URJAA functions as an Experience-Design-retail center & versatile exhibition pavilion, shaped by Ultra High-Performance Concrete (UHPC). Its evolving design through material properties dialogues pushes traditional limits to uncover innovative aesthetic & functional forms. The material choices catalyzed architectural solutions highlighting its adaptability.
The structure features brutalist, non-linear shapes that stretch the conventional use of concrete, showcasing its malleability & tactile qualities. The client is a concrete researcher &entrepreneur, the design ethos is dynamic & experimental, emphasizing concrete’s versatility. This approach transforms the space into an innovative hub displaying concrete products inspiring visitors with expansive possibilities of modern concrete design
URJAA represents the physical energy in innovative & sustainable design symbolizing the transformative impact the project aims to have on the cityscape. Reflecting commitment to creating spaces fostering a symbiotic relationship with urban context, using architecture as a medium to enhance local environment, the design extends the language of brutalism to outdoors creating a cohesive aesthetic resonating with strength & permanence inviting community interaction. The elongated southern elevation is a climate-responsive measure against intense local heat enhancing environmental harmony. Visitors are greeted by expansive steps leading to a central space defined by 13-meter height illuminated by 4 skylights strategically modulating natural light crafting an interplay of illumination & shadow
URJAA utilizes Ultra High-Performance Concrete (UHPC), starting with M100 grade which surpasses standard M20 to M40 grades. This enables slender structures, enhances spatial efficiency reducing material use by over 50%. UHPC's quick curing significantly shortens the slab cycle to just four days, accelerating construction timelines to 20-30 days and installation in 4 to 5 days using precast UHPC components, in stark contrast to traditional methods that take months. The design includes cavities between panels for improved thermal insulation, reducing energy consumption & carbon footprint & concealing utilities, enhanced resource efficiency, design flexibility, maintenance-free longevity of up to 100 years, minimized reinforcement needs, embodying sustainability in modern construction.
URJAA has a deep respect for brutalist architecture, characterized by its straightforward approach to material & structure. The project's form was initially inspired by pyramid geometries, symbolizing stability & permanence. As the design evolved, it became a study in how light interacts with concrete, creating a dialogue between the material & its environment. The chosen material palette is intentionally minimalistic, with concrete playing the pivotal role, celebrated for its textural & sculptural qualities. UHPC is renowned for its prolonged service life of up to 100 years considerably outlasting traditional concrete & reducing lifecycle costs. URJAA's ELEVATION is designed to convey a sense of ascension, reflecting a commitment to progress & future readiness. The structure's UPWARD TRAJECTORY depicts innovation & a forward-looking perspective, aligning with the project's goal to inspire & adapt to changing times. Acknowledging the harsh western Indian climate, the southern elevation & structural walls have been thoughtfully extended, providing a shield against intense sunlight & heat, ensuring a comfortable interior climate while maintaining the building's energy efficiency. The central experience center is surrounded by serene garden spaces with water features. The philosophy of the architectural journey of URJAA, was anchored in showcasing concrete's intrinsic qualities, emphasizing form & function without superfluous adornment
Our vision for URJAA was to harmonize functionality with aesthetics using UHPC, as a material & as a foundation of architectural integrity. The design supports its multifunctional role—workspace, experience center & pavilion embracing brutalism's raw expressiveness, reflecting our commitment to design, aiming to influence future architectural practices with UHPC's benefits & potential for creative exploration. Privileged to contribute to city’s landscape Urjaa Pioneering Futuristic Architecture
/29
URJAA Derived from Sanskrit signifies energy, power, embodying vitality, dynamism, essence of life force. Pioneering Futuristic Architecture. Exploration emphasized adaptability, utilizing material strengths for an expressive, pragmatic architectural form
tHE gRID Architects
URJAA's elevation embodies of ascension symbolizing progress & future readiness. The structure's upward trajectory symbolizes innovation & a forward-looking perspective, aligning with the project's goal to inspire & adapt to changing times
tHE gRID Architects
The design process was inherently iterative, where the material choice UHPC served as a catalyst for architectural innovation. URJAA has a deep respect for brutalist architecture, characterized by its straightforward approach to material & structure.
tHE gRID Architects
The structure features brutalist, non-linear shapes that stretch the conventional use of concrete, showcasing its malleability & tactile qualities. The client is a concrete researcher &entrepreneur, the design ethos is dynamic & experimental.
tHE gRID Architects
The form of the building evolved through a dialogue with the material's unique properties, pushing the boundaries of conventional design, showcasing how UHPC's versatility can inspire & realize innovative architectural expressions.
tHE gRID Architects
This is an Experience-Design-retail centre, which can be a multipurpose pavilion for exhibition too. The project's distinctive form was significantly influenced by the desire to highlight concrete's malleability and tactile qualities.
