FATEHPUR SIKRI PALACE

UTTAR PRADESH
(1569 CE)
 GEOGRAPHICAL SETTING
Site: The saints hermitage in the village
of Sikri, UP, India

It stands on a ridge, which runs from

north-east to south-west

It is enclosed by an embankment on
three sides while there is an artificial lake
on the fourth side

The city was planned in such a manner

that the ridge was kept reserved for the
royal buildings for security reasons and
the land on the each side was selected
for ordinary people

CLIMATE
Site: The saints hermitage in the village
of Sikri

It stands on a ridge, which runs from

Plan of Fatehpur Sikri north-east to south-west

It is enclosed by an embankment on
three sides while there is an artificial lake
on the fourth side
 SPATIAL SETTING
On the north west side of the hill
is a lake, which is the source of
water for the city

Plan of Fatehpur Sikri

 BUILT FORM
All the main buildings are placed on the
flat terrain on top of the ridge

On the lower level service facilities are

planned which are approached from
lower roads and are interconnected to
the upper floors by step

Plan of Fatehpur Sikri The orientation of the palace and the

mosque are oriented towards the west
while the layout of the rest all buildings
are with the topography

The built masses are of different scales,

Volumes and functions

Visual unity in the construction was

maintained by using red sandstone with
white marble

Plan of the Imperial Palace Complex

 SECTION AA

SECTION BB
3. Diwan-A- Khas A
9. Anup Taloa (private
court)
11.Khwabgah(imperial
apartment)
12. Bath of Turkish Sultana
13. Daftar Khana
15. Sonahara Makan
16. Panch Mahal
18. Jodhabai Palace
(imperial harem

B
B
Natural levels of land were maintained and building linked with
adjoining apartments only by means of ramps, platforms, and
staircases.
A
 BUILT FORM

Plan of the Imperial Palace Complex

 BUILT FORM
LOCATIONS
Positioning of the buildings have their
own axii
But on the larger scale they all are
aligned to the grid with colonnades and
corridors

Spaces are enclosed by cloisters

Plan of Fatehpur Sikri and corridors and for an
envelope for the free standing
structures

Plan of the Imperial Palace Complex

 CIRCULATION
Due to two main phases of construction
for the complex, when the main
buildings were raised and finished,
when passages and corridors where
added to the existing buildings.

The sequential organization of enclosed

open spaces of different sizes and
varying levels of privacy
Due to limited availability of space along
the ridge, the conventional idea of
building isolated structure linked
together by streets was replaced by
cluster organization with visual and
spatial sequence.

2 All the spaces was connected by with

each other instead of streets.

The use of axis to create local symmetry

and balance and dynamic spaces as
opposed to the monotonous, static
spaces. These create interesting
spaces and break the monotony of a
symmetrical space.
3
1- JAMA MOSQUE
2- CARAVANSARAI
3- PALACE

1
 OPEN SPACES
Majority of the space is open
With steps ramps and plazas of
connecting various levels.

Plan of Fatehpur Sikri

Plan of the Imperial Palace Complex

 VEGETATION
Greens dictated the spaces in
form of the courtyard and
forelawns

Lawn area of diwan-e-aam

the edges was shrubs, with
grassed lawn.
Plan of Fatehpur Sikri
Zanana garden has all paved
surface and in between there
is a narrow water channel.

Diwan-e-aam garden is divided

into three khiyabans (paved
walkways) into six plots of
grassed lawn.

Plan of the Imperial Palace Complex

 VEGETATION

Diwan I Aam

This large garden marks the start of

the women's side (roughly, the
west side) of the palace complex. It
adjoins the House of Miriam, and is
north of Jodh Bai's Palace.
 WATER

Water as a designed element is

given less consideration
compared to water for its
functional aspects

Fatehpur has perfect system of

drainage and water supply
Plan of Fatehpur Sikri

The rain water of the mosque

complex was drained into
several tanks and
reservoir.

All the drains were planned in

advance before the actual
construction of the buildings.
The royal complex does not
have reservoir.

All the rainwater diverted to the

char chamad tank (anup
talao).

Plan of the Imperial Palace Complex

 WATER

The control, storage, and use of water is important in both the Hindu and
the Mughal traditions, for spiritual as well as practical reason

The Anup Talao ("Matchless Pool") occupies the southern half of the mardana.
The square platform in the middle of the pool is connected to the courtyard by
bridges, and was probably reserved for Akbar's personal use
RESPONSE TO CLIMATE:
The whole complex is grouped on the ridge---breezes, and SPATIAL ORGANISATION
the buildings are so terraced-----Windward are lower than those on the leeward.
Large courtyards for breeze (down-wind). The built and the open spaces are
All buildings are orientated north/south with their west walls blocked up. connected with each other by
The main place has a north/south orientation and has a large tank on the north, in the direction of Courtyards, Pavilions and
the breeze. Thus the wind could bear the evaporated humidity convective cooling Colonnades
The south side, though deeply shaded had hollow walls, which enhanced their insulating quality.
The rigid geometry is moderated by
natural topography making a sequence
of modulated and interlinking spatial
structures

Colonnades faming the outward visual

sights

3D Model View Imperial Palace Complex