City: Pune

Project : Gnang illam. Ammq Patti. Pindigul
1. Background

The house is located in a village called Ammapatti in Dindigul district of TamilNadu. The built up area of 2600 sq. ft. is crafted in a form such that it complements the simple and outdoor lifestyle of a village dweller. The load bearing structure is built of earthen materials like stabilized mud block walls, mudblocks + clay pot filler slabs, kadappa lovers, clay flooring tiles etc. This is an attempt to revive vernacular construction technique in a place which is being swept by rapid unthought-of concrete construction. The mud blocks were made
out of the soil from the site itself by educating the local masons, which lowered down the cost of construction to Rs 18 Lakhs. The finished exterior in exposed bricks largely respects the context and makes the building rooted to the place. The house stands as an inspiration in the village and has encouraged the villagers to switch to an improved yet traditional construction technique. This has motivated me to brin the uniqueness of this desi n into public view.

2. Pescription of Project

With the UPSUrge in the use of concrete in this century the born from the earth beauty of our rural landscape is hideously punctured. From the early times the local material mud has been used for construction and together with the style and technique that was followed it was regarded as the vernacular architecture of that place. Over the centuries it had remained both place specific as well as time specific, responding to the climate of the area as well as complimenting to the occupation of the people. The attraction of easy and fast construction has unfortunately overthrown the glory of vernacular architecture and belittled the long prevailing building CUIture of rural India. Ammapatti, a village in the state of Tamil Nadu, like many others has fallen victim to this insensitive style of building construction. ‘Gnana Illam’, a 2600sq feet house in the same village, however is an attempt to merge rusticity of the village and the advantages of
modernization.

Complimenting the lifestyle in a village, full consideration has been given to the open spaces that connect the house to the village street. As observed in the other dwellings in the village, the street forms an essential part of the house and hence the absence of compound wall ensures the bond of the house with the surrounding.

The scenic vistas of the western ghat mountains and the adjacent farm lands are framed by the openings, each one offering a different perspective of the view. The plan form reflects the simplicity of the dwellers which has been grid out in geometric rectangular fashion in three dimensions such that it proves best for the appropriate massing of a G + 1 structure and provides additional open spaces as terraces. The long strips of kadappa louvers offers perfect ventilation as well as view of the garden while providing privacy to the residents and a transparency to the spaces.

The approach to the house from south east side obtains the view of the house as a cube in to which spaces are carved out. The entrance is accentuated by double heighted enclosed courtyard giving the feel of grandness. The sense of privacy is subdued here as it acts as a meeting and gathering space for the residents with the villagers. This court protects the house from south sun while welcoming the breeze into the house. The pergolas covering the court resemble the trellis used for vineyard or snake guard gardens, while casting series of shadows.

The double heighted continuous space of dining and living room is differentiated through levels and is lit through skylight and appropriately placed windows. The family room opens up to the private courtyard garden, which follows the same language as the entry court. Being on the north side this courtyard provides daylight and ventilation to the bedrooms on both floors throughout the day. The study room at first floor is visually connected to dining and family room. The large balcony above the living room is used for outdoor seating’s and sleeping. The semi-covered balcony opens into the entrance courts as well as private while blocking the neighbour’s visibility on east side.

The large openings on all the sides of the house keep it well lit and ventilated. They in a way provide a connection with the village. All the spaces inside the house are meticulously connected such that all parts can be viewed from any point in the house. On the west side the sun is barred by box sun shade. The slit in the RCC box sunshade gives the two materials individuality of mud and RCC, while letting the direct breeze from north and south side meet and cool the bed room.

The use of appropriate material and technique makes the house an admirable example of cost effective solution in building construction. The filler slab reduces the bulk of the otherwise substantially weighty RCC slab. The load bearing walls being an old and known way of construction were easily erected by the local masons with little supervision. Mud from the site itself was used for the stabilized mud blocks thereby reducing the transportation troubles and construction cost.

