BUILDING MAKING

INTRODUCTION

This course equips the students to carry out detailed development and refinement of building design through technical resolution of structural systems, material performance and experience, member assembly, threshold-enclosure details and process of construction. We aim comprehensively resolve the design from concept to actualization and generate a construction documentation set along with specifications, quantities and estimation.

The focus of this studio project is three fold:

first to develop an ability in systems-thinking and the ability in detailing (detailing here is the act of putting together different materials and their assemblies in a manner that is conceptually coherent with the overall idea of the building);

second to develop an ability to make construction documentation drawings that could be used for the construction of buildings; and

third to develop ability to write specifications, generate bill of quantities and cost estimation for the project.

SITE FORCES AND CONTEXT

In 1976, between 55,000 and 70,000 people were forcibly moved to Cheeta Camp from the Janata Colony slum by police force. The eviction of Janata Colony was to make space for the expansion of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).

In 2001, the Indian Navy raised concerns that the slum was too close to an arms depot. At this time, it was estimated there were 10,000 shacks in Cheeta Colony. There were five schools, a graveyard, a crematorium and four toilet blocks were being built. As per the current estimate more than 1 Lakh people live in the Cheeta camp. The development in this area is restricted and the navy depot which reside in the north to the cheeta camp raised concerns regarding the building infrastructure's Floor levels and were limited to two floors and the ownership of the land is limited to the owner and the government can shift them as they did in 2001.

DESIGN INTENT

The entire site has been looked through a lens of porosity through light and shade and punctures and how they affect space and people.

For instance :

1. There is a very narrow space between the school and its adjacent building which restricts the opening of windows. There are jalis with gaps of approx 2*2 cm

which run along the uppermost part of the wall and also above the lintels of windows. Light

filters through this jaalis into the classroom and also provides ventilation thus making the space more habitable.

1. The wash basin area at the entrance of the school is actually a narrow space. Placing a metal grill with gaps of approximately 7 - 8 cm in width allows the space to feel bigger. It restricts movement but offers a visual connectivity with the outside. Due to grills the space is naturally lit throughout the day.

2. The washbasin area has punctures into the roof of about 15 to 20 cm in width to allow the tree to integrate into the structure. This develops relationship between nature and the builtform

3. The grills at windows helps to restrict the movement of students at the same time helps to maintain ventilation, light and visual connect with the outside.

1. At some places, due to roof truss,, partitions between classroom do not touch the roof but extend till a little height below it. Thus there remains a gap of about 75 cm between the roof and the wall. This gap then provides a connectivity and relationship between classrooms and also makes the space feel bigger.