11 THE MECHANICAL RESEARCH CENTER

from ARCHITECTURAL PORTFOLIO 2023

by Aastha Shrestha

OFFICE BUILDING AT PROVO

Thapathali Engineering Campus

Balkhu, Nepal

Kaleidoscope All Nepal Architecture Student Design Competition 2018-2019

1st Runner Up

The design competition was about creating an academic research center for the department of Mechanical Engineering for Thapathali Campus with about 19000 sq meters of programs to be accommodated in a new site. It included a challenge of creating this center consisting of massive labs, workshops, research stations and other necessary amenities in the site which had a level difference of 9 meters from the proposed road.

The Mechanical Hill

The simple idea was to absorb the site and let the building grow as per the site creating a new hill on the site. This hill is called as Mechanical hill which in every sense acts as the building for the purpose of research and lab activities with services and functions being catered through all the levels as per the demand of the programs.

“Conducting Research is much like a process of climbing a hill where you struggle to go to the top, you work hard and when you get to the top, you gain that clarity, an amazing view and a new perspective.” The Mechanical hill is the physical manifestation of this metaphor that tells the story of all the struggles one has to get through while conducting researches, experiments with uncertainty and all the clarity one gets as an achievement during the research widening their horizon of knowledge.

Goals

and ramps

Core

The cylindrical core as the main hall and lively space that binds the adjoining spaces

Green spaces

Accessible green roof and vegetation to enhance the space

The building is thus hidden to some extent evoking curiosity. But as one enters to the building, they are able to discover this space gradually and experience the clarity in the form of openness and visual linkages between the various blocks and programs.

Moreover, the transparency and opaque spaces encourages in social and intensive work spaces respectively providing an ample environment for research activities.