The beautiful thing about preservation is that we begin with something that already exists and is local. In addition to retaining the collective memory of the building, preservation optimizes our consumption patterns. We no longer have to build new.
The idea of preservation should extend into the adaptive reuse of diverse building typologies — a shift that emphasizes reimagining what exists rather than defaulting to new construction. This approach reorients the focus from building anew to enhancing and repurposing existing structures, whether they are newly built, already established, or designated as heritage. By prioritizing adaptability, buildings can be assessed through the lens of their current and future usability.
The headquarters for Delhivery, one of India’s largest logistics companies, in Pilerne, an industrial district in Goa, called for a contemporary workspace that reflects the company’s values of innovation, adaptability and youthful energy, while also establishing a setting for collaboration and co-creation. The design intent was to create a holistic development that puts the well-being of the employee at the forefront and becomes a productive addition to its locality.
Proposed on a linear tract of land with a dilapidated workshop, the design approach was broken up into two phases. In the first phase of the project, Architecture Discipline chose to strategically revitalize the existing workshop into a modern workspace. Phase 2 extended into the rest of the sloping land, adding a prefabricated events block and elevated garden with provision for a grow room.
“What’s the point of talking about adaptive reuse stories and preservation narratives if it needs for us to identify something special every time? Although the existing block was rather unremarkable, it had already utilized materials and taken up space. After a quick structural assessment, we decided it was worth preserving,” explained Principal Akshat Bhatt on the choice to repurpose the existing workshop on-site.
The project leverages the latent potential of the abandoned workshop and refurbishes it in a resource-efficient manner, eliminating the need for new construction. The renovation culminates in a terracotta-toned structure that skillfully leverages the expansive spaces inherent to the original industrial architecture.
The building was revitalized by reinforcing the columns with steel jacketing and replacing the old trusses and roof. The outdated asbestos roof has been revamped with a modern pre-insulated profile sheet, accompanied by a central skylight installed along its ridge. This upgrade floods the interior with natural daylight, redefining the atmosphere within. Further enhancements include the incorporation of light shelves at lintel level and the refurbishment of windows with high-performance insulating glass, amplifying the overall scheme and setting up well-lit environments conducive to productivity. Through this adaptive reuse approach, the workspace was made operable in two months, optimizing construction time and minimizing the project’s carbon footprint.
To encourage productivity and collaboration, the office block’s interiors feature a flexible layout. Beyond an open plan with a balanced, symmetrical flow, meeting rooms are designed with rooftops that serve as mezzanine breakout spaces for employees, and are accessed via a ladder. Scattered with informal bean bags and chairs, these perch points inspire fresh outlooks. The contemporary workspace is also augmented by a courtyard that enables visual connection across the floors while also adding a refreshing touch of greenery to the interior space.
The building with its coat of red paint, the company’s signature color, forms a landmark and a beacon in the otherwise non-descript industrial setting. Characterized by simple white ceilings and black kudappah flooring, the interior color palette is kept clean and minimal. The ceilings are lined with fiberboard panels made out of recycled wood for acoustic insulation, while exposed service ducts maximize the ceiling height within the indoor environment.
The events block occupies the lower portion of the site, navigating the level difference in the terrain through large angular steps and raked seating. The block is sectioned into three levels— a lower ground floor, a ground floor and terrace, and a mezzanine level. The mezzanine floor of the events block is interlinked to the workspace block through an angled bridge. Designed to host various events and even drone testing, the block is also flexibly used as a workspace with workstations placed along the seating. The dynamic layering of levels and staircases, stacked at varied angles, infuses the architecture with a sense of dynamism. The interior design further cultivates this playful mood, through pops of yellow, red and olive green.
With a design language that leans toward unconventional rationalism, the events block exhibits prefabricated architecture that complements the office building’s volume. In contrast to the pitched roof of the workspace block, a sloped roof shelters the events block. The surface was developed in response to the region’s climate, eliminating the need for gutters and effectively draining rainwater. Opting for a prefabricated construction allowed for the block to be put together quickly, with minimal on-site work and minimal material waste. While the interiors utilize cement boards painted a dark olive green, the external walls are clad in red zinc chromate primed metal sheets bolted on a metal framework with insulation.
Designed as a dynamic work hub that prioritizes the holistic well-being of the company’s employees, the development includes facilities such as a gym and a breakout terrace with a garden located at the rear entry. Employees move through the events block to access the terrace, which includes casual seating and a view of the plot’s verdant landscape. The terrace houses a kitchen garden that feeds the workspace’s cafeteria, promoting a sense of self-sufficiency and encouraging employees to embrace locally sourced, fresh produce. Below, a gym, parking area and pedestrian zone are accessed through a permeable boundary of bollards at the rear entrance of the plot. The gym’s exterior is clad in fluted polycarbonate sheeting, seamlessly blending the facility with its context. The campus is designed to engage with its surroundings, becoming not just a standalone facility, but a catalyst for community interaction at the neighborhood level.
The headquarters for Delhivery in Goa responds to the universal evolution in work culture, striking a harmonious balance between productivity and leisure, work and play. Designed to stimulate creativity, exploration and co-creation, the workspace offers various environments conducive to ideation and collaboration. Embracing a flexible approach to work, the design eschews traditional fixed desks and instead provides diverse settings across the one-acre plot. From dedicated workstations to informal perch points, from collaborative meeting areas on outdoor steps to places to unwind like the terrace and gym, the development caters to the diverse needs and preferences of its employees, fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture. The workspace imbibes the company’s core values, and not only fosters a holistic work-life balance but also serves as a blueprint for the offices of tomorrow, inspiring sustainable practices and setting new standards, paving the way to a greener future.