Interstellar Offices by Sanjay Puri Architects: A Landmark in Ahmedabad’s Emerging Business District

Located in the heart of Ahmedabad, India, the Interstellar Offices by Sanjay Puri Architects stand as a beacon of innovative office and retail design. Completed in 2022, this project spans 17,461 m² and exemplifies a sophisticated approach to sustainable architecture, urban integration, and human-centric office design. The building seamlessly blends commercial retail spaces with elevated office terraces, creating an environment that is both functional and inspiring for employees and visitors alike.

Contextual Urban Integration

Situated within a rapidly developing central business district, the Interstellar Offices address both the city’s urban density and the need for vibrant, open spaces. The project responds to Ahmedabad’s urban morphology by orienting its massing along a 30-meter-wide arterial road, giving prominence to three-level-high retail spaces that form the building’s frontage. These retail areas feature sheltered arcades, offering shaded walkways for pedestrians while enhancing street-level engagement. This thoughtful integration strengthens the public realm, encouraging both community interaction and commercial activity.

The office floors are deliberately set back above the retail podium, creating a north-facing landscaped terrace approximately 40 feet above the city road. This elevated garden acts as an oasis for office users, providing ample space for informal gatherings, relaxation, and collaborative work. The placement also maximizes daylight exposure while minimizing direct sun, especially with Ahmedabad’s southern sun trajectory for most of the year.

Innovative Landscaping and Outdoor Spaces

One of the most striking features of Interstellar Offices is its integration of landscaped terraces into the workplace. The large north-facing terrace serves as a community hub with open, sheltered seating areas and extensive greenery. Beyond providing aesthetic value, these landscaped zones improve air quality, offer thermal comfort, and foster mental well-being for employees. Additional terraces on various office floors further encourage interaction with nature, promoting a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor environments.

East and west sides of the terraces are protected by punctuated screen walls, providing both privacy and sun shading. This dual approach to landscaping and shading ensures that the building maintains a comfortable microclimate while creating a dynamic architectural composition visible from the street and neighboring structures.

Climate-Responsive Design

Energy efficiency is a core principle in Sanjay Puri Architects’ design philosophy, and Interstellar Offices embodies this through multiple sustainable strategies. The building employs vertical sun breakers and perforated screen walls to reduce heat gain while allowing controlled daylight penetration. Extensive planting on terraces and podiums adds natural cooling, reducing reliance on mechanical air conditioning.

The building is equipped with solar panels, a water recycling system, and thoughtfully designed ventilation strategies, further minimizing its ecological footprint. These considerations not only cut operational costs but also create a model for climate-responsive office design in the region.

Architectural Expression and Materiality

The building’s rectilinear composition is softened by the interplay of landscaping and screened facades, achieving a balance between robust urban presence and human-centric spaces. The use of large windows, perforated walls, and carefully shaded terraces allows daylight to permeate interior spaces while offering expansive views of the cityscape.

Retail and office zones are visually and functionally distinct. The podium’s retail frontage emphasizes openness and accessibility, while the office floors retreat to prioritize privacy, greenery, and collaborative outdoor areas. This functional segregation ensures that both zones perform optimally without compromising each other’s spatial qualities.

Inside, interiors reflect a modern, professional aesthetic with open-plan offices, landscaped break-out areas, and column-free zones for flexibility. The use of natural light, combined with greenery and strategic shading, creates a workspace that is comfortable, visually stimulating, and conducive to productivity.

Engineering and Construction Excellence

The structural design, led by Ducon Consultants Pvt. Ltd, ensures that the building’s terraces and large open office floors remain safe, durable, and adaptable for future expansion. INI Infrastructure & Engineering provided MEP consulting, integrating sustainable mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems that align with the building’s energy-efficient goals. Construction was executed by Spartan Builders, achieving precision in both façade articulation and structural integrity.

Functional and Social Impact

Interstellar Offices is more than a workplace: it is a socially conscious environment that promotes interaction, wellness, and engagement. The elevated landscaped terrace becomes a community space where employees can relax, collaborate, and experience the benefits of biophilic design. By combining commercial retail activity with high-performance office environments, the building strengthens the local economy while enhancing the urban fabric.

The project also sets a benchmark for future developments in Ahmedabad and other Indian cities, demonstrating that large-scale commercial projects can be both environmentally responsible and human-centric. Its integration of sustainable technology, landscape design, and climate-responsive architecture serves as a model for architects, developers, and urban planners.

Awards and Recognition

Since its completion in 2022, Interstellar Offices has been recognized for its innovative design, sustainable strategies, and contribution to urban development. The project continues to inspire architects globally, showcasing how thoughtful planning, landscape integration, and environmental sensitivity can elevate commercial architecture.

Sanjay Puri Architects’ Interstellar Offices represent a holistic approach to modern office design. Through the combination of elevated terraces, landscaped outdoor spaces, climate-conscious strategies, and functional segregation of retail and office areas, the building stands as a landmark example of contemporary Indian architecture. It not only addresses the demands of a growing business district in Ahmedabad but also elevates the experience of office users, pedestrians, and the city at large.

With its rectilinear form softened by green terraces, innovative sun shading, and sustainable design systems, Interstellar Offices exemplifies a future-ready workspace that prioritizes efficiency, wellness, and urban connectivity.

All photographs are works of  Abhishek Shah