Maintaining Mumbai’s Heritage at the TOAST office

Open Atelier Mumbai helps TOAST maintain Mumbai’s historic architecture while implementing fresh elements for productivity.

Mumbai is a city with scarce land but a rich history; the idea of demolishing heritage structures to adapt to the present and new ones brings a loss to the city’s unique historical character. 

To avoid an excessive loss to the city’s historic fabric, Open Atelier Mumbai envisaged the reuse of this heritage building, transforming it into an office space for Toast Events Pvt Ltd., an all-in-one experiential marketing firm. 

Completed within a record time of 25 days, TOAST is located within the charming Green Gift Bungalow in Bandra, Mumbai. The bungalow reflects colonial-era influences while seamlessly integrating into its lush surroundings with its striking yellow facade and green sloping awnings. The project’s characteristic concept is rooted in a commitment to preserving the integrity of the built heritage through non-intrusive interventions, allowing original architectural elements to shine.

The sensitive and thoughtful design process is not only an effort to conserve the structure’s past, but it also helps minimise the environmental impact of the AEC industry at large. Wanting to juxtapose new and old geometries, the design team uses adaptive reuse to provide a new meaning to the existing wall structure by using non-intrusive additions. In the project, adaptive reuse transcends mere renovation or the use of eco-friendly materials. It’s about being resourceful, mindful, and sustainable, which, in turn, harmonises the charm of the past with the comforts and conveniences of the present while addressing the needs of the future.

Project Planning

The design rejuvenates the heritage space through minimal design intervention, creating a space that bridges past and present. A key challenge was the stringent timeline—just 5 days for design and 20 days for execution—necessitating a precise and pragmatic plan of action. To address this challenge and champion productivity and collaboration, this three-storeyed bungalow integrates a dynamic spatial configuration with a free-flowing layout. 

Observing a unique character, the winding staircase welcomes visitors to the first floor, guiding them through various spaces. The first floor opens into a spill-out area that leads the visitor to the workstations, pantry, accounts department and conference rooms. The non-hierarchical nature of the studio is demonstrated through the seamless connectivity through the second floor, where the founder’s workspace is located, along with the concept room and the terrace area. With the terrace area, the second floor creates an informal space that fosters community building and interaction.

Project Details

Preserving Heritage Through Colourful Accents

The design approach mindfully preserves the existing structure, avoiding intrusive interventions and minimising damage to the original walls. This thoughtful strategy forms the foundation for a distinctive concept: incorporating pop-up colours throughout the space.

These delicate hues accentuate fenestrations and edges, juxtaposing the original door frames, roofing elements, and cornice details with a fresh, modern flair of playful colours and geometric patterns. Carefully curated pastel shades endow each space with a unique charm, breathing life into the outlined surface edges. For instance, shades of green, blue, orange, and red are used in the work areas to add a sense of intrigue, vibrancy and detail to the otherwise white-washed walls. 

Subtle additions, such as ornamental paintings or patterns in transitional corridors, add a sense of character, reminiscent of the heritage while following a strictly modern design methodology. 

The amalgamation of heritage elements with modern patterns and colours adds depth to the visual experience for both the visitor and the user, breaking the monotony of the prevailing whites on the vertical plane and creating a sense of movement within the space. The original, 100-year-old flooring tiles are carefully retained and refurbished, adding a vibrant contrast to the white walls. This preserved element beautifully harmonises with the minimalist outlines, creating a visually engaging and balanced space.

A Tapestry of Illumination, Suspended in Style

A linear lighting system, featuring a combination of luminaires, runs seamlessly through all spaces in exposed conduits. This design choice preserves the historic structure’s integrity while introducing a dynamic, contemporary element. The suspended lights not only illuminate work areas but also act as visual connectors, unifying and harmonising the various zones within the office. Strategically placed, these lights double as statement pieces, accentuating the space’s architectural details and design motifs. As one moves through the office, the subtle sway of the suspended lights creates a captivating interplay of light and shadow, reducing glare while fostering a sense of fluidity and spatial unity.

Products 

Glass — Asahi

Sanitary ware / Fittings — Parryware 

Flooring — Handmade cement tiles 

Furniture — IKEA

Air Conditioning — Daikin

Lighting — Hybec

Paint — Asian Paints, Rangari

Overall Project Results

The emphasis on efficiency due to the concise timeline for the project led the team to prioritise the use of modular and prefabricated furniture, a majority of which was sourced from IKEA. 

Minimal and restricted interventions in the design ensured completing the project within the strict timeline without compromising the space’s aesthetics. For instance, the walls were painted white with accent colours, consciously avoiding panelling and laminate work to ensure shorter turnaround times.

Overall, the careful undertaking of an adaptive reuse strategy throughout the space bridges the gap between past and present, seamlessly transforming the historic structure into a lively, collaborative workspace. The design scheme used is a testament to Open Atelier’s commitment to purposeful design, efficient execution, and most importantly, an emphasis on reusing space as a sustainable way forward.

Design

Rahul Mistri, Founder and Principal Designer, Open Atelier Mumbai

Anju Mukhi, Principal Designer, Open Atelier Mumbai

Parth Soni

Nakul Saroj

Tejasvi Parashar

Photography

Terrace @storiesbyterrace