Studio IKSOI has transformed an abandoned factory in Ahmedabad, India, into their own workspace called Mana, creating a thoughtful dialogue between industrial heritage and contemporary design. The 2,000-square-foot project, completed in 2022, represents more than just a renovation—it's an exploration of memory, discovery, and architectural storytelling.
The workspace occupies a former factory that belonged to the founders Dhawal and Mansi's father, making this transformation deeply personal. Rather than erasing the building's industrial past, IKSOI chose to engage with its history through subtle yet profound interventions. The architects retained the original footprint while raising the ground level, creating an unexpected effect where the renovated buildings appear partially sunken into the earth.
From the exterior, the studio reveals little of its interior transformation. Towering compound walls rising between 4.5 and 6 meters create a stark boundary with the surrounding industrial landscape. However, stepping inside reveals a striking contrast—monolithic lime-plastered walls painted in muted pink hues immediately disrupt the gray monotony of the neighborhood. The absence of obvious entry points heightens the sense of intrigue and discovery.
The architectural strategy focuses on shifting perceptions rather than wholesale reconstruction. By raising the courtyard's ground level, former factory doors have been transformed into windows for the current workstations, preserving the memory of the building's previous life. These openings appear at unconventional heights and in varying sizes, dictated not by contemporary design standards but by the architects' commitment to honoring the existing structural framework.
Inside, the workspace unfolds through a carefully considered material palette. Dark granite floors provide grounding, while teak wood elements introduce warmth and texture to the otherwise monolithic structure. A series of arches along the primary axis transforms what could have been a long, narrow corridor into a sequence of distinct work areas. The principal architect's office occupies the quieter end of the space, with direct access to a hidden courtyard tucked away at the site's edge.
Personal touches throughout the space reflect the founders' philosophy of balancing past and present. Dhawal sourced original mid-century Danish chairs from Alang, Gujarat's ship-breaking yard, adding layers of industrial history to the contemporary workspace. Whimsical gargoyles scattered throughout the site—shaped like cats, cows, dogs, and monkeys—serve both functional and aesthetic purposes, encouraging visitors to pause and engage with the architecture in unexpected ways.
As Mansi reflects, 'Mana is neither a preservation of the past, nor an imposition of the new. It is a negotiation between the two.' This philosophy permeates every aspect of the project, from the retention of structural elements to the integration of contemporary needs. The result is a workspace that functions as much as a repository of memory as it does a platform for future creativity, demonstrating how architecture can honor heritage while embracing change.
