Outdoor in an Indoor Space
If you love your workplace, you will love your work a little more – this quote dictated the overall approach to the design. “The key words revolving around the concept were – restraint, openness, light, detail, green, minimal and nature. The layout, the material choices, details, all were designed on the foundation of these words,” informs Gunjan Das, Principal Architect, NG Associates.
The USP of this toilet is the whole washbasin area which creates a very nice green ambiance. The key highlights here are the brick jalli wall, the timber live edge counter, the concrete basin, the pebbles below and a dash of colour in the art above the WC.
The Layout
Gunjan shares that the client wanted their love for nature to be reflected in the design. The development of the layout and design stemmed from the desire to create a free flowing and voluminous area created around a courtyard and the staircase core.
The lower level caters to an open reception and lounge against a backdrop of a pebbled landscaped courtyard, flanked by a double storied tropical paradise mural to the side creating an undivided spatial experience.
The first floor is accessed through a suspended flight of stairs from the courtyard where this washroom is located and opens to a scenic covered landscaped outdoor conference amidst the flora of the balcony. This outdoor area lent the design story for this washroom. The very restrained colour palette with the focus on landscaping, the experience of an outdoor washroom is an extension of the whole theme of the office. It’s as if the whole design of the office is a journey that takes you from the office through the green in and out and one can end up in this washroom which is very outdoor in an indoor space!
Materials Selection
Talking about the selection of materials, Gunjan adds, “A concerted effort has been made to use natural materials which are conceptualised around ‘green and earth’. The four primary materials used are –rubber wood, exposed concrete walls and brick. A live edge solid wood counter has been used to bring in the rustic feel.”
However, ensuring privacy was a challenge here since the designer wanted to have a brick jalli to blur the outside inside lines. “We’ve planted creepers from the outside and the plan is to remove the temporary drapes once they’ve grown fully,” shares Gunjan.
Fact Sheet
Project Location: Architect’s office in Bengaluru
Size of the Washroom: 7’ x 4’6”
Materials used: Brick jalli, exposed concrete walls, timber live edge counter, concrete basin, matt vitrified tiles
Design Firm: N.G. Associates, Bengaluru
Gunjan Das
Principal Architect,
N.G. Associates
“The very restrained colour palette with the focus on landscaping, the experience of an outdoor washroom is an extension of the whole theme of the office.”