Priyanka and Piyush Mehra envision an experience centre for Vikas Plywood

As the sun rolls towards obtusity, the southwest rays percolate the wooden matrix to create a mesmerising effect on the insides of this space called Vikas Plywood. Located at Jubilee Hills neighborhood in Hyderabad, the showroom is the Head Office and display center for one of the city’s oldest wood material suppliers – Vikas Plywood. The idea of the space was to start with an impactful façade which imbibes the true spirit of the company – as it lives and breathes wood. The façade is a simple arrangement of 4”x4” square cut pieces of an outdoor wooden cladding product named Java Teak. The pieces are cut from a bigger plank – and staggered in the mix to randomise the pattern and avoid running veins. The arrangement is then neatly dry-cladded on the façade with equal spacing and a vertical angular surface for a more welcoming effect. The pattern also protects the showroom from direct south-west sun exposure, thereby reducing the heat load substantially.

Upon entering, the space greets you with a life-size tree mural on the wall housing the company’s legacy via a well written text. On the opposite face is a floating reception table with only one central support. The table is engineered in a way that the load beating tensile base is embedded under the finished flooring, thereby giving the table a floating effect. A plain light oak veneer cladding, with the company logo etched into the surface, becomes the backdrop of the reception. Moving forward looking towards the inside of the studio is a wooden screen with resin blocks acting as a visual barrier. The clear resin blocks are embedded with wooden shavings, signifying the strong ethos of the brand along with the partner brands under the main Brand’s umbrella.

The space opens to a massive double height lounge with a wooden wall feature which extends from the wall to the ceiling in a curved shape. This cladding is done to tie up the massive height into one.

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The showroom is divided into two floors. The ground floor showcases the brand’s flagship products – Wooden Flooring, Laminate Flooring, Wall Claddings, Veneer Sheets, Laminate selections, Outdoor Cladding products, Soundproof cladding products, etc. Each product department is given a separate zone to maintain a free flow inside the showroom. At any given point in time, if different sets of clients are looking at different products, there is minimum hinderance. The admin section with staff seating and the MD cabin are centrally located to attain transparent access to the incoming clients.

There is a massive loose-products area with pull-out wall storage units that house the big sized catalogues. A big table is stationed between the pull-outs to view the catalogues in the same place and immediately put them back. This allows the space to be clutter free. Similarly, there is a separate zone for wooden wall cladding products, flooring (solid wood and laminate separately). The space for Veneer display is on the far-right corner of the showroom to allow easy access for new material movement through a service entrance.

Vertical circulation was to play a vital role in the design of the showroom since 50% of the products are displayed on the upper level. Therefore, a biomorphic sculptural staircase was designed that works both as an eyepiece and invites the users to climb up. The parametrically designed staircase is made using layers of Birch plywood forming a breathing handrail profile which goes from wider to narrower and again opens as it twists upwards on the right-hand side.

The staircase is complemented with a solid-colour vertical cladding done to give the free-flowing staircase a sense of structure around it. The Upper floor is a different world. The floor showcases Mockup kitchens and wardrobes on the entire 4000 sq ft plate. Settings are created in order to create a seamless flow of space for the user. The left half is dedicated to beautiful kitchen settings, housing medium to large sized kitchens. The space ends into a large material library for easy selection of finishes. The right half contains wardrobe mockups with 2 massive walkin arrangements, open wardrobe settings, innovative shutter ideas, and two office cabins.

Vikas Plywood is an odyssey written with the ink of wood and the emotions it imbibes. The space is composed like a musical symphony wherein the individual notes are the practical elements which conduct themselves in to create a Perfect Symmetry of Design.

FACT FILE:

Name of the project: Vikas Plywood, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad
Principal Designers/Architects: Priyanka and Piyush Mehra
Area: 8,000 sq ft
Materials used: Plywood, Birch Ply, Veneer, Fluted Wall Panels; Stylist: Self Styled
Year of completion: 2024
Photography courtesy: Ricken Desai