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2. 112 | CW Interiors | September 2018
Sustainable Spaces ArtHUT Gallery
www.cwinteriors.in
From an industrial warehouse to an art gallery, ArtHut Gallery in Rajkot
scripts a story of positive changes
A Work of art
A
rtHUT Gallery in Rajkot is a 1,000 sq yard green space with a stone structure
that is over 50 years old, which previously served as a godown. The space is an
idea incubator and a platform for sharing different perspectives and is used as
an art gallery, a workshop space or simply a space that can adapt itself to the
context of any event or purpose.
When Keval Sakaria of Studio Black Space and Abhishek Panelia of ARPA Design
came together to refurbish the space, they wanted to carry forward the already existing
sustainable features and add to the list. “Sustainability is a perspective one adapts to make
any project feasible. For us, this space was sustaining itself for the past five decades. Initially,
as an industrial warehouse (established in 1959), then as an artist’s workshop and a graphic
design studio till 2017. Although the issues of nurturing the structure were cramping with
The aged wooden roof and the battered stone
flooring were restored and repaired to bring
out their original appealing character.
This article was featured in CW INTERIORS, India’s first B2B Interiors magazine from the house of ASAPP Info Global Services Pvt Ltd. For more details on the
magazine visit www.cwinteriors.in or mail: sub@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com for subscription and sales@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com to advertise.
3. CW Interiors | September 2018 | 113www.cwinteriors.in
Contact: Keval Sakaria, B-25, Aalap Century, Pushkardham Main Road,
Near AG Chowk, Rajkot - 360005, Email: keval.092@gmail.com
time but the project was flexible enough to adapt to the ever-changing requirements. Hence
sustainability in terms of design and resources were already a pivotal part of the project, and
all we did was enhance its existing spatiality to continue its legacy as a productive building,”
Sakaria says.
The positive trajectory curve in this project was the client who is a visionary artist/graphic
designer in the region of Saurashtra. He is strongly inspired by Saurashtra’s rich culture of art
and craft and realised that very few platforms expose them for appreciation amongst other
artists and residents. “Our designs were based on this very idea and it became easy for us to
recognise this heritage structure as an exhibit itself. We decided to celebrate this existing
ambience, which led to a minimal approach of design that also incorporated utilising existing
material and resources around the site,” Panelia says.
The major challenge of this project for them was to keep a check on the design interventions,
as even the slightest change could have desolated the existing ambience. Repair work and
modifications were finished within a strict timeline and budget and the gallery turned out to
be an inspirational space for artists and creative people.
Keval Sakaria,
Founder, Studio Black Space
Abhishek Panelia,
Founder, ARPA Design
The openings of the roofs were made transparent and the
interior surfaces were made light and reflective.
Minor details like the lifted service bar above the flooring
were carried out to dignify the existing flooring finish.
The entrance was cleared of minor installations
and plant materials to disclose the striking
texture of the restored basalt stone wall.
PhotoCourtesy:Dhrupadshukla
This article was featured in CW INTERIORS, India’s first B2B Interiors magazine from the house of ASAPP Info Global Services Pvt Ltd. For more details on the
magazine visit www.cwinteriors.in or mail: sub@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com for subscription and sales@ASAPPinfoGLOBAL.com to advertise.
