The Chennai Showroom project involved designing a modern showroom for Bhartiya International, a leather garments and accessory manufacturing company. The site provided was a parking lot surrounded by teakwood trees, which were to be preserved. The showroom required various functional spaces such as meeting rooms, a conference room, a visitors lounge with a bar, a store, and a toilet. The building was intended to be subtle and blend harmoniously with the surroundings.

The main challenge was the tight timeline of completing the project within 90 working days, including the design phase. To ensure efficiency, a prefab construction approach was adopted, with masonry work used only up to the plinth level. The superstructure was built using mild steel sections and trusses. PUF (Polyurethane Foam) panels were employed on the roof to reduce weight and enhance heat insulation. The building envelope was kept minimal, comprising cement board panels and toughened glass.

Incorporating the natural beauty of the site, a skylight was introduced in the corridor to allow ample natural light and offer breathtaking views of the tall teakwood trees. At the entrance, a wooden screen was installed to create an intriguing texture and add visual interest.

The interiors of the showroom focused on creating visually permeable displays for leather bags and accessories. Mild steel tubes were used to construct the displays, while wall-hung shelves were made from molded PMMA (Polymethyl Methacrylate) sheets. The peripheral showrooms featured gypsum false ceilings to ensure appropriate display lighting, while the corridor and visitor lounge showcased exposed mild steel trusses and purlins adorned with pendant lights, making a design statement and utilizing the building's structure to its advantage.

To maintain a cohesive and contemporary aesthetic, minimal and modern furniture was specially sourced from Italy, seamlessly blending with the overall design and the modern building envelope.

Overall, the Chennai Showroom project successfully met the design brief of creating a modern showroom for Bhartiya International. The combination of prefabricated construction, strategic use of materials, incorporation of natural elements, visually permeable displays, and carefully curated furniture resulted in a cohesive and visually appealing space that met the client's requirements while adhering to the challenging timeline.