Architecture case study India Habitat Centre, Delhi.pdf

The India Habitat Centre is a multipurpose building in New Delhi, India. It is planned as a gathering of institutions dealing with a wide variety of issues
related to habitat and also to house a variety of functions to stimulate and facilitate
many levels of interaction.
It is India’ s most comprehensive convention center.
• It provides a combination of work, commercial and social spaces.
• Design: Joseph Allen Stein .
• Site Area: 9.6 Acres(38850sq.m)

1. INDIAHABITATCENTRE,NEWDELHI
1.1INTRODUCTION
TheIndiaHabitatCentreisamultipurposebuildinginNewDelhi,
India.Itisplannedasagatheringofinstitutionsdealingwithawidevarietyofissues
relatedtohabitatandalsotohouseavarietyoffunctionstostimulateandfacilitate
manylevelsofinteraction.Ithasbeenconceivedasanidealphysicalenvironment
witharangeoffacilitiesthatwouldmaximizetheeffectivenessoftheindividuals
andinstitutions.
•ItisIndia’smostcomprehensiveconventioncenter.
•Itprovidesacombinationofwork,commercialandsocialspaces.
•Design:JosephAllenStein.
•SiteArea:9.6Acres(38850sq.m)
•GroundCoverage:25%(9609sq.m)
•Grossfloorarea–53,241.7sq.m
•F.A.R.Achieved:1.4OutOf2.5
•Parking:2LevelBasement
•Areaofbasement-36,988.9(P1=18,152.6,P2=18,836)
•Exhibition-284sq.m
•Conference-2084sq.m
•Auditorium-945sq.m
•Areaforservicesandutility-6,761.7sq.m(12.7%)
•Restaurant-672sq.m
•Kitchen-373sq.m
Fig.: India Habitat Centre

2. 1.2LOCATIONANDACCESS
TheIndiaHabitatCentre(IHC)islocatedofftheLodhiRoadonthe
fringesofLutyen’sDelhi.SpreadovernineacresoflandIHChasabuilt-upareaof
approximatelyonemillionsquarefeet.TheL–shapedsitehasfrontageonthethree
sides.ItisboundedbytheMeeraMargonwest,theVardhmanMargonsouthand
theLodhiroadonthenorth.TheFourthsideisflankedbyBalBharthiSchool.The
complexhasanaccessfromthreesideshavingtheLodhiRoadonthenorth,Meera
MargtowardsthewestandVardhamanMargonthesouthernside.Thus,ithasthree
maingates,referredtoasgateno.1,gateno.2andgateno.3.Gateno.2,onthe
MeeraMargistheone,whichdirectlyleadstothedoublelevelbasement.Thelifts
thentaketotheupperlevelsformthispoint.Theothertwogatesdirectthevehicles
tothesurfaceparkingthathasbeenprovided.Thisparkingbasicallycaterstothe
publicareasliketheconferencehall,etc.
1.3BUILDINGPROGRAM
•40,000SQMofofficeaccommodation
•Conferenceroomswithatotalcapacityof1000invariousconfigurationsholding
30to450people
•60guestrooms,5suites,5serviceapartments
•Conferencerooms,cafeteria,restaurantsandprivatediningroomscanhandle
around1500peopleatatime
•700SQMofexhibitionspace
•420capacityauditorium,250capacityamphitheater
•Parkingfor933carsand2000two-wheelers
•25%ofthetotalareagoesintolandscapedcourts
Fig.: Location
plan of IHC
Fig.: Site Plan

3. 1.4SPATIALORGANISATION
•Thehabitatcenterisorganisedasaseriesoffourtosevenstoreyblocksaround
linkedshadedcourtyards.
•Spacesaresegregatedonthebasedonhowpublictheyare.Allareaswhichare
expectedtohavelargeandregularinflowofpublichavebeenplacedclosetothe
entrances.
•Officesareaccessedfromthecourtyards.
•Courtsandlandscapedareasconnectthepublicwiththesemi-publicareas
•Thereislimitedengagementbetweentheofficeworkersandtheactivityinthe
courtyardduetohorizontalwindowswhereverticalwouldhavesuitedbetter.
Thegroundwasperceivedasavehicle-freeenvironment,andafairly
elaboratesystemworkedouttodenyentrancetoallmotorizedtrafficexceptfor
repairandfire.Allcarsandscootersaredirectedintotwolevelsofbasements.The
conferenceblockistheonlyonethatallowsentrytovehicles.
Buildingvolumesarearticulatedtoforminterconnectedinternalcourtyardsthatare
themajorpublicspaces.
VEHICULAR MOVEMENT
PEDESTRAIN MOVEMENT
CORES
Fig. -Plan of IHC showing circulation patterns
1.5BUILDINGBLOCK:
THECOMPLEXISDIVIDEDINTO2MAINBLOCKS:
•NORTHBLOCK-alongthemainroadsismadeof7
storeyedofficespaces.Lowerfloorsremainpublic.
•SOUTHBLOCK-alongtheLodhiHousingColony,holds
functionslikeauditorium,theatres,library,memberfacilities
andguestrooms.
Theheightdecreasesprogressivelyfromthenorthtothesouth
blockinresponsetothehousing.Thebuiltisalsosetfurther
backfromtheplotlineonthisedge.

