ADITI’s administration office was an empty shell, an open floor of a generic concrete building in Bengaluru city. Its window overlooked a busy street and a glazed wall framed a massive flyover. The designers at Made in Earth felt it was important to create a friendly and comfortable space against this typically stark urban environment. A place that welcomed farmers, corporate officials and frequenters with equal gusto.

Time and cost

For ADITI, constrained budgets and time worked in their favour. As the designers at Made in Earth put it, they needed a quick game-plan. They sourced readymade slotted-angles in modules of (1 X 1) metre. They were used as shelves, partition walls, partition-wall-cum-shelves and even benches. As the design progressed, the slotted angles defined the spaces within the office. Their frames were filled with plastered boards and finished in clay or lime, pallet wood-slats, glass, and even exposed fired bricks – a choreography of much-loved materials at the studio.

The slotted-angles angle

The slotted angles define the spaces within the office. Readymade slotted-angles in modules of (1 X 1)metre are used as shelves, partition walls, partition-wall-cum-shelves and even benches. Their frames were filled with plastered boards and finished in clay or lime, pallet wood-slats, glass, and even exposed fired bricks.

ADITI ORGANICS ADMINISTRATION OFFICE

Finished in clay or lime, pallet wood-slats, glass, and even exposed fired bricks - The ADITI Organics Office is a choreography of much-loved materials at the studio.

Passive cooling and dehumidifying with clay

Clay naturally absorbs excess of humidity in the air and releases it slowly, cooling the interiors uniformly.

They sourced readymade slotted-angles in modules of (1 X 1) metre. They were used as shelves, partition walls, partition-wall-cum-shelves and even benches.

On natural finishes

The walls are not finished with conventional paint. The designers implemented soothing textures of clay and warm whites of lime. Lime also adapts to vibrant colours and bright hues, which make occasional appearances throughout the space.

Lime and clay are naturally available and require little or no energy for processing. They are both binders; the medium that holds other materials together. Sand, quarry dust, recycled building materials or natural fibres are mixed with them in different proportions to create different plasters for walls.

Lime, a self-healing, breathable, low-carbon material, is obtained by firing limestone. It can be used in place of cement to obtain waterproof plasters, suitable for exterior walls. Lime-based finishes are also suitable for humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms.

For colour, the designers used mineral-based iron-oxide pigments with lime. Clay the smallest particle in the composition of soil, when mixed with water, becomes malleable. It can be combined with other materials like sand or fibres. It naturally absorbs an excess of humidity in the air and releases it slowly, cooling the interiors uniformly. The Pinewood for partition-shelves and table-tops are sourced locally. They are treated with a chemical-free mix of mix of linseed oil and non-toxic herbal treatment.

Lime-based finishes are also suitable for humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms. For colour, the designers used mineral-based iron-oxide pigments with lime.

Wall finishes

The walls are not finished in conventional paint. The designers implemented soothing textures of clay and warm whites of lime. Lime and clay are naturally available and require little or no energy for processing.

Waterproofing with lime

Lime be used in place of cement to obtain waterproof plasters, suitable for exterior walls. Lime-based finishes are also suitable for humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms.

Pinewood Furniture

The Pinewood for partition-shelves and table-tops are sourced locally. They are treated with a chemical-free mix of mix of linseed oil and non-toxic herbal treatment.

Opportunities and challenges

The designers not only train their labour but also learn the techniques themselves.This offers an opportunity to experiment; they dive into construction, get their hands dirty and eventually train not only their workers, but also themselves. It feeds their design process, reviving and reinterpreting classic and contemporary ideas in newer lights.

Beyond what meets the eye

While the ADITI office captures the imagination with a design scheme that is appropriate, sound and sustainable, there are challenges that go unnoticed when creating a space with alternative building techniques. The main challenge is the lack of skilled labour that can hardly follow details that are not standard. Understanding this, the designers not only train their labour but also learn the techniques themselves.

This offers an opportunity to experiment; they dive into construction, get their hands dirty and eventually train not only their workers, but also themselves. It feeds their design process, reviving and reinterpreting classic and contemporary ideas in newer lights.

To see what Made in Earth is up to, head here!