WHITE IS RIGHT
Text by: Ar. Sadiqa M. Salman, Photography: Salman Kamil & Nadeem ul Hasan
In today's world, with so much accessibility to technology allowing best possible exposure to both the client and the architect, one hardly ever knows where to stop. When you know that anything you do would be sold under the banner of globalization, doing a hi-fi design is a gimmick.
In a social setting where doing extravagance is a currency of status and an ingredient to make things look hi-end, NUHA chose its design intent otherwise. Rejecting all the complex approaches in fashion, Hasan's design studio emphasizes on the fact that design should be simple, direct and logical. As is appropriate for a project which will be ultimately used more in the evening, the most significant feature of this store is that the activity is fairly predictable to everybody accessing Khayaban-e-Rahat. The intelligent placement of the poster on the side wall inside catches the attention of every car commuting along the road. For an extroverted business like FAD, the lux level has been worked out and controlled in a way that makes it glow on the street; such that one can never miss it while passing by.
The entrance has been punched in from the main elevation and is enhanced by blue light to make sure that the entry point becomes obvious to the clients. Entrance steps are finished with checkered aluminum plate which is a rugged material suitable for the purpose in a context where dust is abundant.
'Commercial architecture is generally not completely understood in its purpose, as mostly executed with its meaning being lost', says Hasan. 'Commercial architecture is not about creating a beautiful shop; it must fulfill the commercial angle of the project at the first place'. He is clear in his meaning and concept of a shop which is to "sell the product". Answering to this basic need of the project, the architect makes sure that the products have being enhanced and kept in focus through articulation of various mediums, primarily light, materials, color and texture. The products involved in this store are rarely available in white, suggesting to the architect that creating the whole scene in this neutral color will prove to be a perfect backdrop for the products. Though done solely in white with simple wooden flooring, the interior is still capable of competing with the exclusive classy products; the backlit cracked glass floor and the customer lounge gives it the required sense of luxury associated to such a function, hence making it posh at the same time.
The shop comprises of a ground floor and a basement. The layout is such that both levels are visible from the elevation giving the idea of the scale of the store. The spatial organization of functions is carried out in such a manner that the space is fully consumed for functional requirements without compromising on the clarity of visual axis of the clients and the employees. There is no concrete obstruction created through design, which allows the whole picture to be grasped in a single scene; facilitating the client to inspect the whole shop in an instant or two. For all the required security concerns, the cash service counter is placed at the most strategic location. Not just the design but the details are also simple and functional. The tie stand has been designed with circular holders protruding out of the plane which also act as a light source highlighting the texture of the tie even from a distance. All the display racks are basic wall-mounted surfaces furnished with grey leatherette to assign it a soft look.
Glass staircase with silver thread lamination and steel frame structure is provided to serve dual purposes; connecting the ground floor to the basement while acting as a skylight allowing the light to stream into the basement. The practical reason for embedding the glass with silver thread is to reduce glare, minimize the possibility of skidding, and shift the focus from the scratches which would be on its surface due to excessive use of it over period of time.
The trial room being small in area is covered with mirrors on three walls of it; not only permitting the space to appear larger than the actual size, but allowing the customer to view himself from all the possible angles. This facilitates the client with a chance of proper self-satisfaction before buying the product.
The whole shop is lit by LEDs, reducing the running cost of the facility as it has to stay illuminated all the time. With only eight feet of ceiling height in basement along with drop beams, the architect still did not prefer the option of ceiling mounted light to save the height. 'With such low height, the ceiling comes more in the visual perspective of the observer; thus providing lights mounted on this ceiling would have shifted the client's focus more from product to the lights, and I could not afford this distraction', declares Mr. Hasan. Hence a four inch false ceiling is provided to enclose the light fixtures so those lights do not boggle the shoppers.
Credit is due to NUHA, which is determined to provide direct, bold and clear design solutions with remarkable creativity, which highlights its strength of exploring design potentials dictated by the requirement and context itself. Right amount of right essence at right place is what makes FAD simple yet unique. Architect Nadeem-ul- Hasan must also be credited for fostering a traditional layout with a distinguished image and style.