National Winner 1st Prize Category
Knowledge Media Centre
• Located at the southwestern lake shore of the Umiam Lake, Shillong, Meghalay • Meghalay at macro level - small state, hilly strip in northeast India - Meghalay literally means ‘Abode of Clouds’ • Site at micro level -Umiam Lake, 16km from the city of Shillong - On the Guwahati–Shillong Highway -103km from the chaotic city of Guwahati
Towards north • The design derives from the appreciation of nature’s beauty • If you happen to collect petals of different flowers, you will find that each of them is distinct and have their own patterns. • What happens when these petals make a composition? Is the beauty of each petal still retained distinctively? Or do completely new beauties arise from them, like the formation of water from the mixture of hydrogen and oxygen.
• The two fins run through the two axes, this in principle, is the building’s design orientation.
The built environment has been designed in such a way that it does not destroy the existing landscape and prevents the soil erosion by strengthening the terrain through • hard landscaping, built environment • soft landscaping , reforestation
Mr. Richard Sadokpam
Towards northeast
School of Planning and Architecture, J N T U – Andhra Pradesh
Longitude 91:52:23E Latitude 25:34:32N Altitude 1491m above sea level. Climate Sub-tropical climate, with warm summers and cold winters Max.temp range 23.6°C–16.7°C in summer 14.4°C–5.3°C in winter
Jury Comments The jury found this winning entry very sensitive to the scale of both, the programme as well as the setting. The presentation was appreciated because of its 3D views and hand drawn sketches.
By air - Umros Airport, 30mins from Sillong -Guwahati Airport, direct flights from Kolkatta, Delhi, Bangkok etc. By Railway – Guwahati railway station, 103kms from shillong. By Road – Meghalay Transport Corporation - BUSES Assam State Transport Corporation - BUSES
• The site forms a perfect canvas for a cheerful room with the entire mountainous and ethereal landscape reflected in the waters of the lake. • The site is located 103km away from the urban chaos of the large urban conglomerate, Guwahati • Directly accessible from the highway • A peaceful site, the right option for a Global Knowledge Centre where research will be conducted with a residential program
• An important character of the design, they are installed using GRC. They have sharp pointed edges shooting up to the sky, reflecting that the right path to knowledge/education is an undefined paradigm.
• Strong visual statement of ‘Geometric symbolism’ • Functional symbiosis - Compelling later developments to be lake friendly - Avoiding water pollution
1) Wind Energy: As Shillong gets northwesterly winds, windmills can be set up since the site faces the northeast and is at a higher altitude.
2)Rain Water Harvesting: • Meghalaya is wettest place in the world. It receives the highest amount of annual rainfall in the world.
3) Solar energy: • Solar panels can be set up. Water geysers can be run by the energy thus developed. Solar water heaters can also be effective.
Birla GRC: It has been used in the fins and can also be used in the murals. Textura: It has been used in most of the exterior open surfaces, besides being used in mini theatres and auditoriums, as sound absorbent surfaces Levelplast: used in most of the interior wall surfaces. • Introducing aesthetic materials in such places would create ‘benchmarks’ in the life style and built environment of these places. • Application of such materials in fresh places like the northeastern states would be like ‘old wine in new bottle’.
• Ramps are provided for every level difference in ratio of 1:50 • Handrails and railings are installed wherever necessary • A lift is provided for vertical transports.
However, better representation of concepts and context needs attention. A literal interpretation, in the form of petals, can be avoided. Tangible aspects of the design idea and appropriateness of material application can be further explored.
The competition encourages students of architecture at every level in every school on a national level, to compete on a variety of subjects. In turn, it is a learning process for them apart fom routine syllabus. - Ar. Nitin Killawala Nitin Killawala & Associates, Mumbai