Small Products Big Design

An office in Chakan, Pune, for a manufacturer of high tech electronics for automobiles has been designed by VDGA to create an ambience which not only does justice to the quality of the work carried out within its walls, but also becomes a workspace to look forward to for the staff.

- Devyani Jayakar

“Nobody gets their hands dirty here,” says Deepak Guggari of VDGA (Varsha& Deepak Guggari Associates), quickly dispelling any notions of the typical grime and grease laden work space that one would associate with the automobile industry. The front office has an area of 15,000 sq ft, while the factory at the rear sprawls over 45,000 sq ft and is designed to conform to industrial norms. Climate controlled and with robotic machines, this is a 100% air conditioned space.

Workers pass through a sanitising zone to remove all traces of dust from their garments, after which they wear aprons and caps at work.

The front of the building faces the north, consequently enjoying a diffused natural light almost throughout the year, while the dead façade on the south houses the services. “The inclination of the glass façade in the front ensures that the heat of the sun is minimised even when it is in the southern hemisphere, by nullifying the angle of radiation,” says Deepak.

The tinted glass reduces the solar gain further. Two large cantilevers (measuring six metres and seven and a half metres respectively) hang over a lotus pond at the entrance, conforming to the norms of the required setback at the ground floor, while utilising the necessary floor space at the upper levels.

“We approached the design of the jali façade as we would product design,” says Deepak, “and utilised it as an opportunity for branding the company.” Perforated aluminium panels, powder coated in vibrant orange and red (the colours of the company logo) control sunlight, replacing conventional roller blinds.