The clients - An accountancy firm headquartered in Bangalore.

 

Their brief for the building was,

- Break the notion of an accountancy firm.

- The design should have nothing to hide, it should be clean, transparent and not cluttered with files. 

- Accountants can also be fun people.
- An office functioning on natural light and ventilation with no air-conditioning.
- Atrium.
- Building to reflect the structure and strength of the firm.
- Maximize the potential of the site. 

 

 

Our site is located on a busy road in Baswangudi one of the older localities in the heart of Bangalore. The site (48 feet x 60 feet) on what was an old residential house. A brown field site with a beautiful mature Jasmine tree.

 

 

The tree was the answer. It dictated the design and was a guide to the planning of the building.  While allowing for the tree to grow naturally into the building, we created an atrium space that was 4 levels high around it.

 

The atrium acts like the lung for ventilation of the building, as well as the heart of activity for the building. The ground floor Atrium space is the reception and lobby space, the staircase injecting from the reception into the atrium forming the main connection between the different floors.  The Mid landing takes you into the white flowers and fragrance of the Jasmine canopy at every level.

 

Design Ideology – Clarity and simplicity. The new offices for Guru and Jana charter accountants were to bring together their 3 smaller offices under one roof. Understanding how the different aspects of an accountancy firm worked was key. Planning studies were done - for weekdays and weekends, to facilitate and maximize the seating strength of the office, and allowing space for all office meetings, seminars and events that were held on a weekly basis. Their current running system was to clear their individual spaces of all the furniture for their events. Distribution of the numbers correctly became important along with creating of spaces on each floor, and the design of a common office gathering space.

The floor plate was kept as clear and simple - allowing for an open and transparent system of organization, while maximizing the potential of the site.The conference room was located on the first floor enabling a visitor, to experience the office, and understand its functioning. The conference room has screen doors that slide back allowing it easily become a part of the floor. Each floor had a central space for smaller informal meetings, and for floor wise events. Larger events hosted on the terrace. The terrace also functions as a space for seminars, entertainment and a lunch space.

A strong grid system in the front elevation was to reflect the strength and foundation of the firm. Transparency was a key, with the street- acknowledging the existence of an accountancy firm, The bamboo façade following the design ideology, but integrates the softer, "fun" yet structured part of the organization.

 

The bamboo enclosure (20 feet long Balcoa Bamboos, tied and knotted to an MS Frame work by artisans from Assam) defines the atrium space while also allowing for the organic growth of the tree as well as enhancing the experience of the walk up and down the building. We and the client were personally proud of the fact that not a branch of the tree was cut or damaged during construction. - Bamboo was the ideal solution, for its stability and span, light weight and the flexibility needed to be integrated with the tree. The facade design also takes into consideration the transparency required at the different heights, with the density of the foliage of the Jasmine Tree.

 

Sustainability - was a large focus of the project with the Clients mandate was for the building to be naturally ventilated. The orientation, planning of the openings and the articulation of the facade had a major role to play. Detailed studies, energy analysis were done to understand the sizing and orientation of the fenestrations. The site faced the North East, with the tree being located in the East. The tree, along with the bamboo facade shaded the atrium against the heat gain from the morning sun. Services and the Elevator shaft were planned along the South East face, insulating the building from the South sun. The maximum numbers of windows were planned along the North West face. Large Recessed windows along the front elevation shaded the building from the sun while achieving the desired transparency from the street.

Efforts were made in controlling the heat gain of the building. Porotherm thermally insulated bricks were used as infill within the column grid. The terrace was shaded and thermally insulated. Windows were strategically located to maximize the wind flow and allow for cross ventilation - from the West/South west, during the monsoon months, and the East - through the Open Atrium in the summer months. The Tree and Bamboo allowing for good cross ventilation. Rain water from the terrace is collected and filtered and used for flushing.

The use of Bamboo as a natural recyclable material merged well with the overall thought process and concept for a Sustainable building.

The interiors were to reflect the simplicity and functionality of the office, while also bringing a lighter aspect to their work. With a large number of the staff doing their articleship training, the firm was to have a young and vibrant vibe. Each floor was individually color coded. Color was brought through the fixed shelving, and the soft boards of the work stations. The light and shadow pattern created in the atrium with the aid of the Bamboo and the tree helped in balancing out the functional aspect of the work spaces. Photographs of all the employees lined the staircase wall, as a feature of interest and belonging.

The staircase was designed with the mid landings cantilevering into the atrium and the tree. A mild steel staircase, with antique finished black granite stone treads supported on a central stringer. The location and openness of the staircase allowed for easy communication between levels, as well as clear views into the different spaces of the office.