The building was structured around these courtyards varying in scale. The first Courtyard is the most public and from which you ascend to the inner courtyards, which are more secluded. Therefore, the six large offices that had to cater to the maximum traffic and the visitors, were arranged around the first courtyard – which is monumental in scale and large enough to allow cars to drive in. The second courtyard had a private entrance for the directors of the company (who are located on the upper floor) as well as the cafeteria, conference facilities and other functions. The third courtyard, is even more intimate in scale. On a level above this courtyard is the boardroom and the director’s area, which overlook all three courtyards. These spaces are placed such that they provide a vista through the building, establishing the idea of centrality and a clear axis along which the various components of the building are organized.
The inner courtyards of the building contain water bodies. This water is circulated to humidify the space for cooling – an ideal device for the hot dry climate of Coimbatore, which lies in the rain – shadow of the Nilgiri Hills, though in every other aspect very much part of the Tropics. Furthermore as the building is never more than one office thick, cross-ventilation and air-circulation, coupled with the humidification of air, cools the building very efficiently.
Contemporary artists were specially commissioned to design the building elements such as railings, gates, trellises and installations in the double height spaces. The Client is one of the largest manufacturers of machine tools, and has enormous scrap metal wastes. Using this scrap the artists created an array of screens and trellises that not only secure the building but also facilitate the movement of air and light. The synthesizing of these traditional elements with a contemporary sensibility was a broader design concern that was addressed in the articulation of the building itself.
In its expression, the building attempts to represent the contemporary South Indian spirit – where aspirations to connect to the world simultaneously through cutting edge technology and industrial entrepreneurship is deeply rooted in traditional conservatism. Thus while the building draws its essential inspiration from the traditional building typologies of both Kerala and Tamilnadu, as Coimbatore is located on the border, these are abstracted to facilitate contemporary interpretations. The attempt has been to combine, contrast, synthesize, and at times juxtapose conventional craftsmanship with industrial materials and traditional spatial arrangements with contemporary space organization. In short, to give expression to the multiple worlds, pluralism and dualities that so vividly characterize the Indian Tropical landscape.
ASSESSMENT:
Lakshmi Machine Works Ltd.
As a member of the family and Director, I have been involved from initial planning of the project to the final instillation of art works. I have been using the office for the past one year and my office hours have become really exciting and highly productive.