AN APPROACH TO DESIGN THAT IS CENTERED ON PERFORMANCE CONSIDERATIONS

In this auditorium, which was created by Architecture Interspace for St. Patrick’s School in Puducherry, Design reflects the credo that emphasises the importance of function above aesthetics. The design was intended to make the most of the space that was available when the previous playground at the school was removed to make room for the construction. The constructed shape is plain and straightforward, with parking located at the stilt level and the examination hall located on the first floor. The theater is positioned above the stilt level for practical reasons. Even though the basement is being constructed with pilotis and a raft foundation, the circulation cores are causing only a minimum amount of disturbance to the floor space. This program’s structural organization provides provisions for simple connection on the ground and first levels, as well as a column-free theater with a bigger roof height that is supported by a structural steel truss on the second and highest floor of the building. In addition, the examination hall is divided into many smaller classrooms that are located along its length. A focused design strategy that stems from a strong effort to increase functionality and minimise construction costs, the structure features windows that maximise the admission of daylight, thereby contributing to lower energy consumption throughout the day. This is a design strategy that was developed as a result of the intention to reduce construction costs. The interior design, which consists of white walls and wooden laminates, contributes to the sense of convergence at the stage. Additionally, the fake ceiling and lighting design, which includes both white and warm white LEDs, creates an atmosphere that is both formal and pleasant. The open facade is a distinctive component that sticks out immediately. An artistic delight, the ‘jaali’ wall that was created as a consequence has a folding pattern that is reminiscent of origami. The design is fabricated by casting concrete in a plywood mold and then translating it into prefabricated components that measure 0.75 meters by 0.75 meters by 0.12 meters. The use of steel rebars with a diameter of 8 millimeters and a concrete mixture with a ratio of 1:1.5:3 results in a module that is both lightweight and robust. The wall that is produced is an accumulation of these individual modules. The characteristic of the terrain is yet another intervention that draws the viewer’s attention. Through its design as a careless surface that rises from the ground, it is both fun and formal; it is designed to accommodate groups, it is versatile in its use, and it molds the relationships of young people. The heart of this idea is that Architecture Interspace executes it by striking a balance between forthrightness and a speck or two of indulgence! Take a look at the pictures on the website indiaartndesign.com.