Supervisor: Prof. Arch. Alessandra Battisti Co-supervising institutions: Vastu-Shilpa Foundation for studies and resaerch in environmental design CEPT University Ahmedabad RWTH Aachen University, Lehrstuhl für Wohnbau Senior student: Laura Marcheggiano October 2011 Graduation thesis research in Environmental Architecture Gaay Nagar Re-Housing Settlement Design Project in compliance with ecological standards, Makarba Community, Sarkhej Roza, Ahmedabad, India PART 1
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Supervisor: Prof. Arch. Alessandra Battisti
Co-supervising institutions:
Vastu-Shilpa Foundation for studies and resaerch in environmental design
CEPT University Ahmedabad
RWTH Aachen University, Lehrstuhl für Wohnbau
Senior student: Laura MarcheggianoOctober 2011
Graduation thesis research in Environmental Architecture
Gaay Nagar
Re-Housing Settlement Design Projectin compliance with ecological standards,
Makarba Community, Sarkhej Roza, Ahmedabad, India
PART 1
2
Supervisor: Prof. Arch. Alessandra BattistiCo-supervising institutions:
Vastu-Shilpa Foundation for studies and resaerch in environmental design
CEPT University Ahmedabad
RWTH Aachen University, Lehrstuhl für Wohnbau
Senior student: Laura MarcheggianoOctober 2011
Sapienza University of Rome, Faculty of architecture
5 -year combined bachelor’s/master’s EU degree
Graduation thesis research in Environmental Architecture
Gaay Nagar
Re-Housing Settlement Design Projectin compliance with ecological standards,
Makarba Community, Sarkhej Roza, Ahmedabad, India
Gaay Nagar
3
‘ A slum in Calcutta is not like one of those Western Dormitory cities where a man
can disappear or die without his neighbor noticing’ whereas, in Anandnagar…
“You cannot hide anything here, not even the colour of your soul”.
Anand Nagar, The city of Joy_Dominique La Pierre
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FOREWORD
As senior student of this faculty, I feel it as my
duty to follow and support any educational
path conscious of environment, diversity and
sustainable development. I trust this is only
the starting point of possible future studies
and activities on those topics.
My graduation thesis research project on Low-
cost affordable and social housing in India, is
just one of the choices I made, in order to de-
vote my interests and research studies to the
international dimension of social-architecture.
During the 2-month Ahmedabad International
Habitat Design Studio 2011, organized by Dr.
Arch. Balkrishna Doshi, Founder Director of
Vastu-Shilpa-Foundation, and CEPT University,
I developed an awareness of the complexity of
Indian urbanity and issues related to its growth,
while acquiring fundamental skills for a sensitive
and holistic approach to habitat design.
The latter was the occasion for an interesting
sharing of experiences with a group of interna-
tional students (from Germany, Spain, Holland
and India), exactly where my project finds its
roots.
As I see it, the university is the forum and
meeting point of initiatives which contemplate
the study of different approaches and the un-
derstanding of other sensibilities. This work is
an attempt to preset a bit of my experience
with Indian culture and architecture in the Eu-
ropean academic world, also leaving open the
possibility of reconsider our way of living built
and unbuilt environment.
On studying India as an emerging country, this
work goes into different topics in depth. It not
only refers to the housing problem within a su-
stainable living environment or the issue of a
fast uncontrolled growing periphery suffoca-
ting rural environment, but goes also back to
the teaching of well-known Indian Architects
such as V.B.Doshi, Laurie Baker, Neelkanth
Chhaya or Yatin Pandya, through their work
and lessons.
Laura Marcheggiano
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CONTENTS
Section I
1. Planning in emerging countries in 2011......
2. A Pattern of growth: Seeking a contextualurban habitat design .................................2.i Tertiarisation and economic growth2.ii Processes of structural change
3. Is there an Indian Urbanity?.......................
Section II
4. Habitat Design Studio 2011.......................4.i Descovering wonderful Gujarat ..........
Louis KahnLe CorbusierV.B. DoshiCharles Correa
4.ii Workshop_Feb-Apr 2011....................5. Learning From Doshi ................................
