Contemporary Architecture

Submitted by :- Lilith Kumar

 1916 born.
 1942 studied architecture under
Claude Batley at J.J. School of
Art .
 1945 in Harvard for Master
degree, with a thesis on science
laboratories.
 Worked under Walter Gropius.
 1947 appointed as the Chief
Architect of CSIR.
 President IIA (1974-75)
 Padma Shree in 1976
 Co-Authored book “Campus Design in India”.
 winner of 1985 IIA “BABU RAO MHATRE GOLD MEDAL”.
 Great Masters Award from JK Industries Ltd. In 1993.
 Was also a part of the jury on the competition for the Indira
Gandhi National Center for Arts, along with B.V. Doshi.
 IIT KANPUR Harivallabdas House, Doodhsagar Dairy
Ahemdabad ,Mehsana

Nehru Science Center, National Science ISKCON Temple, East

Mumbai Center, New Delhi of Kailash, Delhi
 Established in 1959
 Located in 15 km west of Kanpur City, Uttar pradesh.
 Area is about 1055 acres.
 The important objective of the program of this institute was intellectual and
cultural stimulation.
 The building is harmonious in character.
 The site is flat with the canal on one side and transportation route on the other
side.
 Kanvinde was an architect of second generation of contemporary Indian
architecture (1950 – 1980). during this era modernism was attractive to
developing societies trying to break from the memories of European colonialism
that the older style still carried.
 He believed that a grid of columns forming a matrix giving structural and spatial
aspect would turn a design more sophisticated and faceted. He believed in the
science of Vaastushastra.
 The Academic Complex is located centrally at the site and free from traffic noise.
 Pedestrian and vehicular traffic are completely segregated.
 The academic complex comprises a library , lecture halls , faculty building , a
computer center, workshops and area for cultural facilities.
 It is open form with linking corridors and space penetrating through , thus
providing shelter from the extremely hot sun and also allow breezes.
 The library forms an important part of the whole complex.
 It is a framed structure based on grid.
 The whole building is built in R.C.C with a brick facade.
 the whole structure gives a very beautiful play of shad and shadow.
 All these building components are interlinked by detached 2 levelled corridors
which is not only the facility for cross-ventilation but also allow for future growth.
 An underground service tunnel runs along these corridors.
 The external surfaces, whether of concrete or brick are left exposed to obviate
recurring maintenance costs and to enhance the aesthetic appeal .
 The structural system consist of reinforced concrete frames and slabs with
available brick curtain wall.
 The residential campus is planned and landscaped with a hope for
environmental freedom.
 Halls of residence, faculty and staff houses and community buildings
surround the central academic area to provide flexibility in movement
and communication.
 Core Pedestrian island which consist of lecture halls surrounded by
landscaping and water body forming the main focus of the campus.
 The academic area is well connected by a long corridor which links all the
major buildings
 The academic area is set up in vicinity of Hostels to provide quick
accessibility to students
 Conventional type of buildings were designed as isolated islands of
departments
 Activities which students and faculties share are designed to encourage
meeting and interaction
 Elevated pedestrian walkway
 Sheltered and yet openness
 Protection from hot sun yet allowing breezes
 In Kanpur, the local availability of high quality brick and the prevalent labour and
construction practices made Kanvinde go for reinforced concrete for structural
frames and brick as infill's .
 Reinforced-concrete post-and-slab construction, with a series of flat slab-floors
and a flat roof-slab carried on concrete columns or posts
 Whole campus is of framed construction.
 Established in 1985.
 Located in Mumbai.
 Area is about 14acres.
 It is the largest Science Centre in the country has a sprawling 8
acres of science park with varieties of plants, trees and shrubs.
 Contemporary museums are forms of open education and they have to meet the
growing demand for more information, more communication and thereby more
activity.
 The complex is worked out of a series of repetitive multidimensional modules.
 In designing the complex , twelve meter column spaces have been introduced
which can be sub-divided as desired, also artificial lighting to meet the
requirements of exhibition.
 Realizing the climatic conditions of Mumbai, which is mainly humid a forced
ventilation was proposed for physical comfort in all areas.
 The nature of structural system of modular units with mechanical areas is
organized in a way to contribute to aesthetic qualities and character of this
building, also generate excitement amongst the visitors.
 The complex is worked out of a series of repetitive multidimensional modules,
creating a variation of spaces.

 Visitors approaching the museum enter at the second storey atrium through a
landscaped approach. From there they can take a route and visit the exhibit areas
by negotiating one floor.

 At the lowest level, where the lecture hall, the library and the cafeteria area are
located for leisure, half way through the movement from where the visitor scan
return back to the entrance atrium area after completing the tour.
 The building looks interesting when
viewed from all the angles. It
creates a sense of curiosity and
mystery in the minds of the visitors.
 The science museum with its
immense proportions and massing
does not overpower the visitor’s
senses.
 The shot-cretre used gives a rugged
and stark look to the structure;
vertical and horizontal grooves are
introduced.
 The building has few windows
minimising the elevational features
and shafts have been skilfully used
to add interest to the elevation and
have served in animating the
skyline.
 The circulation pattern broadly falls under two basic needs – the movement of
people and that of the exhibits. Visitors enter the main hall on the first floor level
through a flight of steps leading from the landscaped forecourt. From the main
hall they are gradually routed through the exhibition area.
 The circulation route directs the public to the second floor from where they
ascend viewing the exhibits.
 One climbs up to the entrance hall to exit from the stepped bridge.
 Material circulation is a very important aspect of museum design, which is
organised by bringing the material to be stored to the depository in the
basement by a vehicular ramp. The materials used in fabrication are sent to the
workshop. Material movement in the exhibition area is through a large lift in the
central zone. Supplies to the kitchen are also routed through the basement
receiving space.
The exterior surface of the structure, for low maintenance cost, is finished with local
grey stone, grit plaster with grey cement panels created by making grooves on the
grit plaster at certain intervals. The finish, although good in appearance has certain
disadvantages, such as –

1. The grooves left between the panels are not watertight and are a cause of heavy
leakage during the monsoon.

2. Rich mixture of cement has been used to cast large panels which have cracked
due to expansion and contraction. Even these cracks are the cause of monsoon
leakage.

3. The grit plaster used does not hold on R.C.C. surface therefore patches of shot-
crete fallen from a few places spoiling the elevation.
 Since it was a marshy land, pile foundation had to be used. The structural system
is conceived with structural supports placed at 12.0m c/c.
 These supports are made up of hollow 2.3mX2.15m L.C. concrete tube which
functions both as structural components and conceal the air distribution system
and the services.
 Large unobstructed spans were essential for the exhibition halls of the science
centre. Therefore ribbed or waffle slab is used.
 The floor slab consists of 0.9mX0.9m fabricated or pre-cast R.C.C. waffle units.
 Rigid geometrical shapes.
 Unsymmetrical plan.
 sloping facades.
 Rich landscape
 Repetitive multidimensional
modules.
 Kanvinde commemoration volume
Editor:- Sharvey dhongde, chetan sahasrabudhe BNCA publication cell

 http://nehru-centre.org/discovery-of-india/

 http://www.angelfire.com/in4/vikramsaraph/dd/pages/nehruscience.htm

 Mihika Basu "IIT-B, Nehru Science Centre to bring internet to rural schools across
state”

 www.slideshare.com

 www.wikipedia.com