The Carers’ Institute

SMVDU Nursing College

Katra, Jammu, J&K, India

Academic Project: Institution Building

3rd Year | 5th Semester Individual

Guide: Prof. Ranjana Mital Professor, Head of Department

Site Area: 13,523 sqm.

Total Built-Up Area: 15,600 sqm.

Brief Description

The project was to design a nursing college in Katra, Jammu. The site lies within a 5-minute walk from an established super-specialty hospital. The institution belongs to a larger university, but the campus is far from the site.

The site is on a west-facing hill surrounded by a lush green cover. The key idea was to keep the built in such a way that the beauty of the site is not disrupted. To accomplish this, the vertical height was reduced and a series of terraces were built to create a seamless green landscape with planters at the edge.

By taking into account the site limitations and understanding of the students’ curriculum and specifications, the design evolved.

Limitations

• The site hill slope is 1:2 which is considered steep

• The hill faces west, so the sun movement should be considered while designing.

Concept Diagrams

The real challenge in this project was the site itself, a west facing 1:2 sloped hill. The lush green covered hills around made the site perfect for a learning environment.

The college needs to be built near a hospital because working in hospital regularly is a part of the curriculum. This was the major reason why this site was chosen because it is near to the SMVD Hospital. The photograph below is the view from the site.

UNDERSTANDING THE CURRICULUM & SPACE REQUIREMENTS

Horizontal Layout Of The Building Terrace Form Following Slope Minimum Surface Area Towards West Alternating Spaces

The building layout is more horizontal so that there is less physical exertion on the senior students as well who have to go to the hospital for duties everyday.

The building form follows the slope of the hill. Therefore, the mass has terraces. This helps in rain water harvesting which can be stored and reused.

To reduce the heat gain in the classrooms. The classrooms are oriented parallel and perpendicularly to the axis. The perpendicular ones have their shortest face towards the west and the parallel ones let light enter into the corridors.

In every level the rooms are organized in an alternating manner. Due to this a series of alternative open spaces are formed. These open spaces can be used by the students for studying and as well as for recreation.