Location Gholaghat, Assam, India
Program Museum
Size 5500 SFT
Dates 2016 – 2019

The heritage structure of Robin Banerjee Natural History museum was built in 1919 -1922 (British period) and being used by Dr. Banerjee from 1950 functioning as a residence at initial period and public natural history museum in later period. Based on his will and testament, it was converted into a natural history museum and contains a large number of wild life photographs and paintings, natural history items from all over India (especially Kaziranga), tribal artefacts and other personal collections of Robin Banerjee, including a set of toys from across the world that he collected.

Before conservation the structure was badly damaged including structural cracks, damaged cement floor, rusting of structural exposed steel member and roofing sheets, vegetation growth at some part of plinth, pilling of plaster etc. because of leakage, less maintenance and climatic conditions. The refurbishment and modernisation aims to create a bridge between past and future by protecting the built heritage and conserving the local traditional and cultural values of communities for future generations.

The restoration and repair of the existing is driven by the idea that the original structure should be emphasized in its spatial context and original materiality – the new elements enhances the special quality of the interior spaces. The refurbishment and modernisation aims for maximum preservation of the existing fabric, with minimum visual compromise to the building’s original appearance.

In 1985’s additions and alterations the verandahs were enclosed to create store rooms. So in conservation process we have given importance to restoring the original character of bungalow because the verandah was a best and important feature of colonial style.

The dramatic internal volume is modulated with natural illumination. White walls lit with natural light, gray cement mosaic flooring and over detailed interiors are avoided to bring simple dignity of silent architecture.

Contemporary architecture has to be an expression of multifunctional activities which can allow free human interactions. Free flowing immaculate white volumes lit with natural light, meandering rear side gallery with centrally formed open air amphitheatre for common activities, adjacent library block restoring banerjee’s collection of wild life books and covered auditorium houses his old documentary collection allows continuous exchange and interactions of space and people. Thereby becoming an established relation of past and future aspirations.

In today’s world, new needs will replace those that have been addressed. Today’s global community has a healthy desire for continuity, as opposed to the discontinuity that characterized much of twentieth century. It is likewise savvy to the possibilities that the skilful blending of old and new can bring to the built environment. The exposed and repainted old mild steel structural member in bright red colour gives the importance to the industrial period construction technique. Also newly added steel bridge and circular stairs leading to upper level display area highlights the today’s technology of construction and gives sculptural quality to space.

Playful relationship exists between red staircase and immaculate white space around. The boundaries of space are the form; and existence of space and feeling around form is space. Form and space are so interlinked that it is difficult to talk of them separately.

Location         Joram, Arunachal Pradesh, India
Program         School
Size                7,200 SFT
Status             built 2021

Jorum is located at the north east part of India. The temperature varies from 7c min to 25c max. The school is designed with each classroom separated from each other forming a private small court for each classroom. The houses of local tribes are constructed to meet the challenge of the nature, as living conditions are very tough in this area (temp 7 to 25c). Most of the houses are built on the edge leading to flat area. This, is their traditional way of keeping flat land for celebrations of local festivals and slopes for farming particular plants like cardamom, oranges etc.

In a similar way school building is designed on the edge of flat surface & slope by creating a stepped classroom by maintaining a flat land for playground. All classrooms are connected by meandering corridors which encourage the informal seating, meeting places, libraries and landscape. This connecting passage allows continuous visual connection with playground and surrounding landscape on one side.

Every classroom has sufficient indirect natural light from top and minimum openings on valley side to prevent cold wind and protect from local cold weather. All the classrooms are connected by meandering corridors with various functions like libraries, seating places and landscapes. Gutters are provided to collect the rain water and taken into the harvesting tank.

By observing a behavioral pattern of students to natural topography new planning strategy was evolved.  Instead of a conventional grand entry point and foyer, multiple narrow accesses were provided by finding their habitual paths like their traditional villages.

The school is planned without any boundaries to connect with surrounding nature.

Location :     Ahmednagar, India
Program :      Visitor’s center
Size :              3500 SFT
Dates:            2014-16

The challenge was to create an administrative office space & informative gallery for visitors, shielded visually and acoustically from industrial environment. The form is evolved with existing kitchenette, geodesic dome which was built 15 years before, with new components as amorphous interlinked units, on basis of pragmatic needs and environmental aspect of site by providing shield from heat and glare externally.

