Set on the topmost floor of an iconic structure in Worli, Mumbai’s business district, the office blends panoramic ocean views, refined materiality and a narrative-driven design philosophy inspired by transformation, ambition and evolution.
This office is conceived as a space of transformation, drawing inspiration from the very essence of the name itself: the journey of a chrysalis becoming a butterfly. A space where ideas, businesses and aspirations are built, nurtured and evolve.
Defying the routine overwhelm often associated with corporate environments, Apoorva Shroff approaches the project with the intent of reinterpreting the traditional language of private equity firms through a softer, more contemporary lens. The vision was to create a workplace that balances sophistication with openness while reflecting the evolving culture of today’s workspaces.
Taking this forward, the design unfolds as a layered spatial experience where old-world detailing meets contemporary functionality.
Translating vision into space:
The design approach focused on creating fluid transitions between formal and informal spaces while maintaining a strong narrative identity throughout the office. Instead of relying on overt corporate aesthetics, the space is brought to life through material contrasts, subtle symbolism and carefully choreographed movement.
Visitors enter into a beautiful reception space grounded by a Victorian mosaic floor that lends the office a sense of permanence and old-world sophistication. A sweeping curved brick wall subtly divides the area, creating intimate banquet seating on one side and acoustically insulated work booths on the other.
Suspended above, an installation of butterflies reflects and catches light throughout the day, becoming a quiet metaphor for transformation, growth and emergence. Extending the narrative further, conference rooms each named after different butterfly species continue the storytelling across the workspace. The conference rooms are accessed directly from the reception.
An Inviting Arrival Experience:
Behind the marble reception desk, stained glass pivot doors create a flexible spatial experience. When closed, they form a warm and intimate lounge setting; when opened, they dissolve the threshold between indoors and outdoors, drawing the expansive Mumbai sea view deep into the reception area.
A timber archway carved through the brick wall leads into the main workspace. Detailed with rich wood panelling, this passage bridges two contrasting worlds: the timeless gravitas associated with traditional private equity firms and the youthful, contemporary character of exposed brick, concrete flooring and open collaboration.
A Dynamic and Contemporary Workspace:
At the centre of the office, an ideation space anchors the workplace culture. Positioned adjacent to the timber passage, the zone encourages interaction and exchange.
Framed by sea views, casual stepped seating and a calming water feature, the space is screened by an intricate metal jali crafted by the artists at House of Berserk. The artwork, a contemporary interpretation of a garden interwoven with butterflies, quietly carries the project narrative throughout the office.
The primary workspace balances restraint with warmth, featuring concrete floors juxtaposed against richly detailed timber desks and tactile materials. Large monolithic planters sculpted from solid Indian marble introduce greenery into the otherwise muted palette of greys and blacks, bringing softness, oxygen and a sense of the outdoors into the workplace. Carefully curated art pieces punctuate the interiors with moments of colour and vibrancy.
Materiality, Spatial Experience and Approach:
The project relies heavily on materiality and atmosphere to define its identity. Rather than using excessive partitions or visual barriers, the office maintains openness through subtle zoning interventions and carefully framed sightlines. Curated artworks punctuate the interiors with moments of colour and vibrancy, adding warmth and personality across the workplace.
At the far end of the office, the cafeteria unfolds beneath a softly curved ceiling that elegantly conceals services while preserving the openness of the volume, allowing functionality and spatial experience to coexist seamlessly.
With this project, Apoorva Shroff reinterprets the language of a traditional financial institution through a more contemporary and human lens where materiality, narrative and atmosphere come together to create a workplace rooted equally in ambition and transformation.
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