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Facets
Facets
Jodhpur, India
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Facets
Jodhpur, India
Facets: Recasting Industrial Architecture for Climate and Context
Set within the rugged industrial fabric of Jodhpur’s Basni Phase II, an area dominated by large cost-effective PEB warehouses, Facets reinterprets the functional typology of industrial buildings into a bold architectural statement. This 3500 sq.m mixed-use facility houses a warehouse, workspaces, and an experience centre for an electrical switches company. It embodies Studio Urban Form + Objects’ approach to integrating functional requirements with climatic considerations and cultural principles, resulting in a distinctive architectural solution.
The design brief for Facets required the creation of a unique identity for a new entrant in the industrial zone. Its construction is guided by a complex web of regulatory and cultural constraints. While building bye-laws imposed strict height limitations, the adherence to ancient Vedic planning principles of Vaastu Shastra eliminated the possibility of cantilevers and further predetermined a 'closed cuboid' volumetric approach.
Rather than presenting a monolithic volume, the building’s massing takes the form of staggered interlocking rectangular volumes, creating a sense of movement while breaking down the visual scale. Offsetting the walls on the upper floor shade the lower ones, reducing direct heat gain and forming usable outdoor pockets. The stepped profile generates terraces and semi-open spaces that invite interaction. The building is neither overpowering nor lost in the context.
Structurally, the building is designed with a Post-Tensioned RCC slab typology, chosen to maximise spans and allow for greater flexibility in internal planning. This approach enables the entire building to rest on a regular grid of just ten RCC columns. The minimal structural footprint results in clean, uninterrupted floor plates suited for efficient warehousing. By freeing the external building line from structural constraints, the outer envelope becomes an opportunity for sculptural articulation, allowing the architecture to respond meaningfully to Jodhpur’s harsh climatic conditions.
The built volume has been refined through a process of sculptural subtraction. By using shear operations along the edges of each floor, the design reduces non-permissible built-up area and while simultaneously meets regulatory requirements. The design strategy begins with a larger mass and is subtracted from to arrive at the sanctioned area. The final building is clad in custom-made, hand-cut terracotta bricks, grounding the contemporary form in local material traditions.
Drawing from the region, the material palette of Facets is defined by locally sourced brick, laid in a linear horizontal pattern, and grey aluminium cladding creating a striking contrast. Their choice, besides being aesthetic, is backed by a strong understanding of the region’s climatic conditions and the inherent thermal properties of the materials. Bricks provide a natural insulation against Jodhpur’s soaring temperatures, while clean fenestration details, a crucial aspect in a dusty landscape, reinforce structural clarity and ease maintenance.
The spatial programme is clearly organised across five levels. The ground floor accommodates the reception area, a large warehouse, and the loading-unloading bay. The first and second floors are dedicated to warehouse operations, while the third floor houses display lounges, workspaces, showrooms, cabins, and meeting rooms; all arranged around a double-height courtyard that opens to the sky. This courtyard, included in accordance with Vedic planning principles, creates a space where workers can pause and recharge amid their daily routines. The floor above is used for storage and also acts as a thermal buffer, significantly reducing heat gain through the terrace.
Sustainability is embedded within the project’s design strategies. The building is oriented to minimize direct solar exposure, with carefully placed fenestration that reduces heat gain while allowing cross-ventilation. The staggered volumes act as passive cooling devices, creating shaded pockets that improve thermal comfort. Additionally, the overhangs and recessed windows prevent excessive sun penetration, while the terraces facilitate rainwater collection.
Given Jodhpur’s intense sunlight and dry climate, the façade is also designed to act as a thermal buffer. The deep-set windows shield the interiors from direct sun while allowing soft, diffused daylight to enter. Metal louvered screens and railings offer additional shading while enhancing privacy. The terraces allow for the stack effect, improving air circulation and cooling the structure passively. Together the range of passive design strategies incorporated within the design helps modulate temperature across functions, resulting in interior conditions that are 4–5 degrees cooler than the outside.
Beyond its built form and climate-responsive strategies, Facets carries a legacy of the people who created it. The labourers, on-site workers, and craftspeople took immense pride in creating something many had never attempted or imagined before. “One particularly challenging element,” as Prachi Parekh and Vineet Vora, architects and co-founders of Studio UF+O recall, “was the execution of a doubly curved rebated brick wall.” To help the masons understand this complex form, the architects and the contractor devised a rudimentary system of strings and nails on site to teach them how to shape the curve: a technique that was grasped intuitively by the team. “It’s humbling,” as Prachi notes, “to see how grassroots-level people with no formal education in architecture are teaching you on site.” Their pride in the project is a testament to the spirit of collaboration: one that makes Facets a landmark in the rugged industrial setting it sits in.
