A confluence of work and leisure

By Beverly Pereira

Photography: Courtesy Gautam Desai Design

Read Time: 2 mins

.

Gautam Desai Design turns a two-bedroom Mumbai apartment into a spacious office with a homely, barrier-free spirit that encourages creative thought. 

If the wild success of co-working spaces is anything to go by, collaborations thrive in informal environments. Taking a cue from this observation, Mumbai-based design practice Gautam Desai Design creates a relaxed, intimate yet transparent workspace for Gulliver Motion Pictures in a residential building in the leafy locality of Shivaji Park, Mumbai. 

.

.

By refurbishing the interiors — all non-structural partition walls, storage walls, and lofts have been torn down — the resulting area is effectively utilized as office space, besides offering a seamless visual and spatial experience.

.

.

The open-plan layout is compartmentalized into pertinent workspaces by day via a crisscross of glass partitions that hold coloured infills for opacity and just the right amount of privacy. The same are opened-up during post-work hours - a strategic design detail that instantaneously transforms the 1000 sq. ft. office into a comfortable and inviting space that almost feels like a home, not just for employees but also for clients.  

The interior styling, led by designer Anisha Gulati, contributes to the feel-good, home-style ambience. Coloured-glass infills, brass toggle electrical switches, pendant lamps and chandeliers, and a mélange of floral-upholstered wooden chairs furnish various nooks and corners with a tinge of nostalgia. 

.

.

.

Almost as if to make a contradictory statement to the vintage décor, cheeky pieces of pop art and botanical-inspired art ground the office with a sense of fun and light-heartedness. 

Sailing past the constraint of a tight budget, the award-winning design practice has successfully stayed well in line with the brief of designing an office that feels like an extension of the home, while simultaneously going the extra mile to give the space a distinctive feel.

Fact File:

Client: Gulliver Motion Pictures

Design Firm: Gautam Desai Design

Principal Designer/Architect: Gautam Desai 

Carpet Area: 1000 sq. ft. 

Location: Mumbai