NAME ANOOP SHEKAR

DATE OF BIRTH 04 JUNE 1986

NATIONALITY INDIAN

ADDRESS M24 CHIKKAVEERANNA ROAD BANNIMANTAP MYSORE 570015 KARNATAKA INDIA

PHONE +91 8768247632

+91 8212491398

EMAIL VALIDREASON44@YAHOO.CO.IN

VALIDREASON44@GMAIL.COM

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATION BACHELORS OF ARCHITECTURE [B.ARCH] 2003 -12

COLLEGE SIDDAGANGA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY TUMKUR KARNATAKA INDIA

UNIVERSITY VISWESHWARAIAH TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY BELGAUM INDIA

INTERNSHIP SHILPALAYA ASSOCIATES 2007 - 08 HYDERABAD ANDHRA PRADESH INDIA

JUNIOR ARCHITECT L&S ARCHITECTS 2010 - 12 BANGALORE KARNATAKA INDIA

LEUZINGER & SAVERI

ASSOCIATE ARCHITECT PP ARCHITECTS 2012 - 14 GANGTOK SIKKIM INDIA

PRASHANT PRADHAN

EXTRA-CURRICULAR

MONTAINEERING GRADE A BASIC MOUNTAINEERING COURSE 2013 HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINEERING INSTITUTE DARJEELING INDIA
SERBAN THANG LA 4220 M LADAKH INDIA
RHENOCK PEAK 5040 M SIKKIM INDIA
KHARDUNG LA 5650 M LADAKH INDIA

FOOTBALL SIKKIM STATE LEAGUE B DIVISION 2013

CONTENTS

CURRICULUM VITAE

WALKABOUT
PRINCIPAL GEORG LUEZINGER

PARTNER SAVERI

JUNIOR ARCHITECTS ANOOP SHEKAR

NAVEEN SELVARAJAN

ANJA FUGERT

EEPSITA DAS

HARSHAVARDAN KAMBALE

VAISHNAVI P

INTERNS LUMEN MASCHARENAS

SHRUTI V
HEADSTART LEARNING CENTER
CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA

L&S + ANOOP SHEKAR [JUNIOR ARCHITECT]

