Steel shutters fold open to bring plenty of fresh air into this studio for Bangalore architecture firm BetweenSpaces, which is situated above the home of one of its founders (+ slideshow).

The building is located on a north-facing plot in a densely urbanised district of the Indian city. It accommodates the offices of BetweenSpaces on its two upper two levels, while co-founder Divya Ethirajan's home occupies the ground and first floors.

Materials including concrete, brick, wood and steel feature in their raw state throughout both the exterior and interior, intended to reference the building's urban context.

"Atypical to any design approach, the project displays a strong sense of desire to get away from the dogma of facade architecture by responding to our grass root principles of keeping it simple, engaging and blending the material palette with contemporary undertones," explained the architects.
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"It is our attempt to get a slice of that borrowed landscape from the street and a slice of sky for ourselves in the tight urban condition."

The street-facing elevation incorporates concrete fins on the ground floor that shield the living areas from view while allowing daylight to enter.
The levels above are screened behind perforated steel shutters that fold open to enhance the connection between the interior and the city.

An entran...