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    • Design

    Surbhi Bansal of Project 1505 designs a nostalgia-inducing ‘office travelogue’ for a travel agency

    SEP 9, 2020 | By Krisha Godani
    The reception features a red oak table. On its right is the archway to the directors' cabins; Photographs by Umang Shah
    Silhouettes of the world's most iconic structures are seen on the blinds; Photographs by Umang Shah

    With a brief to make a Vastu compliant office, Surbhi Bansal of Project 1505 weaves ancient Vedic principles seamlessly into this 1,125 sq ft modern workspace. The interiors are designed to optimally utilise space, while still maintaining an aesthetic character. 

    Set in the southwest corner of a modern office building in Bhilwara, Rajasthan, the office for Mehul Tours and Travels receives ample natural light coming in from the rear. A distinctive Vastu requirement was to have the L-shaped office divided into two clean rectangles.

    This is tackled by creating two zones: The ‘arrival’ and the ‘terminal’. While the former includes the reception and an enquiry room, the latter houses cabins for the agency’s directors, an executive lounge, a multi-use work area, a conference room and all utilities.

    Bold black contrasts against the white-washed walls, creating balance in the space; Photographs by Umang Shah

    A quirky backdrop is made using white-washed door panels to represent different parts of the world. It is set against a sophisticated red oak reception desk. At night, the pristine white on the walls, which is so luminous, reflects its own light.

    The white figure-ground map on the glassed partition of the conference room adds an abstract touch; Photographs by Umang Shah

    Fancied as an aerobridge, an archway connects the ‘arrival’ and ‘terminal’ zones, and opens out into a series of cabins. These rooms strategically conceal three structural columns while seamlessly integrating filing and utility cabinets, seating booths and a printing station. 

    White-washed door panels representative of different parts of the world make up the backdrop for the reception area; Photographs by Umang Shah

    The workstations are in direct view of the directors’ office for effective visual communication. A white figure-ground map on the glass of the conference room provides privacy yet transparency and adds a fun, abstract element.

    A mural in the ‘arrival’ zone asks the most pivotal question; Photographs by Umang Shah

    Quirky elements such as a bespoke currency map in one of the director’s cabins, travel articles glued on the ceiling, and the window safety grills with cutouts of the world’s most iconic structures—all create shadows and projections on muted blinds.

    One of the director’s cabins hones a sophisticated and clean design; Photographs by Umang Shah

    Bansal created this office space that provides a spatial experience for the clients, allowing them to perceive the design in their own ways alluding to memories of their past travels and urging them to make new ones.

    Scroll below for more images of this travel agency!

    Conceived as an aerobridge, this archway leads to the ‘terminal’ zone, which forms the backbone of the travel agency’s operations; Photographs by Umang Shah

     

    The all-black archway contrasts with the white-washed panels in the ‘arrival’ zone; Photographs by Umang Shah

     

    Another view of the archway that leads to the directors’ cabins and staff area; Photographs by Umang Shah