CASE STUDY

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ROHIT ARORA
ARC-1025
10TH. SEMESTER
RPIIT,KARNAL
29.03.2015

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ARCHITECTURE DESIGN l

CASE STUDY
FACILITIES

INTENT OF STUDY

ABOUT IHC

To study the interrelationship between

institutions working in diverse habitat
related fields brought together in an
integrated manner.
The common facilities provided for
information, dissemination the types, their
sizes and location.
To study the environment created inside
the complex through different architectural
elements, faade treatment, materials,
landscape and climate-tempered courtyards.

To critically analyze the offices provided to

various institutions/Individual firms.
Finally to analyze the architectural
ACCESS circulation-vehicular, and
character,

pedestrian,
the services provided and the
The complex
has an access from three sides
parking
for vehicles.
having the Lodhi Road on the north, Max
Muller Marg towards the west and
Vardhaman Marg on the southern side. Thus,
it has three main gates, referred to as gate
no. 1, gate no. 2 and gate no. 3. Gate no. 2,
on the Max Muller Marg is the one, which
directly leads to the double level basement.
The lifts then take to the upper levels form
this point. The other two gates direct the
vehicles to the surface parking that has
been provided. This parking basically caters
to the public areas like the conference hall
provided and the parking for vehicles.

The India Habitat Centre (IHC) is located

along the Lodhi Road on the fringes of
Lutyens Delhi designed by architect Joseph
allen stien. Spread over nine acres of land
IHC has a built-up area of approximately one
million square feet. The L shaped site has
frontage on the three sides. It is bounded by
the Max Muller Marg on west, the Vardhman
Marg on south and the Lodhi road on the
north. The Fourth side is flanked by Bal
Bharthi School. The complex is accessible
from three sides, the major pedestrian
entrance being from lodhi road on the north.
VARDHAMAN ROAD

The I.H.C. provides the following facilities for

the use of member:
40,000 square meters of office
accommodation for institutions.
Conference rooms with a total capacity of
1000 in 10 locations of different
configurations ranging from 30 to 450.
60 Guest room, five suites, and five service
apartments.
Conference room, cafeteria, Restaurants
and Private Dinning room to handle
approximately 1500 persons at a time.
A 700 sqm exhibition area with built in
systems and structures for multimedia
exhibitions.
A 250 seat amphitheatre.
An auditorium with 500 capacity
A unique library/resource center with e-mail
links to Resources Centers abroad.
Other facilities include an Art gallery,
Executive fitness center, Bank, Travel
agency, Gift shop, Dish antenna with multichannel cable TV and piped music, corporate
Post Office and underground parking 1000
cars and 2000 two-wheelers.
With 97,000m2 of built up area, Habitat
Centre provides a variety of related activities
and institutions, with a density of
approximately 1000-person/acre (total
area= 9 acres).25 percent of the total area
goes into the landscaped courts.

LODHI ROAD

INTERNAL VIEW IF IHC

ARCHITECTURE DESIGN l

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CASE STUDY
THE SPATIAL ORGANISATION

The habitat centre is organized as a series of

four to seven storey blocks around linked
shaded courtyards. The built forms are
grouped around climate tempered courts,
shaded by overhead sunscreens and are
enlivened by vertical gardens.
The complex has a very well planned
segregation of spaces. All blocks /areas,
which are expected to experience a large
and regular inflow of public have been
placed very close to the entrances; the office
areas being given the access from the inside
of the courtyards. Although the public and
the semi-public areas have been placed in
separate built blocks, the courts and the
landscape areas form a very good
connection between the two. The landscape
forms a very integral part of the design and
seems to be a part of the builtscape.

THE PLANNING & IMPORTANT

FEATURES

The complex is accessed from all sides the

major pedestrian entrance being from Lodhi
Road on the north. The distribution of
various functions on the site is simple
The two blocks on Lodhi road are handed
over to offices on the top and reserved for
public facilities on the ground floor.
The third block on the south, houses
common facilities like a conference center, a
large auditorium, library and a guest house.
Two basements house all the parking and
services extend under the entire block.
Restaurants and exhibition spaces on the
ground floor open out into the courts, with
the courts also being used for the public
exhibitions.
SOUTH BLOCK
(AUDITORIUM,
LIBRARY,
CONFERENCE
CENTER)

NORTH BLOCK
(OFFICES ON TOP
& PUBLIC
FACILITIES ON
GROUND FLOOR)

BLOCKS OF IHC

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GREEN SPACES-PALM COURT
The ground was perceived as a vehiclefree environment, and a fairly elaborate
system worked out to deny entrance to
all motorized traffic except for repair and
fire. All cars and scooters are directed
into two levels of basements. The
conference block is the only one that
allows entry to vehicles.Building volumes
are articulated to form interconnected
internal courtyards that are the major
public spaces.
Another factor that governs the design
was the effort to modify the climate as
much as possible by non-mechanical
means. Thus, the top two floors have
been projected twice. This results in a
building shadow that is larger than its
footprint it also creates a classical order
of the pediment.

