project # 3a

TITLE: L. D. INSTITUTE OF INDOLOGY (part-1)

LOCATION: AHMEDABAD

ARCHITECT: B. V. DOSHI

L D Institute of Indology complex, at Ahmedabad, comprises of mainly two buildings blocks; museum block and administrative cum library block. The focus of this and the next post is going to be the administrative-library block. The building sits on an artificial pond that collects water during rainy season. L D Institute of Indology is one of the first buildings in Ahmedabad designed by architect B. V. Doshi and till date it is one of my favorite buildings in Ahmedabad. It is simply impossible to cover this building within the limitations of one post, so I have decided to give it two posts. This week I am just going to feature the building from outside and the way it sits amidst the landscape. Next week I hope to get into the details of the inside spaces.

The building comprises of a library that has been sunk in semi-basement and administrative facilities that occupy ground level. Thus the building sits on a high-plinth that allows light and ventilation for the basement while giving it a monumental appearance from outside. The main circulation happens outside the building almost like an ambulatory. The strength of this building also lies in its richness of architectural elements; the sun-breaking elements on the southern façade, monumental main doors, built-in seats all around the ambulatory and exposed concrete railings on the first floor.