The blocks were stabilized with 5% cement for strength and then used for constructing the walls. This in turn reduces the amount of heat absorbed by the walls and keeps the interior cool. The entire facade of the house is finished in exposed mud blocks to reveal the elegance of the earth, its colour, texture and the versatility of the various forms in which it can be used from the plant bearing garden soil to the bricks for shelter. The Mud Caps are well arranged creating different patterns is each room.

The ‘Gnana Illam’ house thus portray the era of change in construction technology in rural India as wells as compliment the changing lifestyle of the villagers. It fulfills the desire of our rural folks for modernization in a local fashion which imbibes a sense of comfort to them and sympathizes with existing culture. It hence brid es the old and the new, the vernacular and the modern.

4. Special (sustainable) Features :

Minimum embodied energy materials such as Stabilized Mud Blocks (produced at site) Clay pots (made in five kilo meters of radius) and clay tiles are used.
Reduced use of the non renewable energy material like cement; by using mud mortars for masonry works and Filler slab technique for the slabs (reduction of 1 /3 of steel and concrete).
Production of mud blocks at site reduced the carbon foot print.
Raw materials for producing the mud blocks were brought within one kilometer of radius from the site.
More than 70% of the construction was done by using rainwater which was collected from immediate neighbour building’s roof top
Non Bio-degradable materials like polythene and plastics were dumped in the fillings in sunk.
Broken/demolished Mud blocks can be mixed with soil and use for plantation.
Damaged mud blocks were used as fillers in filler slab along with clay pots.
As the building is finished in exposed mud blocks, paintings and multilayer plastering were eliminated which reduced energy consumption.
There was no hazardous material like VOC paints used in the building.
Requiring only a little stabilizer the energy consumption in I rn3 of the production of mud blocks is from 5 to 15 times less than 1 m3 of fired bricks and the pollution emission is 2.4 to 7.8 times less than fired bricks.
Daylight becomes the source for illuminating the interiors throughout the day through skylights, court wells and fenestrations.
Prior to construction there was no existing vegetation except weeds on the site; 25% of the ground coverage is used as exclusively for plantation.
Southwest hot air is cooled by vegetated courts.
The filler slab and the mud walls together with the effective ventilation system keep the interiors temperature at optimum level of comfort in all seasons.
Weathering tiles are used on the roof top for Thermal Resistance.
More than 75% of the spaces have views of distant mountains and green farmlands.

Since the construction works for phase 1 [ @ 1500 students + @250 faculty and staff] for academic block, student and faculty housing completed and functioning smoothly at IITGN, an institute to function as a truly residential campus. Some additional functions were necessary to be inserted in present space planning. These functions shall take care of extracurricular activities, leisure activities, basic day to day needs, some emergency facilities, and healthcare. This present phase will be followed by similar future development phases, where a need will be to have a seamless connection between core functional requirement and all supporting facilities to grow as integral and self sustainable residential campus. As per master plan, Parcel demarcated for the central arcade

development is part parcel no 11 – amenity no 4 [6922 sq. mts land area, 1.5 FAR and 75 % ground coverage]. this parcel has been planned in the centre of the southern

campus with built to edge design conditions this facility termed as arcade on central vista shall house basic day to day need in terms of essential shopping, food court zone, student activity centre, common community facilities for students as well as faculty, staff, students’ art centre, informal

students lounge and alumni offices, bank, restaurant, health centre and recreational multipurpose hall. This facility has been conceived as one of the most important buildings of the entire campus attributed to vibrancy of student campus life. Though the activities planned will work throughout the

daytime and many activities spill over the night-time, it is expected to be full of student life in the evening sessions and weekend. This building will be always a point of reference in student education life and likely carry in the memories of the students.

Overall building form as per master plan is rectangular in shape admeasuring 187 m x 33 meters, which is further broken in 2 blocks namely phase 1 and 2 block. With a

continuous covered corridor connecting all the blocks. All terraces and intermediate open spaces have been planned to be developed as outdoor student activity spaces.

