A climate-responsive office building in Jaipur, India

Sanjay Puri Architects has completed the office building “Magnus” in Jaipur, India. Located along an extremely busy arterial road within a neighborhood of older commercial developments, the project represents the first new development in this area. Designed to respond to both the urban context and the region’s harsh climate, the building establishes a contemporary architectural identity while respecting the architectural heritage of the region.

Photo credit: Vinay Panjwani

The planning strategically positions the service areas and circulation core along the southern edge of the building. Structural columns are placed along the perimeter to ensure complete flexibility across each floor plate. Smaller office units occupy the lower floors, while larger office spaces are located on the upper levels, allowing for a flexible and adaptable workspace configuration.

Photo credit: Vinay Panjwani

Photo credit: Vinay Panjwani

Photo credit: Vinay Panjwani

Photo credit: Vinay Panjwani

Dynamic Facade

On the western facade facing the main road, the building inclines both forward and backward, forming two vertical volumes with opposing angles. This dynamic massing creates sheltered outdoor decks at every level, offering semi-outdoor spaces protected from the intensity of the busy urban surroundings. The contrasting inclines also ensure privacy between adjacent office terraces.

Photo credit: Vinay Panjwani

Photo credit: Vinay Panjwani

Photo credit: Vinay Panjwani

Photo credit: Vinay Panjwani

Jaali Inspired Screen

In response to the high-density urban setting, the sides of the building are wrapped in perforated screens inspired by the traditional stone jaali screens characteristic of Rajasthan’s heritage architecture. These screens are fabricated from lightweight foam concrete composed primarily of recycled materials and provide thermal insulation as part of the building envelope. A 3-foot-wide planter zone is introduced between the perforated screen envelope and the glazed facade. This planted buffer acts as a noise barrier from the busy road while simultaneously introducing continuous greenery along the building’s perimeter.

Photo credit: Vinay Panjwani

Photo credit: Vinay Panjwani

Photo credit: Vinay Panjwani

Sustainable Office Environment

The ground floor accommodates a restaurant and conference facility, activating the street frontage and enhancing the public interface of the building. At the terrace level, a cafeteria, gym, and landscaped outdoor garden provide recreational and social spaces for occupants. Constructed predominantly using fly ash bricks and an RCC frame structure, the building integrates sustainable strategies such as water recycling systems, rainwater harvesting, and rooftop solar panels. These measures significantly reduce the embodied carbon footprint compared with conventional office buildings. The perforated screens and recessed decks also function as passive shading devices, mitigating heat gain and lowering air-conditioning demand. As a result, the building reduces lifecycle carbon emissions while improving environmental comfort for occupants. By responding to Jaipur’s hot climate and drawing inspiration from regional architectural traditions, “Magnus” presents a contemporary workplace that is both energy-efficient and rooted in its local context.

About Sanjay Puri Architects

Sanjay Puri Architects, led by architect Sanjay Puri, is an internationally recognized architecture firm based in India. The practice was ranked No. 32 in Archello Amsterdam’s list of the Top 100 Architects worldwide and is also included in the global Top 100 lists published by ArchDaily, Architizer New York, and WA UK. The firm has received more than 540 awards, including over 400 international architecture awards. Its work has been published more than 2,000 times in over 200 publications worldwide. The practice was awarded “World Building of the Year 2024” by World Architects Switzerland, “Most Sustainable Architecture Firm of the Year” by Architizer New York, and “Practice of the Year” by A&D Perspective Hong Kong. Sanjay Puri has served as a juror for numerous international architecture awards, including the World Architecture Festival, Plan Awards Italy, Architecture Review Awards UK, Dezeen Awards UK, Architizer Awards New York, INDE Awards Australia, Inscape Awards South Africa, and The Architecture Hunter Awards Canada. Currently, the firm comprises a team of 108 professionals working on more than 200 projects across 55 cities. The practice focuses on developing contextual and sustainable design solutions while exploring innovative forms and spatial experiences in architecture.