Engineering College Building (Phase - I), Kolhapur Institute of Technology

Photograph courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates.

Project details

• Project Name: Engineering College Building and Workshop (Phase-I)
• Client: Kolhapur Institute of Technology
• Project Type: Educational
• Principal Designer/s: Shirish Beri
• Design Team: Prabhakar Karambalkar, M.V. Telang
• Contractor/s: Prithvi Prasad Construction & Vijay Bharat Builders (main civil)
• Year of commencement of project: 1989
• Year of completion of project: 1991
• Location of site: Kolhapur, India
• Site Area: part of 80000 sq. mt.
• Built-up Area: 8500 sq. mt.
• Cost of Construction/Execution: INR 27 Million

Photograph courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates.

Words from the architect

The design responded to the ten acre sloping site's organic physical qualities and thus made the building fit snugly onto it. This shaping for the building according to the contours created many design opportunities and potentials at various levels - including a large stepped open air theatre in the centre.

Photograph courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates.

The plan is very simple with Laboratory wings in the Y-axis and classroom wings on the X-axis - each having a growth potential in their respective axis. The stepped Laboratory wings (going perpendicular to the contours) have various levels interconnected visually and volumetrically, thus encouraging an inter dependent - inter disciplinary interaction. Instead of having department wise segregations, the building tries to unify the various diverse activities to create a wholistic learning environment - an environment that encourages interaction and communication.

Photograph courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates.

The meeting point of the laboratory wings and classroom wings become a buffer zone - either a covered landscaped interaction space with stairs or a landscaped open air courtyard.

Another important characteristic of this structure is that it is not divided into distinct floors but has activities happening at every half floor level (due to the slope) which are again interconnected and interrelated to each other.

Photograph courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates.

Multiple use of spaces increases the utilization factor in a building. Thus the common classrooms here are better utilized. The passages become wider lobbies to act as interaction spaces, the courtyards, the steps and the amphitheatre also serve to enhance the learning possibilities through communication. Even the amphitheatre stage acts as an extension seating area for the canteen.

Photograph courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates.

The overall form attempts to give technology a softer edge - by departing from the stark, sharp angular technical facade. The assembling of pre-fab fins (as protective devices for windows) symbolizes the technological process of putting things together.

Photograph courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates.

Photograph courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates.

Photograph courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates.

Credits

• Text and Photographs, courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates