孟买班德拉遗产建筑内的活力办公室丨印度丨Open Atelier Mumbai

A vibrant Mumbai office comes alive within the walls of a heritage Bandra building

Open Atelier Mumbai envisages the adaptive reuse of an old bungalow in Bandra, using purposeful design and minimal interventions to preserve its old-world charm for this Mumbai office.

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In the crowded landscape of Mumbai, every so often, a space emerges that narrates tales of a bygone era, an architectural gem tucked away in the heritage buildings of the city. The storied spaces, the worn out walls - all preserve an untouched sense of nostalgia. In one such bungalow in Bandra, Rahul Mistri of Open Atelier Mumbai intervenes minimally to carve out an office space that bridges the past and the present.

Open Atelier Mumbai minimally intervenes in a heritage Bandra bungalow to craft a contemporary workspace.

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The process was born out of a sensitive and mindful design approach. “We prioritised subtle interventions, allowing the intrinsic beauty of the original architecture to shine,” begins Mistri, in an effort to not only conserve the structure’s past but also minimise the environmental impact of the AEC industry at large. With minimal damage to the existing walls, his non-intrusive additions maintain the integrity of the built heritage while laying down the building blocks of his concept integrating minimal pop-up pastel colours throughout every space. “I wanted to juxtapose old and new geometries, to attempt to enhance these

timeless elements

with a modern flair,” he explains. Almost akin to an underline, the hues draw one’s attention to fenestrations, doors, and edges that define the architectural character of the space, endowing them with new meaning under this coloured emphasis.

Using pop colours, architectural elements are highlighted to add vibrancy yet not detract from the existing character.

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Completed within a record 25 days, the 2,000-square-foot Mumbai office stretches across three storeys but is completely non-hierarchical in nature. Communal concept rooms and

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flank the founder’s workspace on the second floor, nurturing an informal ambiance that fosters community building and interaction. On the first floor, a spill-out area leads to workstations, a pantry, an accounts department, and conference rooms.

The light-washed spaces of the office preserve the original character with simple modifications.

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The volumes are fluid. Seamless circulatory and visual pathways connect them, creating a free-flowing space. A winding

staircase

with its unique character is one such path, guiding visitors forward through the space almost subconsciously. Mistri also connects suspended lights across every space, lending visual direction as the entire ceiling of the office transforms into a ‘tapestry of illumination’. The

lights

—woven together to not only ensure functionality and aesthetic value but also tangibly connect and harmonise disparate zones—also circumvent the need for conduits or drilling interventions, respecting the structural integrity of the building. The gentle sway of the suspended lights brings forth a dynamic play of light and shadows, while the warm tones ensure minimal glare. But that’s not all. “We’ve designed and placed the lights strategically to not only serve as statement additions but also accentuate the space’s architectural features and design motifs.” reveals Mistri.

Every room adopts a different, characteristic identity in line with the accent chosen.

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Existing doors and windows transform into accents, underscoring their nostalgic charm.

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The lights, coupled with a varying set of

pop colours,

work in tandem to draw attention to cornice details, roofing elements, and door and window frames—adding a sense of intrigue, vibrancy and almost childlike playfulness. It presents a refreshing contrast against the otherwise white-washed walls, where panelling and laminate work is consciously avoided to ensure shorter turnaround times. The striking patterned flooring—retained and refurbished to revive its old-world charm also saved time, while harmonising with the clean aesthetic and outlines. Subtle additions such as the ornamental paintings, and patterns in transitional corridors are blink-or-miss-it details that add rich character reminiscent of the form’s heritage but strictly contemporary in nature. The emphasis on efficiency also involved the use of modular, prefabricated furniture (a majority of it was sourced from IKEA), which allows the intrinsic architectural elements of the design to flourish in the spotlight.

A central, winding staircase connects the three floors while connected suspended lights lend visual direction.

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Through mindful, non-invasive interventions and strategic elements, Open Atelier Mumbai carves out a vibrant workspace within the historical walls—highlighting the design studio’s commitment to purposeful design, efficient execution and adaptive reuse.

Styling Credits: Anju Mukhi Mistri