6. Analysis and Context6.i Background, Layout and Concept ......6.ii Exixting Built and Unbuilt space:
Traditional generation ........................6.iii Existing Water System:
Networks and Potentials .....................7. Design intents ...........................................
7.i Who gets the Land?7.ii Gaay Nagar7.iii The Inclusive Design Manifesto7.iv Methodologies and Strategies
8. Design Proposals ......................................8.i Masterplan and Open Spaces8.ii Product vs Process8.iii We have many layers in life8.iv Three DIifferent Typologies
9. Learning from Laurie Baker ......................9.i A cost reduction manual
Section IV
Bibliography:: Selected list of References ........
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Section I
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1. Planning in emerging countries in 2011
When addressing the pressing, and often con-flicting issues of urban and architectural plan-ning in countries in the global south (e.g.informal development, globalisation, developingfor international investment), the Human Deve-lopment Index (HDI) plays an important role indetermining measurements of development.This composite index uses three different di-mensions of human development: life expec-tancy; literacy and education; standards ofliving. Those basic units, being more preciseand reliable then a PIL, became the means bywhich well-being in a country is calculated . Thefirst Human Development Report in 1990 ope-ned with the premise: “People are the real we-alth of a nation”. This have been the base fornew development policies around the world.
It is essential, and we still hope feasible, to facethe two main challenges in emerging countries:the interlinked issues of equity and sustainabi-lity. Stated that environmental degradation andthe lack of political administration and powerare the reasons why most disadvantaged peo-ple suffer the most, it is important to outlinewhat development means, from every side, andrecognise the risk and danger it represents at aglobal level. Past Human Development Reports
have shown that living standards in most coun-tries have been rising - and converging - for se-veral decades now. Yet the 2011 Reportprojects a disturbing reversal of those trends ifenvironmental deterioration and social inequa-lities continue to intensify, with the least deve-loped countries diverging downwards fromglobal patterns of progress by 2050.
As far as now planning in the emerging, deve-loping or under developed countries is concer-ned, what matters is the capacity of planners toface a variety of cultures and situations, but alsorespond to the needs of always different users.Taking the achievement of this competence asa steady point, the learning process can maybestart from traditional and vernacular architectu-res, that reflect the way local population thinkand live spaces, and give us the opportunity tostudy local techniques, skills and materials.
Facing a project in a low human developmentindex country, also means addressing the pro-blem of colonialism. This time not just the phy-sical and political occupation of the land, butmost of all colonisation of the present age: asneaky, quick and uncontrolled transfer of kno-wledge (and not only!) between developed anddeveloping countries is nowadays under way.Those influences have strong impacts on localpeople and lead to rapid social changes, oftenundermining the already precarious balances of smalltowns or villages.
The questionspontaneouslyraises: are we allcolonists?
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2. A pattern of growth:
Seeking a contextual urban habitat design
2.i Tertiarisation and economic growth
India stands to China and Brazil as the naturalleader on - both for historical and geo-econo-mical aspects – within the so-called group ofemerging countries. The subcontinent has re-cently landed the role of main character of aperiod of reform, which have produced a mar-ked strengthening of its growth process.The recent phase of Indian development hasbeen encouraged by an unusual - and rapid-process of tertiarisation based on a highly skil-led labour pool. This should continue in thecoming years, enabling India to achieve in thenext decades, an average annual growthclose to 5%, also higher than that intended forthe Chinese economy.However, it is observed that the employmentgrowth in the tertiary sector had been dynamicand growth-induced during the eighties, but inthe recent times has turned distress-driven:appropriate steps in policymaking should betaken for the tertiary sector revolution to bebeneficial and sustainable for the workers enmasse.
