Beyond corporate beige

In Delhi, SEZA Architects designs an office that trades sterility for warmth

15 Jan 2026

At first glance, this 5,000 sq ft office in Delhi could easily be mistaken for a plush condominium, conceived for leisure. Look closer, however, and a carefully calibrated aesthetic reveals itself that envelopes its occupants in warmth and visual comfort, while still preserving the momentum of focused work. Seema Puri Mullan and Zarir Mullan, principal architects at SEZA Architects, envisioned an office that delivers the ease and familiarity of a home, underpinned by an unmistakable drive for productivity.

The result is a nuanced form of maximalism: layered, expressive and rich in personality through art and colour. However, the visual narrative energises rather than overwhelms.

The Anti-office office

The image of a conventional office is often defined by safe neutrals like the expanses of white and grey, washed under stark overhead lighting and a sense of sterility that lingers. SEZA Architects decisively upends this trope, keeping the clichés of corporate design firmly at bay. In their place, warmth, texture and elegance reign, articulated through a rich material palette of marble, walnut and brushed brass. Terracotta-hued artworks and leaf-green upholstery inject the interiors with a domestic sensuality, an emotional charge typically reserved for spaces of retreat rather than routine.

Modernism at work

The lobby sets the tone with a sculptural marble reception desk, fluted wall panels and delicate brass inlays, all layered against curated artwork and an asymmetrical seating composition. Beyond, the client lounge unfolds as an enclave, wrapped in walnut veneer and softened by green armchairs. Anchoring the space is a terracotta-toned installation by Alex Davis, lending the lounge a sense of character and warmth that sharply distinguishes it from the soulless anonymity of conventional waiting areas.

As one moves deeper into the office, the conference room offers a deliberate contrast, adopting a more modernist vocabulary. A sleek glass table and circular pendant lights suspended overhead create an almost bougie atmosphere. Offsetting the otherwise restrained palette is an abstract artwork by Deepak Kumar, infusing the room with vibrancy and visual energy.

Art in the air

Art, in fact, plays an integral role throughout the office, lending each zone its distinct sense of character. In the directors’ cabins, a circular artwork by Kumaresan Selvaraj introduces a dynamic composition that brings the space to life. Perhaps most compelling, however, is the inclusion of intimate outdoor decks attached to each cabin and conference room, like pockets of respite that offer much-needed breathing room within the workday.

What ultimately binds the interiors together is a remarkable coherence of detail. Thoughtful junctions, refined finishes and a considered lighting strategy work in tandem to unify the office environment. Adding to this layered narrative is a private living suite discreetly tucked within the premises. Complete with a lounge and bedroom, it functions as a makeshift abode for days when the directors’ professional and personal hours blur into one.