Designed by Architecture Discipline, Delhivery, Goa balances innovation with responsibility, retaining the building’s inherent character while seamlessly integrating contemporary functionality for evolving workplace needs.
Rooted in the principles of revitalisation, self-sufficiency, and innovation, this new-age workspace for Delhivery, Goa redefines how existing structures can be thoughtfully adapted for contemporary use. By preserving what already exists, the project retains the building’s collective memory while encouraging more responsible patterns of consumption, proving that sustainability and modern functionality can coexist seamlessly.
Designed by Principal Architect Akshat Bhatt along with his design team including Heena Bhargava, Payal Paul, and Nikita Aneja, the 32,500 sq. ft. workspace stands as a compelling example of how adaptive reuse can shape forward-looking, efficient environments while staying deeply connected to their context.
“The idea of preservation should extend into the adaptive reuse of diverse building typologies, a shift that emphasises reimagining what exists rather than defaulting to new construction. This approach reorients the focus from building anew to enhancing and repurposing existing structures, whether they are newly built, already established, or designated as heritage. By prioritising adaptability, buildings can be assessed through the lens of their current and future usability.” Explains, Ar. Akshat Bhatt.
The headquarters for Delhivery, one of India’s largest logistics companies, in Pilerne, an Industrial district in Goa, called for a contemporary workspace that reflects the company’s values of innovation, adaptability and youthful energy, while also establishing a setting for collaboration and cocreation. The design intent was to create a holistic development that puts the well-being of the employee at the forefront and becomes a productive addition to its locality.
Proposed on a linear tract of land with a dilapidated workshop, the design approach was broken up into two phases. In the first phase of the project, Architecture Discipline chose to strategically revitalise the existing workshop into a modern workspace. Phase 2 extended into the rest of the sloping land, adding a prefabricated events block and elevated garden with provision for a grow room.
“What’s the point of talking about adaptive reuse stories and preservation narratives if it needs for us to identify something special every time? Although the existing block was rather unremarkable, it had already utilized materials and taken up space. After a quick structural assessment, we decided it was worth preserving,” explains Principal Architect Akshat Bhatt on the choice to repurpose the existing workshop on-site. The project leverages the latent potential of the abandoned workshop and refurbishes it in a resource-efficient manner, eliminating the need for new construction. The renovation culminates in a terracottatoned structure that skilfully leverages the expansive spaces inherent to the original industrial architecture.
The building is revitalised by reinforcing the columns with steel jacketing and replacing the old trusses and roof. The outdated asbestos roof has been revamped with a modern pre-insulated profile sheet, accompanied by a central skylight installed along its ridge. This upgrade floods the interior with natural daylight, redefining the atmosphere within. Further enhancements include the incorporation of light shelves at lintel level and the refurbishment of windows with high-performance insulating glass, amplifying the overall scheme and setting up well-lit environments conducive to productivity. Through this adaptive reuse approach, the workspace was made operable in two months, optimising construction time and minimising the project’s carbon footprint.
To encourage productivity and collaboration, the office block’s interiors feature a flexible layout. Beyond an open plan with a balanced, symmetrical flow, meeting rooms are designed with rooftops that serve as mezzanine breakout spaces for employees, and are accessed via a ladder. Scattered with informal bean bags and chairs, these perch points inspire fresh outlooks. The contemporary workspace is also augmented by a courtyard that enables visual connection across the floors while also adding a refreshing touch of greenery to the interior space.
The building with its coat of red paint, the company’s signature colour, forms a landmark and a beacon in the otherwise nondescript industrial setting. Characterised by simple white ceilings and black kudappah flooring, the interior colour palette is kept clean and minimal. The ceilings are lined with fibreboard panels made out of recycled wood for acoustic insulation, while exposed service ducts maximise the ceiling height within the indoor environment.
The events block occupies the lower portion of the site, navigating the level difference in the terrain through large angular steps and raked seating. The block is sectioned into three levels, a lower ground floor, a ground floor and terrace, and a mezzanine level. The mezzanine floor of the events block is interlinked to the workspace block through an angled bridge. Designed to host various events and even drone testing, the block is also flexibly used as a workspace with workstations placed along the seating. The dynamic layering of levels and staircases, stacked at varied angles, infuses the architecture with a sense of dynamism. The interior design further cultivates this playful mood, through pops of yellow, red and olive green.
With a design language that leans toward unconventional rationalism, the events block exhibits prefabricated architecture that complements the office building’s volume. In contrast to the pitched roof of the workspace block, a sloped roof shelters the events block—the surface is developed in response to the region’s climatic factors, eliminating the need for gutters and effectively draining rainwater. Opting for a prefabricated construction approach allowed for the block to be put together quickly, with minimal on-site work and minimal material wastage. While the interiors utilise cement boards painted a dark olive green, the external walls are clad in red zinc chromate primed metal sheets bolted on a metal framework with insulation.
Designed as a dynamic work hub that prioritises the holistic well-being of the company’s employees, the development includes facilities such as a gym and a breakout terrace with a garden located at the rear entry. Employees move through the events block to access the terrace which accommodates casual seating and a view of the plot’s verdant landscape. The terrace houses a kitchen garden that feeds the workspace’s cafeteria, promoting a sense of self-sufficiency and encouraging employees to embrace locally sourced, fresh produce. Below, a gym, parking area and pedestrian zone are accessed through a permeable boundary of bollards at the rear entrance of the plot. The gym’s exterior is clad in fluted polycarbonate sheeting, seamlessly blending the facility with its context. The campus is designed to engage with its surroundings, becoming not just a standalone facility, but a catalyst for community interaction at the neighbourhood level.
The Headquarters for Delhivery in Goa responds to the universal evolution in work culture, striking a harmonious balance between productivity and leisure, work and play. Designed to stimulate creativity, exploration, and co-creation, the workspace offers various environments conducive to ideation and collaboration. Embracing a flexible approach to work, the design eschews traditional fixed desks and instead provides diverse settings across the one-acre plot. From dedicated workstations to informal perch points, from collaborative meeting areas on outdoor steps to places to unwind like the terrace and gym, the development caters to the diverse needs and preferences of its employees, fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture. The forward-thinking workspace imbibes the company’s core values, and not only fosters a holistic work-life balance but also serves as a blueprint for the offices of tomorrow, inspiring sustainable practices and setting new standards, paving the way to a greener future. Photographer: Deepali Khilnani & Jeetin Sharma
Project Details:
Structural: Isha Consultants
Electrical & Lighting: Lirio Lopez Design Consultants
Landscape: Infringe Design
HVAC & Plumbing: Techfour Engineering Solutions Pvt Ltd.
Glass: Saint Gobain
Sanitaryware: Fittings – Jaquar/Jayna
Flooring: Local Contractor/ CCIL
Furniture: Honest Structures, Span, Ikea, Featherlite, Shearling
Air Conditioning: Voltas
Lighting: Ikea, Havells,K Lite, B-lit
Paint: Asian Paints
Metal Works: RituTech (Events Block)
