Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Engineering and Technology

Photograph courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates.

The site's basic configuration was that of a half bowl with some comparatively flat land at the ridge and in the valley. A railway line ran along the highest contour. While visualizing a building that responds to the site character, it become more & more obvious that the main building should hug the bowl slopes and spread along it. The designing called for a thorough study of contours so that the cutting and filling is minimized as far as possible and the space and planning advantages are maximized.

Photograph courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates.

The naturally convergent central area caters to primary common activities like Administration with a 1, 000 capacity Auditorium below it and the library above it. This area naturally formed the two main entrances to the building. The one on the east with large landscaped mound, rocks and two water bodies has the entrance at the administration level whereas the west side ceremonial entrance starts at the auditorium stage level 7 metres below the east entrance. Both the entrances meet in a large spacious lounge with a double height and with fiberglass skylight domes. This lounge has built in seating around a central landscaping feature. The stepped auditorium with the high stage sits along the contours.

Photograph courtesy of Shirish Beri & Associates.

On both sides of this central wing are the secondary common functions like the classrooms and the drawing halls.

Beyond these are various departmental labs, offices etc. viz. civil, electrical, electronics, computer and mechanical (the major mechanical dept. is in the workshops).

The staff rooms are interspersed at different places throughout the building for better control and for proximity to their respective departments. Similarly passages widen, notice boards, built in seats are provided or courtyards appear to act as student interaction spaces.

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