Designing Corporate India

From weaving the magic of a Star Trek-themed command centre to crafting bespoke block-printed workstations, Vijaya Bhargav and Arnab Ghosh-the trailblazing co-founders of Ostraca-have astonishingly transformed a staggering 29 million square feet of office space for India's tech giants and global enterprises-all while maintaining a flat hierarchical company culture-fuelling a master class in corporate design

- ANKITA RATHOD

In the skyrocketing landscape of India’s growing economy and urban centres, where millions of professionals spend the bulk of their waking hours, the importance of intelligently designed corporate interiors cannot be understated,” reflects Arnab Ghosh enthusiastically against the backdrop of a vivid Gurudas Shenoy artwork at the Ostraca headquarters in Bangalore. For over 16 years, Arnab Ghosh and Vijaya Bhargav have been the dynamic duo revolutionising the often-overlooked realm of corporate interiors. Their journey is nothing short of a saga, transforming office spaces across the length and breadth of our nation. “We’ve impacted the lives of approximately 290,000 urban office workers,” adds Ghosh with a sense of pride that permeates his every word.

From tech giants to major global payment gateway organisations to sprawling corporate campuses across India, Ostraca’s portfolio is not just impressive—it’s monumental. And we haven’t even started yet!

“I don't see a lot of other professions boasting about affecting so many lives,” says Vijaya, with a smile that lights up the room. Draped in a hand-painted turquoise saree, pearls around her neck, and an Omega on her wrist, she embodies the sophisticated Telugu elegance that is her hallmark—as we settle in to understand all that Ostraca does, is, and plans to be.

A Fortuitous Meeting: The Birth of Ostraca

The turn of the millennium marked the beginning of an extraordinary partnership between Arnab Ghosh and Vijaya Bhargav. They met under serendipitous circumstances. At the time, Arnab was heading the Bangalore branch of the Delhi-based, reputed firm, Upal Ghosh Associates (UGA), which specialised in mainstream architecture, urban planning, and institutional projects. This initial collaboration laid the foundation for what would become one of India's most influential architectural firms—known as Ostraca today.