Designed by Indian architecture firm Morphogenesis following an international design competition, the Surat Diamond Bourse in Surat, India, is a diamond trading hub with a floor space of 660,000 square meters (7,100,000 square feet), making it the world's largest office building. Constructed over 35 acres of land, the 15-storey complex comprises nine rectangular structures that spill out from and are connected by a central 'spine' for interconnection between the tower levels.
The overall design concept was informed by architect research into the operation of the Indian diamond trade, resulting in nine 1.5-acre courtyards, complete with seating and water features, that can serve as casual meeting places for traders. The landscape areas, likened to a 'traditional bazaar,' are influenced by the many informal transactions outside the office.
Along the central axis and in alignment with the prevailing winds on the site, the North-South oriented towers provide glare-free daylit offices accommodating the function of trading and selling diamonds.
Inside are marble floors, and light-filled atriums connecting the 4,700 office spaces, which can double as small workshops for cutting and polishing diamonds. There are 131 lifts, with a speed of three meters per second, and a wide range of amenities, including conference halls, multi-purpose halls, restaurants, banks, and retail shops. There is also a customs house with a national diamond research institute, an international convention centre, international education facilities and a five-star hotel.
The building form aims to maximize the potential of self-shading, thus reducing dependency on mechanical cooling. The central spine's flared shape was designed to funnel prevailing winds through the structure, while a radiant cooling system circulates chilled water under the floors to reduce indoor temperatures. While individual offices rely on conventional air conditioning, around half of the building employs natural ventilation, while common areas are powered by solar energy.
An exemplar for integrating high-density commercial architecture and an efficient climate-responsive design, The Surat Diamond Bourse is a pre-certified green building with a Platinum rating from the Indian Green Building Council.
