Martin’s / Studio Ardete

Architects: Studio Ardete
Area: 478 m² (5150 ft²)
Year: 2015
Photography: Purnesh Dev Nikhanj
Lead Architects: Badrinath Kaleru, Prerna Kaleru
Structural Consultant: Vikas Bhardwaj
City: Panchkula
Country: India

Martin’s, designed by Studio Ardete, is a furniture factory and display center located in Panchkula. Completed in 2015, the project aimed to unify the separate physical entities with a common facade. An expanded metal mesh screen and FRP panels were used to create an aerated facade, addressing the site’s climatic conditions and enhancing its visual appeal.

Martin’s, located in a deteriorated industrial site in Panchkula, required a solution to visually connect a furniture factory and a display center. The goal was to create a unified front using only metal fabrications, as per local by-laws. Budget constraints and different internal planning ruled out drastic measures, necessitating a method that did not alter the existing design.

An external screen of expanded metal mesh was chosen as the best solution creating an aerated facade. To address the critical climatic conditions, an additional layer of FRP panels was added. These panels, along with the mesh, reduced southern heat gain by reflecting sunlight and increasing the time lag of heat consumption.

The FRP panels were produced in the factory’s industrial workshop, aligning the exterior with the factory’s core. Using local materials for production proved cost-effective and fostered an emotional connection for those involved, creating a sense of belonging.

The design of Martin’s aimed to embody innate sentiments while providing a unique identity. Clarity in design was achieved through color psychology, with dazzling yellow panels chosen to evoke cheerfulness, mental activity, and dynamism. The unconventional facade design provided relief from the monotony of the surrounding area, transforming it from a dreary locale to an urban idiosyncrasy. Martin’s stand out, revamping the industrial site into a vibrant urban space.