In an age where open-plan offices can feel formulaic, Ironside — a 6,600-square-foot duplex — stands as an embodiment of industrial authenticity, while pushing the boundaries of workspace design. Rooted in the legacy of metal manufacturing, the project draws upon the unrefined materials synonymous with the client’s craft, delivering an environment where form and function meld with visceral impact. A home for ideas shaped by steel, marble and an understanding of the utilitarian and the refined.

The central workstation layout defines this space, with four structural columns anchoring the heart of the office, where rows of marble-topped workstations fan out like wings from the steel I-beams that support them. It’s a nod to the history of the company — amalgamating raw materials with precision — but with a twist of elegance that belies the ruggedness of its components. Each detail, from the columns to the sleek marble surfaces, speaks of a careful consideration between beauty and function.  

Yet, Ironside isn’t all brute force and sharp edges. The upper level offers a reprieve, shifting from the boldness below to a space imbued with a sense of tranquillity. Here, leadership cabins are designed with privacy in mind but maintain a connection to the collaborative energy of the lower floors. The highlight of this level, however, is the terrace café. Encircled by lush greenery, it’s a place where the hard-edged industrial language of the interiors softens into a moment of peace.

Thus, it’s the angular metal staircase that serves as the sculptural heart of Ironside. Lacquered in blackened steel, it ascends from the centre of the office with its monolithic form. Above it, a triangular skylight punctuates the ceiling, casting shadows and light permeation across the space as the day progresses.

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Beyond the open workspace, private cabins take the industrial theme further. Here, lighting fixtures of raw steel dangle from above, casting ambient light against the cement-finished walls. Storage is conceived with a minimalist, almost domestic touch: upper and lower units frame a central countertop, reminiscent of a sleek, kitchen-like aesthetic. The integration of a hidden air conditioning system, tucked behind a metal grill, ensures that practicality doesn’t compromise aesthetic integrity.

Columns and ceiling capitals are exposed as showpieces — structural necessities elevated to the realm of art. The walls, finished in cement and ornamented with Corten steel accents, exude a patina that feels mutually timeless and industrial. The black grid ceiling hovers above, concealing services but drawing the eye upward, adding to the layered visual complexity of the space.

The flooring, too, makes its mark with a subtle and impactful design. Four shades of grey tiles are arranged in angular patterns that feel like fault lines cutting through the space. These gradations add a sense of quiet drama, contributing to the industrial aesthetic while evoking the overall minimalism. The floor never seeks to overwhelm; instead, it serves as a counterpoint to the more pronounced architectural gestures above.

Studio Dashline
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Photography
Yash R Jain

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