4. 1.6SOUTHBLOCK(CONVENTIONCENTRE)
1.6.1LOWERGROUNDFLOOR
•Documentationcenter
•BasementParking
•Amaltas
•Kadamba
•Rudraksha
•Casuarina
•Magnolia
•Maple
AMALTAS, KADAMBA, RUDRAKSHA
This'trinity'ofroomsisanextremelyflexiblesetwithindividualas
wellascombinedusagepossibilities.Idealforworkshops,boardmeetingsand
theatre/culturalperformancesofallkindswhencombined.Canbeusedasthree
individualmeetingroomstoo.
DOCUMENTATION CENTER
TheDocumentationCentreatHabitathas6cabinsaswellas6
workstationsthatcanbehiredforvariableperiodsoftime.Fittedwithallmodern
businessaids,theDocumentationCentreprovidesanidealsettingforaSecretariat
forlargeinternationalconferences.
CASUARINA
Afixedseatinghallequippedwithstate-of-the-artmultimedia
facilitiesandeachtableequippedwithasetofmikes.Idealforseminars,corporate
presentations,pressinteractions,productlaunchesetc.
MAGNOLIA
Afreeseatinghall,allowingflexibleseatingoptionsuitedforboth
conferenceandpartyusage.
Fig.: Amaltas, Kadamba, Rudraksha Fig.: Documentation center

5. MAPLE
TheMapleRoomhasbeenelegantlydoneupforthatexclusively
partyorsmallconference
BASEMENTPARKING
Thereisabasementintwolevelsforparkingaround1000cars
(18000sq.m).Eachdrivewayisprovidedwithproperdirectionalsignage.The
movementsaresimplifiedbyadoptingonewaysystemthatgenerallyfollowsclock-
wisemovementpattern.Theentryandexitisprovidednearthemainentrytoavoid
confusion.
1.6.2 GROUND FLOOR
•Auditorium
•Lobby
•Silver Oak 1
•Silver Oak 2
Fig.: Casuarina Fig.: Mangolia
Fig.: Maple Fig.: Parking

6. JOSEPHSTEINAUDITORIUM
•Oneofthebestauditoriainthecountry,theauditoriumathabitatworldis
equippedwithstate-of-the-artinfrastructureenablingdirecttelecastand35mm
projection.
•Thehallisidealforlargeconferences,seminars,filmscreenings,presentations,
theatreandculturalperformancesofallkinds.
•Mainauditoriumhasthetranslationsystemforthreelanguages.Itiseasily
operablebytheuserasselectioncanbedonefromtheseatsitself.Thereis
provisionforcontrollingvolumetoo.
•Mainauditoriumisalsoprovidedwithmahagonyroom,ahallsuitedforsmall
gatheringwithattachedkitchenetteandwashroomapartfromcontrolroomsand
projectorroomonthefirstfloor.
•Greenroomlackstheusualrequirementoftoilets.
•Groundflooralsohasoffices&coffeelounge.
•Theleveldifferencebetweentwo-seatplatformsis1–6whichmakesviewing
absolutelyobstructionfree.
•Thisauditoriumhasbeenprovidedwithbalconyseatingtoo.
•Doublewallsystemavoidssoundsdisturbancefromoutside.
•Areaofthisauditoriumis6200sq.Ft.–Andithasacapacityof537persons.
Fig.: Auditorium Entrance
Fig.: Auditorium Seating
Fig.: Auditorium Plan

