MOVEMENT DIAGRAM

The main access road is the only vehicular connection to the site. The same road continues down for future construction on the hill. To minimize fuel consumption the car parking is zoned on the upper level.

Functional Disposition

The Uppermost level is for administrative offices and car parking. The First level is for seniors i.e. the 3rd year and 4th year students. They need to be close to the admin for duty schedules. The second level is for juniors i.e. 1st year and 2nd year. They have more theory subjects and they do not have to go outside college during the day. The last level has common spaces such as multi-purpose hall, conference room, cafeteria, library and common rooms.

Sustainable Approach

There are four staircases, two at the two ends and two at the centre. There are four lifts as well. The staircases are well lit and easily accessible by all students.

Perspective Section

Large Flat open terraces acts as catchment area and the water is collected in the tank under the multi-purpose hall. The land dug out will be reused for filling the land under the cantilever part of the last level. Reducing the need of extra material for construction.

ENTRY LEVEL LVL 0.0M

The entry level plan has Administration office with reception, accounts office, principal and vice principle’s office along with their secretaries. There is a conference room as well for meetings.

FIRST LEVEL LVL -4M (TYPICAL)

The first level has academic spaces. There are several lecture rooms and practical laboratories with faculty spaces. The arrangement of the rooms creates series of open spaces which can be used by students for outdoor learning or just as recreational space.

THIRD LVL -12M

The third level has gathering spaces of the institute. The multi-purpose hall, cafeteria, conference room can be rented to the outside facilities as well, the kitchen can be used for those events as well. And girls’ and boys’ common room and library is on this level as well.

A People’s Place: Bridging Communities on Canal

Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, India

Academic Project: Cultural Public Place

2nd Year | 4th Semester

Individual

Guide: Prof. Parul Kiri Roy Assistant Professor

Site Area: 1100 sqm.

Total Built-Up Area: 1160 sqm.

Brief Description

Pondicherry is an old French town which was physically separated from the Tamil town by a canal. The project was to design a peoples’ place in Pondicherry where people from both the towns can come and participate in various functions. The place provides workshop for local craftsmen to showcase their production process and sell their products at the same place. This makes the local people more interested towards them. This place can also become a tourist attraction.

The site strategically lies on the canal, therefore, it is on the edge of both the towns. It is ironical that the project brings people together where the canal was the physical barrier between them.

The traditional building typologies from both the towns were used to bring familiarity in the place so that it blends with the existing context. The restaurants are zoned on the upper level to attract people to go on the upper level as well. The design integrates with the nearby park and makes a part of it.

The strategy was to create an experience which unites people and showcase their culture and arts at a common place.

Historical Relevance Concept

Pondicherry was a French colonial town which was separated socially as well as physically by the Grand Canal and the towns were called the white and the black town. The white town was the house to the superior French people and the black town was house to the Indians.

The basic building typology in the white town was that there was no setback from the pedestrian path. On the contrary of what it feels standing outside the house, the French houses are open and spacious from the inside. Whereas, the Tamil houses in the Tamil town are totally different from the former. They have setback from the street with a spacious front porch for people on the street to sit on and socialize.

The concept of the design was to remove the barrier between these two towns and the experience of that place should be such that it is not alien to either of the towns. For achieving this, the two very different typologies of the French and Tamil houses were used.

Perspective Section

The OAT is designed such that people sitting in any direction can see the performance properly.

The OAT connects the first floor to the ground floor and the stage is 2M below the ground level. So, people on the ground floor also see the cultural program.

The clear difference between the two towns can also be seen in the architecture of the respective towns. Which was studied while conducting the street study in Pondicherry by our studio.