Bangalore India : Bijoy Ramachandran

Bijoy Ramachandran, Bangalore, India : Glenn Murcutt Master Class 2012

[ warm climate : primary school : shade : thermal mass : ventilation : gardens ]

Neev Academy Primary School, Bangalore, India : 2016

Bijoy Ramachandran and Hundredhands Architects

Alluding to the universal idea of people sitting under the shade of a large tree to exchange their realizations, the simple cluster of platforms and terraces under the hovering roof creates a benign & instantly recognizable environment for learning and playing.

Our initial proposal imagined the school plan as a ‘mat’ with gardens and rooms alternating and rich in-between spaces - this basic idea of a universal grid within which one was adding, subtracting and mis-aligning rooms to find open spaces (verandahs, terraces, patios, etc.) forms the core of our scheme.

The school houses classrooms for grades 1-5 with three sections in each grade. The plan is organised on the basis of these clusters of three classrooms opening out onto shared work/play areas.

We worked very closely with our client, Kavita Gupta Sabharwal, who articulated in great detail the philosophy of the school which informed the way we designed spaces for group activities, individual contemplation and chance encounters. 50% of the building is sheltered open space of various scales designed to accommodate a variety of activities.

Hundredhands Project Team : S. Sreekanth, Alkananda Yeshwanth, Shraddha Kamath, Anubhav Anurag, Harshith Nayak, Ragul Ravichandran
Landscape Architect: Varna Dhar
Structural Consultant: Manjunath & Co.
Electrical Consultant: L.S. Consultants
PHE Consultant: Prism Consultants
Project Manager: Desbuild Kris Cooper
General Contractors: S.V. Constructions
Interior Contractor: M/S Bhuraram

See - http://www.hundredhands.com/neev.html

OZ.E.TECTURE

architects thinking locally acting globally

Lindsay Johnston27 June 2017

Juan Carlos Eugene Soler : Glenn Murcutt Master Class 2001

54th Central Glass International Design Competition, Tokyo, Japan

‘Architecture That Generates New Sakariba’ - 2019

The Japanese ‘Central Glass International Design Competitions’ have been run each year since 1966. The 2019 competition attracted 188 international entries. Seven were shortlisted and Eugene’s entry was placed second.

[ theoretical proposition, metaphor, solar energy, technology, sustainability, community ]

‘MOON LANDING’

It is in our deepest primal instinct as social beings that people gather in a communal place that gives us a sense of culture and belonging. We gather around the warmth and wonder of campfire under the stars and share memories and stories. Or by day, under the cool shade of a tree- a natural place to meet a lover or exchange knowledge. Such place that delivers these conditions perhaps is the genesis of ‘Sakariba’.

The proposal is a massive balloon structure that can create and harness energy from the Sun whilst defining space underneath its volume, where people of all ages can gather to meet, play or ‘hangout’. The ‘Moon Landing’ hopes to create a central place for gathering where business and commerce are encouraged and generate ‘Sakariba’.

On a hot summer or rainy day, people can gather under its shade. On a cloudy day, the balloon structure can rise above the clouds where it can efficiently harness energy from the Sun. At night, it becomes a light source and a signal to attract people and when it descends it creates a space where people can gather around its warm glow. The ‘Moon Landing’ has all these features at the same time providing sustainable energy to its local community.

This idea is not science fiction but actually a very feasible means of efficiently combining what is currently being developed in balloon technology, sustainability, science and art. What is new is the realignment of technology to create a more poetic and meaningful purpose to reinvigoration local culture, religion, myths and stories, which is appropriate when it needs to be integrated in local communities. Especially to the 25% of the world’s population which has no or lack access to electricity. Such space offers a wonderful chance for the community to be activated, bring people together and encourage businesses and various activities.

By combining a strong metaphor with technology and sustainability- the proposal hopes to address not only the community’s basic needs but also hopes to give a deep importance and meaning in local culture and tradition to bring people together and organically for business growth and generate a ‘New Sakariba’

Moreover, in a world where we have Internet connection but seem to be ‘disconnected’- the ‘Moon Landing’ can be a benefit to existing ‘Sakariba’ not only to reduce the abundant energy we are drowning in, but also to remind us to look up and realize our place in the Universe and encourage real connection with each other.

Architect : Eugene Soler

Awards : 54th Central Glass International Design Competition _ Second Place

Web site : http://www.ateliersoler.com

OZ.E.TECTURE

architects thinking locally acting globally

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