Karunashraya, Bengaluru, India

LOCATION
It is located in Marathahalli, Bangalore.

The Nearby buildings are:

 Shankara Eye Hospital
 Sree Devi Ayurveda Pharmacy
 Navanilaya Apartments
 Ashitha Hospitals
Baiyappanahalli Metro Station to Karunashraya (10.8km)
Bangalore City Junction Railway Station to Karunashraya
(19.1km)
kundalahalli gate bus stop to Karunashraya (1.5km)
Kempegowda International Airport, Bangalore to
Karunashraya (46.2km)
Mumbai-Bangalore Highway via old airport road –NH 44 to
Karunashraya (19.9 km).
SITE SURROUNDING

•Site is located in kundalahalli gate, Bangalore, Karnataka,

India
•Site is very well accessible by all mode of transport as it
centrally located in kundalahalli gate area.
•NH44 is just 20 km away from site which further goes to
krishangiri.
•4 lane Old airport–vathur road leads to Marathahalli is a very
busy road adjacent to site. This road is very convenient for
people who’s coming by road to Karunashraya.

CLIMATE IN BANGALORE

•Bangalore has a TROPICAL CLIMATE with distinct wet and dry

seasons.
•Due to its high elevation, Bangalore usually enjoys a more
moderate climate throughout the year, although occasional
heat waves can make summer somewhat uncomfortable.
•The coolest month is January with an average low
temperatureof15.1°C(59.2°F) and the hottest month is April
with an average high temperature of 35°C(95°F).
•Bangalore receives rainfall from both the north east and the
south west monsoons and the wettest months are
September, October and august

HOW…
Climate and site surrounding affect on
site within 1 km dia.

-Water body (lake)

-Height below 20 m
-Height 20 to 30 m
-Height more than 30 m
-Open space

Summer / winter wind

(southwest to northeast)

Monsoon winds
(Northwest to southeast)

•Site located at the midst of the densely populated and prime

location on old airport–vathur main road just prior to the
kundalahalli junction.
•Big open space is near to site which allow wind to flow
through site.
•Buildings around the site are below 20m height which allow
wind and natural light to site without any hurdle.
•Lots of trees around the site helps to keep climate cool even
in summer and also act as a buffer for sound of vehicles as
main road is just adjacent to site.

INTRODUCTION
Karunashraya meaning ‘Abode of Compassion’ a non-
profitable organization. It was inspected as a registered
charitable trust by the Indian Cancer Society (Karnataka
Chapter) and Rotary Bangalore Indiranagar to provide free
professional palliative care for advanced stage cancer patients
who are beyond cure. As a charitable trust, its services are
completely free of cost and run on donations. This
organization offer patients the flexibility of alternating
between the hospice and their home, they help patients live
without pain and in dignity and peace till their journey’s end.
They have been offering in-patient care since 1999 and home
care since 1995.

Ar. Sanjay Mohe is known for his play with massing and
lighting. He often tries to bring all the five senses together by
the choice of open spaces, materials, punctures, and use of
clusters. Several clusters of similar functions are placed
through the site with courtyards or water bodies as buffer
space. The use of granite renders an all-natural look to the
hospice and the textured walls add to the experience while
walking down a corridor.
Water is known to have its influence over the five senses and
hence a major element in this design. The design is carried out
by the repetition of cellular spaces to form the major built-up.
The zoning has been carried out to keep with the privacy
factor. Each ward has been placed in such a way to get a view
of the water body or a courtyard providing ample amount of
daylight and ventilation. Plantation of trees has been
undertaken to tackle the noise issues.
SERVICE AVAILABILITY

 Karunashraya accepts only 55 bed in patients at a time and

the admission rejected patient’s contact will be registered to
notify them later of the availability (beds will extend to 85
numbers in future).
 Service is provided to people of any age suffering from
advanced stage of cancer where curing is not possible.
 Residential Health Assistants Training Programme for
adult women from lower economic groups who are later
employed as health assistants in the hospice or deployed to
homes.
 Medical treatments for curing the disease is not provided but
the nurses take care of the patients by providing them with
basic medical support like morphine is given to patients
 suffering from severe pain and also regular checkups are
done.
Other educational initiatives including workshops,
conferences and awareness programs on palliative care,
psychological issues in patient care for nurses, counselors and
volunteers; programs in partnership with the Indian
Association of Palliative Care(IAPC).

