World Of Difference

The Iconic Structure Designed By Gayathri And Namith Architects To House Jaquar’s Global Hq Is Not A Flight Of Fancy, But A Striking Symbol Of The Company’s Soaring Spirit.

- Maria Louis

A sense of arrival and anticipation quickens my pulse as our car sweeps into the driveway of the 12-acre site at the end of a 1.8km drive in the industrial belt of Manesar. Stopped by the security staff at the gate of Jaquar’s global headquarters, I drink in the picturesque setting of lush landscaped gardens topped by an imposing eagle-shaped building with wings widely spread. The gushing waterfall and water bodies flowing seamlessly from the exteriors to the interiors offer a subtle hint of what lies ahead. Yet, nothing prepares me for the grandeur of the entrancing entrance which makes a splash – quite literally!

Sunlight streams into the quadruple-height atrium from the skylight above, reflecting off the steel sculpture by Alex Davis (you guessed right... it’s called Splash), playfully bouncing off the surface of the pool and glistening on the transparent flooring under which the water flows – leading me, almost unconsciously, to the wall that holds the art installation by Himanshu Dogra and his team at Playclan. As I examine the representations of the five cosmic elements that define the company’s philosophy, I cannot help but revel in the lavishness of space around me. This section of the lobby is delightful, but it pales in comparison to the brand experience studio designed by Michael Foley of Foley Designs.

A brainchild of Gayathri and Namith Architects (GNA) and their team, this path-breaking project was conceived in 2011 and delivered in 2016 – to the utmost satisfaction of their client (see interview on pg40). Namith Varma, founder director of the design firm, who confesses that he was inspired by the seagull from the 1970s novel