Friday, May 30, 2008

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.

Friday, May 23, 2008

project # 2

TITLE: LOYOLA CHAPEL & AUDITORIUM

LOCATION: TRIVENDRUM, KERALA

ARCHITECT: LAURIE BAKER

Laurence Wilfred Baker: known as Laurie Baker, was a phenomenon that hardly needs an introduction to the architecture fraternity. Almost quietly working in Kerala for decades he was pivotal in bringing a sustainable technology revolution in that state. This revolution, named COSTFORD, is now an institution spread across Kerala state and provides sustainable housing solutions to many. The building portrayed here is his much celebrated work: Loyola Chapel and auditorium at Trivendrum.






This building has an interesting section that combines chapel on one side and auditorium on the either side, yet gives both these entities their unique identities. The chapel space is lit with indirect light from above giving it an almost a spiritual existence; whereas the auditorium space is lit from both the sides with unique brick-jalis. The material palette comprises of exposed brick masonry with jalis, steel trusses and roofing sheets. The peripheral walls are made of double layer brick masonry with sufficient buffer space in-between. Both these layers are made porous with jalis which allows air movement and the buffer space in-between helps creating a cool indoor space.

Monday, May 19, 2008

project # 1

TITLE: GANDHI SMARAK SANGRAHALAYA
LOCATION: AHMEDABAD, INDIA
YEAR OF COMPLETION: 1963
ARCHITECT: CHARLES CORREA






Sitting next to the Gandhi Ashram and on the edge of Sabarmati River Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya is gem of building designed by architect Charles Correa. This building houses a permanent exhibition on Mahatma Gandhi and forms a part of the Ashram Complex. The building’s richness is a result of its bold simplicity and a perfect embodiment of Bapu’s philosophy. Exposed brick masonry, exposed concrete, kotah-stone flooring, mangalore tiles for roof and wood for doors-windows are the dominating materials in the palette. Architecturally the building can be looked at as an agglomeration of pavilions and verandahs formed around a central water court.
 

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