Connected By Courts And Bridges

The Architecture of Multifaceted Buildings

CONNECTED BY COURTS AND BRIDGES

Project: CGC Student Hostel Landran, Punjab; Architects: Charged Voids

The project designed by Charged Voids is infl uenced by Le Corbusier’s modernist legacy and fi nds expression in the sky-lit corridors of the hostel.

The student hostel, located within a 25-acre campus in Landran, a semi-urban area close to Mohali, draws from Le Corbusier’s modernist legacy. The 10-storey building occupies the campus’ bus yard in place of designing on the proposed greenfi eld site. A simple triangular plan makes the most of the oddly-shaped site while playing with levels to create multiple interactive volumes.

The primary idea was to step away from the enclosed vocabulary of the existing campus buildings by freeing the new building of boundary walls, in an attempt to create shaded recreational spaces. This idea manifests in the form of a triple-height, sunken public court situated at the core of the hostel’s basement, which can be accessed by a wide fl ight of steps leading down from the approach road. The court shapes a central atrium intersected by bridges at multiple levels and terminating in large skylights. The lower fl oors, including the sunken court, are open to public access during the day, and to the hostel occupants after closing hours. TV rooms with individual sunken courts, a gym, a multipurpose hall and other ancillary facilities are arranged around the main courtyard.

The ground level houses the reception, the dining area and an adjoining kitchen, while a reading room, administration spaces and the warden’s room make up the fi rst fl oor. The sky-lit atrium is fl anked by student accommodation spaces on the fl oors above, with the bridges creating spill-over spaces as well as ensuring seamless circulation between corridors. A covered balcony is attached to each room, with a grey grit fi nish over the building envelope to ensure that the built fabric sits in harmony with the other buildings on the campus.

A SIMPLE TRIANGULAR PLAN THAT COULD BE LAID ON AN ODD SHAPED SITE CENTRAL TRIAGULAR ATRIUM WITH SKYLIGHTS ON TOP

AMORPHOUS DOUBLE HEIGHT PUBLIC SPACE CREATED FOR THE CAMPUS LIVING SPACES

PUBLIC SPACES AND AMENITIES

A TRIPLE HEIGHT SUNKEN COURT DOUBLE HEIGHT ENTRANCE AREA TO ENTRANCE TO LIVING SPACE

A TRIPLE HEIGHT SUNKEN COURT DOUBLE HEIGHT ENTRANCE AREA TO

SPILL OVER IN GROUND FLOOR PUBLIC AREA DAY TIME

SPILL OVER IN GROUND FLOOR PUBLIC AREA DAY TIME

The student hostel, located within a 25-acre campus in Landran, a semi-urban area close to Mohali, draws from Le Corbusier’s modernist legacy. The 10-storey building occupies the campus’ bus yard in place of designing on the proposed greenfield site. A simple triangular plan makes the most of the oddly-shaped site while playing with levels to create multiple interactive volumes.

The sky-lit atrium is flanked by student accommodation spaces on the floors above, with the bridges creating spill-over spaces as well as ensuring seamless circulation between corridors. A covered balcony is attached to each room, with a grey grit finish over the building envelope to ensure that the built fabric sits in harmony with the other buildings on the campus.

ELEVATION

SUN PATH

STACK EFFECT

Corbusier’s architecture influences the overall pared-down material palette and colour choices of the hostel building; Kota stone flooring, grey grit finished exteriors and plain white surfaces punctuated by primary colours are intended to create a sense of discovery and joy.

SECTION

The floor plans are simple, but the resulting volumes are lent a dynamic character through the interconnected levels and naturally and abundantly lit interior spaces. Corbusier’s architecture influences the overall pared-down material palette and colour choices of the hostel building; Kota stone flooring, grey grit finished exteriors and plain white surfaces punctuated by primary colours are intended to create a sense of discovery and joy. Dappled daylight admitted through the skylights into the interiors is a key factor in determining the sensorial experience of the hostel, lending it a palpably spiritual identity. A space led by its experience as much as it is by budget restraints, the design of the hostel is an exercise in frugality with the aim of enhancing the quality of students’ living spaces.

Photo credit: Javier Callejas

FACTFILE

Client: Chandigarh Group of Colleges Principal Architect: Aman Aggarwal Design Team: Rahul Vig, Sugandha Wadhawan, Javed Akhtar Siddigui Consultants: Dr Ic Syal (Structural); ARK Consultant (Mechanical, Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing); Charged Voids (Landscape) Contractors: Adarsh Supercon Pvt Ltd Site Area: 27,400sq ft Built-up Area: 1,35,000sq ft Year of Completion: 2019