An office turned inward in Ahmedabad

Squelette Design balances work and productivity through light and art

18 Mar 2026

A diligent worker finds generous breathing room and a frisbee can test its full arc within the L-shaped blueprint that grounds this Ahmedabad office. Calibrated across 4,000 sq ft, the structure makes a dextrous use of anthropometry. A lush yard that wraps around, soft daylight and a modern aangan functions as the climatic moderator and the social nucleus of this space.

Illustrated by principal architects and co-founders Saumil Patel and Prashant Trivedi of Squelette Design, alongside Jay Suthar, Jinal Harsora, Dhvani Kanuga, Jay Sompura and Setu Infrastructure, the work zone — named Courtyard Veil — conceals an internal courtyard, drawing from the enduring spatial intelligence of courtyards seen in Indian architecture.

“The primary inspiration was drawn from the timeless logic of courtyards in Indian architecture, spaces that breathe, shade and hold silence amidst activity”

Saumil Patel and Prashant Trivedi

A wooden pillar stands firm as a veiled wall filters sight and pause; Styling by Tanushree Dwivedi; Photography by Ira Gosalia, Photographix India

Set in stone

Trees visible from nearly every vantage point and stone and marble stairways guiding indoors, the space draws from a material language shaped by the land it occupies. The facade, wrapped in Dhrangadhra stone cladding, gives the workspace a sculpted yet monolithic character and above each lintel, the same stone is embedded into fluted profiles, creating a subtle rhythm that catches light through the day. As evening falls, concealed grazers illuminate these flutes, revealing the craftsmanship. As expressed by Saumil and Prashant, “The result is a facade that feels neutral, humble and timelessly grounded.”

Inside, persistent lines of light and shadow define spaces and movement with shadows sustaining thermal balance and daylight activating interiors set within a vast site where openness remains uninterrupted. The Dhrangadhra stone palette also steps inside to blend with the interiors. Guided by a framework of passive cooling strategies, the work haven relies on shading and natural ventilation to minimise mechanical reliance and enjoy natural thermal comfort.

Wooden panelling sets rhythm behind the customised MD desk from Vittaazio desk; Styling by Tanushree Dwivedi; Photography by Ira Gosalia, Photographix India

Racks hold showpieces while a wooden table sets a classic note; Styling by Tanushree Dwivedi; Photography by Ira Gosalia, Photographix India

Veiled zen

With the office organised around the Zen Court, a self-stone patterned courtyard basks in sunlight and stands tall with a tree in the centre. Acting as the focal point and a climatic moderator, this zone was shaped after multiple iterations with local artisans.

Besides the courtyard, the structure holds another mask that hides the outward views, tactfully shielding visually-disruptive perimeter conditions through veil walls. featuring paintings. Together, these elements generate a nuanced play of foliage shadows and light across the floors. Despite accommodating offices and discussion rooms, the layout keeps burnouts away, as sculptural interventions and artistic detailing wrap around its spatial continuum.

A white couch rests against a wooden back with a painting at its centre; Styling by Tanushree Dwivedi; Photography by Ira Gosalia, Photographix India

Alpi veneer with fabric patterns forms the backdrop and links the veil wall passage; Styling by Tanushree Dwivedi; Photography by Ira Gosalia, Photographix India

Art at work

Pairings of leather furnishings, wooden accents and a sequence of glass doors and windows reaffirm the openness embedded within the plan. Sustainability, too, forms an important part in this cycle, aligning with the owners’ inclination for art. From the reception area to the rear facade informed by the geometric sensibilities of Carlo Scarpa, all elements follow a similar architectural expression.

As the informal lounge introduces dyed veneer with marble waste transformed into a grid wall, a textured element comes into focus within the formal conference room, through the reuse of interior material offcuts, shaped into a defining installation. Though the space runs on functionality, the spaces are softened with generous seating and art-led interventions, clarifying the intent behind the name, The Courtyard Veil.