi known more for its vertical dimension than for its civic spaces. The curved façade provided plentiful light, however the western aspect meant the evening glare would have to be mitigated. The brief called for open plan workstations with some enclosed meeting rooms and cabins for senior staff. Workstations were planned to be clustered in working groups, as per Mitsubishi ethos, with small open spaces that could provide places for spontaneous discussion.

Rather than following the “corner-office” approach that affords the finest views and natural light to the senior most people, the strategy was to give the maximum natural light to the open plan workstations. The enclosed cabins were aligned to the dead wall on either side of the quadrant, and were fitted with frameless glass panels overlooking the central workspace. The resulting clarity of movement combines with the clear sight lines across the office to aid better co-ordination between working groups.

A hallmark of this project was the commitment to avoiding on-site finish. As far as possible, design details were drawn to be manufactured off-site with components were ordered well in advance. Even the onsite work was detailed so as to limit the paint and polish surfaces. Specifications were redrawn and redesigned to ensure that fit and finish quality would match global standards. Muted tones of grey and blue, traditional Mitsubishi Engineering colours, were used in the furniture and wall panelling.

Location                                  

Gurgaon

Client

Mitsubishi Heavy Engineering

Typology

Commercial

Climate

Composite

Built-Up Area

5000 Sq.Ft.

Completion

2011

Conference Center

Located in a tony neighbourhood of a Delhi suburb, the brief was to create an in house conference facility for a multi-national company. The building would have to accommodate several sizes of conference spaces, training rooms, a large dining area and several guest rooms.

A large existing tree at the site entrance provided the inspiration to create a naturally shaded entrance area. Planned to be an extension of the garden, this space leads on to a central spine along which the various facilites are distributed. The training rooms are situated below ground, to allow for better sound insulation and privacy.

The approach was to plan the building to make each space as naturally lit as possible, especially the subterranean spaces. This was achieved by carving out a long sunken area on the western periphery of the property. This brings in light to training rooms and a large dining area at the rear, which can also be approached via a stair from the rear garden.

A unique glazing detail was designed specifically for the lounge space that overlooks the front garden. Double glazed insulated panels are fixed edge to edge with custom designed stainless steel vertical supports. This detail allows for a seamless integration of interior and exterior space. The exterior of the building is finished in a beige sandstone, local to this region.

 

Location                                  

Faridabad

Client

Undisclosed

Typology

Commercial

Climate

Composite

Built-Up Area

15,000 Sq.Ft.

Completion

Ongoing

Contemporary Penthouse

The top floor apartment of a decade old building was proving to be inadequate for a growing family. A fortuitous change in building laws permitted the addition of another floor with the possibility of an internal connection. Two bedrooms and a family lounge were planned for the upper floor, along with a small office that required independent access from outside the apartment. A double height volume was carved out around a light wooden staircase that connects the two floors and was covered with a skylight.

A terrace garden at the front of the upper floor provides views to the office and lounge spaces, while helping to insulate the living room below. Modifications to the lower floor included revamping the kitchen, dining & living spaces. The furniture was custom designed to fit the spaces, including a copper-clad curved bar counter. A signature product by AKDA, the yin-yang table, was reimagined as a leather clad piece and included as part of the interior design. 

Location

SukhdevVihar,

New Delhi

Client  

Undisclosed

Typology

Residential

Climate

Composite

Built-Up Area              

5000 Sq.Ft.

Completion

2010