Modez Consultants, in collaboration with Godrej Properties Ltd, build sample flats and a marketing office for the real estate company’s Panvel township development near Navi Mumbai by leveraging beautiful vistas at a distance and lush greenery close at hand.
Curated by: Rupali Sebastian
Photographs: Rohan Nagwekar Photography; courtesy Modez Consultants
The site
The site allocated for the project was fairly large, approximately two acres, with a good mix of flat and contoured topography. There’s a beautiful panoramic view of Matheran hills on the east, with the township development coming up on its west. There were a few fully grown trees on the site which have been retained.
The brief
“The brief was to build a structure that would become an experience centre for various phases of the township as they get built,” says Amogh Sule, principal architect, Modez Consultants of the project that was developed in collaboration with the design team at Godrej Properties Limited. Functionally, the structure houses customer engagement areas such as the reception, large waiting areas with different configuration of seating, an AV room, a model space, show-flats and discussion areas. The area allotted for sample apartments required flexibility to accommodate different configurations of apartments as per the new township phases. “Aesthetically, the design had to be modern and contemporary to appeal to the younger age group who are the potential buyers,” he adds.
The design intent
The marketing office reflects the vision of the township. It captures various characters through different elements, giving a flavour to the customers. Since the township boasts of residential towers lying in the lap of nature, the planning of the customer areas and show-flats revolves around mimicking the proximity to nature.
The articulation
The design is worked around the existing trees, keeping an undisturbed flow through the customer engagement zones. The structure is inspired by the form of a tree and blends with the landscape around. “The entire design was built around the tree columns — which are structural members expressed as a branching tree trunk. Getting them fabricated and installed with good precision was an experience,” the architect tells us. The extended roof symbolises the tree canopy and creates a nice shady volume beneath. The ceiling follows a geometric pattern complementing the tree columns and highlighting the canopy. Glass walls allow good interaction between the internal spaces and the external landscape. Both 1 and 2BHK apartments, also sheathed in a glass enclosure, enjoy connections to the landscaped surroundings.
The spatial flow
The layout has two large rectangular plinths connected with an open amphitheatre near which the sample apartments are placed. Functional areas are kept on one level ensuring uninterrupted customer flow in the desired pattern. The landscape is built around the concept of terracing which allows for additional open interactive spaces for customer events and programs.
The material palette
“Materials used in the marketing office vary from local to high-end finishes in a modern design language,” elucidates Amogh. “The exterior design language flows into the interiors through the finish on the ceiling in the form of a geometric pattern. The façade is done with clear glass to allow a good interaction of the interiors and external landscape. The flooring finishes used vary from Italian marble with brass inlays to create an impressive lobby, wooden flooring in the waiting area to create comfort and leather-finish natural Indian stone in external areas that connect with the landscape.
In the sample apartments, a modern and contemporary theme is implemented in the existing envelope to make it more relevant to the target group. A neutral colour palette in muted shades pairs up with accent colours coming in through fabrics to tie the entire space together as a single elegant home. Minimal and clean-lined furniture selection accentuates the volume of the space. While wood adds warmth, use of brass inlays and frames adds a dash of luxury. Decorative lights, mirror panelling and carefully curated accessories coupled with indoor plants not only add to the opulence but also enliven the show-flats, giving them a homely touch.
Fact file
Project: Marketing Office & Sample Apartments at Godrej City, Panvel
Location: Panvel
Area: 15,000 sq ft
Principal architects: Amogh Sule and Pritish Ghamandi
Design team: Preshita Chaudhari, Siddhesh Ghag, Vrushabh Patel, Irsha Dhurandhar and Ishwari Redij
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