Architecture BRIO engages actively in the creation of contextually appropriate, sustainable design solutions within an increasingly dynamic world. Set up in Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Mumbai (India) in April 2006, it is a design-based practice focusing primarily on the fields of Architecture and Interior Design bestowed with numerous national and international awards. Its principals are Robert Verrijt (TUDelft, the Netherlands) and Shefali Balwani (C.E.P.T, India).
The seed of Architecture BRIO was planted in Sri Lanka, where the founders met in the early start of their life as architects. They immersed themselves in the tremendous body of work by the late architect Geoffrey Bawa. His work is often situated in the most breathtaking, but sensitive environmental settings. His interventions are nonetheless bold and often intensive.
Contradictorily, this does not lead to the overpowering of its surroundings. This duality has become one of the main themes in the work of the practice. The studio strongly believes that architecture should remain a backdrop to life rather than taking centre stage. Yet it is a life full of awareness and imagination. Our architecture has the potential to weave ourselves within the world of the past and future. It mediates between necessity and luxury, frugality and poetry. And more so it embeds us within the unpredictability of the natural world and shapes the one we want to live in.
The practice currently has a broad range of projects both in the public and private realm. It thrives on the idea of a wide variety and various scales of projects which are not defined to a particular genre. The practice approaches a design brief with the lens of contextuality and client requirements. The site and its surroundings take the forefront during the design process, ensuring that every project and design is bespoke. Every project has a strong conceptual identity that drives the direction the project takes. A deliberate open ended design process in which sourcing, material sampling, model making and site mock-ups heavily influence design decisions places “building culture” at its centre.
Over ten years later, Architecture BRIO’s work field spans a vast variety of cultures, climates and landscapes across the Indian Subcontinent and South East Asia. The project portfolio has an emphasis on residential design of private houses and weekend homes where the architectural challenge and the opportunity to innovate is extensive. However the studio brings more and more their hands on experience and attention to detailing to hospitality, educational, humanitarian design , as well as cultural and institutional projects. An architectural project is never an isolated exercise. Therefore interior design and landscape design are natural extensions of the practice and often core services for projects as well.
Each project is seen as a challenge. But it also is an opportunity to uncover the unique characteristics of these specific conditions. It becomes an opportunity to investigate which intervention has a potential for positive change. We often ask ourselves which approach can have an impact on the way we deal with our natural and built. However appropriateness is not necessarily the most self evident. Often an inherent conflict between the context and climate of a project and its chosen typological and functional approach, generates solutions that unexpectedly turn out to be favourable solutions
The practice works with a thorough understanding of Architecture and its related fields. It seeks to develop design as its core strength and primary focus. An energetic team of around 30 architects works intensively with engineers, consultants, designers and the client. In this multidisciplinary approach it welcomes new insights that can lead to specific innovative solutions. It believes strongly in design as a process with an intensive dialogue. It uses models, both physical and virtual, as tools for communication between clients, engineers and architects. This encourages programmatic and engineering concepts to be fully integrated into the design right from the conception.
Technological and environmental friendly innovativeness are the cornerstones of the studio’s guiding philosophy. Design at BRIO is a collaborative process in terms of working with the client, contractors, vendors and other parties involved. Along with site and vendor coordination, meeting budget and construction timelines is an important aspect of the process.
Designing solutions for contexts where resources are limited is key to our core values. Embracing frugality—whether in materials, energy, building time, skilled labour, finances or restrictions due to remote locations of projects, is a tool to drive innovation. The solutions not only solve but also resonate with the complex problems from which they arise to begin with.
Along with Architecture and Interiors, BRIO also dabbles in urban design and master planning projects. It aims to be a multi-disciplinary studio that finds itself designing a variety of projects like a skate park in Bandra and residential master planning in Latur and Bangalore. The practice collaborates with other landscape designers on various residential projects.
Architecture BRIO works on a broad range of projects both in the public and private realm. We enthral in jumping from the extreme of the tiny scale of an architectural dollhouse to designing masterplans or thinking on complex issues such as homelessness.
The studio thrives in this wide variety and scales of its projects. Regardless of a projects scale, a common basis of the practice is its commitment to exemplary planning, design and execution. We approach a design brief in an open and explorative manner. We start by asking the right questions, before arriving at a common standpoint. This common point of departure then acts as a clear concept, which guides the design process.
The practice believes that there is a need to promote rapid, widespread acceptance of sustainable solutions. The challenge is to generate fresh ideas that are self-sufficient practices at a large scale. New building techniques, effective and durable material use, and energy-efficient concepts are explored and integrated into the architecture to create innovative and exciting designs focused on energy reduction and sustainability. BRIO, much like its name, is about buildings that evoke liveliness both literally and metaphorically and therefore inspire and bring joy.
The 3500 sq.ft studio space of Architecture BRIO resides in a 50-year-old building that once served as a garment mill in the heart of Worli. The various functions of the office are laid out into this retrofitted space. The space was transformed to enable the creation of an open plan, fostering visual and physical connections between spaces.
The character of the old space is kept intact by retaining the flooring and ceiling from when it was a garment factory. The office ambiance leans towards an earthy tone, employing browns and greys complemented by green hues from plants and pops of color in smaller elements. The muted tones also serve as a neutral backdrop for paintings, drawings, books, and models to take center stage.
Over fifteen years later, Architecture BRIO’s work spans a vast variety of cultures, climates and landscapes across the Indian Subcontinent, South East Asia and parts of Europe. The project portfolio has an emphasis on residential design of private and weekend homes where the architectural challenge and the opportunity to innovate is extensive.
Additionally, the studio brings their hands on experience and attention to detailing to hospitality, educational, humanitarian design , as well as cultural and institutional projects. An architectural project is never an isolated exercise, therefore interior design and landscape design are natural extensions of the practice and often core services for projects as well.
Not only is each project seen as a challenge, but also an opportunity to uncover the unique characteristics of specific design conditions. One of the primary considerations of the studio during the design process is the approach and its impact on the natural and the built environment.