CASE STUDY

6.1 ALPHA REHAB CENTER / GUJRAT-LUXURY DRUG REHAB- DESIGN BASED

LOCATION-

• Village, Narukot, Pavagadh Jambughoda Road

• Near Donbosco School Tal.Jambughoda Dist,

• Vadodara, Gujarat 389390.

• Maharashtra, India.

ABOUT-

Alpha Healing Centerlocated in Gujrat id one the India luxury in patient drug rehabilitation center. At Alpha Healing Center, they provide cutting-edge evidence-based therapies and holistic healing to provide a recovery experience for people dealing with alcohol, drug, and other addictions.They have various programmes and cu limanation of different therapies to heal oneself and provide the human mind with peace of mind and relaxation.

PARAMETERS-

1. Site –

• The site lay 50 kms outside the city of Vadodara, Gujarat,

• It is an untouched reserve with large old trees; undoubtedly, this played a huge role in creating a resort or spa-like ambience through design.

• They were also able to add 5,50,000 sq ft of landscaping around the built-up area

• Since the Gujarat state highway runs a mere 100 feet away from the main building, they created a road parallel to it at the entry instead of driving straight in, so as to create a sense of arrival.

• Trees have also been planted in this area, creating a green buffer from the highway.

• Moving away from straight lines to provide a relaxed atmosphere, they adopted gentle curves for their footprint, laid out in the shape of a flower and its petals.

2. Concept-

• As a concept the inspiration from flower was taken which help to rejuvenate human mind and absence or presence of minimum corners helps in mind block and think fresh.

• The refreshing, rejuvenating associations of a flower have been carried through in a subtle way, without making forced connections through the design.

• The footprint arrived at through the curved lines to conserve and bypass as many trees as possible on the site, some of them emerging from the canopy of a structure.

• The fragrance of flowers in the man-made landscape fill up the senses of visitors and residents.

3. Spatial arrangements-

• It is a ground floor structure with different spaces spread horizontal on site.

• There is huge landscaping done on site to clear mind, feel fresh and help in creating privacy.

• Core spaces- Admin Medical center

• Eastern Petals- Recreation Special residences

Doctor’s residences

• Southern Petals- Patients residences

• Western petals- Restaurant Event lawn.

• The central structure measuring 25,000 sq ft comprises the main building housing the reception, admin, 3 rooms for resident doctors and 20 for faculty who visit from all over India.

• This structure itself is circular in shape, with an open to sky courtyard at its center

• Comprising two concentric wings, the sloping roof of the outer structure slants outwards, while the roof of the inner structure slants towards the center

• Slicing into the outer structure, the dramatic pitched roof of the drive-in at the reception lunges 60 feet upwards, metaphorically reaching for the sky

• Stable yet light, the roofing is made of fabricated sheets, assisting in cutting costs.

EASTERN PETALS-

• The cottages for doctors and special suits for the visitors and guest are laid out as the petals of a flower, gently radiating outwards from the central structure.

• Currently at ground level only, there is scope for future expansion by adding another level on top.

• Swimming pool is present at the center which is open to sky and forms the cool air bridge which flows through the structure.

• Along side the swimming poot small garden is also present.

• Cottages are laid in linear fashion and the slopping roof to have temperature control, avoid leakage and keep humidity in check with proper cross ventilation.

• The multifunctional sports court is also providedin the design for the relaxation of the users. Since the users of the space are drug users who are trying, after reducing the drug usuage the signs of withdrawl are seen.

• The sports helps in such conditions to release epinephrine and help them to feel relaxed.

SOUTHERN PETALS-

• The cottages for the patients are laid out as the petals of a flower, gently radiating outwards from the central structure.

• Currently at ground level only, there is scope for future expansion by adding another level on top.

• Access to the upper level will be by an external staircase, to be located between the bungalows, so that one staircase will service two bungalows.

• There is a possibility of adding 80 rooms in the next stage of planning.

