Surface Design Awards – Complete

• COMMERCIAL BUILDING - EXTERIOR
  Commercial Buildings that are used for commercial purposes, and include retail, hospitality, workplaces, factories and warehouses and buildings where commercial services are provided. At least 50 percent of the buildings’ floor space will be used for commercial activities.

Name: Zydus Corporate Park
Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Site area: 6.4 Acres
Built up Area: 8,40,000 sq. ft.
Cost: INR 350 Cr.
An office for a pharmaceutical company, The Zydus Corporate Office is located outside Ahmedabad, in extreme hot and dry climate (max 122°F). The concept is deeply rooted in the rich architectural and crafts heritage of the Gujarat region.
The architectural expectation was to develop a globally recognised space, but one which was locally relevant. Gujarat has an abundance of architectural marvels; The Bhadra Fort, The Pavagadh Fort, the stepped courts of Adalaj and the iconic ‘Bhunga’ architecture of Kutch, serve as great references for contextual understanding.
The design exemplifies the ideology of 'equity and transparency' in the workplace as an integral part of its architectural vocabulary, pays homage to Local Artisans and is contextually relevant. Introducing elements that vernacularly seem familiar was an effort to integrate mindfulness through design.
The architectural challenge was to marry the age-old knowledge of craftsmen who build by hand, to the precision required in the geometry of these walls represented by 14,200 data points and within $70 per sq. ft. as the cost of the fully finished building. Other crafts such as in-situ terrazzo flooring, mould-cast cementitious pigmented tiles, hand turned metal furniture and installations formed a key part of the materiality of the project whilst promoting local craft.
Circulation spaces are in between the walls that run East to West, where all human engagement is concentrated. It consists of breakout spaces, alcove seating, bistros, employee engagement activity areas, setup for brainstorming sessions and informal meetings. This spine connects all the formal work areas, reminiscent of the organisation of the vertebrae. In today’s context this spine space has also served as a social distancing space to spread out the workforce.
The lines of architecture and landform seamlessly converge and diverge to expand the planning diagram across the site. This is further layered in detailing and materiality by the five elements in nature. The Eastern side behind the walls hosts all the outdoor activities and the landscape is designed with shaded breakout spaces and courts.

The Zydus material palette is a representation of contemporary design with a sense of vernacularity. The designers capsuled a well-curated artistic expression using metal, stone and Corten steel. The facade is a combination of Corten steel and a lot of Indian stone like Jaisalmer etc., an accurate representation of region. The curved surface is designed with metal shingles, inspired by fish scales, which helps break the monotony of the flat surface. For the flooring, Kashmiri white stone has been used; using another tan-brown stone, the designers were able to break the material monotony, also using it as a guiding route to the different bays of the building.
To promote a vernacular expression, the facade is a combination of Corten steel and the Jaisalmer stone. In the interiors, clay pattern handmade tiles were used in the toilet. The reception table is inspired by the form of the Sabarmati River. Local craftsmanship and handicraft sensibilities were used to mould the concept into the river shape in Corten steel. The walls use a combination of stone and lacquer glass to make it interactive zones & coffee stations at the end as a breakout space motivating people to stand socialise and work culture etc. White curved gypsum with the backlit fabric ceiling gives a modern new touch.

The project’s design aimed to set sustainability standards. The three large rampart like walls form the western façade and shield the project from the harsh temperatures of the highway (145°F). These doubly curved steel surfaces scale up the tradition of metal work of the ‘Kansaras’ (vessel makers) that have been designed with complex geometries using computational programming. The triangulated glass modules within the Corten steel walls are inspired by the mirrorwork on ‘Bhunga,’ Kutch structures that are architectural ornamentation and identity elements. These glass tubes have a dichroic finish that catches the sun's movement through the day & year, rendering the façade with perpetual dynamism.
In addition to being an environmental shield, the 47M by 125M walls house the entire social space for 2000 people. The walls shield and create an oasis for the North-South orientated office towers that sit behind. These towers are sufficiently apart to create shade in the stepped courtyards below, thereby encouraging outdoor use in this climate. The open work halls are 100% glare-free, 100% daylit and blinds free. The use of passive design and climate responsive strategies help lower energy requirement and consumption, resulting in an EPI of 56 kWh/sq. m./yr. consuming 50% less energy than the Best Green Building Standards.
the following sustainability metrics were achieved through the design:

• 56 kWh/sq. m./yr. Energy Performance Index 40% Energy Reduction
• 50% Envelope Load Reduction (≤ 1.2 W/sq. ft.)
• 100% Solar Control
• 90% Natural Daylight
• 7-10 degrees C reduction in Outdoor Temperature
• Solar Control through Effective Shading Design
• A Smart Façade with Envelope Load: 1.0 W/ sq. ft. and WWR: ≤ 30.8
• MEP Efficiency with and achieved metric of 400 sq. ft. /TR | 4.8 sq. ft.

There were two major challenges that the designers had to work through. The site is in one of the hottest regions in the world and is west facing, looking out to the highway. Taking inspiration from fortified habitation on trading routes such as the Bhadra Fort and the Pavagadh Fort, the designers proposed a 47-metre-tall (154-foot-tall) and 125-metre-wide (410-foot-wide) wall. Three large rampart-like walls were conceptualised to form the western façade of the project. These would shield the office blocks from the harsh western sun and dry winds. They would also eliminate views and noises of the highway and form a buffer for the north-south orientated towers that sit behind.

While the project seeked to create an iconic landmark, the calculations to achieve the proposed façade design within the price point was another challenge that emerged. Ultimately, the designers found a way to construct the magnanimous surface by combining parametric technology with local handicraft methods. These doubly curved steel surfaces allude to the traditional metal work of the Kansara artisans whose works have complex geometries. The fine triangulated perforations on these walls are a modern adaption of the glass work on ‘Bhunga’ Kutch structures (a traditional circular house form with heavily embellished walls), which are clearly the universal iconic symbol of the region’s craft.

Not only this, but the designers also worked out ways to meet all the proposed sustainability metrics while developing a ‘shining’ liveable environment.

A harmonious balance between the built and the unbuilt was achieved, instilling an inspiring way of life. Even though the project seeked to celebrate progress and innovation in design through its interiors and architecture, sustainable alternatives through material selection and construction techniques were applied.
To inspire the users of the headquarters, the designers incorporated art into the overall demeanour of the building – from walls, to flooring, ceiling and even furniture. Seeking inspiration from elements that are unique to the region, the design also established mindfulness towards those using the complex.