This project aims to create highly sustainable campus through application of various strategies. First by reduction of waste generation by recycling and / or salvaging at least 50% of material. 90% use of building material and products available locally which organization got in donation.Lighting load is minimized by using natural light obtained through skylights & north light and using efficient led lamps.

The informal enclosure around the geodesic dome is created by placing criss cross walls to create outdoor exhibition space. These walls are placed at south side in such a way that throughout the day outdoor gallery can be used. These walls are having openings at various places to maintain the relation to outside space. This area has a flooring of brocken Shahabad stone.

The indoor gallery block is placed tilted to existing block to create small court inbetween which will protect the internal spaces from dust, wind and harsh sun. Openable perforated sheet doors offer a sweeping view of adjacent court with plantation and colorful walls from all work areas.

The dramatic internal volume is modulated with natural illumination. White walls lit with natural light, brown kotah stone for flooring and over detailed interiors are avoided to bring simple dignity of silent architecture. Rough textured plaster and exposed surface of walls are colored which add charm to exterior spaces.

The fenestrations require for respective functions are designed to minimize the heat gain & maximize suffused day lighting. West facing blue coloured cavity wall minimizes heat gain to administrative area.

 Architecture, playing with the contrast between inside and outside, achieves the dignity essential to visitor center.Thermal considerations informed the design, including the orientation, window shading and natural ventilation. Low, massive and with varying volumes, the architecture is boldly contemporary but inspired by its context.Exterior rough textured walls are painted in various coloursin dramatic contrast; interiors are painted in immaculate white with natural light.

Where the choice of material, color and texture draws attention as a modest, inexpensive yet fresh and authentic architectural example

Location         Khatakhati, karbi anglong district, India
Program         Community learning
Size                 9,300 SFT
Dates              ongoing

Community school at karbi-along is under design development stage. In a traditional karbi villages, trellis and hut with bamboo jalli & sloping roof are having their own individual identity. An attempt is to rearrange the same elements in contemporary way without losing their own functional identities, to form new spatial experiences and aesthetics of meaning. Organisation of trellis as central congregational space with the placement of ramp and bridges creates exciting space configuration surrounded by classroom with perforated façade act as a breathing element. Also, it establishes relationship between inside space and out side landscape and atmosphere all the time.

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Agricultural training center
Location :     Nimbalak, Ahmednagar, India
Program :      Training center
Size :         2700 SFT
Dates: 2015 – 2017

Place & space
Blackrock like a crocodile back has come out &
spread over in scorching afternoon heat.
The single narrow dusty trail was passing by.
A small pond has dried up completely.
Hot, dusty air was blowing under brightly lit afternoon sun.
Factory smoke was making its way to the clear sky at horizon.
A saffron was flutteringon the top of a temple at a distance.
A sudden plight of a black kite for projected prey with long and deep shrill.
Huge Barren plateau with dusty hot air
It was the most desolate and lonely some environment with dry,
pale green and brown landscape.
Two dark men with their pale, bent bodies were working slowly at adjacent brick kiln.
In-between sairat movie song on their phone was being heard.
A bullock cart passed by making dust and rattling sound
Under a babul tree a shepherded in pink turban came with his goats and sat by observing us.

Organization wanted to build agricultural training center in rural area for small and marginal farmer’s children. Where the young generation in rural area can learn various new agricultural technique in short duration courses. Also, it will be a place for getting information about soil, climate, crops etc for adjacent villagers. This center will arrange exhibitions of student’s research which can be easily seen by farmers.

The basic square plan and central open space has derived from traditional local structures (wada). The commonly used elements of design at local level are used and rearranged in new way eg. Staircase. The building material is carefully chosen which will reduce the cost and it will go with adjacent surrounding structures. Gray and coloured fly ash bricks are used with cavity for heat insulation for the construction of external walls. All internal spaces are having natural indirect light to reduce consumption of electricity. Mud pots are inserted while construction of external walls for birds to stay