STR CONSULTANTS CRUTHI CONSULTANTS BANGALORE KARNATAKA

MATERIALS REINFORCED CEMENT CONCRETE BLOCK MASONRY

THE HEADSTART LEARNING CENTER IS AN ALTERNATIVE STUDY METHOD SCHOOL IN CHENNAI. THE DESIGN OF
THE STRUCTURE WAS DEFINED AND DIRECTED BY THE CURRICULUM OF THE SCHOOL WHERE A COURTYARD
TECHNIQUE IS IN USE WHERE THE TEACHER AND THE STUDENT INHABIT THE SAME SPACES IN AN
ENVIRONMENT OF COLLABORATIVE LEARNING. THEREFORE THE BUI LDING P LAYS AN ACTIVE ROLE AS A
TEACHER AND STUDENT CONTRIBUTING TO THE EDUCATION OF ALL. THE CONCEPT WAS TO INCLUDE A
COURTYARD AROUND WHICH THE CLASSROOMS ARE ARRANGED TO ADDRESS THIS INCLUSIVE AGENDA. THE
COURTYARD IS ALSO THE SPACE TO GATHER IDEAS AND CONCEPTS FOR FUTURE DISCUSSIONS AND EXCHANGE
OF INFORMATION BETWEEN THE VARIOUS CLASSROOMS. THE MATERIAL WAS INITIALLY CHOSEN TO BE
EXPOSED BRICK AND EXPOSED RCC BUT HAD TO BE CHANGED TO TERRACOTTA CLADDING MAINLY DUE
LIMITED AVAILABILITY OF BRICKS AND INSULATION PURPOSES. THE EXPOSED CONCRETE THOUGH REMAINED
AND PROVIDES THE SCHOOL WITH A UNIQUE CHARACTER FOR THE REGION WHERE IT IS NOT A COMMON
FINISHED BUILDING MATERIAL. THE CLASSROOMS ARE POROUS SPACES , SCREENED BY TERRACOTTA JAALIS
THAT ARE ACTUALLY BUILDING BLOCKS SLICED TO FORM A MORTAR JOINED SCREEN WALL. THEY ALSO
CONTAIN STABILISING RCC MEMBERS WHICH WERE CAST INSITU . THERE ARE 6 CLASSROOMS ARRANGED
AROUND THE CIRCULAR CORRID OR THAT ARE HELD UP BY CIRCULAR COLUMNS ON EACH FLOOR FOR TWO
FLOORS . THE UPPER FLOOR IS ACCESSED BY TWO STAIRCASES, ONE SPIRAL STAIRCASE WITHIN THE
COURTYARD’S CIRCULAR CUT-OUT AND ANOTHER IN THE ‘SNAKE BLOCK’ AS IT IS CALLED FOR ITS SERPENTINE
SHAPE WHICH HOUSES THE OFFICES, ART ROOM, TOILETS AND THE LABORATORIES. IT ALSO PROVIDES THE
MAIN ACCESS THROUGH THE CORRIDOR CONNECTING THE PRIMARY ENTRANCE TO THE REST OF THE BUILDING
.
THE CORRIDOR FORMS A COLONNADE SERENADED WITH CIRCULAR COLUMNS LI KE MUSICAL NOTES ALTERNATING BETWEEN RATIOS TO P ROVIDE A VISUAL SWEEP. THE MAIN ENTRANCE STAIRCASE FOR THE CIRCULAR CORRIDOR OR THE
‘RING CORRIDOR’ AS IT HAS BEEN CHRISTENED BY THE STUDENTS OF THE SCHOOL IS AT THE MIDPOINT OF THE CORRIDOR SEPARATING THE OFFICE SPACES AND THE LABORATORIES AND ANCILLARY ROOMS. IT LOOKS UP TO THE SKY ALSO
ROOFED WITH A SKYLIGHT KEPT OPEN T O THE ELEMENTS . IT OFFERS A PICTURE WINDOW FOR THE STUDENTS TO PROCLAIM A LITTLE PIECE OF THE SKY EVERYDAY BEFORE CLASS. THE EXPOSED CONCRETE IS THE ONLY ORNAMENTATION
INVITING STUDENTS TO TOUCH AND FEEL THE TEXTURE OF IT ALSO LETTING THEM EXPERIENCE THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS ITSELF WHICH THE ARCHITECTS FEEL IS A CONTINUOUS PROCESS WHICH CONTINUES LONG AFTER THE BUILDING
IS FINISHED AS THE BUILDING AGES AND TRANSFORMS INTO A NEW ENTITY. THE SURFACE TREATMENT OR CLADDING ALSO ADHERES TO THIS CONCEPT OF AGING GRACEFULLY AND INVITING NATURE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE
ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROCESS, WHICH WILL SERVE AS AN EDUCATION TO THE INHABITANTS OF THE BUILDING AS WELL. TREES HAVE BEEN PLANTED ALL AROUND THE BUILDING AND WILL NEED A FEW YEARS TO BEGIN TO OFFER
SHADE AND RESPITE FROM SOME OF THE GLARE FROM THE UNRELENTING SUN OF SOUTHERN INDIA. THE CLASSROOMS AND LABS ALSO HAVE OTHER OPENINGS TO FACILITATE CROSS-VENTILATION AND ARE FIXED WITH WHITE UPVC
WINDOWS WHICH WERE DETERMINED TO BE THE MOST EFFICIENT SOLUTIONS IN TERMS OF HEAT AND SOUND INSULATION. THE MICRO OPENINGS OF THE TERRACOTTA JAALI THOUGH ARE THE BEST SOURCE OF COOL AIR AS THEY
INCREASE THE WIND VELOCITY THROUGH THE VENTURI EFFECT. THE BUILDING IS COVERED ON THE TOPMOST LEVEL WITH A REINFORCED CON CRETE SLAB AND ALSO HAS A SECOND LAYER OF A STEEL SUPPORTED SLOPING ROOF WHICH
ACTS AS ADDITIONAL INSULATION . THE CAVITY IS POPULATED WITH INSULATION FOAM TO FURTHER THE EFFECTS. THE INSPIRATION FOR THE BUILDING WAS PROCURED FROM THE HOT AND DRY CLIMATE OF RAJASTHAN WHERE THE AIR
IS INVITED INTO THE BUILDING THROUGH ORNAMENTAL SCREENS OF TERRACOTA OR STONE COOLING IT DU RING THE PROCESS OF THE JOURNEY. THE MATERIAL USED FOR THE SCREEN STARTED OUT AS A 400 X 200 X 100 MM BUILDING
BLOCK WHICH WAS INTO 4 100 MM THICK BLOCK BY SAW CUTTERS PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CAVITIES IN THE BLOCKS WERE ORIGINALLY IN PLACE FOR REINFORCEMENT AND FORM THE REPETITIVE PATTERN WHICH LENDS
IT TO THE LIGHT STREAMING ON TO THE WHITE WALLS AND BLACK FLOORS. NONE OF THE REINFORCED CONCRETE MEMBERS ARE PLASTERED THROUGH OUT THE BUILDING HEN CE ADDING TO THE TEXTURES CREATED WITH THE PLAY OF
