Substation Design Development for a Township in Gujarat, India

Amalgamating Precision and Aesthetics: Substation Design in Gujarat, India

A conscious design of a substation development, spanning approximately 17,975 square feet, for a vast residential township spread across 750 acres of land was the result of an active partnership between Reliance Industries, a reputable Indian multinational corporation, and Atelier ARBO, an architectural firm based in Mumbai. Five separate substation structures, a dedicated access road, and a compound wall to deter trespassers constitute the substation development.

The current condition of the substations indicated that they needed to be replaced because they were nearing the end of their operational life cycle. To ensure that the natural landscape is not unduly disturbed, five separate structures with double-skin facades and a concrete frame have been built, four of which are lower in height than the nearby trees. The exterior façade features a symmetrical repetition of a motif design built from long, hand-made bricks arranged in a zigzag pattern, which was inspired by the triangular steel profiles of the new power line towers. The inner façade layer of the buildings is made up of prefabricated concrete elements that are divided by an uninterrupted row of clerestory windows.

One of the five structures is a tall tower with vertical cross-arms, the other two are low pylons with a horizontal cross-arm arrangement, and the remaining two substations are mostly terminals that link overhead lines and underground cables in accordance with the client's specifications. Once inside, the windows serve as the source of natural light and establish a visual link with the outside world, while the prefabricated components of the building depict the raw materiality and detailing of exposed concrete. One of the main features of these substations is the logical repetition of prefabricated steel triangular modules.

The aim of the design was to create structures with improved functionality, solid structural stability, and technical integrity—all while adding an innovative touch of style and originality. The planning process was centered on exploratory iterations of the context and natural features of the existing structures, which resulted in a coherent, methodically organized architectural solution. The design grew into an abstract representation of the area with a design language that blends seamlessly with the vicinal context.