Architectural firm DOT has completed the Urban Gauze Textile House and Office, a striking 1,300-square-meter commercial complex in Surat, India, that pays homage to the city's rich textile heritage. The project, completed in 2024, serves as both an office space and a celebration of Surat's historic role as a major textile hub dating back to the Mughal era.
The building design draws inspiration from Surat's textile industry legacy, incorporating elements that reflect the city's renowned production of silk sarees, cotton fabrics, machine embroidery, and polyester textiles. Principal architects Krishna Mistry and Anand Jariwala, working with architect-in-charge Dipal Patel, created a structure that embodies the concept of urban fabric through its innovative facade treatment and spatial organization.
The architectural concept transforms the traditional notion of textile into built form, with the building's exterior featuring a distinctive gauze-like quality that filters light and creates dynamic shadows throughout the day. The concrete structure, engineered by Kalpesh Shah, provides a robust framework for the delicate exterior treatment that gives the building its name and character.
Surat's industrial landscape, which includes a dense network of chemical and textile dyeing industries, influenced the project's material palette and environmental considerations. The architects collaborated with civil contractor Ranchodji and project management consultant Premal Lakdawala to ensure the building meets contemporary workplace standards while honoring local manufacturing traditions.
The MEP design, handled by DOT themselves, integrates modern building systems with the textile-inspired aesthetic. Photography by Jainee Gusain captures the interplay between the building's solid concrete elements and the translucent facade treatment that creates an ever-changing visual experience as natural light moves across the structure throughout the day.
This project represents DOT's commitment to creating architecture that responds to local cultural and economic contexts while providing modern, functional spaces for contemporary business needs. The Urban Gauze Textile House and Office stands as a testament to how contemporary architecture can honor historical industry while serving present-day commercial requirements in one of India's most important textile manufacturing centers.