DIFFERENT MATERIALS AND NATURAL COLOURS ACROSS THE VISUAL LANDSCAPE OF THE BUILDING. THE JAALIS ARE ESSENTIALLY POSITIONED INTO OR AT THE EDGE OF A BOX WINDOW ON TWO SIDES OF THE CLASSROOM WHICH
ESSENTIALLY IS A BRISE SOLEIL, A SOURCED INSPIRATION FROM THE BUILDINGS AND PLANNING PROJECTS OF LE CORBUSIER IN AHMADABAD AND CHANDIGARH OF THE 1950’S WHERE THE CLIMATES ARE SIMILAR TO THAT AT THIS SITE.
THE PRIMARY BLOCK AND THE SNAKE BLOCK HAVE ALREADY BEEN CONSTRUCTED AND ARE PART OF PHASE 1 OF OPERATIONS FOR THE SCHOOL. AN ADDITIONAL BLOCK WILL BE ADDED IN PHASE 2 WHICH WILL HOUSE A SPECIAL
SCHOOL FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLED CHILDREN WHO WILL GO THROUGH THEIR LEARNING EXPERIENCE ALONG WITH THE REST OF THE STUDENTS AND BE OF ASSISTANCE TO THEM AS WELL WHEN REQUIRED. THE NEW BLOCK WILL
CONTAIN A RAMP TO ACCESS THE UPPER FLOORS AS WELL S HAVE AN ELEVATOR. IT WILL ALSO CONTAIN A PRIMARY HEALTH CENTER AND ANCILLARY FACILITIES. THE CLASSROOMS CONSIST OF 3 INDIVIDUAL BLOCKS OF FOUR
CLASSROOMS DISTRIBUTED IN TWO FLOORS ARRANGED AROUND THE CI RCU LAR CORRIDOR WHICH ALSO CONNECTS TO THE ‘SNAKE BLOCK ON BOTH LEVELS. THE PRIMARY BLOCK CONNECTS TO THIS BLOCK AT THREE LOCATION ON
EACH FLOOR, ONE OF THEM BEING THE MAIN TAPERING ENTRANCE AROUND THE STAIRCASE IN THE LOWER FLOOR AND THROUGH IT ON THE FIRST FLOOR. THE TWO OTHER CONNECTIONS OR BRIDGES ON THE FIRST FLOOR IS TO
ACCESS THE TOILETS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS ON EITHER SIDE. THE GROUND FLOOR CLASSROOM ARE INHABITED BY THE STUDENTS OF THE FIRST SIX GRADES AND THE UPPER FLOOR IS BY THE OLDER CHILDREN. THE SPACES BETWEEN THE
BLOCK ARE PLANTED WITH VEGETABLE AND FLOWER YIELDING P LANTS WHICH ARE USED IN LESSONS AND EXERCISES TOO. THE UPPER FLOORS IN THE SNAKE BLOCK HAS THE LABORATORIES AND HENCE ARE ACCESSED BY THIS LEVEL
DIRECTLY FOR CLASSES. THE LABORATORIES HAVE VERTICAL FINS THAT ACT AS SUN BREAKERS WITH INSET WHITE UPVC WINDOWS. THE LAB WINDOWS OPEN UP TO THE VIEW OF THE JAALI SCREENS OF THE PRIMARY BLOCK FORMING
A CONTINUOUS VISUAL SWEEP AND ON OPP OSITE SIDE ARE THE COLUMNS THAT FOLLOW THE SAME RHYTHM AS THE LOWER FLOOR CORRIDORS TO FORM THE COLONNADE. THE PRIMARY BLOCK CLASSROOMS HAVE AN L SHAPED
BEAM ON THE PERIPHERY WHICH ARE USED FOR SEATING THE STUDENTS DURING CLASS OR DURING ANY OF TEHIR NUMEROUS WORKSHOP ACTIVITIES WHICH ARE MOSTLY ART CENTRIC AND HENCE THE SCREENS OFFER A VERY
STIMULATING BACKGROUND FOR THEIR ACTIVITIES INFLUENCING TEHIR EVERY STEP IN THEIR EDUCATION. ON THE FIRST FLOOR THE BEAM IS C SHAPED PROVIDING THE SAME SEATING ARRANGMENT FOR THE OLDER CHILDREN WHO
MIGHT CHOOSE TO UTILIZE THE SPACE DIFFERENTLY. THE C SHAPED BEAM APPEARS N THE EXTERIOR IN THE FORM OF A COVE WHICH CAN BE PAINTED WITH MURALS BY ARTISTS OF THE AREA WHO ARE COMMISSIONED TO DO SO OR
THE STUDENTS THEMSELVES AS IT WILL ENRICH THEIR EXPE RIENCE THROUGH CONTRIBUTING I N THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE SCHOOL AND LEAVE SEMINAL WORKS BEHIND FOR FUTURE STUDENTS TO UNDE RSTAND, APPRECIATE AND
GET INSPIRED BY. THE SCHOOL IS ABUNDANT WITH BLANK WALLS DIVIDING SPACES IN ALL THE BLOCKS ESPECIALLY THE RING CORRIDOR WHE RE TWO SEMICIRCULAR WALLS HAVE BEEN INSERTED TO BE SERENADED BY MURALS AND
PAINTINGS BY STUDENTS. ALL THE BLANK, WHITE SURFACES ARE OPEN TO ANY STUDENT TO CONTRIBUTE THROUGH ARTISTIC EXPRESSION ON THEIR OWN OR ARRANGED WORKSHOPS. THE ARCHITECTS BELIEVE THE ARCHITECTURE IS
NEVER STAGNANT BUT EVERCHANGING AND MORPHING THROUGH AND BY THE HAND OF THE INHABITANTS AND WILL ENRI CH THEIR EXPERIEN CE OF TIME SPENT WITHIN THE BUI LDING. THEREFORE EVERY MEMBER OF THE DESIGN
PROCESS , THE ARCHITECT , THE STUDENTS , THE TEACHERS , OTHER STAFF MEMBERS , PARENTS AND NATURE AS WELL INFLUENCE AND SCULPT THE FUTURE OF THE BUILDING AND IN TURN THE LIVES OF EACH OF THE PARTICIPANTS.
KAMAL SOLAR PANEL FACTORY THE SOLAR PANEL FACTORY IN BANGALORE WAS ENVISIONED TO BE A LOW CARBON FOOTPRINT BUI LDING AND THEREFORE THE OPTION OF RAMMED EARTH WALLS AS A NON LOAD BEARING CURTAIN WAS EXPLORED AND RESEARCHED. THE DESIGN FOR THE BUILDING IS QUITE SIMPLE AS A
LARGE DOUBLE HEIGHT SPACE FOR PRODUCTION OF THE PANELS WAS REQUIRED. THE STRUCTURE IS AN REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAME WITH RAMMED EARTH INFILL WALLS WITH VERTICAL SLIT WINDOWS WITH ARE CENTRALLY PIVOTED TO SWIVEL AND PROVIDE VENTILATION. THE
BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA RAMMED EARTH WALLS ARE STABILISED WITH INSITU CAST 100 MM THICK RCC BANDS HORIZONTALLY AT THE MIDPOINT AND AS A LINTEL AS WELL AS COPING ABOVE WHICH THERE IS A HORIZONTAL FIXED ALUMINIUM VENTILATOR FOR LIGHT. THE BUILDING CONSISTS OF A LARGE SHOP

