NASA –LBC DESIGN BUILD COMPETETION 2012-13 INVITATION TO COMPETE: The Laurie Baker Center for Habitat Studies (LBC) welcomes the participation of NASA students in the LBC Design-Build Competitionfor a new dormitory to be built on the LBC campus in 2013. The winning design will be built by the NASA design team with COSTFORD’s support. These architect-builders (winning group of students) will be achieving the goal of Sri Laurie Baker by having themselvesmastered not only the design, but also the construction of cost-effective buildings that respond gracefully to the climate and culture of the region. This competition provides students a unique opportunity to get away from the academic classroom into the classroom of the community; and to bridge the virtual world of design with the tactile world of materials and construction.Students will learn from the expertise of the skilled building craftspeople, engineers and architects at COSTFORD. This will be invaluable experience to future architects who will enter a world that is beginning to recognize the value ofthe architect-builder in creatinginnovative, affordable and environmentally sustainable architecture. PROJECT BACKGROUND: The Laurie Baker Center for Habitat Studies (LBC) was created byBaker’s friends, students, and admirers to propagate his philosophy of sustainable development through research, training, documentation, dissemination, and networking. At its core, it is intended to include such areas as design and use of appropriate materials for buildings, creation of support facilities such as sanitation and drinking water, waste treatment, water harvesting and management, land development, promotion of non-conventional and eco-friendly sources of energy and creation of awareness of the need for sustainable development. LBC hosts a number of activities for students from universities and architectural professionals from India and abroad for varying durations of training, seminars and workshops. PROJECT VISION: The dormitory will serve as a social cause, encouraging students from various places, especially architecturally related fields, to train and conduct research at Laurie Baker Centre for Habitat Studies. Therebyit will be possible to share the knowledge of cost-effective and eco-friendly construction on a larger scale. PROJECT SITE (location on map in cad file attached) : The LBC Campus is located in the Nooliyode Village in Vilappilsalapanchayat, 12 kms away from the centre of Thiruvananthapuram city. It is 12 kms away from the Trivandrum Central Railway Station and 18 kms from the Trivandrum International Airport. The 3.34 acre (1.35 hectares) campus is an undulating piece of land dense with trees and other flora and fauna. The campus at present has eight buildings that represent the last set of buildings personally designed and built by Laurie Baker for one of his friends who wanted to start an innovative centre for National Association of Students of Architecture NASA-LBC DESIGN-BUILD COMPETETION 2012
NASA –LBC DESIGN BUILD COMPETETION 2012-13
children’s education about nature and the wide world beyond the school curriculum. This initiative could not continue and hence a proposal was made to secure the land and buildings for establishing the LBC with financial assistance from the Government of Kerala. The preliminary work of furnishing and provision of electricity, etc. has just been completed and the campus is ready to function. Since the site is somewhat remote, additional residential space is needed to accommodate for short durations, the growing number of people interested in learning about and physically experiencing Baker’s architecture and philosophy. PROGRAMMATIC ELEMENTS: Using the existing four-level foundation designed by Laurie Baker with limited extension beyond the existing foundation, per the provided site plan, the design for the dormitories must respond to the following programmatic elements:
Dormitory: o Ground + two storey dormitory for womenwith rooms accommodating a total of 40bunk beds o No reception area necessary except for an entrance area o Storage area for belongings in each room o 6 toilets, 6 bathrooms with dressing area and washing area, 6 wash basins o 2 common study rooms with reading, interactive & entertainment areas o Waste receptacles (for biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and women’s products) o place for drinking water dispenser o Linen storage, essential stationary storage, space for clothes drying o Space for Caretaker o Possibility of usage by men and women simultaneously with adequate segregation would be useful.
Space occupied by the Bamboo (refer drawing: Bamboo circle) near the foundation can be utilized for foundation extension if required. Extensions possible if required. Toilets can be detached from the building but connected through passage. Landscape design of the area surrounding the dormitory (see site drawing for extents). Factors such as privacy from public areas, buffer from noise, areas for spillover of activities, and shade should be addressed. Cutting of trees not allowed. Bio-digestor for sewage Rainwater harvesting reservoir Solar electric power Design should include built-in furniture and storage for convenience and cost-savings.
National Association of Students of Architecture NASA-LBC DESIGN-BUILD COMPETETION 2012
NASA –LBC DESIGN BUILD COMPETETION 2012-13
Project budget to be around Rs. 750/ Sq.ft (Conventional construction cost in Kerala is 1600/Sq.ft) including built-in furniture. Design of efficient artificial lighting and essential mechanical ventilation. (The cost rate given above includes artificial lighting, ventilation, etc.)
PROGRAM GUIDING PRINCIPLES: The dormitoryis to: o Embody the goals and spirit of Baker’s architecture o Embody the lifestyle and comforts provided at the existing LBC campus and SEWA dormitories for all visitors - whose age may range from approximately 15-70 years.