UN-HABITATThe state of asian cities 2010-11
Good practice from Ahmedabad:
When civil society tackles emplyement deficits
• The Umeed Programme
In 2005 and in partnership with the Ahmeda-bad Municipal Corporation, Saath launched alivelihood programme for youth called EkMouka Udaan (meaning ‘an opportunity tofly’). The scheme enhances young people’smoney-earning capacities and identifies suita-ble jobs for their placement through on-the-jobtrainings, guest lectures, exposure visits andevaluation of the student’s progress.
• Umeed’s achievements over the past 4 years
a) 53 Umeed Centres have been set up ope-rating across Gujarat and Rajasthan;b) As at 31 March 2010, a total 29,110 youngpeople had enrolled, of which 82% had com-pleted training and 59.3% had been placed.c) Students earn btw Rs. 3,000-6,000 ($65-$131) per month after job placement, compa-red with the national minimum wage of Rs.1700 ($37) per month in February 2004 or Rs2500 (US $55) per month Nov. 2009 onwards.
• Informal sector: Economy & labour deficit
Economic growth: 7.3% in 20089% in 20078.5% in 2006
7 million/year Labour force growth2.3% Employment growth
Informal settlements = poor access to basic infrastructure, health and education services.
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Urbanisation in South-West Asia 1990/2020
The top 10 Asian Mega cities
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2.ii Processes of structural change
• Progress and Natural resourcesThe structure of production has been long focu-sed on traditional sectors of agriculture (produc-tion of tea, rice, sugar, but also cotton and jute)and manufacturing, encouraged by the abun-dant availability of natural resources and low la-bour costs. The excessive consumption theworld is currently facing, is a pattern due to anincrease in affluence that have caused a steadydepletion of resources in the natural world.This worldwide concern influences urban de-sign in such a way that, a robust balance bet-ween ecological and economical factors shouldbe maintained.
• Urban and Rural environmentWhile tertiary represents the fastest growingsector, Agriculture, with 25% of GDP, presen-tly continues to be of great importance for In-dian society, since it absorbs more than 60%of total employment, with two-thirds of the po-pulation still living in rural areas.However two factors are here playing an im-portant role:1. As FAO studies proved, the time between2000 and now have seen agricultural Landshrinking of 1,3% in less then a decade: urba-nisation and lack of common awareness withinthe agrarian world being the main reasons forthat.2. The United Nations’ ‘State of the World Po-pulation’ report, released nearly four years ago,proclaimed that 40,76% of India’s populationwill be living in Urban areas by 2030. The urba-nisation of India, as shown, is taking place at afaster rate than in the rest of the world.Interwea-ving the often conflicting needs of Rural andUrban world is therefore a prime concern.
Cities with Population of 10 mil or more
Year 2000: 1. Mumbai 16.09 mil Pop2. Dehli 15.73 mil Pop
Year 2010: 1. Dehli 22.16 mil Pop2. Mumbai 20.04 mil Pop
Year 2020: 1. Dehli 26.27 mil Pop2. Mumbai 20.04 mil Pop
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Indian Population growth
Year 2000: 266.430 th27,7 % Urban
Year 2010: 364.459 th 30,0 % Urban
Year 2020: 463.328 th33,9 % Urban
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• Building and means of production:seeking a localised economy
The industry has undergone a gradual transfor-mation, which has seen the medium and largemanufacturing companies and the production ofhigh technology, put side by side with the tradi-tional base of companies represented by localartisans and small family businesses. Craft tra-dition is, indeed, continuing to prosper thanksto a strong labour pool. The building industry is,as a matter of fact, experiencing a manifold rea-lity, that should be definitely maintained for asensible approach to context design.
To go on one step further into the struggle, weshould notice how the country is among thechartered destinations of the delocalisation pro-cess, in place on a global scale, involving seve-ral multinational companies. The abovementioned agencies are attracted by both thesavings achieved from the reduction in labourcosts, and the presence of personnel with highlevel of education, with knowledge of Englishand technical skills. The spread of new technologies in the industrialsystem, favoured by the entry of foreign com-panies, is now joined by the gradual liberaliza-tion affecting the traditional sectors, such ashandicraft, textile (cotton above all) and jewel-lery.Getting back to a model of localised economy,while taking into account the industrial and te-chnical development, would determine bigchanges in people everyday life at a micro level,while intervening in Indian economy at a largerscale.