FLOOR OF 1000 METER SQUARE, WHICH IS THE PRIMARY SPACE. WITHIN THIS VOLUME A STEEL FRAME MEZZANINE WAS CREATED TO HOUSE THE OFFICE AREAS, LOBBIES AND DISPLAY AREAS. THE BUILDING THREE POINTS OF ENTRY, THE FIRST ONE BEING A LOADING DECK ACCESSED

L&S + ANOOP SHEKAR [JUNIOR ARCHITECT] THROUGH A PLATFORM OPENING TOWARDS A ROLLING SHUTTER THROUGH WHICH THE PRODUCTS MOVE IN AND OUT OF THE SHOPFLOOR. THE SECOND IS A PEDESTRIAN ENTRY FOR OFFICE STAFF AND THE DIRECTOR T THE REAR OF THE BUILDING, AND THE THIRD ONE IS A SERVICE ENTRY.
THE ROOF IS A STEEL VAULTED ROOF SUPPORTED BY THE RCC COLUMNS. ALL THE CONCRETE WORK IS EXPOSED AS IS CONSISTENT WITH ALL THE WORK THAT THE FIRM DESIGNS. THE RAMMED EARTH WALLS HAD TO BE EXTENSIVELY RESEARCHED AS THIS WAS A NEW CONCEPT FOR
STR CONSULTANTS CRUTHI CONSULTANTS BANGALORE KARNATAKA
EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE AREA ESPECIALLY THE CONSTRUCTION STAFF. HENCE A TRAINING PERIOD WAS ARRANGED FOR THE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT FIRM WHICH INVOLVED CONSTRUCTION OF SAMPLE WALLS AT SITE WITH DIFFERENT RATIOS OF SOIL, AGGREGATE AND WATER