tHE gRID Architects
Visitors are greeted by expansive steps leading to a central space defined by 13-meter height illuminated by 4 skylights strategically modulating natural light crafting an interplay of illumination & shadow that enlivens the interior
tHE gRID Architects
Reflecting core architectural values - functionality, aesthetics, adaptability, sustainability, cost, energy efficiency, effective time management, efficiency in construction, enduring minimal maintenance needs projected over a century - benefits of UHPC
tHE gRID Architects
URJAA's design intricately guides natural light through strategic skylights & open spaces, creating an interplay of light & shadow. The interaction between space & material evolves throughout the day fostering warmth & enhancing the human experience
tHE gRID Architects
Acknowledging the harsh western Indian climate, the southern elevation & structural walls have been thoughtfully extended, a shield against intense sunlight & heat, ensuring a comfortable interior climate maintaining the building's energy efficiency.
tHE gRID Architects
The brutalist language extends outdoors, creating a cohesive aesthetic resonating with strength & permanence. The material palette is intentionally minimalistic, with concrete playing the pivotal role, celebrated for its textural & sculptural qualities
tHE gRID Architects
The project's form was initially inspired by pyramid geometries, symbolizing stability & permanence. As the design evolved, it became a study in how light interacts with concrete, creating a dialogue between the material & its environment.
tHE gRID Architects
The central experience center, surrounded by serene garden spaces with water features, serves as a multifunctional hub, adaptable for various events and exhibitions, reinforcing the building's role as a community focal point.
tHE gRID Architects
The design journey of URJAA was marked by a profound iterative process, characterized by extensive sketching and exploratory sessions among the architectural team, the client—a noted concrete researcher and entrepreneur—and structural specialists
Snehal Suthar – tHE gRID Architects
These collaborative exchanges were fundamental in sculpting the project's final form, as every iteration brought deeper insights into the potential of Ultra-High-Performance Concrete (UHPC).
Snehal Suthar – tHE gRID Architects
Driven by the client’s vision to demonstrate the functional and aesthetic capabilities of UHPC, the project evolved through continuous dialogues that challenged conventional architectural forms and boundaries.
Snehal Suthar – tHE gRID Architects
This material-driven design ensured that each design decision amplified UHPC's unique qualities, pushing the limits of traditional concrete use both aesthetically & functionally. Showcasing the transformative power of thoughtful, material-centric design.
Snehal Suthar – tHE gRID Architects
This Illustrates a brainstorming session that integrates feedback from the client and structural experts, refining the design's adaptability and brutalist influences
Snehal Suthar – tHE gRID Architects
Demonstrates careful layout planning, integrating UHPC's unique properties to maximize spatial efficiency and environmental responsiveness in URJAA's final architectural blueprint.
Snehal Suthar – tHE gRID Architects
Focuses on the integration of brutalist principles with innovative UHPC applications, proposing a structure that marries strength with sculptural finesse.
Snehal Suthar – tHE gRID Architects
Plan @1.6 mt Sectional Plan: Illustrates a precise cross-section of URJAA at 1.6 meters, emphasizing the integration of structural elements and spatial dynamics within the design
tHE gRID Architects
Plan @4mt Sectional Perspective at 4 Meters: Displays a detailed architectural cut at 4 meters, highlighting how environmental and functional aspects are harmoniously incorporated into the final structure
tHE gRID Architects
Top view: Offers an aerial perspective of URJAA, highlighting the roof's resolved brutalist forms and strategic skylight placement for optimal natural light distribution.
tHE gRID Architects
This sectional view through URJAA illustrates how interior spaces and water features interact with structural elements, emphasizing depth and form in the brutalist design
tHE gRID Architects
Displays a section through URJAA, accentuating the coherent arrangement of spaces and the robust, textural qualities characteristic of brutalist design
tHE gRID Architects
This section through URJAA unveils the layering of spatial arrangements and structural depth, capturing the essence of its brutalist design principles.
tHE gRID Architects
Depicts the elevation's development, symbolizing ascension and progress, mirroring the project’s commitment to pioneering futuristic architecture that inspires and adapts
tHE gRID Architects
Details the translation of conceptual sketches into functional design elements, demonstrating how materiality drives form while maintaining aesthetic integrity and practicality.
tHE gRID Architects
Represents the culmination of iterative design processes, showcasing a completed form that perfectly encapsulates the project’s ethos of strength, permanence, and innovative architectural expression.
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
India
Mr. Nikunj Dave
Pioneering Futuristic Architecture with UHPC: "Urjaa”, derived from Sanskrit, signifies 'energy' and 'power,' embodying vitality, dynamism, and the essence of life force. The design process of URJAA was inherently iterative, where the material choice—Ultr
12/2024
210 mq
Confidential
tHE gRID Architects
Snehal Suthar & Bhadri Suthar
Mr. Nikunj Dave
inhouse
local
tHE gRID Architects
Curriculum
tHE gRID Architects was founded in 2002 by Snehal Suthar and Bhadri Suthar, who believe that designing is not just a profession, but a way of life. They strive for a collaborative approach, focusing on Biophilic design to create buildings in harmony with nature, enhancing psychological, biological, and sociological well-being.
Their practice promotes environmentally friendly and sustainable methods, simplifying the adoption of sustainability. The studio has garnered over 100 international and national awards and contributes to education as visiting faculty at Architectural institutes & NID & NIFT. They frequently engage in panel discussions and jury worldwide. Their philosophy emphasizes design as a spiritual journey, driven by inner consciousness and they practice heartfulness path of meditation, leading to meaningful designs that positively impact society. Their work has been extensively published nationally & internationally
