Fact file
Location: Surat
Size: 2490 sq m
Principal Architects: Dinesh Panwar, Apurva Desai
Photographs by Andre J Fanthome, Studio Noughts & Crosses
Sangini House by Urbanscape Architects & Utopia Designs is a response to the context and legacy of the Sangini Group. The project is a high-end design that reflects the brand’s ethos and values. After conceptualising the design as a sculptural manifestation, the initial ideas were developed as a work of art that would challenge the archetypal structural systems and the notion of a building. The goal of the design was to create a dynamic built volume that would entice visitors to enter the building. Hence, cantilevered floor plates that defy the conventional grid structure with post-tensioned sweeping floors have been cast, along with exposed concrete walls that are structural.
The nature of the family business and the resultant hierarchy play a crucial role in spatial planning and movement—a small floor plate results in its segregation from the vertical core that comprises two lifts and a staircase. The building’s unusual design, distinctive profile, and appropriate orientation adopted through sun path analysis exploit environmental factors. The stone skin with three-dimensional perforations envelopes the core and provides shade from the harsh sunlight throughout the day. The skin wraps around the fifth and sixth floors to create an invigorating volume for the five-floor-high entrance. The entrance is where the private world of the tower meets the public realm, and the soaring, light-filled space tones down the scale, making it look proportionate to the floor plate. The materials and finishes are kept raw and natural, staying true to the spirit of heritage and context and devoid of any cosmetic layering.
The voluptuous space of the eight-storey structure transforms visibly into a five-storey structure. Visitors at the entrance are directed along the sweeping skin into a double-height atrium that opens into a court. The incorporation of ample daylight ensures a clear and celebrated movement through the building, providing employees with a physical and psychological balance. Other active energy systems in the building include rainwater harvesting and drip irrigation systems. With radiant floors and ventilation systems that cater to cooling needs, the building aims to achieve a green-platinum rating. The interiors of Sangini House echo the character of the architectural design and intent of the building. Most of the ceilings and walls are done in exposed concrete, offering an industrial feel to the spaces inside. A distinctively designed building, Sangini House is the new-age epitome of urban culture and environmental sensibility.
