Ahmedabad, a major city in the Indian state of Gujarat, is home to architecture practice, Studio Saransh. It’s always worth special attention when a firm designs their own studio space – it’s a chance for them to put their money where their mouth is, so to speak… or perhaps ‘walk the walk’ is a more fitting metaphor.

The basis of Studio Saransh’s relocation was partly a lack of space. More generally, though, it was very much about escaping the hustle and bustle of the city. The studio has moved to a quieter spot in the suburbs of Ahmedabad with a view to establishing a more tranquil office with connections to landscape and nature. Its name, aptly, is Oasis, while Studio Saransh is styling the premises as a new studio campus.

Inspired by western Indian vernacular architecture, the design incorporates pitched roof blocks as well as, of course, the courtyards. The southeast entrance, framed by bougainvillea-covered rubble walls, leads to a courtyard shaded by gulmohar trees. Visitors encounter a sequence of spaces –meeting rooms, management areas and service blocks – culminating in the focal courtyard, with amphitheatre-like steps facing the lily pond.

Built from black basalt rubble, steel and glass, the workplace makes nature its priority. The design intent is to almost disappear into the landscape, with five building blocks – each with a different function in mind – surrounding a central courtyard that features a lily pond. Open-air pathways connect the blocks, a design move made to encourage chance encounters as users step out of their workspaces and walk through the multiple landscaped areas.

Related: A hybrid office-gallery by Design ni Dukaan

With the emphasis on nature and landscape comes abundant natural light too. Indeed, nature is not the only consideration or driving factor behind the project. The designers also aim to create an environment conducive to collaborative work and diverse working preferences.

Locally sourced basalt stone walls, 400-milimetre-thick, provide thermal insulation from Ahmedabad’s southern sun. The studio is built with a steel structure and corrugated steel roofs without welded joints, an approach that values dismantling and reuse. Meanwhile, reflective double-glazed windows shield interiors from summer heat, while a northlight in the studio block ensures ample, indirect daylight. Thoughtfully planted flora complements the glazing, diffusing sunlight harmoniously throughout the day. The neutral tones of black stone walls, terracotta bricks, concrete bands and gravel blend with the surrounding greenery to create a serene aesthetic overall.

The southwest block houses private partner cabins, while the northwest studio block includes workstations, a library and a mezzanine for future expansion. Both blocks are connected by a bridge and a water-level pathway. Rainwater is harvested and solar panels are optimised for energy efficiency. Custom-designed lighting creates a warm, glare-free ambiance, enhancing the experience of both indoor and outdoor spaces in a design that, taken as a whole, harmonises natural and built environments.

Studio Saransh
studiosaransh.com

Photography
Ishita Sitwala

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