SCREENING FOR SUN PROTECTION

TO
PALM COURT

ARCHITECTURE DESIGN l

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CASE STUDY
THE COMPLEX IS PLANNED AND
DIVIDED INTO TWO BLOCKS:
North block
South block

AUDITORIUM BLOCK
This block comprises of
auditoriums of varying capacities
and basement theatres being used
forth conference purposes.

THE NORTH BLOCK

The block adjoining the Lodhi Road and on
the northern side of the site is this block.
North Block is further divided into four zones
4, 5, 6 and 7. This block primarily
comprises of office places supported by
different areas like lift lobby, staircase,
THE SOUTH BLOCK
A.H.U. etc.

MAIN AUDITORIUM
Main auditorium has the
translation system for three
languages. It is easily operable by
the user as selection can be done
from the seats itself. There is a
provision for controlling volume
too.
This block is further divided into `two zones 1 & 2, and houses
most of ancillary facilities for the North block like residential guest Main auditorium is also provided
with Mahagony room, a hall suited AUDITORIUM PLAN
rooms, conference, library, health club, swimming pool and
for small gathering with attached OFFICE BLOCK
restaurant etc. The zone 3 comprises of a 400 seats auditorium.
kitchenette and washroom apart General office spaces are located
The IHC contains a variety of functions that cater to almost all
types of requirements. Major office spaces are located in the blocks from control rooms and projector mainly in the blocks adjacent to
room on the first floor.
adjacent to the main streets; the associated functions such as
the main streets, and are provided
guest rooms, staff quarters and the auditorium are adjacent to the Green room lacks the usual
as free flowing spaces without
requirement of toilets.
Lodhi Colony Housing. The blocks housing the offices are
internal partitions.

Ground floor also has offices &

articulated to form the three courtyards, the ground floor of which
Service core consisting of two
coffee
lounge.
contain public functions such as exhibition spaces, fast-food
lifts, one staircase, A.H.U. room,
restaurants, banks,etc and access to the vertical cores. The blocks The level difference between two- electric and telephone connections
seat platforms is 16 which makes (adjustable), duct and toilets for
adjacent to the housing area have been progressively reduced in
viewing bsolutely obstruction free. both sexes- serve the office space.
volume and the auditorium is set back substantially from the plot
This auditorium has been provided All office spaces have the
ine to create a distinct entry.
with balcony seating too.
flexibility of providing their own
Double wall system avoids
wet areas apart from those
sounds disturbance from outside. provided in the central court.
Area of this auditorium is 6200 sq. Office spaces measure
ft. and it has a capacity of 537
approximately 14.15 m X 14.15 m,
persons
and 33.1 m X 14.75 m.

THE NORTHBLOCK

THE SOUTH BLOCK

OFFICE BLOCK

ARCHITECTURE

The entire building is airconditioned and the basements are

mechanically ventilated. ceiling,
ceiling reduces to 3.0 m.
The floor-to-floor height is 3.75
DESIGN
l A.C. Ducts running
m, but with

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CASE STUDY
THE CONVENTION CENTRE

THE BUSSINESS CENTRE

JACARANDA

Documentation Centre has 6

The convention centre provides the
cabins or 6 workstatio an be hired
following:
for variable periods of time. Fitted
Several halls with varied capacities,
with all modern business
multimedia and audio visual equipment.
documentation centre provides
*20 concurrent sessions are possible.
an ideal setting for a ,
*Inbuilt archival system.
international
conference
*Built in projection facilities.
THE TRINITV(IN
BASEMENT)
basement
areas.
*Secretariat and documentation centre.
Kadamba, Rudraksha and
*Finest banquets and innovative theme
Amaltas are extremely flexible
parties.
set with individual as well as
Cultural and entertainment events diary combined usage possibilities.
Covered parking for 1000 cars and 2000 These can be used for
two wheelers.
workshops, boardmeetings,
A 535-seat auditorium apart from the
theatres and cultural
following meeting rooms has been provided.performances.