This building has been conceived as ground + 2 storey as per master plan guidelines

The arcade being placed between the 2 campus greens, is an extension of the green space in its true sense. The greens

flow through the building

“The building is different from any other building on campus as it is meant for “unwinding” “undoing” “unlearning

We always say that while designing any institutional campus we should always remember that learning happens outside the classrooms

The personality is shaped knowingly and unknowingly in these areas where the students “happen to be present” without any specific agenda

This is “the space” where a student doesn’t “have to” go and would “want to” be The conceptual sketch section beautifully summaries the spirit of the design of this building. The street, spaces overlooking the street, the spirit of market depicted in the “street like” hallways on upper floor, curious semi-open spaces watching over the street and lots of “life” happening across the. street and somewhere midway The sketch of movement and life/ activities woven around the movement axis subtly guides the student across the arcade and sports Centre towards. activity zone It surely ignites the curiosity in the minds of a passer-by and makes him / her step into the arcade / activity zone making the arcade more active at any point of the day Being an unwinding space, it has tried to capture the impression of a typical urban unwinding space which is market or mall in modern cities, though in institutional architectural vocabulary

SALIENT FEATURES

1. Use of GGBS in RCC construction
2. No vibration for compaction of concrete
3. Use of fly ash bricks in construction
4. Wall Insulation inside cavity wall construction on west and south faces
5. Low u value DGU windows externally for reduction of heat / glare transfer inside
6. Sunscreen lovers on south and west side to reduce glare entering inside habitable spaces
7. Deep recesses, buffer terraces and mutual shading devices
8. Multiple inlet outlets for overall breeze movement inside overall building
9. Use of natural light in deep inside buildings and public places
10. LED light fittings
11. Low flow plumbing fittings, duel flush valves
12. Water free urinals
13. Use of Low maintenance materials such as stone grit, bare concrete surface, natural stone Kota / granite 30 mm thick
14. Application of Solar PV cell on roof
15. roof top rainwater harvesting in storage tank of 10 lac litre capacity 100% surface rainwater harvesting to recharge existing lakes at site 100%
16. Water recycles for flushing system and gardening
17. Segregation of wet / dry / electronic / plastic / paper waste and its process at campus such as biogas generation, land fill with construction debris 
18. Heat reflective China mosaic coat on India waterproofing with roof insulation for all roof terraces

BRIEF SPECIFICATION

20. M: 35 grade self-compacting concrete with GGBS added for form finish exposed concrete
21. Fly ash masonry work
22. Natural stone – Kota, river finish granite flooring
23. DGU aluminium windows with toughened glass as required
24. [Stone grit plaster with grooves externally [ marble chip 85% + mandana stone 15% – 8 – 10 mm size
25. Internal gypsum plaster with plastic paint
26. Teak wood frame doors, flush shutter with veneer cladding 
27. Water repellent transparent matt coat externally to plaster and exposed concrete all surface
28. Heat reflective China mosaic coat on India waterproofing for all roof terraces
29. SS railing
30. HVAC – VRV system
31. LED lighting internally as well as externally
32. CP fitting – Jaguar, sanitary fittings – parry ware
33. Teak wood fingers flooring for dance / drama hall

Name & Location: Malhar Machi A Mountain Resort At Valane, Tal. Mulshi, Dist. Pune

Cost Of Project: 12,11,000 (US$)

Built-up Area: 2250 sq m
(in case of public building minimum built up area should be 1000 sq. meter)

Description Of Project:

It was a tough challenge to handle the open site! The very first thought that touched our mind was to create a dream village. People today are going away from the villages, losing their touch with their local vernacular spaces, so every structure & landscape are designed with very local ambience with the dash of contemporary thoughts.

The challenge & opportunity offered by the 6 Acre site situated on the slopes of Sahyadri mountain ranges, barely 30 km away from Pune city, at village Valane in Mulshi is handled with very basic & simple architectural solution to create cozy, warm & vernacular ambiance.

Four magnets governed the space organization of site:

Maximum view of Lake Mulshi

Cluster of mango trees

Visual axis towards mountain

Topography of site

The reception, dining hall & entry level court at the mid-level contour approached by the ascending black basalt stone steps amidst mango trees. Reminiscence of typical Deccan landscape.