• Currently, the in-house facilities include a gymnasium, spa, table tennis, carrom and billiards, a restaurant, an event-lawn as well as an outdoor swimming pool.

• Since the site is untouched by civilization, they have attempted to make the complex as self-sufficient as possible, without unnecessary high-tech interventions.

• All this has been carried out without compromising on comfort levels.

SOUTH WESTERN ZONE-

• South western zone consist of recreational areas like, gathering spaces, dining areas and organic farming.

• The secondary axis is also provided through thid zone.

• This is usually used by staff Since the staff cottages are provided alongside the road.

• 10- DINING AREA

• 11- GATHERING LAWN

• 12- ORGANIC FARMING

• 13- STAFF ACCOMODATION

• Also one of the main reason to have recreational spaces here was that this will be heated area during the day time, since it falls in south- western zone.

4. OTHER FEATURES-

Roofing-

• The current pitched roofs are in aluminum molded roofing tile coated with sand, minimizing heat gain as well as acting as an insulator from the sound of the pelting rain.

• The region sees hot summers and cool winters, with a monsoon in between.

• The underbelly is made of cement boards, 80% of their content being fly ash.

• The roofs are also removable and can be reused when an additional floor is constructed, hence minimizing wastage.

Walls and flooring-

• They have used local and eco-friendly material which include procuring the stone cladding for the structures as well as that for the flooring from a radius of 20 kms.

• Two locally quarried stones were used, the black for all plinth and landscape structures, and the beige for the buildings.

Solar panels-

• Solar panels produce approximately 30KW, supplementing the electricity consumed from the grid.

• These panels are located above the staff quarters, keeping the rooms below cooler in summer.

Organic farming-

• Organic farming enables 50% of the requirement of vegetables to be grown on the site, while 2 acres have been devoted to growing rice, wheat and maize.

Lighting-

• Outdoor lighting is very simple and unobtrusive, receding into the background during the day, to the point of being almost invisible.

• Easy to maintain, all it requires is the replacement of LED bulbs, when needed.

• Sensible, cost effective solutions have been sought all through the design, in preference over complicated, expensive options.

• https://alphahealingcenter.in/

• https://www.worldbuildingsdirectory.com/entries/alpha-healing-center/

• https://www.google.com/search?q=alpha+healing+centre+plans&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjrifjv9q_yAhW5gtgFHb6sDQoQ_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=2048&bih=1004#imgrc=bCi3cfiEYnNArM&imgdii=-Gk2ZH1asOkCvM

• https://www.google.com/search?q=INTERIOR+PHOTO+OF+ALPHA+HEALING+CENTRE+RECEPTION&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiq06j7irDyAhUSjuYKHcI1CJ4Q_AUoAXoECAEQAw&biw=2048&bih=1004#imgrc=7XY3VRkgsyBxIM

Inference

INCLUSIVE THINGS-

1.Location-

The location was apt for such kind of project as it was close by the Vadodara city and is connected by the highway but still at the outskirts with lot of green land and relaxed environment.

2. Spatial arrangement-

The space is designed very efficiently with optimization of activity areas. The circulation spaces, Services spaces, entry and exit, recreational spaces were all well thought of and designed.

3. Core-

Core is functionally very well planned to have maximum utilization. Climatically also the core is designed efficiently to have optimum north light, courtyard , skylight, and openings for cross ventilation.

4. LightingLighting is very well designed at night keeping in mind the ambience of place and it at peace and relaxed nature.

5. Material-

All materials were locally procured saving the cost of building and enhancing the building’s nature to soothe human mind.

6. Roof-

Since the region comes into tropical savanna climatic zone, sloping roofs are best suited roof for the building. It drains out the rainfall water and helps to keep the inside cool by increasing room height at center.

THINGS NEED TO BE AVOIDED-

1. Patients cottagesCottages are faced toward the southern side which can heat up the room.

2. Circulation-

The circulation between two cottages could be increased. They are places closed to each other forming an ally between them. According to the future plan if they go to first this ally will to small for light to enter or wind to pass.