7. SILVEROAK1&2
OneofthefinesthallsatHabitat,SilverOakalsohasoutdoor
attachmentsinformofapatioaswellasgardenspace.Ideallylocatedontheground
floorlevel,thehallallowsversatileuseofspaceforeverything-rangingfrom
exhibitions,conferences,seminarsetc.tothefinestbanquetpartiesintheevening.
Thehallcouldevenbedividedintotwoseparatesections,furtherenhancingits
versatility.
1.6.3 FIRST FLOOR
•Mahogany
•Balcony
•Gulmohar
•Jacaranda 1 & 2
•Chinar
•Willow
MAHOGANY
Ahallbestsuitedforsmallgatherings.IdealforVIPrequirements
whenusedinconjunctionwiththeAuditorium.
GULMOHAR
Alargefixedseatinghallwithexcellentacousticsandstateofthe-art
multimediafacilities.Eachtableisequippedwithasetofmikes.Idealforlarge
seminars,corporatepresentations,pressinteractions,productlaunchesetc.
Fig.: Silver Oak
Fig.: Mahogany Fig.: Gulmohar

8. JACARANDA1&2
Elegantlycarpeted,Jacarandacouldbeusedasonelargespaceor
furtherdividedintotwoindependentunits.Idealforcorporatemeetings,seminars,
workshopsandfineparties.
CHINARANDWILLOW
Idealforsmallfunctions,likeconferences,boardmeetings,
presentations,workshops,seminarsandparties,theseroomscanbeusedseparately
ortogethercombiningthefoyertoo.
1.7OFFICEBLOCK
•Generalofficespacesarelocatedmainlyintheblocksadjacenttothemain
streets,andareprovidedasfreeflowingspaceswithoutinternalpartitions.
•Servicecoreconsistingoftwolifts,onestaircase,A.H.U.room,electricand
telephoneconnections(adjustable),ductandtoiletsforbothsexes-servethe
officespace.
•Allofficespaceshavetheflexibilityofprovidingtheirownwetareasapartfrom
thoseprovidedinthecentralcourt.
•Officespacesmeasureapproximately14.15mX14.15m,and33.1mX14.75m.
•Theentirebuildingisair-conditionedandthebasementsaremechanically
ventilated.
•Thefloor-to-floorheightis3.75m,butwithA.C.Ductsrunningacross,theheight
ofofficespacewithfalseceilingreducesto3.0m.
•Thereissufficientlightintheinteriorsoftheofficesduetostripwindowsalong
theside-facingcourtyard.
Fig.: Jacaranda Fig.: Chinar & Willow
Fig.: Strip WindowsFig.: CourtyardsFig.: Office Block

9. 1.8OTHERFACILITIES
CONFERENCE HALLS SEMINAR HALLS MEETING ROOMS AMPHITHEATRE EXHIBITION HALLS
AUDITORIUM BANQUET HALL RESTAURANTS BASEMENT PARKING LAWNS
1.9AREASTATEMENT

10. 1.10ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
BUILTFORM:
•TheI.H.C.hasdifferentBuildingvolumesarticulatedtoforminterconnected
internalcourtyards,whicharethemajorpublicspaces.
•Theservicecoresrisetomaximumheight,aboverestofthestructurecreating
interestingblocking.
•Buildingblocksarelinkedatthefifthandsixthfloorlevelandabovebybridges
toformframedhugegatewaysforentrancetovariouszones/court.
•Thebridgesformframedview&vistasandcompletethecharacterofthe
enclosedcourts.
•Theroofofthebuildingisdesignedasaseriesofterracesaccessiblefromvarious
officesandrestaurants.
FACADE:
•Theexternalandinternal-court-facingfacadesareverythoughtfullyarticulated.
•Theexternalfacades,presentingastable,almostclassicappearancewithmoreof
HUDCOfavoredbrickmasonryandlessglazing;
•Theinternalfacadessupportinglighthanginggardenswithstripwindows
characterizingthefaçade.
•Theexteriorelevationspossesavisuallysolid,welldetailedbase’,asimple
middle’anda`cornice’ontopintheformofanentirefloorcantileveringouton
brackets.
•Theexternalfaceshavebeengivenamoreformalquality,toactasaforeground
forthebuilding.
•Thefacadesaboundinwindowboxes,whereplantswillfurthersoftenthewall
surfaces.
•Plasterandexposedbrickworkandceramictilesonconcreteplanters.
•Chinamosaictileshavebeenusedasanadditionalfinishmaterialtoadd
reflectivenessandcolorinthecourtyards.
•Roofisfinished/coveredwithwhiteivorychinamosaic.
•Anodizedaluminumframesforthewindowsareused.
•Kotastone,firstclassbricks,sandstoneetc.havebeenusedinthecourtyards.
Fig.: Exposed Brick Facade Fig.: Exposed RCC