Dormitories design in the form of Train Compartment
Built In Seating
National Association of Students of Architecture NASA-LBC DESIGN-BUILD COMPETETION 2012
NASA –LBC DESIGN BUILD COMPETETION 2012-13
Cement Flooring
Play with Daylight
Built in Toilet: Wash Basin, Water Closet, Washing area
Windows: Kerala Window
National Association of Students of Architecture NASA-LBC DESIGN-BUILD COMPETETION 2012
NASA –LBC DESIGN BUILD COMPETETION 2012-13
Landscaping o Employ environmentally friendly materials that are low-energy consumptive, use minimal transportation, and are appropriate for the Kerala climate (and non toxic) o Employ passive solar strategies o Demonstrate efficiency in choice of materials in various stages of the life of the building; i.e. construction, use and operation, and end o Manifest principles of cost effectiveness in ways social, environmental and monetary o Evoke the spirit of the place and be aesthetically harmonious with its natural and architectural surroundings DRAWINGS ATTACHED FOR REFERENCE: Existing Foundation drawing & Site Plan: Photographs of LBC campus:
National Association of Students of Architecture NASA-LBC DESIGN-BUILD COMPETETION 2012
NASA –LBC DESIGN BUILD COMPETETION 2012-13
Contour Map of Laurie Baker Center for Habitat Studies
Main Entrance gate of LBC: South Side view
Pathway with Guard room: South side View
Dormitories
North East View: Area from the Dormitories
National Association of Students of Architecture NASA-LBC DESIGN-BUILD COMPETETION 2012
South West View: Area from the Admin. Office
NASA –LBC DESIGN BUILD COMPETETION 2012-13
North East View: Area from the pathway
South East View: Kitchen and Dining from the Pathway
South West View: Admin. Office from the Kitchen
Administrative Office
National Association of Students of Architecture NASA-LBC DESIGN-BUILD COMPETETION 2012
NASA –LBC DESIGN BUILD COMPETETION 2012-13
View: Admin. Office to the Open air Theatre
View of the Guest House from the Tower
National Association of Students of Architecture NASA-LBC DESIGN-BUILD COMPETETION 2012
South West view of the Guest House standing at OAT
Photographs of site:
East side view from the Foundation
North side View
National Association of Students of Architecture NASA-LBC DESIGN-BUILD COMPETETION 2012
NASA –LBC DESIGN BUILD COMPETETION 2012-13
West side view of the Guest House from the Foundation
South side view of the Kitchen and dining from the Foundation
NASA –LBC DESIGN BUILD COMPETETION 2012-13
North East view of the Foundation
North West view of the Foundation showing the Rain
Southeast view of the Foundation Edge of the 2nd Level of the Foundation
Water Harvesting Tank Southeast view of the Open air Theatre View of the Guest House from the OAT
Submission requirements: (A2 size sheets preferred – uniform size) o Site plan (scale __1:50__) o Concept Floor plans (scale 1:20_) o Plans (G+?& Roof plan) (scale _1:10__) o Elevations (qty 2) (scale _1:10__) o Sections (qty 3) (scale _1:10__) o Perspectives(hand sketches only) [Min. 3 – Max. 5 sheets] o Details (hand sketches only) Architectural details[Min. 3 – Max. 5 sheets] Construction details[Min. 3 – Max. 5 sheets] o Approximate Cost Estimate o Brief life-cycle analysis of materials and technologies (One page write up per materials – page size: A3) o Sequence of Construction with budget and schedule National Association of Students of Architecture NASA-LBC DESIGN-BUILD COMPETETION 2012
NASA –LBC DESIGN BUILD COMPETETION 2012-13
o Any other means may be used to explain the design proposal. o Precise information on the design, position and content of sheet titles to be given. o A letter of authentication shall be submitted with EACH entry bearing the names of the participants .(Unit secretary – particularly shall take care of this ) o NASA logo shall be placed in every sheet according to the NASA Logo guidelines that is it shall be placed to the extreme right hand bottom of the sheet leaving a gap of 10mm from the right and bottom. Also the registration code number that shall be mailed to you after you register shall be placed to the left of the NASA logo .
Submission Format o Drawing Boards (size: A2) o All Drawings must be sketches, and not computer generated. (…to continue in the spirit of Baker, who would use only a letter size sheet of paper to communicate the design and details of all his buildings.) NOTE: Entries lacking any of the above items will be disqualified. No digital entries will be accepted. Schedule & Deadline Submission Date: Winning Entry Announcement: Construction:
25th January 2013 (at the Annual convention ground) 28th January 2013 (last day of the Annual convention) Summer 2013
Duration of the 20-day construction period in the summer will be somewhat flexible depending on winners’ schedule. If students want to stay longer, they can stay at their own expense. Eligibility In order for a submission to be considered eligible, competitors must adhere to the following rules and requirements:
All official registrants must be members of NASA INDIA. Submissions are limited to one group with a maximum of 05 entrants.(NOTE- 3 entry per college shall be entertained and not more than that ) Any team entering the competition must identify one individual to be the official registrant in the competition. The registrant will be the official representative of the competitor team. No person may register more than once or be a member of another team. Each registrant or team member may submit only one submission.
National Association of Students of Architecture NASA-LBC DESIGN-BUILD COMPETETION 2012
NASA –LBC DESIGN BUILD COMPETETION 2012-13
Selection Criteria The jury shall use the following criteria to evaluate the submissions and select the finalists: - Sensitivity to overall philosophy of Laurie Baker - Program Guiding Principles - Program Elements - Excellence in design and vision - Submissions will be assessed on the basis of how communicative they are rather than on the quantity of drawings; and on the rigor of thought rather than on style or mere visual appeal The jury may determine special standards for judging an exceptional design concept. Suggested Research Resources Exposure training conducted by LBC & COSTFORD Laurie Baker: Life, Works & Writings – by Gautam Bhatia Houses: How to Reduce Building Costs by Laurie Baker Laurie Baker manuals www.costford.com www.lauriebaker.net Contact detailsBrief Moderator Aditi Diwakar
Samruddhi S. Chaphale President, NASA INDIA
Ph no- +91-88912-63296 Email id- aditi.d03@gmail.com lauriebakercentre@gmail.com
Ph no- +91-95612-48653 Email id- president.nasaindia@gmail.com president@nasaindia.info
National Association of Students of Architecture NASA-LBC DESIGN-BUILD COMPETETION 2012