The community centre for Piramal Vaikunth, a large-scale township in Thane, Maharashtra, comprises two existing structures—a pump house and a water tank that anchor two new structures inserted on either side of them. The newly introduced blocks house a cafe, a multipurpose court and a banquet facility. The water tank—a largely closed-off structure with limited fenestrations—became an ideal space for a video gaming facility, whereas the pump house was programmed as a <rt-red>library and co-working space to address the changing needs of the community in a post-pandemic world.<rt-red>

The architectural intervention connects the existing structures into a unified space, through a lightweight super roof that sits delicately atop them, also creating a shaded community plaza below. The super roof is held up through a forest of slender columns allowing for glimpses of the built structures to be viewed through them. At the rear end, an external metal walkway structure wraps around the edges of the cluster, linking the buildings at various levels.

The library-coworking space features a central workstation for collaborative work, two mezzanines in opposite corners for quieter individual work. Clerestory windows have been incorporated to ensure the space is flooded with natural daylight, and the exterior vocabulary of exposed brick carries through into the interiors, providing warmth and intimacy.

The cafeteria, nestled between the library-coworking space and the multi-purpose court block, consisted of large glazing, creating a strong connection with the outdoors. The uniform flooring on either side of the threshold further emphasises that, blurring the boundary between the inside and outside.

The banquet hall expresses a muted, earthy material palette. The walls layered with sand dune-inspired wallpaper, poured terrazzo floor with inlaid brass strips, and the four large lighting installations created by Ankon Mitra all create a sophisticated shell that elevates the celebratory occasions held in the space.