This luxurious yet introspective workplace designed by PR Design Group in Bengaluru looks inward into nature
JUL 16, 2024
| By Namrata Dewanjee
The facade reinterprets vernacular brick masonry through Nuvocotto’s brick cladding. The concrete datum adds visual weight and separates the ground plane from the superstructure; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam; Styling by Kunal Prathap
Each space in the office is subsumed in daylight including the lounge starring Phantom Hands chairs and B&B Italia sofa; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
The Alkom door system provides a layer of privacy during discussions and deep work. The flooring is from Luxur Interior; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
The cabin sports a Cercle chair, Downtown chairs and a desk by Poltrona Frau; In the conference room, a bespoke ceiling adds visual interest against the cement textured wall finish by Asian Paints; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
In the lounge, the owner’s collected works of art occupy the walls; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
In the conference room, a bespoke ceiling adds visual interest against the cement textured wall finish by Asian Paints; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
View into one of the workstations from the courtyard; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
From hosting the dot-com boom to housing co-working spaces and high-rises packed to the brim with multinational corporations, Bengaluru has seen it all. However, in this city of entrepreneurs, how does a company stand out and tell its story through design? In a brick-clad Koramangala office, the architects at PR Design Group turn inwards in search of a solution. The five-storey workspace houses landscaped decks and courtyards, channelling ventilation and offering necessary pockets of verdure.
Designed around the idea of a luxurious human experience, partners R Ramraj and Pritvi Rao explain the approach behind the design of the lower levels, “There are large double height spaces and landscaped courtyards with the workstations having access to them visually and physically. All workstations were adjustable in height. So, if a person wants to stand and use it for an hour, they can do so. Or sit on a high stool. They have all these options!”
Daylight filters into the lounge through the plants. The plush B&B Italia sofa is flanked by two Chandigarh chairs and x+l centre tables from Phantom Hands. The flooring is by Marble Italia. The space is illuminated by Flos; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam; Styling by Kunal Prathap
A Baccarat chandelier illuminates the director’s cabin. The bookshelf is from Poltrona Frau while the centre table is from Hessentia. The carpet is a Jaipur Rugs find. In the backdrop, the blinds are from Forest and the flooring and cladding material is from Marble Italia. The track lights are from Flos; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
Seating in the courtyard is crafted out of black granite from Prathiba Marbles while the flooring is by Nexion. The cushions are from IKEA. The grey and green carpet is from Plaunche and the window system is from Alkom. The lush plants are sourced from a nursery in neighbouring Mysore; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
A glance into the tropical courtyard transports you from an office in the city to a forest retreat; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
In this space, the Chester sofa and centre table are both from Poltrona Frau and placed over a Jaipur Rugs carpet. The artworks are from the owner’s private collection; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
The facade reinterprets vernacular brick masonry through Nuvocotto’s brick cladding; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
On the upper levels, the idea of luxury morphs, heightening aesthetics and adopting a more indulgent material palette. Adding layers of material interest, marble, onyx and quartzite grace the surfaces. The space boasts multiple works of art from the owner’s private collection. When it comes to furniture, the language is just as eclectic, varying from sleek modern silhouettes to period collectables. Crowned by exquisite chandeliers, the workspace could fit right into a fantasy novel!
“The upper levels resonate with the image of the company and the lower levels focus more on user sustainability,” state the designers. However, the loftiest form of indulgence in a cacophonous metropolis is the central double-height tropical landscaped courtyard with its own rain and mist feature. The visuals would take any seasoned resident to a saccharine slogan from the early 2000s plastered across Bengaluru, “City of gardens, lakes, opportunities, empowerment & champions.” Perhaps it is nostalgia and romanticism, but who could have guessed that in the next two decades, these two distinct identities of tech-city and garden-city could converge under one roof?
Scroll below to tour the office…
The workspace houses furniture from Featherlite and the window system is from Alkom; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
A Murano glass chandelier illuminates the armchairs and centre table by Poltrona Frau. The blinds are from Forest and the rug underpinning the setting is from Jaipur Rugs. The art and the floor lamp are from the owner’s private collection; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
The bespoke console was constructed on-site. The Marble Centre International white Satvario marble contrasts against the Brown Onyx cladding from Marble Italia. The artwork is from the owner’s collection; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
The dining table from Baxter surrounds the chair from the personal collection of the owner along with the striking artwork; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
The Molteni pantry unit complements the glowing Onyx cladding from Marble Italia. The leather fabric flooring is from Marble Italia as well. The spotlight is from Flos; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
The Poltrona Frau chair in the owner’s cabin overlooks the courtyard, drawing a parallel between the indoors and outdoors. The drapes are from Forest; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
The wooden furniture from Phantom Hands provides a textural opposite to the Marble Italia cladding; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
In the lounge, the owner’s collected works of art occupy the walls; The Chester sofa and Roberto Lazzeroni’s Fiorile coffee table are from Poltrona Frau; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
In the washroom, the table lamp is from Prism INC while the sink and faucet are Gessi finds. The mirror is from the owner’s collection; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
In the same space, the Red Onyx cladding material from Marble Italia arrests your attention; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
In the bathroom, the bathroom fittings are from Gessi while the sink is from Inbani. The glass partition is from WALTZ by JB Glass. The flooring is from Marble Italia; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
A Flos chandelier brightens the stairwell clad in white Statuario marble; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
In the conference room, a bespoke ceiling adds visual interest against the cement textured wall finish by Asian Paints; Photography by Gokul Raoo Kadam