MATERIALS REINFORCED CEMENT CONCRETE RAMMED EARTH STEEL COMBINATIONS. SOIL AT SITE TURNED OUT BE UNSUITABLE FOR RAMMED EARTH WALLS , HENCE EARTH FROM A NEARBY RIVERBED HAD TO BE PROCURED. DIFFERENT SOIL TYPES FROM OTHER LOCATIONS WERE EXPERIMENTED WITH TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED COLOUR AND CONSISTENCY.
RAMMED EARTH CONSTRUCTION IS PRIMARILY USED IN THIS REGION IN THE RURAL AREAS TO CONSTRUCT LOAD BEARING WALLS WITH LARGE OVERHANGS FOR SMALL RESIDENCES
BUT WITH COMPRESSION NATURALLY ARRIVING FROM THE ROOF OF THE STRUCTURE OR THE UPPER FLOORS THE WALLS GROW STRONGER OVER THE YEARS BUT STILL NEED
REGULAR MAINTENANCE CARRIED OUT BY THE INHABITANTS. IN OUR PROJECT THE CHALLENGE WAS TO PERFORM THE COMPRESSION REQUIRED TO ACHIEVE THE HARDNESS BY
RAMMING IT WITH METAL RAMMERS WITH WOODEN HANDLE S CARRIED OUT BY THE CONSTRUCTION STAFF AND WOULD COMPRESS FURTHER ON LY DUE TO THE SELF WEIGHT OF
THE WALL. THE SHUTTERING WAS DESIGNED ESPECIALLY FOR THE PROJECT BY THE FIRM AS THE CONSTRUCTION FIRM HAD NO PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE IN THE TECHNIQUE. THE
FORMWORK WAS OF STEEL BOX SECTION FRAME WITH PLY BOARD AS BACKING OF TOTAL SIZE 1200 MM X 2400 MM WAS PLACED AND BOLTED IN PLACE WITH THE COLUMN AND A
PCC RUNNER GUIDED BY TWO SLABS OF BLACK KADAPA STONE WHICH ALSO FULFILLED THE ROLE OF SKIRTING ONCE THE SHUTTERING WAS TAKEN OFF. THE FORMWORK ONCE
PLACED WAS FILLED WITH A 150 MM LAYER OF PREMIXED SOIL, AGGREGATE AND SAND AND THEN COMPRESSED USING THE RAMMER TO A THICKNESS OF 75 MM. THIS PROCESS
WAS CONTINUED UNTIL THE DESIRED HEIGHT THAT IS IN THIS CASE 2400 MM WAS ACHIEVED. AT THE HALFWAY POINT A 100 MM LAYER OF SOIL MIXED WITH CEMENT WAS ADDED
AND COMPRESSED TO FORM A STABILISING COMPONENT. ON CE DONE, THE SHUTTERING WAS REMOVED AND THE GALVANIZED IRON SHEET FORMWORK FRO HE RCC BANDS WERE
PLACED ON TOP AND CAST. THE PROCESS WAS REPEATED FOR THE NEXT LAYER UNTIL THE TOP OF THE COLUMN WAS REACHED. MANY SUCH SAMPLES WERE CREATED AT SITE WITH
DIFFERENT SOIL COMPOSITIONS AND RATIOS TO ARRIVE AT THE DESIRED RESULTS. THE PROCESS WAS HIGHLY TIME CONSUMING, BUT THE CLIENT WAS ALSO CONVINCE AT THE
LONG TERM ADVANTAGES, MAINLY THE ABSENCE OF REPLASTERING AND PAINTING THAT USUALLY ACCOMPANIES ORDINARY BLOCK AND MORTAR WALLS. THE OVERHANG HAD TO
BE SLIGHTLY LARGER IN ORDE R TO PROTECT THE SURFACE OF THE WALL FROM DIRECT RAINWATER AND CONSEQUENTLY EROSION. THE FINAL PRODU CT WOULD BE COATED WITH A
BIODEGRADABLE PROTECTIVE FILM APPLIED THROUGH SPRAY CALLED ZICOSIL. THE COLOUR AND THE TEXTURE FINALLY PRODU CED WAS AESTHETICALLY PLEASING AND CARRIED THE
CONCEPT OF LOW CARBON FOOTPRINT AND ECOFRIENDLY MEASURES SUCCESSFULLY AND WOULD BE A MARKETING ACCOMPANIMENT FOR THE PRODUCTS OF THE FACTORY ALSO.
PRINCIPAL PRASHANT PRADHAN

