The brief was to create an experience centre for a brand that creates high end construction solutions in wood. In keeping with Ritikaa Wood’s philosophy of sustainable luxury, we chose the adaptive re-use approach – reimagining an existing single storey bungalow in a quiet residential neighbourhood as a gallery space for timber building products.

Carving into and extending outward from the existing load-bearing shell, we created and enlarged window openings, forged internal connections and cut out a new skylight. This was done while bringing in and reinforcing connections back to the typology of a vernacular home of the region, recreating elements such as the entrance verandah, internal and external courtyards and a reflecting pond.

The internal spaces – in scale, sequence and the arrangement of furniture– recall an intentionally domestic setting, rather than a commercial one. The office and admin areas occupy what was once the garage of the home. Timber posts and rafters, skylights, doors, windows, decking, cladding and handrails take their natural places as they would in a home.

The end result combines planning and structural intervention with the warmth of materiality to extend the hospitality of a local home into a space which quietly showcases the craftsmanship and technical prowess of one of India’s leading players in timber construction.

Design Team: Pravir Sethi, Chintan Zalavadiya