Revisiting the Unit Trust of India HQ

Returning to a project after nearly three decades requires a delicate touch. Rather than altering the building's core geometry, we introduced a series of curvilinear forms crafted from striated wood. These elements act as scattered sculptures within the landscape, breaking the rigid, rectilinear configuration of the original office floor plan without disturbing the established structural integrity.

When we first completed the Unit Trust of India HQ, the design relied on steel trusses to achieve clear 14m spans, allowing for a vast, open interior. Revisiting this site after 27 years presented a unique challenge: maintaining that original structural freedom while adapting the environment for modern functional requirements.

In our practice, we believe that an architectural intervention should not erase what came before but rather participate in a conversation with it. The steel trusses remain a constant, providing the framework through which services and light are distributed. By integrating new, fluid wood forms, we created a dynamic contrast to the industrial rigidity of the exposed steel. This approach allows the office to retain its historical context while gaining a new, contemporary rhythm.

This project highlights our broader approach to commercial renovation in Mumbai. We look at the existing conditions—the light, the structural logic, and the flow—to determine where new interventions will have the most impact. Whether it is an adaptive reuse project or a refresh of a corporate headquarters, our goal is to ensure the space feels like it belongs to its history while serving its present inhabitants.