ASSOCIATE ARCHITECTS ANOOP SHEKAR

ZAMYANG BHUTIA

JUNIOR ARCHITECTS HISHAY DOMA BHUTIA

HUSAIN VAGHJIPURWALA

HARSH PATEL

PRIYANKA AGARWAL

INTERNS ROJAN THOMAS

SURBHI KAMBOJ

NIKITA VERMA

KSHITIJ S

SHASHANK S

MAAZ DIXIT

RAJVI PRAJAPATI

HARSHIL AMIN

CHAITANYA PATEL

DRASHTI PATEL

NEHA AGARWAL

NIRALI MODH

BHOOMI PANCHAL

NIKET MISTRY
SHAH RESIDENCE
AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT, INDIA

PPA + ANOOP SHEKAR [ASSOCIATE ARCHITECT]

TEAM
ARCHITECTS HISHAY DOMA BHUTIA PRIYANKA AGARWAL
INTERNS CHAITANYA PATEL VINAYAK GUPTA MAAZ DIXIT

MATERIALS REINFORCED CEMENT CONCRETE STEEL AAC BLOCK MASONRY

THE SHAH RESIDENCE OWES ITS TRIANGULAR SHAPE IN PLAN TO THE SITE ITSELF WHICH PROVIDES
INSPIRATION AS WELL AS DIRECTION FOR THE DESIGN PROCESS. THE BUILDING WAS SCULPTED FROM
A TRIANGULAR BLOCK, INU NDATING IT WITH CAVITIES AND PLANAR UNDULATIONS TO BESTOW IT
WITH TEXTURE AND SCALE. THE RESIDENCE WAS DESIGNED FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE WITH AN
ELEVATOR FOR WHEELCHAIR ACCESS TO ALL FLOORS. THE GROUND FLOOR DRAWING ROOM AND
THE LOUNGE EMBRACE THE ACUTE ANGLES ON EITHER SIDE FORMING A GLASS CAPSULE FACING AND
INVITING SUNLIGHT FROM THE NORTH. THE VIEW OF THE NEIGHBORING WOOD ENTERTAINS GUESTS
IN THE LIVING ROOM COLLABORATING WITH THE DOUBLE HEIGHT SPACE WITH THE SUSPENDED
ARTWORK AND TEXTURED WALLS. THE LOUNGE IS DESIGNED TO BE A FAMILY AREA WITH A RIBBON
WINDOW PROVIDING A FRAMED VIEW OF THE LANDSCAPING. THE LIVING AND DINING SPACES OPEN
UP TO THE DECK AND LANDSCAPING THROUGH LARGE W OODEN AND G LASS SLIDING DOORS
MAKING THE SPACE CONTINUOUS AND IDEAL FOR OUTDOOR GATHERINGS. THE DECK EXPANDS
ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE HOUSE PROVIDING A CONTINOUS WALKING ACCESS AROUND THE
BUILDING, ALSO BEING A SIT-OUT FOR SMALLER GATHERINGS. THE KITCHEN AS IN MOST INDIAN
HOMES HAS AN ENTRANCE FROM THE BACK TH ROUGH THE SERVANTS QUARTERS.THE RIGHT ANGLE
AT THE BACK HOUSES THE HELICAL STAIRCASE, AN INDEPENDENT FUNCTIONAL SCULPTURE UNITING
ALL THE LEVELS. THE STAIRCASE LEADS TO THE COMMON STUDY IN THE FIRST FLOOR FROM WHERE
THE SON AND THE DAUGHTER ACCESS THEIR BEDROOMS. THE SON’S BED ROOM HAS VISUAL ACCESS
INTO THE DOUBLE HEIGHT LIVING SPACE. THE WINDOWS ARE INSET TO PROVIDE SHADE FROM THE
SUN AND THE RAIN AS WELL AS TO REPLENISH THE FLAT EXTERIOR WITH TEXTU RE. THE DAUGHTER’S
ROOM HAS A DOUBLE HEIGHT BALCONY WHICH TRANSLATES INTO A LARGE CAVITY IN THE
PYRAMIDAL SCULPTURE THAT IS THE BUILDING. THE SECOND FLOOR HOUSES THE MASTER BEDROOM
ON THE EAST AND THE GUEST BEDROOM ON THE WEST. THE AREA DOW N THE MIDDLE FACING
NORTH IS A HOME THEATER AND A COMMON FAMILY ACTIVITY AREA. THE MASTER BEDROOM
OPENS TO A BALCONY ONTO THE EAST PROVIDING A VIEW OF THE WOODS. THE STAIRCASE RISES
ABOVE THE REST OF THE BUILDING AS A PYRAMIDALVOLUME TO ACCESS THE TERRACE AND ALSO TO
PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR THE WATER RESERVOIR. THE TERRACE IS FOR OUTDOOR P RIVATE SOCIAL
GATHERINGS OR CAN FULFILL THE ROLE OF AN OASIS FROM THE HOMOGENEOUS AMBIENCE OF THE
GROUND FLOOR LANDSCAPED AREA DURING A SOCIAL ACTIVITY. THE SITE IS SURROUNDED BY
FLOWERING TREES FROM NEIGHBORING SITES THAT WILL EFFECTIVELY SHADE THE BUILDING FROM
THE HARSH SUMMER SUN OF AHMEDABAD ALLOWING THE WINDOWS TO OFFER BEAUTIFUL,
UNINTERRUPTED AND CONSISTENT OPENINGS INTO THE COLOUR SCAPE ALONG THE PERIPHERY.