THE CONVENTION CENTRE

JACARANDA

CASUARINA

TRINITV

THE CONVENTION CENTRE INSIDE VIEW THE BUSSINESS CENTRE

ARCHITECTURE DESIGN l

Elegantly carpeted
jacaranda could be
used as one large
space or further
divided into
independent units
for corporate
meetings,
seminars,
workshops and
parties.

Jacaranda 1 1290sq.ft
CASUARINA
Jacaranda 2
1290sq.ft
A fixed seating hall
equipped with state
of the art,
multimedia
facilities and each
table equipped with
a set of mike, ideal
for seminars,
corporate
presentations,
product launches.
Casuarinas
MAGNOLIA
1520sq.ft
A free seating h
all allowing flexible
seating options
suited for both
conferences and
party usage.

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CASE STUDY
THE OUTDOOR VENUE
AREAS

AREA

The Hub

Margosa Lawn

Silk Cotton Garden

Emerald Garden

Cascade Court

Palm Court

The Plaza

Silver Oak Garden

650
5200
2700
2800

THE ARCHITECTURAL CHARACTERISTICS

SEATING
160
85

16170

4000

450
-

Thee beautifully landscaped environs of

India Habitat Centre provide brilliant outdoor
party and performance venues that could
bestow that extra sparkle upon any function.

THE OUTDOOR GATHERING

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80

12583

6000

THE BRIDGES
The buildings are grouped around semi-covered courts
and linked at the 5th and 6th floor level and above by
bridges to form huge gateways for entrance into various
zones/ courts. These multi level bridges provide office
spaces as well as links between various building zones.
The bridges form framed views and vistas and complete
the character of the enclosed courts.
SHADING DEVICES
Shading devices that reject and reflect the unwanted
solar energy provide a pleasant climate at low cost
without consumption of energy in their operation.
Although it is difficult to create energy it is easy to
deflect, absorb or even reject energy.
A system of open to sky, shaded canopies over the large
paved courts, provide relief from tropical sun with fixed
shade casting elements, devised to shade the courtyards
in summer, and the let in the sun in the winter.
Such a shading device reduces load on air conditioning
system.
A 1.2m deep galvanized steel tubular framework
stretches edge to edge across the courtyard and is
anchored to concrete overhangs at the edges. Shade
casting leaves of PVC coated nylon fabric, approximately
1.6x1.4m in size are anchored at the predetermined
angles within this framework to
provide shading element.

BRIDGES

SCREENING

FINISHES
The external finish for the building was originally
visualized in brushed aggregate (grit), carefully
controlled to result in a dark base that became a
progressively lighter as the building was viewed against
the sky. This could not be implemented because of the
lack of skilled labour.
FAADE FINISH
Exposed brickwork with exposed R.C.C in cantilevered
corridors
Ceramic Tiles-Green, Red
& Grey used in extensions
to
ARCHITECTURE
DESIGN
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CASE STUDY

THE BUILT FROM

The I.H.C. has different Building volumes articulated to form
interconnected internal courtyards, which are the major public spaceThe
service cores rise to maximum height above rest of the structure creating
interesting blocking
Building blocks are linked at the fifth and sixth floor level and above by
bridges to form framed huge gateways for entrance to various
zones/court. The bridges form framed view & vistas and complete the
character of the enclosed courts.
The roof of the building is designed as a series of terraces accessible
from various offices and restaurants.

LANDSCAPING

LANDSCAPING

WATER BODY TO CUT THE RIGIDITY OF HARSH

MATERIALS

Each internal courtyard has been designed to impart a distinct-identity

to the spaces and is conducive to the type of functions or activities that
can be anticipated. This has been achieved by paving patterns in
different materials, the use of water, a play of levels and plants
Plate no 3.1.9.5.a Water Bodies Provided To Cut the Rigidity of Harsh
Material
Stepped planters serve as sitting space too. Palm trees have
been planted to create a refreshing
environment inside.
Sculptures have been placed at strategic points creating an
element of interest.

Water ponds are provided to cut the rigidity of harsh materials.

The roof of the building, too, is designed as a series of terraces, which

have been entirely converted into roof
gardens.
The external spaces have a more formal quality, to act as a foreground
for the building.

Plate no 3.1.9.b Landscaped Courtyards

The facades abound in window boxes, where plants further soften the
wall surfaces.

ARCHITECTURE DESIGN l

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