This environment friendly project office of Greenfield Shelters is perched on the exotic location on the eastern ghats overlooking the enchanting valley view. Built with reused steel frames, silver oak wood, bamboo, stone, mud and thatch it is a structure built to capture the nature surrounding it.
A zero energy building which is off the grid, uses biogas based generator, wind power and solar power for all its requirements. The landscape incorporates big boulders of the site in its contours. The waterbody which penetrates the building and culminates in a vertical garden wall becomes the central feature. The Vertical garden itself is made of reused mineral water-bottles, stalked on metal frames and wrapped with geotextile. Organic vegetable garden, waterless toilets, mud-floor, bamboo floor, bamboo furniture and several other elements which exhibit strong commitment to ecological design principles.
The project was shortlisted finalist for Indian Institute of Architects National Award 2015 for Excellence in Architecture.
Jury Comments:The Architect has made the design to be eco-sensitive in every aspect of the project.
Saraswathy Vidyaniketan is one of the leading CBSE school of central Kerala. The current master plan and proposal for School’s Main Block, Auditorium and Sports Facilities aim at taking the school to greater heights in academics and sports. An eco-friendly approach to site planning and master plan is conceived to utilize the gently sloping terrain to the advantage of locating structures and sports fields.The blocks radiating from a central courtyard provide privacy, noise reduction and result in increased ventilation and day-light. Framed structure with exposed hollow blocks is part of the eco-sensitive approach to building design. While it is helpful in heat insulation, the load of the structure is brought down thus saving on structural cost. Plastering is completely avoided to further reduce cost. An elegant approach to landscape for the foreground and courtyards and an eco-friendly landscape approach to the rest of the campus is devised.
Ecological Site Analysis and Site Planning were carried out for the International Cancer Research Institute at Trivandrum. Proposed in a campus of over 30 acres of land in a steep terrain, the site analysis aimed at preserving and conserving ecological features of the site. The detailed vegetation and hydrology study resulted in protection of drainage channels and existing biodiversity. The site planning carefully delineated various functions while preserving a large part of the site as conservation area. Also accessibility, noise levels, traffic control etc were considered while placing the research institute, housing areas, palliative care zone, healing landscapes etc.
Ecological Site Analysis and Site Planning for the Wayanad Institute of Medical sciences involved study of the topography, soil structure, contours, slope, hydrology, vegetation etc. A comprehensive site analysis of the existing land enabled effective site planning. Further, detailed landscape layout plan was developed with site sections and detailing of key features.
Architects, Landscape Architects, Urban Designers – Cochin, Kerala, India