Play of light and shadows

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
 The building is situated in 82000 sq. ft. Area plot and the
total build up area is 38000 sq. ft.
Construction of the building started on 2nd October 1997. Later
on in June 2015 new ward for patients and separate
administration block were added to the old structure.
It was an attempt to create a serene environment, with quality
care, irrespective of caste creed or color, for terminally ill
cancer patients.
Much of this was achieved through the design of architectural
spaces that would complement the body and mind to be in
peace, where sensitivity to context, become imperative.
The long driveway leads up to an entrance plaza with an
Administrative area, conference and day-care Centre in front.
The wards are located towards the water body with greenery
beyond, enhancing the feeling of being close to nature.
The nurses living quarters, through close to the wards has its
own privacy, with an independent entrance and a residential
ambience.
The building is stone structure with composite masonry.
The building is designed in a way that all rooms of the patients
receive natural lighting and ventilation.
The patients can relax with a view of greenery on one side and
water on other of their ward.
Recreational activities include indoor games, watching T.V,
newspaper etc.
A 100 seat auditorium is provided for conferences and
training.
Four bore wells dug initially
yielded about 10,000 liters per
hour feeding two large
overhead tanks.
 Solar energy is used to serve power to the lightning in the
wards and also exterior.

1.Ward
2.Nurse station
3.Toilet
4.Corridor
5.Reception
6.Administration
7.Day care
8.Court
9.Single bedroom
10.Double bedroom
11. Meditation
12. Drying yard
13. Laundry
14. Kitchen
15. Dining area
16. Prayer room
17. Siting area
18. Auditorium
19. Morgue
20. Conference room
----Pedestrian path
----Ambulance path
----Service entry

----Vehicular path
Ground Floor
First Floor

The inpatient wards of Karunashraya Hospice

KARUNASHRAYA had already invested in rain harvesting, water recharge mechanisms and The
entire80-bedhospice, the dormitory and ward lights run on solar-generated electricity.
There is also a solar water heating system in place. The campus and drive-way lights are powered by
solar energy. The building recently featured in the media as one inspiring a green revolution. The
building is a stone structure with composite masonry (i.e., Granite stone on the outside and brick-
plaster on the inside).
To the north of the water body is a mini forest, with ornamental perennial and fruit trees. Below these
trees are pathways, properly lit, and with granite benches where the patients can walk about or sit
down and talk to their relatives in privacy.
 Street light runs on solar
Used of local material Used of solar panels panels

water
Innerbody for micro climate
courtyards
“KARUNASHRAYA reminds us of the miles to go before we
sleep – and of the healing touch. “
SERVICES PROVIDED

2.5m wide COMMON PASSAGE Which connect

all The Structure Internally. STAIRCASE provided
for 3m height in new building with 0.15m riser &
0.30 trade which Further lead to roof top. 30m
RAMP is Provided in new Building as patient
Wards Are given above.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS are provided near every ward There are total 6
general wards in Karunashraya which have 2WC 2BATH &
1HANDICAP TOILET in it.

PLASTIC DUSTBINS are provided at 5-7 m intervals

through out the common passage area. Garbage is
collected in different bags and taken by the municipal
corporation daily. Dustbins are kept in and outside the
wards too.

SOLAR PANELS are provided on roof top Which are used

for hot water only. Municipal water is collected in UGT it
pumped up to OHT and further distributed to all over the
campus.