Zydus corporate park. technology and tradition come together to redefine the office building archetype at zydus corporate park.
- Vol.88(5-6), May-Jun
- Mumbai The Indian Institute of Architects 2023
- 38-43p.
A robust monolith with a peaked profile, the building’s fortress-like form references mediaeval-era monuments from the walled city of Ahmedabad: the Bhadra Fort, the Pavagadh Fort, the stepped courts of Adalaj, as well as the traditional ‘Bhunga’ architecture of Kutch. The Pavagadh Fort provided key contextual cues for the three rampart-like walls forming the western facade that effectively screen the interiors from the harsh summer sun and provide a thermal buffer against extreme temperatures. These doubly-curved Corten steel bulwarks (14,200 data points) are articulated in the intricate geometries of Ahmedabad’s traditional metal craft of the ‘Kansaras’, translated parametrically through computational design. The triangular glass tubes embedded within the walls are inspired by mirror work on ‘Bhungas’, vernacular Kutch dwellings venerated for their architectural resilience and ornamentation. The tubes are finished in dichroic film, catching the sun’s movement through the day and rendering the facade with a perpetually kaleidoscopic dynamism.