CASE STUDY 02 BHARAT BHAVAN, BHOPAL

CONCEPT: built into a hillside which slopes down toward a lake, a series of terraces and courtyards comprise the complex. The route though the terraces encourages movement down the site’s natural gradient, with the courtyards providing tranquil spaces for rest and relaxation. The dialogue between these two components creates an ebb and flow of energy around the complex, in what Correa described as a “Ritualistic Pathway”.

The complex is shaped by its environment, with climate control as a primary factor. Hence the “opento-sky spaces” ideal for the Indian weather. The sunken courtyards at Bharat Bhavan provide shade from the scorching midday sun, while the raised terraces offer refreshing air and spaces of the site, with concrete ‘shells’ atop the structure allowing light and air to pour through their circular openings.

Section through concrete ‘shell’