DRAWINGS AT TOP OF THE PAGE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT GROUND, FIRST AND SECOND FLOOR PLANS
THE SITE IS SITUATED IN A GATED COMMUNITY AND HAS TWO ACCESS ROADS, ONE FROM WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT AND ONE FROM THE
PUBLIC ROAD ON THE N ORTH. A DECISION HAS BEEN TAKEN TO PROVIDE ON LY ONE ACCESS FROM WITHIN THE COMMUNITY FORMING A CUL DE
SAC, HENCE PRESERVING THE PRIVACY OF THE RESIDENCE WHICH IS SURROUNDED BY OTHER BUNGALOWS. THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS HAS
TAKEN A PERIOD OF 1 YEAR AND 6 MONTHS AND WILL NEED A FURTHER 3 MONTHS FOR COMPLETION. THE RCC, MASONRY AND PLASTERING
WORK IS ALREADY COMPLETE AND THE BUILDING IS BEING PREPARED FOR THE INSTALLATION OF WINDOWS AND DOORS AND WILL SOON BE
FOLLOWED BY WALL TREATMENTS AND THEN FLOORING. THE BUILDING COVERS AN AREA OF 150 METERSQUARE AND TOTAL BUILT AREA WOULD
BE 450 METER SQUARE. THE BUILDING PROCESS IS BEING CLOSELY MONITORED BY A CONSTRUCTION MANAGER AND SITE SUPERVISOR WITH
ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE BY THE CLIENTS THEMSELVES AS THE ARCHITECTS PRESENCE AT SITE IS MINIMISED DUE TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE
PRACTICE IN GANGTOK AND THE SITE WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 3000 KMS AWAY. THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND INFORMATION OF THE STRUCTURE
WILL BE UPDATED CONSEQUENTLY DURING ADDITIONAL VISITS TO THE CITY AND SITE IN THE NEAR FUTURE UNTIL COMPLETION OF THE PROJECT.
TOPSEL TOYOTA WORKSHOP + SHOWROOM
SILIGURI, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

PPA + ANOOP SHEKAR [ASSOCIATE ARCHITECT]

TEAM
ARCHITECTS HISHAY DOMA BHUTIA HARSH PATEL HUSAIN VAGHJIPURWALA
INTERNS ROSIE CHETHRI TASHI BHUTIA ROJAN THOMAS SURABHI KAMBOJ SHASHANK S

