Lopez Design Office: A Modern Studio-Home in Gurugram

The idea of blending work and home life is gaining momentum worldwide, and architects are increasingly erasing the boundaries between professional and personal spaces. Designed by DADA & Partners, the Lopez Design Office in Gurugram, India, demonstrates this approach with clarity and elegance on a 500 square meter site. The project responds to the needs of an environmental graphics studio located close to India’s capital, creating a building that is both a functional workplace and a comfortable home without compromising style or practicality.

One of the most striking features of the Lopez Design Office is its brick façade, which gives the exterior a distinctive, tactile character. Brick is combined with large glass panes and exposed concrete to form a balanced material palette: the warmth and texture of brick, the transparency and lightness of glass, and the solidity of concrete. Together, these materials create a modern aesthetic that still feels grounded and welcoming.

At the heart of the building is a continuous central void that channels natural light and ventilation deep into the plan, reaching even the basement level. This void not only improves environmental performance by promoting cross-ventilation but also organizes the interior program visually and spatially, creating layered sightlines and a stronger connection between floors.

Programmatically, the building is arranged to separate studio functions from the living quarters while maintaining fluid connections. The basement houses collaborative and support spaces — a tea room, meeting room, a landscaped sunken courtyard, and several studio zones — all benefiting from the ventilation and light provided by the central void. The ground floor accommodates the main entry to the office, shared commercial areas, conference rooms, kitchen facilities and a generous dining area, alongside some residential components. The top two levels contain the primary living spaces, where privacy and comfort are prioritized without losing the building’s inherent openness and communal character.

A generous double-height volume adjacent to an eastern light court functions as a social hub and visual anchor. This space creates a strong inside-outside connection, framed by built thresholds and twin sunken courts that encourage movement and interaction. Neutral programming and flexible furnishings at the lower level make the hub suitable for a range of activities, from informal meetings and presentations to casual gatherings and quiet work.

Interior details emphasize material honesty and comfort. Brick walls, concrete surfaces and timber shelving create a warm yet durable interior palette. Sliding glass doors connect indoor rooms with landscaped courtyards, blurring the boundary between interior and exterior and allowing natural light to penetrate deep into work and living areas. Thoughtful touches, like window seats overlooking the sunken courtyard and carefully sited tea rooms, strengthen the sense of place and make daily routines more pleasurable for staff and residents alike.

Overall, the Lopez Design Office is a considered example of contemporary mixed-use design. It balances studio requirements with residential comforts, and it uses a restrained material palette and a central organizing void to deliver efficient natural ventilation, daylighting and spatial richness. The building is both a functional workplace and an inviting home, demonstrating how modern architecture can blend practical performance with layered, human-centered design.

Photography: Ranjan Sharma / Lightzone India