In the heart of a rapidly densifying urban context, the MARS Corporate House emerges as an ode to minimalism, modularity, and mindful spatial planning. Conceived as the headquarters for a thriving corporate firm, the project began with a singular yet powerful client brief: “We want every employee to have a green view.”
Project Name: Mars Corporate House
Studio Name: NLine Architects
Location: Ahmedabad
Year Built: 2023
Plot Area: 63,184 SQ.FT
Principal Architect: Ar.Nonie Patel
Team Design Credits: Ar.Maharshi Jagada & Ar.Riya Makwana
Photograph Courtesy: Umang Shah
This vision became the core philosophy around which every decision, from zoning to fenestration, circulation to landscaping, was shaped.
Design Philosophy: Minimalism Rooted in Nature
The design approach embraced a minimalist modern vocabulary, translated through clean lines, simplified geometry, and a controlled material palette. However, the simplicity was not synonymous with austerity. Every gesture in this campus, from the placement of blocks to the transparency of walls, was designed to enrich the experience of space, light, and green. The structure does not attempt to dominate its surroundings. Instead, it finds its identity in openness, flexibility, and a subtle rhythm of built and unbuilt spaces.
After over 16 iterations, the final layout responded to both function and symbolism. The staff block, composed of modular units, was arranged to form the shape of the letter ‘M’, reflecting the firm’s initial MARS when seen from an aerial perspective. This was more than just a visual metaphor. It provided a logical, flexible, and visually permeable planning grid, allowing courtyards to be tucked between blocks, enhancing both ventilation and daylighting.
The Director’s Block was conceived as a clean rectangular volume, placed per Vastu principles, establishing hierarchy and axial alignment. The two primary blocks, Staff and Director, are connected by a semi-open corridor that flanks the main courtyard garden, offering visual continuity while introducing transitional breathing zones between formal and informal functions.
Site Context and Planning Response
Set within an industrial-commercial zone, the site was surrounded by high compound walls and neighbouring warehouses. The challenge was to carve out a sense of calm and visual porosity in an otherwise cluttered environment. Instead of going vertical, we chose to go horizontal. This ground-hugging typology, organized as a series of blocks with three-sided glazing, allowed the inside to continuously interact with courtyards, ensuring every workspace has its own connection to nature, just as envisioned by the client.
The decision to break the program into blocks instead of consolidating it into a single mass was instrumental in enabling visual access to landscape, cross ventilation, sound insulation, and intuitive orientation for users. Each block was 26′ x 28′, deliberately sized to suit multiple functions, from teams of 6–8 people to specialized departments, with modular scalability and future adaptability.
Spatial Experience: A Journey Through Courtyards and Functions
Entrance & Foyer:
The approach to the campus is marked by understated signage and softscape buffers. A low-height wall guides visitors into a semi-open foyer, where the landscape begins to play its part. This threshold is minimal yet purposeful — a clear introduction to the campus’ philosophy of transparency and greenspace integration.
