Imagine Studios

ARCHITECTS : GPL Design Studio, Studio Lotus

CLIENTS : Godrej Properties LTD.

LOCATION : Vikhroli, Mumbai

PROJECT AREA : 1000 sq. m

PROJECT COST : -

CONTEXT Institutional Buidings, Adaptive Re-Use

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beauty that is
imperfect,
impermanent,
incomplete
 IMAGINE STUDIOS AT THE TREES, 2015

COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS

1. CO GENERATION PLANT- 1 1. STUDIO

2. WORKSHOP
2. CO GENERATION PLANT- 2
3. BOILER CAFE
4. AMPHITHEATRE
5. LEGACY SILOS
6. CHIMNEYV

The scheme was initiated as a design for a marketing office, shaped

Decades after making their place in the market, Godrej found
that their factories were moving out and they were slowly re-
generating Vikhroli. They wanted to preserve the legacy but not
in the sense of a museum. The brief was to create a community
centre for Godrej Trees project in Vikhroli, Mumbai.
into an exercise for place-making in ‘The Trees’, a flagship develop-
ment for Godrej Properties Ltd. The aim was to repurpose buildings
to create an experiential narrative of legacy and vision. An adaptive
re-use project in Mumbai, the Imagine Studio weaves nature, heri-
tage and urbanism through a compelling narrative of evolving con-
texts. The buildings would stay as a part of the overall development
but functions would change as the purpose evolves.

Site Intervention: Programmatically the buildings adapt into a mar-

keting office, meeting spaces and a café besides several outdoor
spaces to showcase upcoming residential and commercial prop-
erties. Two former power Co-Generation Plants and a Boiler Plant
were repurposed to accommodate new functions as a Studio, Work-
shop and Cafe respectively.

bibliography: https://www.archdaily.com/916722/imagine-studio-at-the-trees-studio-lotus-plus-
VAISHNAVI S
 IMAGINE STUDIOS AT THE TREES, 2015

COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS

bibliography: https://www.archdaily.com/916722/imagine-studio-at-the-trees-studio-lotus-plus-
VAISHNAVI S
 IMAGINE STUDIOS AT THE TREES, 2015

COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS

The Landscape.

The seamless integration of landscape

1. Entry Plaza 8. Legacy Silos The landscape design strategically re-purposes the heritage environ in a more urban, community-cen-
2. Covered Walk- 9. Amphitheatre tric setting. Amalgamating industrial scrap and integrating them with the plants, it uses them as a story
way 10. Beacon Silo telling device. A Corten Steel strip inserted into the layout acts as a guiding pathway that subtly indi-
3. Workshop 11. Silo Banches cates the key experiences of the entire marketing journey.
4. Studio 12. Urban Farm Coupled with a large chimney, the Studio, Workshop and Boiler Cafe frame a large plaza ideal for activ-
5. Chimney 13. Water Tank ities embodying the brand’s positioning of ‘Live. Work. Learn. Play’. The cafe is used as an integration
6. Boiler Cafe 14. Scaffolding space as it anchors both the front and back plazas. The public spaces come alive through events, a
7. Market Silos 15. Corten Strip market street, an urban farm, an amphitheatre and spaces for public art installations.

bibliography: https://studiolotus.in/showcase/imagine-studio-at-the-trees/144
VAISHNAVI S
 IMAGINE STUDIOS AT THE TREES, 2015

COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS

The Studio.

1. Media Silo CO-GENERATOR PLANT 1 – STUDIO - The lower edge has large pivoting doors that open up and con-
2. Meeting Room nect back to the plaza. The newly-designed interiors derive inspiration from the “memory” of the metal
3. Double Height silos - cylindrical units at the site. The old louvers of the primary plant, now the Studio, were repur-
posed in Corten Steel and perforated with patterns. The timber slats add warmth to the aesthetic and
ties together the linear and curvy forms. The projection system conveys the story of the development.
The spiral staircase wraps around the media silo and takes up to the mezzanine facilitated by the mas-
sive height of the pre-existing form.

bibliography: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yHy-TQIrhI
VAISHNAVI S
 IMAGINE STUDIOS AT THE TREES, 2015

COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS

The Workshop.

CO-GENERATOR PLANT 2 -- WORKSHOP - Creating the gateway to the entire development with the
Studio, the second co-generator plant has been transformed into the Workshop. A multi-functional
space, it houses sample apartments, a meeting area and a multi-purpose gallery for cultural events
such as art shows, talks and performances. The interiors connect seamlessly with the outdoors thus
expanding the areas of the activities and driving the dynamism of the landscape and the public domain.

bibliography: https://studiolotus.in/showcase/imagine-studio-at-the-trees/144
VAISHNAVI S
 IMAGINE STUDIOS AT THE TREES, 2015

COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS

The Boiler Cafe.

The existing Boiler Plant was converted into an all- day café by retaining the structural framework and
a boiler tank as a memory of its original intent. It follows the ‘farm-to-table’ philosophy using produce
from on-site vegetable garden. A tall chimney redolent of bygone industrial aesthetic has been treated
as a graphic memorial

bibliography: https://awards.kyoorius.com/2015/design/in-book-winners/imagine-studio-the-
VAISHNAVI S
 IMAGINE STUDIOS AT THE TREES, 2015

COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS

The Legacy Silos.

SILOS The silhouette of these forms offers contrast to the rigid geometry of the building, hence acting
as a sculptural insert. The 3 silos are designed as an ode to the past, present and the future of the
company.

bibliography: https://issuu.com/studiolotus/docs/presentation_godrej_imagine_studio
VAISHNAVI S
 IMAGINE STUDIOS AT THE TREES, 2015

COMPARITIVE ANALYSIS

The Structure.
The timeless architectural forms derived from the current industrial sheds and the materiality of Con-
crete, Corten Steel, Brass and Timber work on the principle of ‘Wabi-Sabi’ (vbeauty that is imper-
fect, impermanent, incomplete) allowing the buildings to age beautifully over time. The materials were
deliberately chosen to add layers to the sequence of events planned for the project. While Concrete
indicates the existing shell work, Corten Steel reinterprets the idea of the original form, which over a
period of time bleeds over Concrete. The perforated louvers hope to stimulate the manner in which the
dappled light comes in slowly through them. The façade is a simple mullion system whose construction
technology derives inspiration from the early modernist era. The transparency of the buildings makes
them seem like a large lantern in the evenings and the amorphous forms stand out.
Response to site Amalgamating and integrating industrial scrap with the plants, the landscape uses
them as a story telling device. A Corten Steel strip inserted into the layout acts as a guiding pathway
that subtly indicates the key experiences of the entire marketing journey.
Response to social structure The buildings of Imagine Studio are newly defined as the memories of an
industrial past; its contemporary form ready to shape new thoughts within its body.

Inference The intent was to illustrate an invigorated public realm as a microcosm of the master plan
while preserving the essence of the site’s industrial heritage. Existing buildings and its elements were
recycled not only to underline their relevance in past eras but also add meaning as important design
punctuations in the narrative. The buzzing public spaces will eventually extend the edge of the gated
development to include the community and city in its activities.

bibliography: https://www.world-architects.com/en/studio-lotus-new-delhi/project/imagine-studio-
VAISHNAVI S