Thesis Statement
University is a platform for gaining and sharing knowledge thereby fostering educated minds. Universities are responsible for directing and polishing the natural abilities of a student thereby moulding capable beings. Campus is a juxtaposition of dynamic variables like site setting, user groups and hence their requirements hence, offering an environment conducive for proper functioning of a university. Thus, university campuses cater to large groups of students and faculty members belonging to diverse education streams like law, management, mass communication, engineering, architecture, medical sciences and so on. University campuses function as thresholds housing a strong proxemic spatial realm associating all the distemic user-backgrounds with it. The inter-linkage of student activity patterns with the faculty members schedule and the campus residents routine; create effervescent dynamism as these cast reflections on the layout and design of spaces. The dynamics of a campus life can be compared to life in an urban setup. Hence, universities, depending on their location, are termed ‘as a city’ within, in close proximity or beyond a city.
The design proposal is an endeavour to create a distressing environment to combat the hectic campus life by the rejuvenating link with Nature, within and beyond the site.
Responsible designs garner positive impacts at macro – meso – micro levels. At the macro level, the ecological value of site is sensitively dealt having a minimal impact on the larger ecosystems. The functional aspect is dealt with at the meso level wherein the requirements of a university campus (larger gathering spaces - plazas/ squares, smaller gathering spaces – courtyards, passive eddy spaces – contemplative areas and active spaces besides the need for buffer, screen and avenue plantation in a well- lit campus) are proposed in the layout. The micro level deals with the scales of open spaces on campus which is instrumental in generating the myriad psychological feel (like feeling liberated, calm and tranquil, inspired and so on). A healthy environment is thus quintessential for the success or failure of a university campus functioning. The phenomologist, Maurie Merleau Ponty states that places form contexts for our actions. Our actions are the resultant of our conscious or unconscious behaviour. Hence the rigorous campus life need to be linked with the restorative Nature.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
01
Site Planning and Landscape Proposal For Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University, Lucknow
2015
Lucknow lacks a university campus where Nature portrays the role of teacher, nurturing the students and imparting tranquility in their bustling life. With increasing urbanization more and more arable land is being converted to other land-uses to meet the demands of the teeming population.
The landuse conversion is impacting the larger ecosystems since the aquifer recharge areas are reducing drastically. Stormwater management and measures to maintain the fertility of such agricultural sites should be the major governing factors while site planning. I chose the 125 acre campus site of S.R.M.U. for my thesis assignment to understand these very aspects. The campus is located in village Tindola on the outskirts of Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh. It forms the ‘locus of education’ being 12.5kms from both, the nearest transit spot in Lucknow on the West and Barabanki on the East. Approached by the 12m wide Lucknow–Deva Road, the campus has access to the road only along the 160m long SW edge.
The 1.3km linear site is sited such that it seems to wedge-inside the dominant agricultural surroundings. The non-uniform site edges form a unique character intrinsic to this site, wedging-into the surroundings thereby behaving as viewpoints from where the landscape can be borrowed to create a visual link with the colours and textures of nature. Thus, being inspired to convey it through the landscape design proposal. With a slope of less than 0.1%, the site has the tendency to waterlog and due to silty-clay soil texture, the water is retained for a long duration. Therefore, stormwater has to be mitigated to prevent waterlogging and thus bad odour and breeding of mosquitoes causing unhealthy living environments. Play of levels is one of the big ideas which will not only serve the functional aspect of mitigating stormwater and segregating spaces but also the aesthetic aspect of creating contrasting levels on a mundane plain site. Conducive microclimate can be achieved onsite by capitalizing on the monsoon SW and winter NE winds cutting across the site and by orienting buildings at an angle of 22.5 degree NE to minimize heat gain from solar radiation. These tangible and intangible sites attributes form the major site planning factors. The inferences drawn from the case studies of the Delhi Technical University, Delhi - at the site planning level and the Shenyang Architectural University, China at the design level paved the design path for me. Both case examples are located at the outskirts of the cities on fertile arable land with less than 0.1% slope, known for en efficient system of vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle circulation. The Shenyang Architectural University, China is designed on a bold ideology which when implemented created an iconic campus. This campus boasts of incorporating agricultural fields within the campus which not only preserve the soil quality but also serve as an educational programme for students who are involved with the cultivation if paddy crop.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
02
Site Planning and Landscape Proposal For Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University, Lucknow
2015
Delhi Technical University in Rohini, Delhi functions on segregated vehicular, pedestrian circulation where the vehicular traffic is confined to the periphery. Taking cues from these precedents and the site attributes, I conceptualized the layout on three levels namely; zoning, circulation and open space organization. The ideologies of - Purity, Transparency, Benefitting Society and the 4 cornerstones promoted by the university founders are also expressed symbolically. The site transits from the public zone (Administration, Auditorium, Amphitheatre and Cafe) to the semi-public zone (Academic, Library and Outdoor Sports area) to the Residential zone (Faculty and staff housing and student hostels). A grand entrance followed by entrance plazas for the public zones comprising of the administration, the auditorium and the library buildings. The visual axis from the site entrance directly connects to the library strategically located in the heart of the academic zone so that it is framed by the 7 storied high academic buildings. The outdoor sport fields form the transition between the academic and the residential zones on site. The shaded platforms at the fag end of the linear site offer opportunity for the students to unwind themselves as they sit in the lap of Nature. The campus functions at various levels of networking. The blue network conveys the stormwater on site, preventing waterlogging. Vegetated rain gardens and bioswale system in place filters the stormwater before it infiltrates into the soil. The green network denotes the connected campus open spaces used for myriad functions ranging from conglomeration of large gatherings, contemplation spaces for smaller and individual scale, active recreation courts for formal and informal interactions, seating and study spaces for small and large groups, spillover flexible spaces near food joints. The black and white massing denotes the solid and void spaces to assess the volumetric impact in sections. These are connected by the yellow network of pathways & bicycle tracks and the grey network of peripheral vehicular circulation with decentralized parking. Plantation adds another dimension to the campus landscape as it physically and visually knits all the afore mentioned networks together. Fruiting, flowering, shade giving native trees with some ornamental trees create habitats for various avi-fauna as well as define campus areas as enclosed, open or partially enclosed. Materials proposed have a high albedo factor to minimize heat gain and are vernacular to minimize the energy spent in procuring and maintaining them. The well-lit campus has it U.S.P. lying amid the play of levels and integration with Nature as the user is in constant dialogue with nature - experiencing progression and continuity while transcending in this blooming campus of S.R.M.U., Lucknow.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
03
Campus Design focuses more on integration of internal and external space, stressing the exchange between spaces since campus does not only fulfill the knowledge imparting function, but also cultivate living environment for all-around development.