The design proposal for the School of Planning and Architecture in Delhi, is rooted in the belief that space for recreation is essential in a city and that this space should not merely exist for recreation.
The experience of a city can only be positive when the there is an intricate network of open, public and recreational spaces with a variety of uses, ranging in scale and differing in potential activities:play, sports, shopping, walking, jogging, meeting, gathering, etc. The Open Campus will add to this network with an almost iconic public space: ‘the Canyon’. The design of the ‘Open Campus’ uses multidirectional building blocks, giving one the possibility to move from one arbitrary spot in to another arbitrary spot in the master plan through numerous different routes. These multiple points of access increase the potential for interaction and communication in an enormous way.
The location of the site puts the proposed school campus not just adjacent to, but within the eco-system of the Delhi Ridge. The campus design seeks to maintain and enhance these eco-systems. A variety of landscapes are created using the characteristics of the topography, climate and vegetation cover.
Project Name
School of Planning + Architecture
Location
Vasant Kunj, Delhi, India
Year
2009
Type
Themes
Context, Public, Solar Energy, Natural Cooling
Status
Competition
Design Team
Architecture BRIO + Parallax Design Studio
Size
first phase – 40,000 sq.m.; second phase – 120,000 sq.m.
Program
academic functions, studios, lecture halls, auditorium, library, canteen, student center, dormitories, sport center
View from administration building looking towards architecture faculty
The Canyon becomes the ’public face’ of the institute: both institutional and humane.
The site puts the proposed campus within the eco-system of the Delhi Ridge
Concept Sketches
The ‘Open Campus’ serves as a place for interaction and collaboration within and with the city.
Shifting axi and inter-connectivity
Program distribution
An integral part of the urban network, the institution seeks to become a place of participation and negotiation.
Plan -1
Plan 0
Section AA
Section BB
Section CC
Along the Southern and Western facades of the buildings a buffer of deciduous trees is proposed for shade
Tree locations on the site determine colour configurations of all building louvers
Louver color palette methodology
Silhouette of the Campus from the Aravalli Biodiversity Park
Sustainable solutions use natural resources efficiently to create spaces that are comfortable and enjoyable
View from dormitory building looking down towards the canyon, the grand steps and the Biodiversity Park beyond
