Introduction: Amid Ahmedabad’s dry, sweltering heat and the din of a busy highway rises a building that does not just withstand its environment, it communes with it. Zydus Corporate Park, designed by Morphogenesis, is not only a corporate headquarters for a pharmaceutical major, but also a bold expression of climate consciousness, steel ingenuity, and deep cultural referencing.
In an age where the carbon footprint of commercial architecture is under intense scrutiny, Zydus Corporate Park in Ahmedabad presents a beacon of hope where sustainability, culture, and technology converge in harmony. Envisioned as a workplace of the future and deeply rooted in the ethos of the land, the headquarters of Zydus Cadila redefines how office buildings in India can rise to meet the challenges of climate, culture, and community without compromise.
Set along a busy arterial highway in Ahmedabad’s suburban sprawl, Zydus Corporate Park does not clamour for attention. Instead, it commands quiet admiration. Its monolithic form, angular profile, and fortress-like presence draw from Gujarat’s medieval and vernacular architectural idioms — the Bhadra Fort, Pavagadh Fort, and the stepped courts of Adalaj. Yet, it feels distinctly 21st century in both vision and execution. In fact, the building’s greatest success may lie in its duality: a resilient, high-performance workspace that is also a lyrical homage to place.
FORTRESS OF SUSTAINABILITY
At the heart of this architectural statement lies its defining gesture – the western façade. Comprising three massive, curved rampart-like walls, it is both shield and sculpture. Designed to combat Ahmedabad’s intense solar radiation and mitigate thermal gain, these walls provide passive protection from the sun, buffering the interiors against harsh heat while enabling cooler microclimatic conditions within.
But these are not ordinary walls. Crafted from Corten steel and shaped using parametric precision, they represent an extraordinary blend of traditional craft and computational design. Inspired by the intricate geometries of the ‘Kansaras’ – Ahmedabad’s famed metalworkers, the 14,200-point data mesh that governs each wall’s curvature was translated into custom-fabricated, rhombic steel tiles. The construction process itself was a marvel of integration, where local artisans worked hand-in-hand with engineers to bring the digitally modelled forms to life through physical craft. It is a rare moment in Indian architecture where age-old manual skill met digital logic with such elegance.
“Translating the geometry of 14,200 data points into readable drawings was essential – the moment where steel met skill.”
– SONALI RASTOGI, Founding Partner, Morphogenesis
ORNAMENT WITH PURPOSE
Embedded into these Corten steel walls are triangular glass tubes finished in dichroic film, subtle yet striking details inspired by the mirror-studded interiors of Kutch’s Bhungas, the circular mud huts known for their climatic resilience and ornate facades. These glass inserts do more than just echo Gujarat’s visual language; they interact with light, casting prismatic hues that shift through the day, imbuing the otherwise austere façade with a kaleidoscopic life.
The detailing goes deeper than aesthetics. Every triangle, every bend, every glint of sunlight has been tuned to create an atmosphere of sensorial engagement and environmental responsiveness. The building does not merely stand on the land; it breathes with it.
By The Numbers: Zydus Corporate Park
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Energy Performance Index (EPI) | 56 kWh/sq.m./yr |
| Reduction in Energy Consumption | ~50% below best Green Building benchmarks |
| Corten Steel Data Points | 14,200 per wall |
| Workforce Housed | 2,000+ people |
| Natural Light Usage | 100% during daytime |
| Glare Protection | No artificial blinds needed |
| Custom Steel Panels | Every piece made-to-order |
| Orientation Strategy | East-west walls shield north-south towers |
| Passive Cooling Features | Stepped courtyards, shaded terraces, microclimate creation |
PASSIVE POWER, ACTIVE PERFORMANCE
The east-west orientation of the ramparts helps shield the north-south aligned towers within. These towers house the primary workspaces, spaced in a way that they shade the landscaped courtyards and stepped terraces between them. The result? A microclimate that encourages outdoor movement and interaction, rare in such intense climatic zones. The offices themselves are glare-free, 100 per cent daylight-optimised, and blinds-free, eliminating the need for artificial lighting during the day.
Zydus Corporate Park’s environmental performance speaks for itself. With a measured Energy Performance Index (EPI) of just 56 kWh/sq m/year, the building consumes nearly 50 per cent less energy than even the most stringent Green Building benchmarks. That efficiency does not just come from high-tech equipment but is largely credited to climate-responsive passive design. This project stands as a testament to the fact that sustainability, when embedded in the very DNA of design, can outperform any add-on solution.
A SPINE OF SOCIAL ENERGY
The rampart walls are not just passive climate barriers; they are programmatic arteries. Between them lies a social spine that stretches the entire length of the site. These interstitial zones host an ecosystem of communal functions like breakout lounges, alcove seating, brainstorming pods, visitor lounges, cafes, and engagement zones for the building’s 2000-strong workforce.
This layout not only enables flexible working and serendipitous interaction but also doubles as a buffer during pandemics or social distancing periods, allowing the workforce to remain connected yet dispersed. It is a workplace that is as much about people as it is about performance.
STEEL AS SOUL AND SHIELD
Steel plays a central role in the architecture’s expression and efficiency. As explained by Sonali Rastogi, Founding Partner at Morphogenesis:
“The design for Zydus’ headquarters is deeply rooted in Gujarat’s crafts and traditions. The geometry of the curved Corten steel walls each controlled by over 14,000 data points had to be translated into readable formats for site engineers and local craftsmen. Each panel was fabricated to fit a unique rhomboid dimension, and their parabolic bends were shaped entirely on-site, by hand.”
It is rare for a high-end corporate building to be so intensely craft-driven, yet Zydus Corporate Park pulls it off with conviction. From mould-cast cement tiles and hand-turned furniture to in-situ terrazzo floors and metal installations, the palette reinforces locality and resourcefulness.
“Zydus Corporate Park isn’t just a green building. It’s a climate in itself.”
GREEN IS NOT A LABEL, IT’S A LANGUAGE
What truly sets this project apart is that it does not wear sustainability as a badge. It lives and breathes it. Its green credentials aren’t bolted on in the form of solar panels or LEED checkboxes. Instead, they are ingrained in the way it shades, ventilates, insulates, and regenerates. Its success is not only measured in kilowatt-hours saved or ratings achieved, but in the way it reimagines the Indian workplace: a space that is rooted, responsible, and forward-looking.
Zydus Corporate Park is more than a headquarters. It is a manifesto, a declaration that green architecture doesn’t have to look generic or behave predictably. It can have memory, identity, even drama. It can be a sculpted skin, a story in steel, a shelter in the sun. And in that, it shows the way forward for sustainable design in India.