The central gathering space with campfire court, water bodies, swimming pool, viewing decks is enclosed with three, 4-room units at the lower counters. These units are placed to have two visual avenues from central space towards the lake. On the other side the serpentine stone wall runs through & across the site. The stone wall also conceals the service activities like spa, indoor games, gym & changing rooms from central space. The wall is a visual link which engulfs the whole site together at the central space.

The upper level cottage are juxtapositioned in such a way to get the maximum uninterrupted view of Lake Mulshi & mountain ranges.

The criteria for landscape & cottage design are kept simple & in tune with natural topography of the site using majority of the locally available materials for external ground covers, steps & water bodies.

The internal & external materials are handled with the dash of contemporary gestures.

The interior are subtle, contemporary with all the high-end amenities.

The lighting design also complements the natural landscape & overall ambiance.

The overall ambiance is well organized layout of cottages, pathways, water bodies & landscape, which create world class contemporary resort with vernacular features.

Write up justifying Green status:

Central green landscaped space created to induce moisture and create micro climate, cooling the buildings around.

The building and the interiors have been designed to cross ventilate all public and private spaces in the building. The cooling provided by the central tropical garden helps cooling the insides too because of cross ventilation. Although the Building is completely air conditioned, almost throughout the year, the building can achieve comfort by only cross ventilation

The elevator has been removed away from the building so as to discourage people to use it. Also people have to pass through offices of
seniors to reach the elevator, further making it psychologically compelling for people to use the tropical hillock between the two blocks

The intention was to stop the horizontal rays of the morning and afternoon sun from entering the building.

The east and west walls also create a ventilated cavity with aerated concrete blocks on the inside faces, thus keeping the interiors cool. Concrete walls on the outside, heat up faster and catalyze the stack effect.

The two office blocks are placed at an angle to each other forming a wedge with the smaller opening on the windward side and the larger opéning on the leeward side facilitating ‘Ventury’ effect and this draft carries the heat of the buildings away

The Roof has been designed to catch breeze from the windward side and carry the hot air away on the leeward side

The fire escape staircase has been chamfered to catch the breeze   flowing from the west/ south west and funnel it into the tropical garden

Rain water collected on the roof is taken through down take pipes directly into two tube wells dug on the west side. On the east sid4, the down take pipes pour water into the water body, and the overflow is directed into tube wells to recharge ground water.

All trees on the site have been retained and the building has been aligned between them. All hard rock encountered during excavation has either  been used for soling if small or otherwise used for seating in landscaped areas if large.

 

Salient Features of the Project (Maximum A4 Size: 2 Pages)
Name & Location: Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalaya at Mothiyasinga, Assam, India
Cost of Project: (INR) 1,55,60,000 Rs
Description of Project
Built-up Area: 19,450 SFT

(In case of public building, minimum built-up area should be 1000 sq. meter)

Vivekananda Kendra Vidyalay in Assam and various villages in North East region of India providing man-making education for tribal and rural children in remote area to impart education on Swami Vivekananda’s thoughts like “Education is the manifestation of perfection already in man.” “If the poor boy can’t come to education, education must go to him.” etc.

Mothiyasinga site is 20 kilometers south of Shivsagar in forest area. The school was conceived in line with a policy of decentralization and making education more accessible to those living in remote areas.

2.5 acre site without contours having densely existed full grown tall trees. Because of existing 7 to 8 m tall evergreen trees, penetration of natural sunlight up to the ground is very less. There are also some interwoven small areas which used to be brightly lit and acting like a light well.

Classrooms are placed under the existing trees instead of placing in open empty space, so that open empty space becomes a sunlit courtyard for various common school activities.

Entire organic planning of a school which resembles village typology and is evolved by placing of built forms by on-site analysis of relation between existing naturally formed light wells and shaded areas.

