Funktion Design Studio: A Floating Box of Innovation

In Sanjay Nagar, a quaint suburb of Bengaluru, Funktion Design embarked on a journey to create their studio that blends functionality with a limited space. Faced with unique challenges and opportunities, their 40 x 40 ft plot required a design that both respected the neighbours and maximised the limited space.

The south-facing orientation of the plot necessitated careful consideration to mitigate heat gain. This was addressed through a combination of vertical louvers on the mezzanine gallery, generous roof overhangs, and an open-plan layout designed to encourage natural ventilation.

To minimise their footprint and embrace verticality, they turned to steel and metal for their structural efficiency and flexibility. This decision enabled the creation of the light, airy aesthetic they envisioned, featuring large, open spans and minimal internal columns. The mezzanine gallery, suspended like a lantern, exemplifies the visual lightness of the design while maximising usable space.

Strength & Lightness
The structure itself serves as a statement. Three massive concrete portals, shaped like animal limbs, form the building’s backbone. These are contrasted by the lightness of the steel framework that supports the roof and the suspended mezzanine gallery, which is clad in vertical wooden louvers.

Nature has been intricately woven into the design. The existing Gulmohar trees are integral, providing shade and a sense of tranquillity, while large windows flood the interiors with natural light and fresh air. Since the public face of the office is on the topmost level, the studio and gallery space remain comfortable without the need for air conditioning.

Sustainability is also at the core of the design. Passive cooling strategies, such as the louvers, overhangs, and natural ventilation, minimise the energy footprint. The studio has embraced materials like recycled wood, and rainwater harvesting reduces reliance on the city’s supply. Inside, the open-plan layout fosters a collaborative spirit, and visual connections between levels create a dynamic and engaging environment.

The compact form and verticality minimise their impact on the neighbourhood. The use of steel and glass ensures the building does not feel imposing, maintaining a sense of lightness and transparency.

A floating box
The ‘floating box’ is the heart of Funktion Design Studio, arising from a combination of practical needs and their design ethos. The need for maximisation of space and elevating the main workspace created room for a gallery below and a sheltered entrance. This elevation minimised overshadowing of neighbouring houses and provided better views and natural light. Beyond the practical, the ‘floating box’ captures a sense of lightness and weightlessness, contrasting with the solid concrete base.

This concept truly embodies their design philosophy. The exposed steel structure celebrates minimalism and structural honesty. The clean lines and simple geometry of the steel frame reflect a minimalist aesthetic, while the unconventional form highlights commitment to innovation.

Steel was instrumental in realising this vision, as its strength and lightness allowed for the long spans and cantilevers necessary for the ‘floating’ effect. The flexibility of steel framing enabled the complex geometry of the box and its connection to the concrete portals. Furthermore, the visual lightness of steel enhances the illusion of a floating structure, symbolising the studio’s approach to design.

Designed with Purpose
The unique aesthetic and functionality of the studio are heavily influenced by the careful selection of concrete, steel, wood, and aluminium. The exposed concrete portals provide a strong foundation, with their raw texture contrasting beautifully against the smoother surfaces of steel and aluminium. Wood has been incorporated to bring warmth and a connection to nature, using wooden flooring and vertical louvers on the mezzanine gallery to soften the industrial feel of the concrete and steel while also improving acoustics.

Aluminium cladding on the mezzanine gallery adds a lightweight, durable, and corrosion-resistant element. Its reflective surface creates beautiful reflections that enhance the building’s visual appeal, working in tandem with the louvers to control heat and glare, contributing to the overall aesthetic. Moreover, the material palette supports a commitment to sustainability. The incorporation of recycled wood, alongside passive cooling strategies, helps reduce environmental impact.

Using recycled materials in the studio presented unique challenges. Sourcing enough high-quality materials required establishing relationships with salvage yards and demolition companies, and the team embraced the variations and imperfections of these materials as integral to the design, carefully selecting and arranging them for visual appeal.

A specific challenge arose with recycled wood, as the presence of nails and other fasteners often damaged blades during processing, and the fixed sizes of the recycled wood limited their options. To address this, Funktion implemented design strategies that effectively incorporated the available wood sizes into their projects, enhancing the overall aesthetic while maintaining functionality.

The team also accounted for the extra processing and cleaning required for recycled materials. For structural elements, the team relied on new steel and concrete, reserving recycled materials primarily for non-structural components like cladding and flooring.

Complex crafting
The design of Funktion Design Studio, featuring a hybrid concrete and steel structure, presented unique structural engineering challenges due to its complex geometries. To address these challenges, a combination of analysis, innovative design solutions, and close collaboration between architects and structural engineers was essential.

Advanced structural analysis software was employed to rigorously model and assess the building’s behaviour under various load conditions, ensuring the stability and safety of both concrete and steel elements, particularly the unconventional concrete portals and the cantilevered ‘floating box.’

Careful consideration was given to the connection design between the concrete and steel components. Strategies such as shear connectors, embedded plates, and specialised anchoring systems were implemented to facilitate efficient load transfer and create a structurally sound, integrated system. The unique form of the concrete portals, with their varying cross-sections, demanded a high level of precision in both design and construction, further underscoring the complexity of the project.

Additionally, the inherent differences in thermal expansion and contraction properties between concrete and steel were addressed by incorporating expansion joints and flexible connections. This design feature mitigated potential stress and cracking caused by temperature fluctuations.

Throughout the process, effective communication and collaboration among the architects, structural engineers, and construction team were paramount, ensuring a holistic approach to the structural challenges.

Renewing Spaces
The use of recycled materials was an obvious choice for the team. Reclaimed wood not only enhances the character of the interiors but also reduces environmental impact by minimising waste and the demand for new resources. Additionally, sourcing these materials locally helps to lower transportation costs and emissions, reinforcing their commitment to sustainability.

Energy efficiency is another priority in their design approach. Various passive cooling strategies, including vertical louvers, roof overhangs, and natural ventilation, collectively reduce reliance on air conditioning. Large windows and skylights are incorporated to maximise natural light, thereby decreasing the need for artificial lighting during the day. When artificial lighting is necessary, energy-efficient fixtures are used to further minimise energy consumption. The installation of solar panels on the roof enhances sustainability efforts by generating renewable energy for the studio, further reducing the overall carbon footprint.

Steel plays a pivotal role in their sustainability efforts. Its high recyclability ensures that the frame can be repurposed at the end of the building’s life, while its inherent durability guarantees a long lifespan, thus reducing the frequency of replacements and renovations. The lightweight nature of steel facilitates reduced material and energy use during transportation, and prefabricated steel components off-site minimises construction waste and on-site disruption.

Quote
“Designing and building our own studio was an incredibly rewarding journey. It gave us the opportunity to truly express our design philosophy and create a space that reflects our values. We embraced the challenges of the site, turning constraints into opportunities. The result is a functional and inspiring workspace that fosters creativity and collaboration, while also showcasing our commitment to sustainability and innovation. We’re proud to call this unique building our home.”
Madhusudhan Sridhar, Principal Architect, Funktion Design

Fact File
Project: Funktion Design Studio, Bengaluru
Architect: Funktion Design
Structural Design: Manjunath and Company
Contractor: Dalavai Infrastructure
Fabricator: Jayanth
Status: Completed