42 Square is a recently completed workspace inspired by The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, from which the company derives its name “42”, which symbolizes the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything, as revealed in the novel. The office design translates key locations from the book such as the Heart of Gold, Hitchhiker’s Cooperative, Milliways – The Restaurant at the End of the Universe into spatial experiences, bringing the spirit and characteristics of each place to life through design.
The primary work neighborhood is rooted in traditional Kerala architecture, forming a grounded contrast to the cosmic narrative. Teams are organized into eight “Hubs,” each named after spices, drawing a parallel between the historic spice trade and modern-day India where people and talent are the new-age spices. Minor meeting rooms are chronologically themed around the years in which global travelers arrived
in Kerala for spices, reinforcing the historical narrative.
The library, named The Sanctuary, houses curated antique artifacts dating from the 12th to the 20th century, each aligned with the history of these travelers. At the heart of the workspace lies a central courtyard that mimics natural daylight, with artificial lighting synchronized in real time with outdoor weather conditions—creating a seamless connection between tradition, technology, and storytelling.