What’s between black and white? The legal office designed by Nishita Kamdar in Kala Ghoda serves justice

Nestled amidst the vibrant streets of Mumbai in Kala Ghoda, an enigmatic legal office named SHADOWS, is not only a ray of hope and sagacity but is ready to walk the path of justice (and astute design). The blend of black and white leads to the rise of grey, which decides the eventual tone of […]

18 Jul 2023

Bhipasha Hinduja

Nestled amidst the vibrant streets of Mumbai in Kala Ghoda, an enigmatic legal office named SHADOWS, is not only a ray of hope and sagacity but is ready to walk the path of justice (and astute design). The blend of black and white leads to the rise of grey, which decides the eventual tone of the office. The legal office encompasses an area of 2,900 sq. ft. envisioned by Nishita Kamdar of her eponymous firm, Studio Nishita Kamdar, and is located in the nexus of a landscape where the Bombay High Court resides in a vintage yet prominent Art Deco building.

The use of dark furniture within the cabins and grey walls makes the space look professional and contemporary. There is a round writing glass board present with a wooden boundary; Photography by suryan//dang

The meeting room near the reception can also be used as the office library space; Photography by suryan//dang

The shades of justice

A lawyer’s expertise resides in the realm where justice finds its balance, and so, the design of this office trails the fundamentals of balance, too. Called Shadows, the space isn’t just created using bricks and cement, but the cornerstone of it is also the artistic paintings and imaginative decor elements.

Through the conference room the other rooms are also visible. The designs are clean horizontal and vertical lines; Photography by suryan//dang

This space isn’t a conventional office, it isn’t submerged in legal files and books. It has tweaked itself to move forward with the growing technological world which ensures that the space is generous and systematic and everything can be done with a click. From its rustic identity, the office metamorphosed into a contemporary and seamless venue, where the blend of the two shades has given an unmistakable identity to the function of legal routines.

Two sides of a case

Each cabin has a unique installation, some are filled with artistic paintings which add vibrancy to the space and the corridor separates the private cabins from the main conference room; Photography by suryan//dang

There is a corridor that follows the path of justice and is the separation between private cabins from the central conference room. The use of smooth horizontal and vertical lines helps symbolise the profession of being on one side or another of a case.

Similar elements like the cabins painted in a shade of iron grey outlined with a strip of wood resemble the boundary of two sides of the system. Each room designed has a distinctive identity and is tailored with a large looming light installation, making the space beguiling in every glance. Each light is unique just like each case. In the evenings there is nothing but the brightness caused by the lamps, making the space look happily mystical.

The dark furniture, one-side lined windows, and lamps make the space have a formal ambiance. Striped decor pieces are used throughout the space to give it a contemporary touch; Photography by suryan//dang

Point of discussion

As Nishita says, “The conference room where all the chatter, discussions, debates happen between an advocate, solicitor, and the client, is designed as a large 14 seater marble clad table, with 3 large distinct pendant lamps illuminating the space. An 8 ft large artwork depicting an abstract horse becomes the point of discussion in this space as it almost resembles the life of a lawyer – Work like a donkey, run like a horse.”