Architect Rooshad Shroff’s Mumbai studio is both a gallery and an open office

A Multi-functional Space
As one enters the 900 square-foot space, you find yourself in a large and airy volume that functions as a gallery space. “For a long time, I was working on furniture and I never had an outlet where I could showcase the furniture and pieces; I specifically did not want it in any retail format. What I wanted was a space that could function as part studio and part gallery where we can show new collections and collaborations. Some of the main pieces are very tactile in nature and it’s important for clients to be able to see, touch and feel them,” he explains. For events like the recent Mumbai Gallery Weekend, the studio is cleared out and the entire area transforms into an exhibition gallery for that duration. 

An Elegant Backdrop
With the exterior architecture being such an inspiration, Rooshad brought in a few features into the space, like an abundance of arched elements. He also chose an elegant and simple palette of soft pale grey walls complemented by marble and light wooden flooring. “The design of the space is an absolutely neutral, clean canvas that retains the flavour of the heritage architecture. Essentially, it’s just a clean, painted backdrop to showcase our pieces—pale grey walls and the use of a lot of arched mirrors to make the space look slightly larger,” says the designer.  

Set perpendicular to this gallery chamber is a multi-functional office space that runs along the periphery. This area has been visually broken into three zones with the use of glass partitions—a conference room area that opens up from the main gallery space, an open format studio and work space as well as an office with a large corner window. “The look of the entire studio follows the same language,” he explains. “However, the natural light that floods the space through large windows in the office area is my favourite feature. Just before sunset, we get that soft glow streaming in to even the gallery chamber even though it doesn’t have any windows.”