Most preoccupied in the relentless bustle of the urban jungle—clamorous streets, constant haste and ever-increasing edifices of concrete piercing the sky—frequently look for respite in nature. They chase moments of escape in the mountains, forests, by the lake or in the countryside. These transitory pauses in the mundane rhythms of life bring with them opportunities for reflection, contemplation and recalibration, otherwise scarce in city life. Jhanvi Mehta Shah and Rakshit Shah, founders of D’WELL, an architecture practice based in Gujarat, India, sought a similar experience for their new workspace; they found their vision of serenity and inspiration in a four-decade-old farmer’s dwelling, a stone’s throw away from the buoyant urban stretch of Surat.

Subtly perched under a canopy of neem, mango and almond trees, the old farmer’s abode underwent a metamorphosis, a meticulous transformation into a minimalist office design for D’WELL. The Indian architects pursued the idea of a workspace immersed in nature, where ideas take birth and are nurtured in the embrace of lush greenery. Dubbed D’WELL’s Den, the new office aspires to embody spatial freedom and inspiration; in the courtyard, one can hear the musical chirping of birds and while sitting under the trees, one can ponder away. 

Established in 2019 as a brainchild of architect duo and couple Jhanvi Mehta Shah and Rakshit Shah, DWELL is a multidisciplinary architecture, interior design and construction management consultancy studio. The practice abides by the design ethos, “If it tells a story, it is art,” a philosophy that extends to their new office building. During the renovation of the dilapidated residence, the architects sensitised themselves to its understated heritage and context. Even in its dwindling plight, the house’s load-bearing structure exuded a rustic charm that the architects wanted to preserve. D’WELL’s team, hence, crafts an augmentation of the original architectural language. Taking a gentle approach rather than an invasive one, the architects refrain from altering the residence’s structure or making any drastic changes to the existing finishes.

The house's main living room, now the office’s conference room welcomes the visitors into the skylit ‘den’. Minimal and linear, this area features a 14’ sloping roof, uncommon in contemporary cityscapes. Natural light penetrates the space through strategically positioned punctures in the walls and the roof; a light well on the west keeps the workspace illuminated and ventilated. This allows for a visual connection with the outdoors and an animated play of light and shadow throughout the day. Moving further ahead, the plan opens up into the staff cabin area, a space focused primarily on utility and function. Across the spaces, the semantics remain decluttered and minimal.

The adjoining room in the east, formerly used as a storage area for the farmer’s produce is morphed to accommodate the toilets. The backyard, previously a cowshed, is repurposed into an outdoor pantry area—for lunch breaks close to nature, offering moments of tranquillity for the designers. The 12-foot-long dining table in the pantry has been cast on the fallen bark of palm trees found on the site, a tribute to the site’s history that fosters a sense of community.

The primary cabin of D’WELL’s Den flaunts a rather unconventional layout, a derivative of the site’s features. Built as an annexe to the house, on the southeast side, the work cabins coexist with all the elements of the farmer’s house, including several trees. The workplace design maintains the ‘inside-outside’ theme of the office and is awash with natural light. The pre-existing trees become a part of the design as the renovation architecture unfolds around them, fortifying the feeling of being with nature.

The architects also preserve the curved arch fenestrations and the sloping roof which varies from 5.5 feet at the lowest to 14 feet at the highest. The walls mostly remain untouched, with only the necessary paint and plaster work, while niches are converted into windows to enhance natural lighting and ventilation. Pigmented concrete is employed for the flooring, paying homage to traditional techniques of Indian architecture prevalent in the region. The furniture design conforms to the Japanese technique of Shou Sugi Ban, complementing the existing textures.

DWELL’s refurbished home now accommodates 10 people and also functions as a communal space for a variety of occasions such as lunches, design talks, concerts and more. The architects contrive their atypical office as a juxtaposition of nature, human interaction, technology and rootedness. Peculiar details come to life in an immersive experience carved out of a humble structure; the trees shoot up through the architecture, daylight trickles in through apertures and earthy textures nod to a concealed history. Within its unassuming shell, DWELL’s Den hopes to foster a community—of design enthusiasts, like-minded people, nature lovers and art connoisseurs.