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Around 90 per cent of the world’s diamonds are cut in Surat and now the city is all set to add another feather to its cap with the newly-opened Surat Diamond Bourse. The building has surpassed the Pentagon as the world’s largest office building.

For the unversed, the Surat Diamond Bourse (SDB) is a diamond trade centre and it will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December. The complex is expected to accommodate 67,000 diamond trade professionals across 4,700+ offices. Built at a cost of Rs 3,200 crore, construction of the complex started in 2017 and it is the largest office space in the world.

Who are Sonali and Manit Rastogi?

Sonali Rastogi and Manit Rastogi are Founding Partners at Morphogenesis, one of India’s leading Architecture and Urban Design practices, listed among the top 100 Architectural Firms globally. Both Manit and Sonali have significantly influenced the emerging generation of Indian architects through their involvement in architectural education and as role models for the profession.

Sonali is a leading speaker on sustainable architecture and has lectured at numerous reputed universities and conferences worldwide. She has brought significant attention to gender issues. Today, Morphogenesis stands as an exemplar of the profession for equal opportunity and gender pay parity. A strong proponent of the arts and crafts, Sonali is a founder of Manthan, a platform for creative individuals seeking to share, discuss, and evolve concepts and ideologies.

Manit is a thought leader in the field of sustainable design and has also lectured extensively. He has been on numerous global jury panels and published several research papers on zero-energy buildings. His commitment to a sustainable environment goes beyond the realm of architectural practice—as a founder member of The GRIHA Council, India’s own Green rating system, Manit has worked with urban policymakers to spearhead initiatives with an emphasis on environmental sensibility and social welfare.

About their family and early life

Sonali comes from a family of architects. Growing up in an environment where her living room functioned as an architectural studio, Sonali developed a keen interest in reading, model making, and observing built structures when travelling. Her childhood paved the path for her education and career in architecture.

Manit has had a multicultural upbringing — he grew up in Africa, went to a boarding school in England, and returned to India for his Bachelor in Architecture education in 1986. He comes from a family of engineers but did not want to continue in the same profession. He always knew that he wanted to make things. At one point, he contemplated Genetic Engineering, too, but architecture seemed more appealing. Architecture felt like a profession that would allow him the potential to build something and, at the same time, let him be the generalist across the board. That is why he chose to be an architect; there has been no looking back.

About their journey and career

Manit and Sonali both studied at the School of Planning and Architecture in New Delhi. Manit reflects that the school facilitated discussions beyond the classroom about sociopolitical issues and ideologies of architecture at the time, which was an enriching experience.

After SPA, they went on to study at the Architectural Association (AA), London. While the education helped them understand the various aspects of sustainable design, research, and urban housing, they noticed a severe lack of discourse around Indian architecture on a global level. This motivated them to start their practice, Morphogenesis, in 1996. The practice was envisioned to be their contribution towards putting Indian architecture on the global map.

Their education

Sonali Rastogi commenced her architecture studies at the School of Planning and Architecture (New Delhi) and the Architectural Association (London) with a graduate diploma in Housing and Urbanism under Jorge Fiori and a second graduate diploma in Graduate Design (Design Research Lab) under Jeff Kipnis.

Manit Rastogi commenced his architecture studies at the School of Planning and Architecture (New Delhi) and the Architectural Association (London) with a post-graduate diploma with distinction in Sustainable Environmental Design under Simos Yannas and an AA Diploma with Honours, under John Frazer. The influence of all three programs has formulated and influenced his thinking to date, to create sustainable architecture through the framework of an evolutionary practice inspired by nature, emphasizing passive design.

About the building

With a built-up area of 7.1 million sq. ft. occupying a 35.3-acre site, Surat Diamond Bourse consolidates India’s 67,000-strong diamond community within the world’s largest single-office building. The project exemplifies high-density office architecture and transcends global sustainability benchmarks. SDB is a seed building for the Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) City, an upcoming business district, triggering unprecedented socio-economic development in the region.

Built entirely by the diamond community for the community as a cooperative, the building is a testament to their shared vision and collective agency. With a focus on sustainability, SDB consumes 50% less energy than the highest green benchmarks and features one of the world’s largest radiant cooling systems.

When will PM Modi inaugurate it?

The final date is not confirmed. Tentatively in December.