The project is the administrative building for Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) at the Raichur Thermal Power Station Campus. Raichur is located in North Interior Karnataka and falls in a hot and dry region. Raichur as a town lies at the cross hairof a rich cultural heritage and of greathistorical relevance asvarious dynasties have ruled over this region.
There was a national competition held to select the architect for this project and our scheme was successful in being selected. The brief given to us by the client was minimal. We had to design a sustainable building that can be an example to other Government infrastructural initiatives in the state. It had to be simple in presentation but be able to capture the richness of the local craft and the historical architectural styles this region has seen. It also needed to be cost effective in construction and operation. Considering the hot and dry climate the building had to perform climatically as well as designed with the ideas that express global aspirations.
The design of the building evolved out of an effort to devise a highly efficient building envelope which not only performed climatically but also acted as a connector of history, culture and context, alongside formal expression and modernity.
The linear building is peripherally contextualized by a skin wall with perforations which emulates the jallis seen in the architecture of the region, within which multiple spaces are organized and layered to bring in comfort and optimization of functionality. The fenestrations, the space planning, landscape and waterbodies are designed in a manner so as to create climatic layers and visual frames at multiple levels. The two bridges are driven out of the building through the skin wall in a symbolic gesture to view the power plants and experience its scale as well as its mechanical aesthetics.
Through a system of spatial layering, a design language was evolved. The inner most layer is the core, which is the concrete beams and slabs with vertical fins. The water bodies, located around the core of the building structure, forms the second layer and enables evaporative cooling. The third layer is the landscape on all roof slabs and around the building envelope. The skin that surrounds the building envelope, forms the outermost layer, and shades the building and the water body. The skin wall has perforations of varied sizes which allow funneled air to enterthrough it and cool the spaces around and inside the building.
To conclude, the building through its design liberates itself from the visual language of its context which is the industrial, mechanical and functional hardscape of a Thermal Power Station and in turn becomes a building with a sense of purpose and sense of belonging. Following are a few key points of consideration.
To summarize this building tries to through the design process engage in several traditional building technologies alongside contemporary building techniques, art and design which together form the rootthrough which the building form is evolved.
