Stage

2019 | Ongoing

Area

1.2 Lacs SFT Land Area,
1.8 Lacs SFT Built-up Area

Woxsen School of Planning and Architecture, Hyderabad is a 2.5 acres project which is a new addition to the campus. It is designed for 1200 students with several studios, classrooms, staff rooms and lounges. Equipped to host undergraduate and post graduate courses simultaneously that are centric to architecture, spaces like material museums, exhibitions areas, jury halls, stationary stores, climatology lab, model making studios and many more programs were introduced.

The design commits to maintain certain connect between the outdoors – beds of green and the learning premises at all times. Although being an institute, it is more than just classrooms or studios. Its patiently designed elements combine to form a robust appeal while maintaining the required scale and purpose of the project. Individual buildings of the project participate in the activity of encouraging students to learn in naturally lit spaces and let nature inspire them. They are also conceived as raw structures amongst sought after landscaping.

A project having the scale of an educational institute requires lot of services in terms of lighting, ventilation, electricity, etc. Introducing sustainable features is the long term solution from an architect’s point of view. Sustainability has not only been approached through individual buildings but also through their spatial organization.

A few innovative processes were followed during construction that inclines towards building an environment where the buildings’ architecture provides for the spaces. Studios and classrooms are kept well-lit with the help of façade-length windows and openings on the north façade. East and west facades have openings above eye level to avoid any glare. Light is filtered through horizontal and vertical fins on the south façade and an adequate amount of light is allowed in. Cut outs have been introduced on various facades that allow pools of light cutting down on artificial lighting. Courtyards amongst these spaces help in achieving a cooler micro climate as well as a place to interact. North light clerestories have been provided at intervals to reduce the temperature of the rooms by providing an outlet for the heat to escape. Solar panels have been provided on the roof as an alternative electricity supply. Planter boxes have been accommodated along the glazing to maintain a cooler and healthy environment and as a natural screen against harsh light and visual accessibility. Tackling issues like lighting, ventilation, healthy environment and trapped heat through the above said design principles are a permanent solution and a step towards sustainability.