Set within the rugged industrial fabric of Jodhpur’s Basni Phase II, an area dominated by large cost-effective PEB warehouses, Facets reinterprets the functional typology of industrial buildings into a bold architectural statement. This 3500 sq.m mixed-use facility houses a warehouse, workspaces, and an experience centre for an electrical switches company. It embodies Studio Urban Form + Objects’ approach to integrating functional requirements with climatic considerations and cultural principles, resulting in a distinctive architectural solution.
The design brief for Facets required the creation of a unique identity for a new entrant in the industrial zone. Its construction is guided by a complex web of regulatory and cultural constraints. While building bye-laws imposed strict height limitations, the adherence to ancient Vedic planning principles of Vaastu Shastra eliminated the possibility of cantilevers and further predetermined a 'closed cuboid' volumetric approach.
Rather than presenting a monolithic volume, the building’s massing takes the form of staggered interlocking rectangular volumes, creating a sense of movement while breaking down the visual scale. Offsetting the walls on the upper floor shade the lower ones, reducing direct heat gain and forming usable outdoor pockets. The stepped profile generates terraces and semi-open spaces that invite interaction. The building is neither overpowering nor lost in the context.
Structurally, the building is designed with a Post-Tensioned RCC slab typology, chosen to maximise spans and allow for greater flexibility in internal planning. This approach enables the entire building to rest on a regular grid of just ten RCC columns. The minimal structural footprint results in clean, uninterrupted floor plates suited for efficient warehousing. By freeing the external building line from structural constraints, the outer envelope becomes an opportunity for sculptural articulation, allowing the architecture to respond meaningfully to Jodhpur’s harsh climatic conditions.
The built volume has been refined through a process of sculptural subtraction. By using shear operations along the edges of each floor, the design reduces non-permissible built-up area and while simultaneously meets regulatory requirements. The design strategy begins with a larger mass and is subtracted from to arrive at the sanctioned area. The final building is clad in custom-made, hand-cut terracotta bricks, grounding the contemporary form in local material traditions.
Drawing from the region, the material palette of Facets is defined by locally sourced brick, laid in a linear horizontal pattern, and grey aluminium cladding creating a striking contrast. Their choice, besides being aesthetic, is backed by a strong understanding of the region’s climatic conditions and the inherent thermal properties of the materials. Bricks provide a natural insulation against Jodhpur’s soaring temperatures, while clean fenestration details, a crucial aspect in a dusty landscape, reinforce structural clarity and ease maintenance.
The spatial programme is clearly organised across five levels. The ground floor accommodates the reception area, a large warehouse, and the loading-unloading bay. The first and second floors are dedicated to warehouse operations, while the third floor houses display lounges, workspaces, showrooms, cabins, and meeting rooms; all arranged around a double-height courtyard that opens to the sky. This courtyard, included in accordance with Vedic planning principles, creates a space where workers can pause and recharge amid their daily routines. The floor above is used for storage and also acts as a thermal buffer, significantly reducing heat gain through the terrace.
Sustainability is embedded within the project’s design strategies. The building is oriented to minimize direct solar exposure, with carefully placed fenestration that reduces heat gain while allowing cross-ventilation. The staggered volumes act as passive cooling devices, creating shaded pockets that improve thermal comfort. Additionally, the overhangs and recessed windows prevent excessive sun penetration, while the terraces facilitate rainwater collection.
Given Jodhpur’s intense sunlight and dry climate, the façade is also designed to act as a thermal buffer. The deep-set windows shield the interiors from direct sun while allowing soft, diffused daylight to enter. Metal louvered screens and railings offer additional shading while enhancing privacy. The terraces allow for the stack effect, improving air circulation and cooling the structure passively. Together the range of passive design strategies incorporated within the design helps modulate temperature across functions, resulting in interior conditions that are 4–5 degrees cooler than the outside.
Beyond its built form and climate-responsive strategies, Facets carries a legacy of the people who created it. The labourers, on-site workers, and craftspeople took immense pride in creating something many had never attempted or imagined before. “One particularly challenging element,” as Prachi Parekh and Vineet Vora, architects and co-founders of Studio UF+O recall, “was the execution of a doubly curved rebated brick wall.” To help the masons understand this complex form, the architects and the contractor devised a rudimentary system of strings and nails on site to teach them how to shape the curve: a technique that was grasped intuitively by the team. “It’s humbling,” as Prachi notes, “to see how grassroots-level people with no formal education in architecture are teaching you on site.” Their pride in the project is a testament to the spirit of collaboration: one that makes Facets a landmark in the rugged industrial setting it sits in.
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