11. SHADINGDEVICES:
Thecourtyardisdesignedasanexampleofmediumscaleclimate
modification.Asystemofopentosky,shadedcanopiesoverthelargepavedcourts,
providerelieffromthetropicalsunwithfixedshadecastingelements,devisedto
shadethecourtyardsinsummer,andtheletinthesuninthewinter.Suchashading
devicereducestheloadontheairconditioningsystem.
•Threecourtshavebeencoveredwithapermeable,steelframedroofscreenof
flatnylonpanelsfixedforpositivesuncontrol.
•Thesolarscreenscutoffmostofthesummersun,butletinmostofthesunshine
inwintersandactasaceilingtotheoutdoorroomsthatarethecourts.
•Suchashadingdevicereducestheloadontheairconditioningsystem.
•A1.2mdeepgalvanizedsteeltubularframeworkstretchesedgetoedgeacross
thecourtyardandisanchoredtoconcreteoverhangsattheedges
.
ShadecastingleavesofPVCcoatednylonfabric,approximately
1.6x1.4minsize,areanchoredatthepredeterminedangleswithinthisframeworkto
providetheshadingelement.
THEBRIDGES:
Thebuildingsaregroupedaroundsemi-coveredcourtsandlinkedat
the5thand6thfloorlevelandabovebybridgestoformhugegatewaysforentrance
intovariouszones/courts.Thesemultilevelbridgesprovideofficespacesaswellas
linksbetweenvariousbuildingzones.Thebridgesformframedviewsandvistasand
completethecharacteroftheenclosedcourts.
Fig.: Shading Canopy Fig.: Bridges

12. FINISHES:
•Theexternalfinishforthebuildingwasoriginallyvisualizedinbrushed
aggregate(grit),carefullycontrolledtoresultinadarkbasethatbecame
progressivelylighterasthebuildingwasviewedagainstthesky.Thiscouldnot
beimplementedbecauseofthelackofskilledlabor.
•BrickthatsymbolizeshabitatbetterisusedintheExterior.
•ExposedBrickworkWithexposedR.C.Cincantileveredcorridors.
•CeramicTiles-Green,Red&GreyusedinExtensionstodefineverticalityand
alsoinInteriorsofLobby,Liftstogiveaneffectofflow.
LANDSCAPING:
•Eachinternalcourtyardhasbeendesignedtoimpartadistinct-identitytothe
spacesandisconducivetothetypeoffunctionsoractivitiesthatcanbe
anticipated.
•Thishasbeenachievedbypavingpatternsindifferentmaterials,theuseof
water,aplayoflevelsandplants.
•Palmtreeshavebeenplantedtocreatearefreshingenvironmentinside.
•Sculptureshavebeenplacedatstrategicpointscreatinganelementofinterest.
•Waterpondsareprovidedtocuttherigidityofharshmaterials.
•Steppedplantersserveassittingspacetoo.
•Theroofofthebuilding,too,isdesignedasaseriesofterraces,whichhave
beenentirelyconvertedintoroofgardens.
•Theexternalspaceshaveamoreformalquality,toactasaforegroundforthe
building.
•Thefacadesaboundinwindowboxes,whereplantsfurthersoftenthewall
surfaces.
SERVICES:
•Thebuildingservicesa53,000sq.m.builtareawithtwobasements,each
18,000sq.m.inarea,allowingforaparkingof933cars.
•Allservicesarecentralized.Upperbasementisusedforcarandtwowheeler
parkingandoffices.Halfofthelowerbasementisusedforcarparkingandhalf
fortheservicesofairconditioning,electricalpanels,D.G.setswaterstorage
andwatersupplyservices.
•Theentirebuildingisair-conditionedandthebasementsaremechanically
ventilated,sprinklersystemsareinstalledinalltheuseableareasandthe
complexhasitsownwaterpurificationplant.
•Fireescapestaircasesandlobbiesarepressurizedtopreventthespreadoffire
alongverticalshafts.
•Allofficespaceshavetheflexibilityofprovidingtheirownwetareas,apart
fromthoseprovidedinthecentralcores.Afloorgridprovidesadjustable
connectionsforpowerandtelephonesthatcanbeintegratedwiththe
partitioning.
•Computerizedbuildingmanagementsystemshavebeendesignedforthe
efficientoperationofallsystems,includingwateringofwindowboxesandthe
detectionoffaults.