STR CONSULTANTS MNC CONPOL KOLKOTA WEST BENGAL

MEP CONSULTANTS RESONANCE CONSULTANTS KOLKOTA WEST BENGAL

MATERIALS REINFORCED CEMENT CONCRETE STEEL BRICK MASONRY

THE TOYOTA WORKSHOP AND USED CAR SHOWROOM WILL SERVE AS AN EXTENSION TO THE EXISTING SHOWROOM
FACILITY IN SILIGURI. THE CLIENT HAD REQUESTED FOR A STRUCTURE THAT IS VERY AWARE OF ITS FUNCTION
ANDEASILY RECOGNIZABLE FOR IT. THE BUILDING WOULD HAVE TO ADDRESS ITSELF SO AS TO DIRECT CONSUMERS
TOWARDS IT WITH SPECIFIC INTENT. THE DESIGN WAS CONCEPTUALIZED TO RESEMBLE IN ESSENCE THE AIR INLET OF
A CARBURETOR HENCE GIVING BIRTH TO THE STRONG VERTICALLINES OF THE FINS ROTATED TO 45 DEGREES TOSHADE
THE WORKSHOP AREA FROM THE UNFORGIVING BENGAL SUN FROM THE SOUTH. THE BREIS SOLEIL HELPS THE
BUILDING PROCLAIM ITS FUNCTION EFFECTIVELY. THEY WERE CAST IN SITU ONTO A REINFORCED CONCRETE SILL
SLAB.THE BUILDING IS A WORKSHOP ON THE GROUND AND THE FIRST FLOOR GIVING WAY TO THE USED CAR
SHOWROOMON THE SECOND FLOOR WHICH ALSO SIGNALS THE FINS MORPHING INTO THE LARGE ALUMINUM
SLIDING GLASS WINDOWS TO FACILITATE DISPLAY OF THE CARS. THERE IS A CAR LIFT ON THE ON THE SOUTH-WEST
CORNER WHICH ALLOWS PARKING ON THE TERRACE AND ACCESS FOR THE CARS T O ALL LEVELS. THE MEZZANINE ON
THE GROUND FLOOR HOUSES THE CUSTOMER LOUNGE WHICH OVERLOOKS THE WORKSHOP AREA ALLOWING THE
CUSTOMERS TO WATCH THEIR CARS WHI LE BEING W ORKED ON. THE MEZZANINE ALSO PROVIDES SPACE FOR
TRAINING TECHNICIANS, A TECH LOUNGE, CANTEEN, KITCHEN AND TOILETS. THE FINS NOT ONLY SHADE THE
WORKSHOP FROM THE SUN BUT ALSO MAKES SURE THE SPACE IS WELL CROSS-VENTILATED BY DIRECTING COOL AIR IN
AND DISPELLING WARM AIR OUT. THE INTERIORSPACES ARE PURELY FUNCTIONAL AND ADHERE TO THE EFFICIENCY
CHARTS OF TOYOTA . ALL THE FLOORS HAVE LARGECOLUMN-FREE SPANS ENSURING FREE MOVEMENT OF THE
VEHICLES IN AND OUT OF THE FACILITY. THE GROUND FLOOR HAS SPECIALLY DESIGNED LARGE SPAN SLIDING D OORS
AT THE ENTRY AND EXIT OF THE BUILDING CREATING A THOROUGH FARE. THE VEHICLE, AFTER THE SERVICE
MAINTENANCE IS TAKEN TO THE FIRST FLOOR THROUGH THE CAR LIFT AND PARKED TO BE CLAIMED LATER BY THE
CUSTOMER. THE CONSTRUCTION PROCESS HAS TAKEN A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR AND THREE MONTHS AND WOULD
REQUIRE ATLEAST A FURTHER SIX MONTHS TO BE COMPLETED IN ALL ASPECTS AND BE PREPARED FOR OCCUPATION.

DRAWINGS AT TOP OF THE PAGE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT GROUND FLOOR P LAN, FIRST FLOOR AND SECOND FLOOR.
BELOW MEZZANINE FLOOR PLAN SHOWING GROUND FLOOR WORKSHOP, CANTEEN,TECH LOUNGE & TRAINNING AREA
IMAGES CLOCKWISE FROM TOP RCC FINS FROM EXTERIOR, 3D ILLUSTRATION SOUTH-EAST CORNER, RCC FINS FROM
INTERIOR, VIEW FROM NATIONAL HIGHWAY, VIEW FROM WEST CORNER OF EXISTING FACILITY, VIEW FROM THE TOP.
.

DRAWINGS AT TOP OF THE PAGE CLOCKWISE SOUTH ELEVATION, EAST ELEVATION, SECTION THROUGH CAR ELEVATOR, SECTION THROUGH PASSENGER ELEVATOR.
IMAGES CLOCKWISE FROM TOP VIEW OF BUILDING FROM SOUTH-EAST CORNER, VIEW OF SOUTH ELEVATION, GROUND FLOOR INTERIOR, FINS ON THE FIRST FLOOR.
INDIA WALKABOUT
4000 KMS WALK ACROSS INDIA
2012

WALK 3986 KMS

TRANSPORT 1822 KMS

BANGALORE START 06/01/2012

CHENNAI
HYDERABAD
MUMBAI
AHMEDABAD
BHOPAL
NEW DELHI +
SHIMLA
AMRITSAR
JAMMU
SRINAGAR
LEH END 30/05/2012

JOURNEY BACK 26/06/2012

HIGHEST ALTITUDE
5359 M KHARDUNG LA