OPEN HOUSE BIC BY AETRANGERE

"It is three decades since Indian cities like Bangalore have witnessed an urban transformation. An urgent growth is taking place around the country and the Urban and Rural are transforming dramatically. It is not only the consequence of globalization but also due to the giant economic shifts from the west to the east.

Our proposal seeks to show a unique path to allow a soft transition of values from urban to nature and from modernity to local culture. We seek to install a landmark image which catalyzes the potential of this central site in the emerging Bangalore.

The design also focuses on the enhancement of the pedestrian interface between public corridors and The Open House. The drain in its present avatar encourages one to walk away, whereas the design seeks to reverse this relationship by transforming the drain to a phyto-epuration (reed bed / swamp) garden and also serves as a public bike lane encouraging soft mobility.

Hybridizing the urban space with landscape and ecology, Open House proposal for the Bangalore International Centre, looks forward to introduce and enhance new ways of urban, cultural and natural dialogue and fostering a shared sense of belonging and a strong sense of place and ‘ownership’.

 

 

The Open House proposal is a design opportunity to address environmental issues in institutional architecture participating in the construction of the Bangalore urbanity. This project will play an active role in the culture of Bangalore with a vision to nurture and share knowledge. This proposal will reflect the dynamic character of Bangalore and will showcase sustainable identity.

 

 

Attention has been given to sustainable design principles in terms of a bioclimatic passive strategy, which will allow good practices and saving in terms of energy consumption. It also allows rainwater harvesting and reduces the overall CO2e emissions. We propose to create an urban scaled volume (13 m height), avoiding a visual disruption with the neighborhood.

 

 

As against a classical mono block structure a composed and porous open volume is conceived to facilitate active exchange between the visitors and the building. The building acts as an urban hinge between the road on one side and the green access which is the drain covered and retrofitted with greenery and a reed bed system.

 

 

The building that we propose shows a complex spatial structure, composed by four different functional areas: to work, to gather, to study and to host (living).

These smaller volumes are linked in a physical and symbolical way by the same roof structure. The concave roof shape unifies the whole building performing a bioclimatic function where the shape allows for rainwater harvesting, shadow in summer and protection from lashing monsoon rain and wind.

 

 

The proposal seeks to activate the use of outdoor spaces exploiting the pleasant climatic conditions of Bangalore. These major open spaces are oriented towards the big trees existing beside the drain to allow the adjacent landscape to merge. The open spaces by the drain will be used for social gatherings and for pleasant human interaction.

 

 

These open spaces will serve the purpose of a climatic moderator, able to react to the annual variations in temperature, creating natural fresh air flows and sheltering biodiversity. In this proposed composition, the void has the same importance as the built up. The alternation of patios, terraces and balconies, create an inner network of green spaces, defining an inner landscape keen to merge with the natural outside." Description of Architects.

 

Location: Bangalore, India

Architects: Aetrangere

Project Leader: Mario Caceres

Associated Arch.: Karun Kumbera Architects and Urbanists. Mehdi Boulkroun Architect

Team:Mario Caceres, Architect and Urban Planner, Karun Kumbera, Architect and Urban Planner, Mehdi Boulkroun Architect

Consultants:Climate Miles, for CO² footprint.

Client: Bangalore International Centre

Program: Exhibition space, public space, library, parking, lecture hall, documentation center, guest, restaurant, Café accommodation, library, garden, terrace

Site Area: 21441 sq ft

Area: 26 500 sq ft

Year: 2012

AHMEDABAD HOTEL BY STUDIO SYMBIOSIS

Designed as an iconic building in Ahmedabad, the hotel proposal by Studio Symbiosis focuses on interweaving the concepts of waves in nature. Using fold lines as movement trajectories and perception along with programmatic requirements, the project’s form demonstrates a sense of elegance with soft, subtle touches.

Seamless waves flowing on the landscape and flowing on the façade are the focal point for this full service five star property. The different functions in the building with different programmatic requirements are blending together thus resulting in this iconic building. The building comprises of three waves which are very carefully translated into dramatic key spaces on the lower floors and on the upper floors they translate into room grids with focus on standardized room sizes.

These waves emerge effortlessly from the landscape creating a sense of harmonic relationship with the ground. The profile of the building has been designed with keen emphasis given both to the smooth transition from the horizontal landscape to the vertical building and to the standardization and repetition of the façade components.

The façade is designed as an intricate part of the building. The entire façade system feels the reverberation of the slightest of change in the external skin due to flux in the internal spaces. This interdependent relationship between the skin and structure of the building makes the system a very coherent one.

The entry to the building has been marked with a column less cantilever that creates a dramatic entrance space. The guests are welcomed by the architecture of the canopy that follows the seamless nature of the design proposal, emerging from the ground and morphing back into it.

On the lower three floors the proposal consists of reception lobby, shopping area, banquet hall, meeting rooms, restaurants, lounge space and service areas. All these elements are tied with a coherent design language of natural canyon like formations.

The spaces are carved out using the same design principles with which a wave carves out a canyon. This helps in connecting the various public functions into one space visually which still have the capability of functioning independently.

A spill out space in the landscape has been provided for the banquet hall whereby adding to the experience of a celebration. Thus helps in creating an animated landscape which has a direct use and is actively used and enjoyed by the guests.

The restaurants are located amidst splendid view of the green with the fascinating façade wrapped around the restaurants making it a unique experience. The all day dining is designed in a way to create a more open feeling where the buffet would be the main attraction. As well as being visible form the main Lobby. In contrast the specialty dining is located one floor higher with an introvert character.

This restaurant is about an intimate play between the senses, the space and the food, to create this sense of very intricate relationship it has zones of small and bigger more private areas.

The roof and the last habitable floor house the spa, gym, saloon and the swimming pool. The swimming pool is located on the terrace with breathtaking views of the city. Alongside a sky lounge has also been provided here which will help guests relax, unwind and absorb the beauty of the city and the building itself.

Architects: Studio Symbiosis

Location: Ahmedabad, India

Site Area: 6860 sqm

Built-up Area:24,000 sqm

Start Date: April 2012

Completion Date: June 2014

source: archdaily