UN-HABITATThe state of asian cities 2010-11
Decentralization: best practice from Tarakan, Indonesia
Decentralization and democratization havehelped small towns in Indonesia and the caseof Tarakan proves the point. This is a 251-sq. km island-city in East Kali-mantan with a pop. of 160,000. Historically,Tarakan served as a trading centre or transitpoint for travellers. During Dutch occupation,the town was an oil exploration centre and assuch attracted many migrants. However, theoil sector now contributes only around 6% (US$7.7 million) of Tarakan’s total annual produc-tion of goods and services (equivalent to US$120 million). After decentralization became effective in2001, under the strong leadership of itsmayor, Tarakan underwent significant chan-ges, especially in the areas of urban manage-ment, financing and cost recovery as well asenvironmental sustainability.
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3. Is there an Indian Urbanity ?
In order to take off the first veil of continuousastonishment, go beyond the first general por-trait I got of India and go just a bit more intodepth, I got involved into this work, that now be-comes my expression tool for what I learnt, ab-sorbed and assimilated of the subcontinent.
If we think of Indian architecture the first thingthat comes to our mind is the temple, where hi-story and tradition meet each other: but the lat-ter survives and prevails over history, remainingtimeless and becoming contemporary. In factIndia demonstrates to be much more then that:the highest populated nation after China is quic-kly turning into a place of urbanisation, indu-strialisation and westernisation, where chaosand crowding are daily bread and alienation andindifference have become synonymous of city.
All that being stated, some questions araise:• Is it possible to develop perceptions andconsequent design interpretations to providequality life among the inhabitants? • Can we modify the existing and transformhouses into homes? • Can we get back to a psychological comfort,guaranteed by social commitment and mutualtolerance?
1. Human being and architecture
Remaining humble:When working at first in Le Corbusier’s Firm inParis, it was for Doshi: “ 8 months with olives,cheese and bread, and crying”“I’m not an architect: for me it’s like a search”“There’s always someone behind you, who’sbetter then you”, he says.
“The human being is a compassionate, lova-ble animal…highly sophisticated”How does life reflects in architecture? The joy of lifestyle must be connected with theentire structure sustaining the buildingIdeal life:• Body (Built form, physical needs)• Action (Production)• Mind (thought, Concept)• Karma (Past, present and future)• Spirit (Relationship with nature)
Analysis of built and unbuilt areas, and theconnection of those spaces with the beha-viour, the habits, the activities of inhabitants,makes a project meet success.
2. Growth
“Architecture is a matter of transformation ofall kind of conditions” _Neelkanth Chhaya
Sustainability and growth are tightly linked to-gether. Liberalisation of economy changes theway people dream• Issues related with growth: • mobility • communication • Education • Access to finance• Microcredit easily accessible
Growth is a fact of life Make place fortransformation Negotiation Encroa-chment Entrepreneurship Porosity
Absorption
“Buildings shake hands: draw a plan wheregrow can take place but can remain constant”(IFFCO)_Balkrishna Doshi
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3. Self reliance
“In architecture, the end product is never asexciting as the process”How do you make people grow their own thinginstead of making them dependent on a sy-stem?Smart Urbanisation = Give everyone a stake;Give everyone a placeSelf reliance >>>Aid, charity, are not sustaina-ble!Baroda (200 Km from Ahmedabad)= The firstmicrobank started in Ahmedabad.Do you want a Hi-Fi System, or do you want tochange your life? = Activate a Process of assi-milation
Architects are not designers but catalysts!“You don’t design a house, but what is capa-ble of becoming a house”_Balkrishna Doshi
4. Ambiguity
India= Paradox and harmony synergizeWhat is chaos and order? How do we define them? India = Ambiguity : I may come…I may not!There is nothing right or wrong: the contextmakes this (Space out and in; Material; Wea-ther; Public or private territory; Boundaries –Ambiguity: Different uses & multiple purpose)In the global world, art is always changing:there are no boundaries anymoreFlexible, cooperative, diversified, tolerantspace >>> Viability (nature)Cooperation, Respect and Tolerance are themain rules for living in Indian society.
