ID Origins: A Calligraphic Revitalization
A mixed-use revitalization project in Mumbai that integrates a 1980s commercial structure with new residential levels using parametric facade design.
An aerial drone shot showing the illuminated calligraphic facade of ID Origins at night. The video captures the dynamic and fluid lines of the architecture as it rises into the Mumbai skyline.
A low-angle view of the calligraphic facade, emphasizing its verticality and the way the perforated panels curve and undulate. This design provides solar shading for the offices below while opening up for residences above.
This design evolution video explains the process behind the ID Origins facade. It shows how we retrofitted the original building and used parametric design to create parallel strokes that unify the facade and modulate views.
The entrance of the ID Origins building, where the calligraphic strokes touch the ground. This detail shows how the grand architectural gesture is integrated at a human scale, creating a welcoming urban lobby.
The ID Origins tower stands as a beacon in the Mumbai nightscape. The integrated lighting traces the calligraphic strokes, highlighting the building's unique form and its presence in the urban context.
A close-up night view of the illuminated facade, showing how the light accentuates the V-shaped profile of the panels and the gradual waning of the strokes towards the top.
An aerial night view capturing the ID Origins tower within its urban surroundings, demonstrating its role as a visual marker and a piece of modern architecture in Mumbai.
The full height of the tower at night, with the calligraphic facade creating a powerful visual statement against the dark sky.
A detailed shot of the perforated facade panels, showing the gradient of perforations designed to control sunlight and create a visually interesting texture.
The illuminated facade at night, viewed from the base. The design creates a sense of movement and elegance, transforming the building into a piece of urban sculpture.
About ID Origins: A Calligraphic Revitalization
The facade for ID Origins is an engineered solution to a distinct dual-use problem. We utilized parametric modeling to design a perforated screen that reduces solar glare and heat gain for the commercial levels below, while carefully tapering these strokes to maximize unobstructed glass frontage and views for the residential apartments above.
The ID Origins project represents a complex urban rehabilitation exercise. The design brief required us to integrate a 1980s commercial structure with twelve new residential floors. This structural challenge was managed through the installation of a transfer girder between the two strata, allowing for the addition of new columns extending from the ground up.
Our approach focused on creating a coherent urban landmark that functions across two distinct operational modes. We employed parametric design to generate undulating calligraphic strokes. These are not merely aesthetic elements; they act as a perforated facade system for the commercial levels, specifically calibrated to mitigate solar glare and maintain optimal interior light levels.
As the facade ascends to the residential floors, these strokes wane in frequency. This gradual transition opens the building envelope, providing the residential units with panoramic views while maintaining the visual continuity of the tower. This design effectively dissolves the site boundary, rerouting pedestrian traffic and creating an urban lobby that integrates with the Mumbai streetscape.
By rationalizing this complex geometry into planar, V-profile panels, we ensured constructability without compromising the sculptural intent. This project demonstrates our methodology of using computational tools to bridge the gap between heritage structures and modern urban requirements.
Studio Symbiosis
We are Amit and Britta, the team behind Studio Symbiosis. When we approached ID Origins, our priority was to transform a heritage commercial site into a functional, modern landmark without erasing its history. We view architecture as a performance-driven discipline, where every curve and material choice is calculated to enhance the building's interaction with its environment.
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