Second
Home.
Tucked away in a quiet side street in Kerala, India, is The Second home. Designed to evoke “tropical low-key” Brutalism, the studio space embraces an open plan. The team agreed very early on that the key was to not be an office but a “second home” where we spent our time working, sharing, collaborating, growing.
Location : Ernakulam, Kerala, India
Area : 1450 sq.ft
Type : Office Space
Year: 2021
Experiments with lighting
The layout of the Second Home is meticulously planned to integrate lush foliage into the workstations, ensuring views of life and growth remain unobstructed. This creative integration of over 100 potted tropical local plant species not only enhances the well-being of the members but also contributes to privacy, mood elevation, air quality, and natural sound absorption.Plants are people.
The studio features unique 240 cm by 120 cm ferrocement tables with a cement oxide finish, promoting collaboration while allowing private workspaces. The design minimizes the use of air conditioning by leveraging natural ventilation and air-purifying plants, significantly reducing energy consumption.Workspace that feels like a 'second home'.
WOA Second Home boasts a limited material palette comprising Cement concrete, High-density fibreboard (HDF), and matte PVD coated Mild steel rods. These materials appear in various forms throughout the space, contributing to its functional and aesthetic appeal. Micro cementing is employed for flooring, filling in cracks in the existing tiles with subtle graphics that reflect the studio's visual identity.The studio's eco-conscious design strategies extend to significant energy savings and creating a microclimate. The integration of greenery is not just aesthetic but functional, enhancing privacy, air quality, and reducing ambient noise. The studio exemplifies how innovative design can revolutionize workspaces.Workstations
The design of the workstations, which meander The design of the workstations, which meander through the shared workspace, was strategically planned to encourage teamwork while also allowing for individual space.
The design celebrates the value of materials.
The sample storage board, made from HDF, is a central feature representing the studio's commitment to sustainable design. It serves as a dynamic, tactile centerpiece, embodying the studio's ethos of innovation, inspiration, and impact.
The studio is divided into work and social zones, reflecting the modern blend of work and personal life.
Curves and Conversations
WOA Second Home expresses a subtle form of tropical brutalism through its restrained material palette of concrete, fibreboard, and steel, paired with a porous open plan that encourages airflow and collaboration. The integration of lush foliage and natural ventilation moderates the heaviness of the materials, allowing the space to function as a climate-responsive “second home” rather than a conventional office.Located at the centre of the studio, the discussion space accommodates test samples of the chairs we design and manufacture, functioning as an area for live prototyping. The display is constantly evolving, keeping the space active and engaging.
The studio's approach to materials, like using HDF for tabletops and showcasing its inherent beauty, emphasizes sustainability and waste reduction. This approach is not just a design choice but a commitment to mindful material usage and environmental responsibility. Custom-fabricated lighting fixtures cater to various moods and functions of the studio, emphasizing the dynamic nature of space. A blackout curtain transforms the breakout space into a lighting experimentation room, showcasing the studio's focus on shadow play and lighting dynamics.The changing backdrop of the architects’ cabins subtly expresses individual personalities and interests, contributing character and a layer of personalisation to the space.
The peg board wall, a dynamic feature in the atelier space, facilitates constant change and adaptation. Experimental lighting, including grow lights for indoor plants and architectural task lighting, further enhance the studio's versatility.
Tropical “low-key” Brutalism
Veil of Green.
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Work made with people in mind. Every project at WOA starts with a question, not a brief, which grew through trust, curiosity, and hands-on collaboration.
If you’re looking for partners who care as much about “the why and how”, let’s talk about your next project.