Sanjay Puri Architects showcases sustainable materials in the new Office@27 for a Mumbai real estate development company.

The Vibrant Group India, a leading real estate development company in Mumbai, specializes in apartments and commercial properties with an emphasis on today?s eco-friendly living. The design by Sanjay Puri Architects reflects the organization?s own portfolio and commitment to environmental stewardship. ?We wanted to convey their message of building green,? says Sanjay Puri, founder and principal of his eponymous firm. The workspace is better known as Office@27, a nod to its location on the 27th floor in one of the more than 4,000 high rise buildings in Mumbai. Puri relied on Vastu principles to enhance the office. This ancient Indian system maintains that aligning a structure with five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and space) and energy flow, it ensures harmony ? or here, a prosperous business.
The architects focused on facets that would highlight the 20-foot ceilings, a rarity in the city?s new buildings. The client initially liked the look of exposed steel beams. However, the designers preferred a solution that would minimize noise and boost acoustic comfort. They envisioned the often overlooked surface above as a unique canvas that they could actually decorate.

The team sourced 400 cardboard tubes of various sizes from a local packaging factory. Covered with a fire-retardant coating, the cylinders placed overhead form a collage inte...