A place for everything

Architecture of Experience | Architectural Thesis | Academic Project

Badarpur Thermal Power Station, New Delhi, India | 2022

The final semester of Bachelors of Architecture commands a Thesis that explores, studies, researches and experiements with a novel idea in architecture that not only puts up a challenge but allows one to open the door to subsequent possibilities and investigations. The freedom to traverse into unchartered domains of study while determining specific parameters and adopting an apt opportunity that the slected site offers led to the proposal of Reinventing public space through adaptive reuse of a thermal power plant.

Since in adaptive reuse projects, certain elements of the preserved and original architecture must be protected from further degradation and hence are primarily reserved as visual exhibits of the development, removing other bodily senses from the equation. Rather, the design should be such that it employs multiple to all senses to bring about an experiential environment that provides a wholesome involvement of the environment and immersion of the user. The character of the occupants relies upon the shape and engineering of the structure. Design becomes in such a way “the third skin to the human body”.

BADARPUR THERMAL POWER STATION

which also includes two schools and housing colonies, comprises nearly 1,300 hectares, out of which close to 900 hectares is the fly ash pond. State-run National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) finalized a proposal to convert the ash disposal area at the former power station into an ecological park. This leaves the Power Station area remaining, which was used for construction work or making bricks in the years after its closure, while parts of the plant and machinery were being dismantled. Following on the proposal to utilize the Badarpur Power plant site for public domain, the aim of this project is to convert and reinvent the Badarpur Thermal Power Station into a Public area within the city through Adaptive Reuse which can be relished by the people of the city as an open breathing space amongst the dense fabric.

Second

The management of the plant was transferred to NTPC, from CEA and the another unit of 210MW is commissioned Signs of Plant facing various issues start to become evident

Pollution panel directs for submission of status report, BTPS mentions renovation plans of only 2 units due to financial constraints

DPCC allows operation of only 2 retrofitted units, Temporary closure of BTPS announced

EPCA proposes to close down the plant by July, BTPS was shut down permanently on 15 October

L-G Anil Baijal reviews the progress of the Eco Park at Badarpur in september

DPCC intimates BTPS to improve efficiency to meet particulate emission

Notices issued to observe high emissions, BTPS directed to close 4 units & only run 1 unit of 210MW

Plant reopens in march and DPCC allows BTPS to be run to meet demands

DDA discusses proposals for BTPS site, plans to convert Ash disposal dumpsite into Eco park

Badarpur Eco Park project completion proposed deadline

Badarpur Thermal Power Station

Case Studies

DHAN MILL COMPOUND, Chhatarpur, Delhi (Live)

ALEMBIC INDUSTRIAL Heritage and Re-Development, Vadodara, Gujarat

AUXILARY EAST BUILDING, Yangpu Riverfront Power Station, Shanghai, China

VILLAGE HALL, Rejuvenation of Power Plant, Shenzhen, China

HASANPASA GASWORKS, Park and Museum Complex, Istanbul, Turkey

The Site follows the graduality of scale in ascending height and descending density beginning with the verticality of the trees seeping into and slowing changing itnto the vertical elements of the switchyard, moving on to the screening theatre and wavering cubes, to the interlaced volumes and voids of the built threshold that was formerly the turbone hall. Next scale increase becomes very evident with the placement of the on-display boilers followed and completed by the towering chimneys after which it drops down with each bridged mound bringing the users back after a peripheral route yet one which walks them through each elemental space by using the contrastingly placed perpendicular thouroughfare

REUSING AND INTRODUCING LEVELS WITHIN THE VAST VOLUMNS OF THE EXISTING INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE

Reusing at hand resources to create a place that can house anything to everything and anyone to everyone. Bringing forth a plethora of enticing activites of recreation, entertainment, art, culture and heritage to engage the people of the city with a breathing open space within the dence fabric of the city of Delhi