FORM FOLLOWS SUN: Agriculture Bhawan, Mohali

Form Follows Sun:Agriculture Bhawan, Mohali.

Architect: Sarbjit Singh Bahga

Form Follows Sun: Agriculture Bhawan, Mohali. Architect: Sarbjit Singh Bahga

Overview:

Introduction Layout Plan Form Follows Sun Plan & Section Front View Study Model Clarity in Structural Systems Geometry & Symmetry Side View The Porch Energy Efficiency North Facades Natural Lighting Functional Clarity Urban Modernity & Rural Rusticity Views Bold & Beautiful About the Architect


Introduction:

Agriculture Bhawan, Mohali has been designed with the aim to accommodate various offices of Department of Agriculture, Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Punjab at one place.

Earlier there were more than one dozen offices of these departments which were functioning from various rented premises scattered all over the city.

Bringing all these offices under one roof will not only ensure better coordination amongst them but also add to the convenience of farmers who visit these offices from far flung places.

Architect, 10/28/2009


Layout Plan

Agriculture Bhawan is located on a plot of 5.75 acres.

The five-storied building has a covered of 115284 square feet.

Apart from this a Hostel Block

having an area of 14147 square feet has also been planned in the campus.


The form and shape of the building has been dictated by the shape of the plot and the direction of the sun. The design of the building ensures that major chunk of office space falls on north side to get glare free natural light throughout the day. Some offices, mainly officers’ rooms and services have been placed on southern side.

Form Follows Sun


The plan of the building follows the conventional pattern of doubly loaded corridor running in the centre and giving access to the offices on north and south sides. Services have been placed at the ends of the corridor. Two lifts and three staircases are provided for vertical circulation.

Plan & Section


Front View:


Study Model:


Clarity in Structural Systems:

Apart from functional appropriateness, the building shows clarity in structural systems and services. The load bearing structural components i.e., RCC columns and services are strictly stacked vertically with almost negligible staggering. The clarity thus evolved is truthfully expressed in the building form. The building seems to follow the dictum of “Form Follows Function” plus “Structure and Services”


Geometry & Symmetry:

Like most of the buildings by the architect, the plan of this building also follows the rule of symmetry. Architect feels that strong geometrical and symmetrical plans have more acceptance than asymmetrical plans. This is due to the persistence of such liking as besets the common human mind-set. Architecturally speaking, such plans are less vulnerable to undesired changes suggested or attempted by some clients at later stages.


Side View:


The Porch:


Energy Efficiency:

Efforts have been made to design the building for energy efficiency. For this the measures like ‘thick outer envelope’, ‘deep recessed fenestrations’ and ‘roof overhangs’ have been incorporated in the design. Ducts/service shafts placed along the outer periphery act as cavity walls and protect the interiors from external heat, which results in natural cooling in summers. The plan of the building has been shaped in such a way that most of its parts remain in mutually created shade.


North Facades:


Natural Lighting:

Special emphasis has been laid on natural lighting in the building. The fenestrations are judiciously located so that almost all the areas in the building get natural light. Very deep areas, too far away from external glazing have been avoided. Architect feels that as sun is the source of all energy, one should be able to have a glimpse of sunshine outside while sitting inside. This way one remains cheerful throughout the day. Obviously, such interiors are well protected from the vagaries of weather.


Functional Clarity:


Urban Modernity & Rural Rusticity

The building is a pleasant combination of urban modernity and rural rusticity. The urban modernity which mainly pertains to the interiors is meant for providing comfortable working conditions to the staff. Well lit interiors, latest finishes, open-plan systems and selective air conditioning add to this aspect of the building. The rural rusticity, orderliness with fixity and rigidity expressed on its exteriors makes the building belong to the farmers who hail from rural Punjab and have, by and large, rustic life styles.


Views:


Bold & Beautiful:

About the architect: Sarbjit Singh Bahga Sarbjit Singh Bahga (b1957) is a Chandigarh based architect, urbanist, author and

photo-artist. He graduated in architecture from Panjab University, Chandigarh, (Chandigarh College of Architecture) in 1979. He works in the Department of Architecture, Punjab and has 34 years of practical experience in designing and supervision of various types of buildings, complexes and large campuses. He is presently working on deputation as Senior Architect in the Punjab Mandi Board, Chandigarh. His completed works include an eclectic and impressive range of medical, educational, administrative, commercial and residential buildings. His buildings are interesting and responsive to function, climate and materials. He is a staunch modernist and an ardent, yet not blind, admirer of Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Louis Kahn. Sarbjit is also a keen researcher, a prolific architectural writer, and a Fellow of United Writers’ Association of India. He has six books to his credit. His books, Modern Architecture in India: Post-Independence Perspective (1993), New Indian Homes: An Architectural Renaissance (1996) and Le Corbusier & Pierre Jeanneret: Footprints on the Sands of Indian Architecture are considered as landmarks in the history of contemporary architecture of India. Apart from this, he is a keen photo-artist especially in the field of architectural photography and has won many awards in this field. Bahga takes special interest in the overall development of profession of architecture and improvement of built-environment. He is an active member of many professional associations including the Indian Institute of Architects. His contribution to architecture has been largely recognized and his buildings/articles have been widely published in many architectural journals and books.

Email: [email protected]


FORM FOLLOWS SUN: Agriculture Bhawan, Mohali

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