bioclimatic architecture • interior design • sustainable landscape
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Recycle, Repurpose...Transform
Using a climate – responsive, restorative design strategy, an abandoned warehouse in Bharuch, Gujarat, converted into a corporate guest house that retains an ‘industrial’ essence.
Located on the banks of the Narmada River, a 28500 sq mt site with an abandoned 172m-long warehouse was transformed into a corporate guest house. Instead of demolishing the warehouse, the architects retained its exposed brick structure, RCC columns, and steel trusses while replacing the asbestos roof with insulated metal due to health concerns. The design repurposed the space into nine suites, with open courtyards, glass partitions for visual connectivity, and custom furniture made from metal and recycled wood. An additional six suites were created by converting 40 unused shipping containers, maintaining the industrial aesthetic. Climate-responsive strategies, including thick walls, high ceilings, and courtyards, ensure thermal comfort in Bharuch’s hot, humid climate. This project highlights sustainable design by recycling materials and retaining the site’s industrial character.
Phase 1
The aim was to retain the shell and adaptively modulate the warehouse into residential facility – thus minimizing material usage. The outcome represents a synergy between climate responsive design strategies (courtyard, high ceilings, verandahs) and the idea of retaining an image of site’s past. Instead of demolishing the existing building and building afresh, devoid of any historical fabric to the place, the design adaptively reuses and transform the context while retaining the essence of the site.
Phase 2
Recycle discarded shipping container to satisfy the requirement – thus minimizing usage and innovatively converting scrap into usable resource, eventually, 40 out of 96 discarded containers and recycled. Varying the modular configuration, 3 containers made up for 1 residential suite. Corrugated sheets are altered to create openings, doorways or for combining 2 containers. External shell is kept untouched to extend the “industrial aesthetics” concept.