Materials of Construction Details

Considering Assam’s heavy rainfall and humid climate, the traditional houses, their daily outfits, and farming equipment, they are using extensively bamboo as a main material. In traditional construction technique, the walls are made up of bamboo and timber framing with mud plaster which allows air to percolate through. Commonly used traditional big conical cap (Jappi) covering entire body from rain and sun made from tightly woven bamboo.

Bamboo material represents a bridge between past and present, creativity and tradition, cheap and precious, and transparency.

Innovative low-cost techniques that reinterpret traditional bamboo facades for classrooms.

Here they are fused into contemporary material steel that appears as interactive surface because of rotating panels. Children enjoy playing with rotating bamboo panels by displaying their individual work which turns into outside passage exhibition.

Ventilated pivoted bamboo panels creating play of inside and outside.

Each classroom breathes through porous bamboo walls, keeping the classroom ventilated and cool.

The project was hand-built by local craftsmen, pupils and teachers working in collaboration with architect.

Special Features

As being a community school for their children, we received overwhelming responses while designing which was beneficial as an architect to understand local traditions, ethics and knowledge. Also, local employment is formed by involvement of village people in bamboo construction.

By placing classrooms under densely existed full grown tall trees, forming interwoven brightly lit small areas acts as a sunlit courtyard for various common school & community activities.

To improve existing contextual dark and cozy indoor spaces, we have used skylights, rotating perforated bamboo panels to allow adequate amount of light and ventilation throughout the day and also reduce the electricity gain. The indoor spaces are highlighted by insertion of plastered and coloured walls.

Also, this entire organic planning of a school which resembles village typology.

The project was hand-built by local craftsmen, pupils and teachers working in collaboration with architect.

Trend-setting idea behind conventional classroom with student seating in a row in front of blackboard is discarded and educational program has been reset to build confidence in deprived students by introducing breakthrough idea of new classroom organization by providing whiteboards for each student & placing of openings.

Project Name: Vivekanand Kendra Vidyalay at Mothiyas inga, Assam

Mothiyasinga site is 20 kilometers south of Shivsagar in forest area. The school was conceived in line with a policy of decentralization and making education more accessible to those living in remote areas.

2.5 acre site without contours having densely existed full grown tall trees. Because of existing 7 to 8 m tall evergreen trees, penetration of natural sunlight up to the ground is very less. There are also some interwoven small areas which used to be brightly lit and acting like a light well.

Classrooms are placed under the existing trees, instead of placing in open empty space, so that open empty space becomes a sunlit courtyard for various common school activities.

Entire organic planning of a school which resembles village typology and is evolved by placing of built forms by on-site analysis of relation between existing naturally formed light wells and shaded areas.

Considering Assam’s heavy rainfall and humid climate, the traditional houses, their daily outfits and farming equipment—they are using extensively bamboo as a main material. In traditional construction technique, the walls are made up of bamboo and timber framing with mud plaster which allows air to percolate through. Commonly used traditional big conical cap (Jappi) covering entire body from rain and sun is made from tightly woven bamboo.

Bamboo material represents a bridge between past and present, creativity and tradition, cheap and precious, and transparency.

Innovative low-cost techniques that reinterpret traditional bamboo facades for classrooms.

Here they are fused into contemporary material steel that appears as interactive surface because of rotating panels. Children enjoy playing with rotating bamboo panels by displaying their individual work which turns into outside passage exhibition.

Ventilated pivoted bamboo panels creating play of inside and outside.

Each classroom breathes through porous bamboo walls, keeping the classroom ventilated and cool.

The project was hand-built by local craftsmen, pupils and teachers working in collaboration with architect.

Innovation and Transferability — Progress

Indigenous materials and technology fused with modern needs allows dissemination of knowledge to community. Considering Assam’s heavy rainfall and humid climate, sloping roof has been projected from all sides like commonly used traditional big conical cap (Jappi) covering entire body from rain and sun made from tightly woven bamboo.

Locally available bamboo is fused with steel framing to form rotating panels. These rotating panels act as informative and interactive surfaces in-between community and school. It allows us to create various patterns for various purposes and needs of the community.

