International Management Institute / Abin Design

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20

APR2011

Educational Selected Works Abin Design Studio Bhubaneswar India

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Pradip Sen
Architects: Abin Design Studio Abin Chaudhuri
Location: Bhubaneswar, India
Design Team: Abin Chaudhuri, Jui Mallik, Koushik Majumder, Anshujit Majumder, Palash Santra
Project area: 45,000 sqm
Project year: 2011
Photographs: Pradip Sen

 Pradip Sen
Inspiration
The past always catches up with you. Why shouldnt it? Especially, when it offers you a rich heritage and
timeless unparalleled grandeur. Orissa is a state widely known for its opulent cultural heritage and rich
architecture. It is full of archaeological treasure dating back from the prehistoric times. As a state, it
possesses soaring grandeur unequalled anywhere in India. Orissan sculpture has majesty, grace and
beauty rarely to be found elsewhere. Caves of Khandagiri and Udayagiri represent Orissan cave
architecture dating back to the first century B.C. These caves were cut out in the solid rock and are
decorated with sculptural motifs, noted for their majesty, beauty and attention to detail.

ground floor
plan
The sculptures of these caves form a landmark in the history of Indian art. They present a vivid picture of
the contemporary society and occupy an important place in rock-cut architecture in India. These historical
monuments in Orissa inspire to fuse tradition with the modern style today. Instead of letting the treasures
be a part of the past, we attempt to recreate it in a modern setting so we remember our roots yet grow
with time.

Pradip Sen
Reality
Geographically, Bhubaneswar is situated in the eastern coastal plains of Orissa, India. The city inherits a
rich cultural and traditional heritage. It is one of those rare places where tradition matches its steps with

modernity, where culture and technology flourish together, where the glorious past is preserved and an
illustrious future is in the making. The architecture of the city should reflect the very essence of
Bhubaneswar. The city has a tropical wet and dry climate and succumbs to the heat and cold waves that
sweep in from north India. The site is located about 14kms away from the city centre, in a barren and
undeveloped area. It is a gently contoured site and the broad zoning of the site has been done keeping in
mind all the site constraints.

Pradip Sen
Creation
Although the design of the institute is very modern a conscious effort has been made to fuse into the
concept some of the local influences. The curved facade of the library block in the academic black will
have sculptures, replicated from Khandagiri caves, in stone embedded into the facade. As one views the
academic block, one sees a modern design reinforced with the traditional art of the culturally rich state of
Orissa. The beauty of the sculptures leaves the viewer speechless as one is reminded of the rich culture
and history of the state.

 Pradip Sen
Interactive zones where students can spill out, unwind or just be inspired are a very essential part of
campus design. A lot of attention has been paid to the spatial quality of the central plaza as it will be the
biggest and most popular interactive node of the campus. Other smaller zones have been provided at
nodal points. The central stepped plaza has been designed using solid laterite blocks which are locally
available in Orissa. The water court at the centre acts as a natural exhaust cooling the air passing over it
making the middle court a solace in the hot summer, providing relief from the hot and sultry tropical
climate.

 Pradip Sen
There is a strong visual link between the hostel block and the academic block by a shaded walkway
which eventually becomes the central plaza of the academic block. The academic block acts as a buffer
between the hostels and faculty residences, making it easy accessible from both. The campus is to be
built in 3 phases and the planning has been done such that while phase 2 & 3 are being built there is no
interference with the phase 1 structures. Keeping in mind the extreme summer temperatures, the
structures have been designed and oriented on site to minimize heat gain and reduce use of
electromechanical energy.

 Pradip Sen
The site is situated 14kms away from the city centre and is in a barren and undeveloped area on the
outskirts of Bhubaneswar. A strong vertical axis in the form of a tower as a feature element has been
designed, with a visibility from 3kms away, making it a landmark in the surrounding areas. Ah to build, to
build! That is the noblest of all the arts! said Henry W. Longfellow and we whole heartedly agree.

 Pradip Sen
This design is an attempt to build that which has a strong spatial quality which contains and stimulates a
person, to fuse past tradition with the norms of the present. As famous architect Frank Gehry said
Architecture should speak for its time and place, but yearn for timelessness, this design is an attempt to
do just that.