Desert Rose

Interior designer Shabnam Gupta designs a stressfree office filled with sunlight, greenery and some rare art installations for a PVC pipe manufacturer in one of Mumbai’s famous industrial zones.

- Deepa Nair

Industrial Oasis... the team at The Orange Lane had rightly titled the mini concept note whilst introducing this refreshing and awe-inducing office created for one of India’s leading PVC pipe manufacturers. The project piqued interest with its stunning installations, a verdant wall, artwork... and then some more. But only when I got talking to Shabnam Gupta, the principal designer of the Mumbai-based firm, did all the jigsaw pieces fall in place — and with interesting stories to boot. Apparently, the owners of this office had a long association with Shabnam — the designer was instrumental in creating their previous office, residence and farmhouse; and the client was already well aware of her aesthetic sensibilities, besides having an immense comfort factor with the team.

“This 1,800-square-foot space was an extension of their corporate office, which is just a gala away. They were very clear about what they required of this space — this is where they wanted their clients (both Indian and international) to come and experience their products in a unique way rather than physically marketing them. This was also a space where corporate meetings and gatherings would take place,” explains Shabnam.

This request gave way to some of the highlights of this office. The piece de resistance (and if I may say, what breathes life into the space), that one will encounter the moment they step into this office is an 18-foot-high vertical garden bathed in sunlight streaming from a skylight above.