5. Sense of IdentityThe sense of belonging, of ownership, is diffe-rent to the concept of individuality: being partof the community involves the capacity of co-hesion between private developers’ initiatives.
In Indian urbanity, everyone is an actor (Like in social networks: if you don’t write, no-body writes you back) >>> It creates addiction! Physical and percep-tive (sensitive).Consequences: Colours, Horning, Façadesdecorations.
6. Negotiation
Multifunctional facilities: imaginativeness of In-dian people is reflected on the different usethey make of their potentials, their creative-ness.Through occupation, urban space becomesANPHIBIOUS:• Street sellers• Business on the road• Architectural extensions• Outside activities: Cook, sleep, pray
Small scale design: the same fabric finds a lotof variations using the same patternMany more small definable parts, rather thena few larger ones.Despite emptiness, people make use of unde-fined spaces, and as we saw, a creative anddiversified one.Adaptability, understanding and sharing areelements of the homogeneous heterogeneitythat India represents. Leaving room for nego-tiation is the real solution to social contradic-tions.
7. Sharing
Community vs IndividualityThe richer people get, the less they shareThe community, characterised by unaffordabi-lity and fear of death, share because has no-thing to lose.Inter-dependence is not “convenient”, whenyou risk to lose power!
“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’sneed, but not every man’s greed.”_Mahatma Gandhi
Share is a game of giving and receiving: ifpeople care about their own needs, why dothey forget about the –receiving part of sha-ring?“There are businessmen and humanbeings”_Balkrishna Doshi
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Section II
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Vastu-Shilpa Foundation & CEPT University, Ahmedabad, India
4. International Habitat Design Studio 2011Habitat Design in an Urban Context
Duration _13th February to 13th April
• Asia Pacific University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
• Center for Environmental Planning and
Technology, Ahmedabad, India
• Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura
de Madrid, Spain
• Goa College of Architecture, Goa, India
• Rheinisch Westfälische Technische
Hochschule, Aachen, Germany
• Technical University , Delft, The Nederlands
Rajeev Kathpalia
Balkrishna Doshi - Architect, Planner
Neelkanth Chhaya - Architect
Rajeev Kathpalia - Architect, Urban Designer
Sönke Hoof - Architect
Participating Institutions:
Studio Co-ordinator:
Faculty in charge:
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Gaay Nagar
Doshi’s “SANGATH” in Ahmedabad, India
Abhijeet Singh Chandel
Joseph Varughese
Balkrishna Doshi - Architect, Planner
Neelkanth Chhaya - Architect
Rajeev Kathpalia - Architect, Urban Designer
Sönke Hoof - Architect
Arunav Dasgupta - Architect,Urban Designer
Debashish Nayak - Architect
Durganand Balsavar - Architect
Hemang Desai - Writer
Himanshu Parikh - Engineer
Jaimini Mehta - Architect, Urban Deisgner
Kashikar Vishvanath - Architect
Piyas Choudhari - Architect, Urban Designer
Rajan Rawal - Architect
Rajiv Kadam - Architect, Urban Designer
Riyaz Tyabji - Architect
Sandeep Virmani - Architect
Sharmila Sagara - Artist
Surya Kakani - Architect
Utpal Sharma - Architect, Urban Planner
Location:
Assistance:
Administration:
Faculty in charge:
Guest speakers & visiting critics:
Doshi’s “SANGATH” in Ahmedabad
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• Holistic design with multi disciplinary appro-
ach integrating dimensions of Planning, urban
design, architecture as well as Technology.
