Architecture Brio at work

The designers repurpose a half-century-old garment mill in Mumbai into their workplace

20 Feb 2024

In a deliberate repudiation of tabula rasa, Architecture BRIO instead chooses to occupy a half-century-old garment mill in Worli, overlaying their distinct imaginations onto the memories of Mumbai’s industrial past. Led by principal architects and founders Robert Verrijt and Shefali Balwani along with associate partner Rohit Mankar, the contemporary practice retrofitted the 4,000 sq ft slice of time to suit their needs, inhabiting a delightful concoction of the old and new.

BRIO moulds the rigid framework of the factory into a visually and physically connected workplace, knocking down all but essential walls and creating an open plan split into two storeys. “My sanctuary is the upstairs studio,” claims Robert. With the workstations thoughtfully zoned on the first floor, the place allows you to immerse deep into work.

“During our few weeks every other month with the Bombay team, engaging in discussions amidst the desks while they’re in the throes of detailing or developing designs is invigorating. The bustling atmosphere and high volume upstairs stand in stark contrast to the more intimate scale of the spaces on the lower level.”

Next to the staircase, models are displayed on Indian marble shelves; Photography by Suleiman Merchant

Housing the conference rooms and a pantry, the ground floor becomes an enabler of conversation. Puncturing the slabs to create a seamless vertical circulation, not only do the architects bring in essential light and ventilation but also make their mark on the history of the structure.

Connecting the two floors is what Rohit describes as the “amphitheatre-like staircase”. He explains further, “This dynamic element is not just a connection to the upper-level studio but also a highly flexible space serving as an amphitheatre during presentations, a quiet reading zone next to our double height library as well as an informal lunch space encouraging interactions at multiple levels.”

The lunch table in the heart of the office faces the courtyard with black foldable chairs from IKEA; Photography by Suleiman Merchant

Speaking about her favourite corners, Shefali notes, “Our workspace courtyard is adorned with chairs crafted from fishtail palm and stainless steel. These gems, created in the Workshop Bentota by Rico Taravella and Tilak Seethawaka, echo the design legacy of Bawa’s projects. A fusion of natural allure and industrial chic.” Evocative of Robert and her time in Sri Lanka, the Frangipani tree and the Ena de Silva tapestry, imbue an air of nostalgia and the sillage of faraway shores.

Rohit’s bespoke birch-ply and bent MS rod desk is flooded with light that filters in through the clerestory windows during the day and at night, is illuminated by the hanging light from Muuto. Project photographs adorn the wall behind; Photography by Suleiman Merchant

The natural and unfinished surfaces invite a patina of age to provide a backdrop for activity, interspersed with greenery and pops of colour offering moments of curiosity and reflection. For the designers, their workplace is a ground of uninhibited experimentation, a place to question established views and challenge perceptions. Strewn with scribbles, scale models, drawings and books, the space does not just stand sentry but becomes a vital character in the story, revelling in the ebbs and flows of order and the charming chaos, characteristic of life in a studio.

Scroll down to catch glimpses of the office…