After apprenticing with SOM in New York and Zal Gobhai in Mumbai; and a six year long partnership with Noshir Talati, Ar. Rumy Shroff established Rumy Shroff Associates in 1977. The RSA philosophy believes in state-of-the-art global practices in the field of architecture and interior design. The diversity of projects indicates their versatility and adaptability. Their vast experience enables them to understand and cater to varying social needs and human temperaments. This is particularly reflected in the office they re-fitted for giant Indian corporate – Godrej & Boyce Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
Located in the massive industrial complex of Godrej in Vikhroli, Mumbai, this office project was conceived and initiated, and was lying unbuilt for nearly ten years before the management decided to re-purpose it to accommodate additional needs. That is when Ar. Rumy Shroff was brought on board. Therefore, the new architetcural firm had to work with the framework of the existing plan and the partially built structure.
The brief given to RSA was to retrofit the existing two-storeyed building to absorb the new spatial needs as well as to add floors based on the existing foundation and structural plan.
The architectural assignment for RSA was to work within the existing framework while providing for the revised operational requirements. RSA’s initial challenge was to figure out the underlying system and geometry of the existing structure, which while inherent was not entirely apparent. Thus the new programmatic requirements were planned around and within that system, to avoid any major structural modifications. Three more floors were added to accommodate the needs in the new program.
The project being part of an existing and extensive industrial layout was expected to respect the existing architectural language that was employed in the campus. Thus the design vocabulary chosen by RSA is a natural outcome of the existing structure; but it also had to reflect the values and culture of the company and make a powerful statement.
The design approach therefore was sympathetic to the existing architectural vocabulary but evolved to imbibe the new program and new context.
Fact File
Project type: Office
Location: Mumbai
Built up area: 2,50,000 SQ. FT.
Year of completion: 2011