13. SERVICECORE:
•AIRCONDITIONING:Chilledwatersystemhasbeenusedwithacapacityof
2700tons,100A.H.U.and100F.C.U.(forguestrooms).Generators:2nos.of
100kvaforairconditioning2nos.of500kvaforemergencylighting1no.of
125kvaforbuildingmanagementworks.
•PLUMBING:3.5lacsstoragecapacityforfire-lightinginupperground&storage
capacityof12.5lacslitresinbasementforrawandtreatedwater.Itisfedby3
borewellsof10hp&municipalwatersupply.Waterisfirstfiltered,softened&
distributionisdonewiththehelpofhydropneumaticsystem.
•FIREFIGHTING:Sprinklersystemprovidedinboththebasementsand
automaticfiredetectorsystemonupperfloorsandcarbon–dioxidespreading
systemforelectricsub-station.Firepumproomhassprinklepump,hydrant
pump,dieselpump,and(workwithdieselincaseofpowerfailure).Jockey
pumpwiththis,incaseofminorleakagepressureismaintained)Fireescape
staircase&lobbiesarepressurizedtopreventthespreadoffire.
•PARKING:Theparkinghasbeenconsignedtothebasementwithonly
landscapedcourtsoccupyingthegroundorpubliclevel.
•Mainparkingisinthetwobasementswhileparkingspaceforthe
essentialchartedbussesandprivatecarsisjustoutsidethesite,thatthe
parkedvehiclesdon’thogtheroad.
•Undergroundparkingareameasuresaround36000m²andhasa
capacityfor933carsandabout2000twowheelers.
•Upperbasement=10546sq.m.
•Lowerbasement=16306sq.m.
•Thisamountsto30%ofthegrossprojectarea.
•Allcar&scootersaredirectedintolevelsofbasements
Upper basement (600 cars) Lower basement (400 cars)

14. 1.11INFERENCES
Bybringingtogetheranumberofinstitutesfromvarioushabitat
relatedprofessionsinonecomplex,thecomplexproblemsofmeetingfacilities,
coordinationbetweendifferentprofessionalsandtheproblemslikecarparking,food
servicesetc.havebeensmartlysolved.
•Theblockshavebeenfunctionallydemarcated–Northblockcomprisesofoffice
spaceandancillaryfacilitiesareinsouth-block–resultinginwellcoordinated
spaces.
•Thearticulationoftheblockshasbeenlargelysuccessfulinachievingthedesign
objectives.Computerizedbuildingmanagementsystemhasbeendesignedforthe
efficientoperationofallsystems,includingwateringofwindowboxesandthe
detectionoffaults.
•Thegroupingof6-7storybuildingblockshasbeendonearoundclimatetempered
courtyards,whichhasenliveneduptheatmosphereinsidethecomplex.
•Facadetreatmentontheexteriorpresentsaverystableandstrongvisualeffectby
useofspecialbrickswhereastheinnerfacadesareverylight,delicateandsupport
lighthanginggardens.
•Thestructureofthebuildingisthought-fullydesignedR.C.C.framedstructure,
whichhascreatedflexiblespacesintheinterior.
•Vehicularmovementisrestrictedonlytotheperipheryofthesitewithonly
pedestrianmovementallowedinsidetheblockscreatingaveryclean
environment.Parkinghasbeenkeptinthebasementallowingrestofthesitetobe
landscaped.
1.12CONCLUSION
•ItmarksatransitionintheArchitectureofJosephAllenStein.
•TheCentreisorganizedasaseriesof4-7storyblocksaroundlinkedcourtyards.
•Officeareasgivenaccessfrominsidethecourts.25%oftotalareagoesto
LandscapedCourt.
•Services:TotalserviceArea=53,000sq.mbuiltupareawithtwobasements,each
18,000sq.mAllowingparkingof933cars.
•Thewholebuildingisair-conditionedandbasementsaremechanicallyventilated.
•FireescapestairsandLobbiesarepressurizedtopreventspreadoffirealong
verticalshafts.
•ThewindowBoxesarewateredandcomputeroperatedbuildingManagement
systemsdoesthedetectionoffault.