In Indian classical music, the seven foundational notes of the heptatonic scale are known as the swara. The distinct tonal progression has shaped centuries of rich musical heritage, and one that continues to influence a wealth of cultural, spiritual and religious sonic expressions. In the city of Nagpur, however, designers Morphogenesis have visually inscribed the rhythm across the built environment, courtesy of a striking and colourful array of energy-saving solar fins that grace a new office campus for global IT giant Infosys.
You can’t miss it. Situated on a 13.3-hectare site in what will eventually be an even larger tech campus within a special economic zone adjacent to the city’s rapidly developing Multi Modal international Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) district, the six-storey, 29,500-square-metre Infosys complex announces its presence with a bold splash of orange and earth-toned hues — and a distinctive X-shaped form. Organized around a central circulation core, the building is organized into four slender 100-metre-long and 18-metre-wide volumes, which are all carefully angled to balance access to natural light (90 per cent of workstations receive light from windows on both sides) while limiting solar heat gain.
Led by architects and Morphogenesis co-founders Manit and Sonali Rastogi, the design aims to synthesize the evolving needs of a cutting-edge tech company with a space that reflects local culture and heritage — all while maintaining an emphasis on low-energy performance and workplace comfort. While the building’s X-shaped configuration is configured to create spatial efficiency through a compact — yet sociable and pedestrian-friendly — central circulation core, the bright solar fins help reduce reliance on mechanical cooling.
Throughout the work zones, the fins are configured to a narrow 40-degree angle to reduce glare, while opening up to a 60-degree tilt to create more energized, light-filled shared environments for breakout rooms, meeting spaces and amenity areas (which include gyms and relaxation zones). From the exterior, the subtle yet palpable shifts introduce a welcome two-dimensional complexity to the facade, with the kinetic interplay of colour and angle further accentuated by the movement of shadow and light across every exterior surface.
The energy savings are amplified by a radiant waffle cooling system, which harnesses the mass of the heavy — and carbon-intensive — concrete slabs to absorb and dissipate heat year-round. In addition, smart building control systems utilize real-time monitoring to adjust energy use, reducing operational carbon to just one-fifth of a typical office building of similar scale.
Throughout the complex, the integration of new sustainable technologies is deftly paired with both vernacular-inspired passive thermal strategies and nods to local culture. To create culturally responsive environments, the Morphogenesis team conducted a series of workshops and design charrettes, which inspired elements of local arts and crafts subtly integrated throughout the interior finishes.
Most prominently, however, the expansive walls that bookend each of the building’s four volumes are adorned with art, celebrating both local heritage —(with a depiction of the Nagpur Fort) and the Infosys work culture (represented by a tree). It makes for a unique workspace — and a billboard like no other.
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