Envelope of building has been challenged by introducing interactive and openable bamboo panels, instead of conventional envelope which allows flexible multiple openings.

Trend-setting idea behind conventional classroom with student seating in a row in front of blackboard is discarded, and educational program has been reset to build confidence in deprived students by introducing breakthrough idea of new classroom organization by providing whiteboards for each student and placing of openings.

Ethical Standards and Social Inclusion — People

As being a community school for their children, we received overwhelming responses while designing, which was beneficial as an architect to understand local traditions, ethics, and knowledge. Also, local employment is formed by involvement of village people in bamboo construction.

Resource and Environmental Performance — Planet

By placing classrooms under densely existing full-grown tall trees forming interwoven brightly lit small areas acts as a sunlit courtyard for various common school and community activities.

Also, this entire organic planning of a school which resembles village typology.

Each classroom breathes through porous bamboo walls, keeping the classroom ventilated and cool considering local climate.

The project was hand-built by local craftsmen, pupils, and teachers working in collaboration with architect.

Contextual and Aesthetic Impact — Place To improve existing contextual dark and cozy indoor spaces, we have used skylights, rotating perforated bamboo panels to allow adequate amount of light and ventilation throughout the day and also reduce the electricity gain.

 

PROJECT DATA (to be provided by the JK-AYA Winner)

Title of project : Kondan-The Retreat
Type of Public Building : Hospitality
Year of completion : 2016
Period of execution (in months) : 48 Months
Location (village/town/city & State) : Maval, Pune, Maharashtra
Site area (in sqm) : 20000 Sq.m
Built-up area (in sqm) : 5600 Sq.m (give total construction area)
Project cost (in Indian Rupees) : 4Cr.
No. of floors (including basement) : Ground Storey
Client (Company/Person) : Green Resorts Developers

PROJECT TEAM
Design Architect : Prasanna Morey, Gaurav Bhangre, Sanjay Verma
Consultants – Liaison :
Structural engineer: Subduction Zone Engineers
Electrical engineer:
Plumbing, Sanitation & Drainage: PMA Madhushala

HVAC:
Telecommunication & IT:
Landscape design: PMA Madhushala
Interior design: PMA Madhushala
Other (Facade, Fire, Facilities M etc): (expand if necessary)
Contractors – Civil work : Narayan Tandale
Plumbing, Sanitation & Drainage:
Electrical : Ravindra Bomble

HVAC:
Telecommunication & IT:
Elevators / Mobility :
Facade :
Landscape & Horticulture:
Interior – fixtures, furniture etc:
Other (Site related – roads etc): (expand if necessary)
Photo Credits: Hemant Patil

DRAWINGS
All drawings must be labelled (nomenclature) with legend (reference), linear scale and north point with clear legibility when reduced to book page size for printing. The preferable soft copy format for drawings is .ai (Adobe Illustrator) or .eps (Encapsulated Post Script).   In case these formats are not possible, please use CAD or PDF format.
Site Plan showing Built Facility, Internal Access, Landscaping etc and abutting public road.
Plans (indicate the Floor, Mention Level and Nomenclature)
Sections (adequate to explain the design with clarity)
Elevations (adequate to explain the design with clarity)
Rendered views – external and internal
Concept Sketches, if any (with legible clarity)

PHOTOGRAPHS AND SCANNED IMAGES
All images must be in soft copy in .jpeg format of 300 dpi resolution of size 12″ x 9″ landscape or 9″ x 12″ portrait orientation. If known, mention date when photograph was taken.
Copyright: Mention name of photographer/s for each photograph. In case there is no photographer individual/agency identified, the firm must submit a written declaration that the photographs are their own.
Photographs of printed photographs must be avoided
Minimum 12 images (per building) in colour – 6 external and 6 internal of actual real building
Additional 6 photographs of actual real details
Additional minimum 6 photographs of physical actual model/s if any
Note: The above data will be edited for the proposed publication. Hence all of the submitted matter will not be featured in the final book.