• Contextually relevant design which is respon-
sive to Socio-Cultural political, administrative,
climatic and economic context.
• Sustainable development optimally managing
the prevailing scarce resources and innovating
methods for generating newer resources
• Research based design involving first hand
understanding of the context and its realities
through fieldwork and the site visits.
• Design innovations for the improved
quality of life
• Optimal designs with minimum resource de-
mands
• Reinterpreting the traditional for the contem-
porary relevance
• Design strategy for urban insert as well as
blank site development
• Conservation- Adaptive reuse - New construc-
tion.
• Quantitative and qualitative challenges of the
built form
• High density mass housing
• The role and resolution of the unbuilt
Studio Enphasis:
Design issues:
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4.i Descovering wonderful Gujarat...
Sun Temple,Modhera - 1026-27 A.D.
One of the seven temples dedicated to Surya,
the God of endless energy, it is situated on the
banks of the Pushpavati river. The temple
comprises three separate but axially-aligned
and integrated elements.
The “Kund” or water tank, built to perform ceri-
mony rights,is a unique subterranean typology
of this region.
This sun temple has many unique astronomi-
cal features: for the construction of this temple
not a single design was made on paper. Infact
the mathematical calculation was so precise
that the first raise of the morning sun fells
exactley on the image of Surya, the Sun God.
Religious gatherings are held in a magnificent
pillared hall that is open from all sides and it
has 52 intricately carved pillars,some of the
best scupltures depicting indian mythology
and human life.
Habitat Design 2011 group on the steps of the Kund
Gaay Nagar
Louis Kahn:
Indian Institute of Management - 1962-74
While Louis Kahn was designing the National
Assembly Building in Bangladesh in 1962, he
was approached by an admiring Indian archi-
tect, Balkrishna Doshi, to design the 60 acre
campus. Kahn began to question the design
of the educational infrastructure where the cla-
ssroom was just the first phase of learning for
the students: the hallways and Kahn’s Plaza
became new centers for learning.
He incorporated local materials (brick and
concrete) and large geometrical façade ex-
tractions as homage to Indian vernacular ar-
chitecture. The porous, geometric façade was
positioned to act as light wells and a natural
cooling system, protecting the interior from In-
dia’s harsh desert climate.
Plan of the School: building and open spaces
Indian style...Restoration, February 2011
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Balkrishna Doshi:
Amdavad ni Gufa - 1992
Hussain Doshi Gufa is an underground art
gallery located in Ahmedabad that depicts the
works of the famous Indian painter named
M.F.Hussain. It has been designed by the fa-
mous architect B. V. Doshi. Thus, the art gal-
lery has been named after the two eminent
personalities, Hussain and Doshi. The gallery
is more popularly known as Amdavad ni Gufa.
It has been given the name Gufa, as its struc-
tural design resembles a cave.
For the art lovers, Hussain Doshi gufa is a real
feast for eyes. The Hussain Doshi Gufa art
gallery in Ahmedabad lies in the surrounding
areas of the Center for Environmental Plan-
ning and Technology. This structure has been
constructed using simple hand tools and that
too by unskilled workers.
The form of roof shells is guided by computer
designs and the structure, built in ferrocement,
is in the form of skeletal skin and wire mesh,
sandwiched on each side by layers of cement.
It is a lively whimsical fusion of modern art and
natural design with undulating interconnected
domes inlaid with mosaic tiles. Sit here to
watch the sunset or enjoy a cup of coffee in its
Zen Cafe. This space is a nourishing hub of
creative exchange.
Habitat Design 2011 group at Gufa, Navarangpura
Interior ceiling slab, light wells effects and graffiti
Plan and section of the complex
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Balkrishna Doshi:
School of Architecture, CEPT University
- 1966-68
The Centre for Environmental Planning and
Technology (CEPT) was sponsored by the Ah-
medabad Education Society (AES), a non-pro-
fit organisation established in 1935 devoted to
the cause of education at all levels in several
branches of learning.
