The Bharat Diamond Bourse in Mumbai is the hub of the country’s diamond industry. It hosts the offices of many a diamond business. Amongst these, is the one of Dharmanandan Diamonds Pvt. Ltd, for whom Nainesh Jain Designs took up the task of constructing a dynamic office environment.
When a person thinks of diamonds, images of luxury and exclusivity come to mind. With these romantic notions in mind, one expects a diamond merchant’s office to reflect values of quiet luxury and elegance. On the other hand, there are many practical considerations related to the nature of this business. It would be a tough job to marry these two essentials!
But this is exactly what Nainesh Jain has achieved so effortlessly with this workspace.
The reception area infuses a serene and sophisticated feel into the office. A simple geometric design is utilised and repeated throughout the area – on the walls, partitions and the desk. This adds interest to the otherwise bare space without being over the top.
Marble flooring spans the 3,250 square feet space, starting right at the reception area and sweeping over and unifying the entire office. The main colour scheme used is also initiated here. The very classic white-black-brown colour combination with splashes of grey where required, lends the area just the subtle elegance it demands.
The main cabin is a spacious area, reflective of the luxurious sophistication that one would associate a diamond office with. This space has been designed with a special touch. On stepping inside, one is impressed or maybe a bit awed by the enormity of the cabin. The huge CCTV screen in front of the desk and three glass wall-windows that surround the room give the occupants a clear view of whatever is going on in the other parts of the office.
When there is a need for privacy, discreet curtains come to the rescue. A comfortable couch adds warmth to the area as do the little displays and pictures on the walls. The focal wall is painted grey with a lacquered finish.
Lighting is an essential element of any interior design scheme and here specifically it has been given a lot of importance. “It was quite challenging to make the most of the available natural light. In the diamond business, lighting is of paramount importance,” say the architects. They thus ensured maximum natural light penetration – as this is invaluable for diamond evaluation. In fact, all the eighteen buyers’ cabins are flushed with it. In addition, the light fixtures used all through the space are custom made.
The subtly luxurious design of the main cabin sets it apart.
They all have non-reflective mirrors and work with LED bulbs. Since they look quite unique they also serve a decorative purpose, besides of course, unifying the look throughout the office. These have been constructed using only three colour options, black, white or brown and thus complement the colour palette well.
“We required that apart from natural light, all artificial light be white and all the surrounding surfaces be mild coloured and non reflective,” says Mr. Piyush Patel, from the Dharmanandan Diamonds group. These demands have been ably met by the very intuitive design scheme.
Security surveillance is another important pre-requisite of this business. This too was woven into the fabric of the interior scheme. The obvious requirement of CCTV supervision entails the presence of a number of monitors. The main cabin and conference room have big screens while a row of small monitors in the common cabins helps keep tabs.
Another important consideration involved the locking mechanisms. The architects installed a biometric locking system and automated doors throughout the office.
Right from the director’s office, conference room, buyers’ cabins, sales office, accounts department and so on are all duly labeled and give the area a neat and organised appearance. In addition, the office is equipped with the latest implements and tools of the trade.
What do the clients think of this space? How do they see the office design in conjunction with their business and operations? To conclude in the words of Mr. Patel, “The office is attractive as well as comfortable. It has just the right amount of glamour suited for the business!” So, is that not another diamond in the cap for the architects?
Text By Dhanishta Shah
Photographs Samir Chawda
Contact:
email: nainesh.jain@gmail.com