CEPT has a 5-acre Campus near Gujarat Uni-
versty, primary concept of which was it to be
“an open place with hardly any doors”, and
Doshi was determined to use such accessibi-
lity not only as a metaphor for academic free-
dom, but also for environmental
responsiveness.
To do so, he used an L-shaped configuration
based on parallel bearing walls on a north-
south axis to capture and direct prevailing
breezes through the studios, offices and cla-
ssrooms. A funnel-shaped entrance under the
south facade is designed to direct the wind
through the building.
Working with the hilly contours of the site, the
architect decided to treat both inside and out-
side as educational space, refining Le Corbu-
sier’s notion of the open area under buildings
raised on piloti to become shaded, naturally
ventilated gathering areas.
View of an internal-open space passage
Side elevation: the school is recessed into
the landscape
Students Graffiti on a wall in the lively courtyard
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Le Corbusier:
Mill Owners Association - 1954
Located on Ashram Road, in the western part
of Ahmedabad, overlooking the river Sabar-
mati, the building is said as Corbusiers built
manifesto.
The building is oriented according to the pre-
vailing winds. The east and west facades have
sun braking structure, or brise-soleil, with a
high depth, whereas the north and south faca-
des are nearly blind.Sun breakers are one of
Corbusier’s many formal inventions, which,
while avoiding harsh sun, permit visual con-
nection and air movement. While the brise-so-
leil act as free facades made of rough
shuttered concrete, the north and south sides,
built in rough brickwork, are almost unbroken.
Its many walls (with windows in between)
slant, and there are trees actually growing out
of the side of it. Also, the drainage system is
built into the handrails of the balconies.
A ceremonial ramp leads into a triple height
entrance hall,on the first floor, where the exe-
cutives’ offices and boardroom are located.
The assembly hall, characterises the ground
floor with its organic wall, constructed of dou-
ble thin brick walls, pannelled in wood.
Axonometric view
showing both blind and brise-soleil facades
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Charles Correa:
Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya - 1963
The site on the Sabarmati River
bank is part of the larger ashram complex and
is integrated into its gardens.
Five interior rooms contain the
collection of the museum. The rooms are
enclosed by brick walls and wooden louvered
screens. All five rooms are part of the 6m
square module. Correa’s subtle changes of
the enclosure allow for variety in the module’s
lighting, temperature, and visual permeability.
A square, uncovered shallow pool is
located between the five rooms.
The museum uses a simple but
delicately detailed post and beam structure.
Load bearing brick columns support concrete
channels, which are both support the wooden
roof and direct rainwater. Boards are nailed
underneath the joists and tiles are placed atop
the joints. The foundation is concrete and is
raised about a foot from the ground.
The monumental and archetypal structure of
the museum recalls the well-known work of
Louis Kahn, who began two projects in the re-
gion shortly after Correa’s museum was
built. Wooden doors, stone floors, ceramic
tile roofs, and brick columns are the palette of
the building.
The enclosed units are counter pointed by
areas of visual rest where the visitor can medi-
tate - in varying conditions, from closed-box to
open-to-sky, with easy and subtle changes
from one to the next.
View of the complex overlooking green side
Section showing operable louvres
Section showing channels for carrying rainwater,
and for adding new units: it is a “living” structure
which can grow and modulate
Enclosed Units Semi-enclosedOpen Courtyard
Channel
Air gap
Tiles
Boarding
Operable
Louvres
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Le Corbusier:
Sarabhai House - 1951
Single family house in Ahmedabad, is oriented
according to the prevailing winds, and its faça-
des are furnished with brise-soleil.
For the structure, Catalan vaults: cradle-vaults
of flat tiles set in plaster without framework,
coupled with a row of bricks cast roughly in
cement. These half-cylinders are carried to the
walls by the intermediary of a rough concrete
lintel. This allows the windows solid-voids
game on the facade.
One of the most brilliant solutions is that of the