PUNJAB MANDI BOARD HEAD OFFICE, MOHALI

Sarbjit Singh Bahga is a Chandigarh-based Architect, Urbanist, Author and Photo-Artist. He graduated in
Architecture from Panjab University, Chandigarh in 1979 and was conferred with Doctorate in
Architectural Science (DAS) in 2000. He is presently working on deputation as Senior Architect in the
Punjab Mandi Board, Chandigarh. His completed works include an impressive range of medical,
educational, administrative, commercial, recreational and residential buildings. His buildings are
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. His contribution to architecture
Ar Sarbjit Singh Bahga has been largely recognized and his buildings/articles have been widely published in many architectural
journals and books.
bahga.sarbjit@gmail.com

Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board is a semi-
government corporate body established in 1961 with an
objective to control and supervise the marketing
network of sale, purchase, storage and processing of
agriculture produce in the state.
Presently, the Board is functioning from its own head
office building in Sector-17, Chandigarh. With the growth
of its activities and increase in staff strength, its office
space became inadequate. The Board thus decided to
construct its bigger corporate office building in Sector-
65, Mohali adjacent to Chandigarh.
The new Head Office Building becomes part of large
multi-utility complex comprising state-of-the- art fruit
and vegetable market, commercial shops and
showrooms established by the Board on a 20-acre plot.
The Head Office Building is located on a plot of two acres
on the south-west fringe of the complex. It is
approachable from two sides, one from main road on
north-west and the other from side road on the south-
west side.
Challenges before the architect were:
 To design the office building which will match in
comfort and ambience with modern corporate offices
being built now-a-days.
 To evolve an architectural vocabulary which will be a
blend of those of Corbusian era as well as latest trends

Exterior view

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Side view with ramp
in office buildings viz-a-viz new materials and
technologies.
 To make building energy efficient and potray the
energy efficient measures on its exterior expression.
The building having an area of 152000 sft plus 57000 sft
basement comprises six floors above ground. Basement
is meant for parking of 150 cars and requisite services.
Two circular ramps provide ingress and egress to the
basement. The ground floor accommodates mainly
entrance foyer, multipurpose hall and miscellaneous
services like bank, health clinic, gymnasium,
maintenance stores, etc. All the main offices are on upper
five stories.
The built-form of the office building has been evolved
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ingeniously keeping in view all the constraints and goals.
In plan, the block is fragmented into three parts. Two
square blocks of 75 x75 feet size each at the ends have
been rotated at an angle of 45 degrees. By doing this
major portion of the office building made to align in
north-south direction which is considered good
orientation. These blocks which accommodate the major
chunk of the offices draw natural light mainly from north
or south side. East and west facades have been made
largely blank. The central block which accommodates
rooms of senior officers remained in south-west and
north-east directions -the orientation dictated by the lay
of the plot. Out of these two directions, the north-east
side is considered good as it receives morning sun which
is always welcome. Hence no special treatment was
required. The unwanted sun on the south-west side has
MAY 2014
 fully air-conditioned, the need to incorporate energy
efficient measures becomes even more important. The
following measures were taken to reduce the energy
consumption in the building:
 Orienting the building in right direction.

 Exploring the concept of mutual shading.

 Minimizing the penetration of sun by vertical louvers

and horizontal roof overhangs.
 Emphasis on natural light.

 Drawing maximum day light from north and south

directions.
Front fascade  Making east and west facades predominantly blank.

 Use of cavity walls on outer façade.

 Use of double-skin solar control glass

(6mm+12mm+6mm) which blocks upto 73% of solar
heat by reflecting it to the outside.
 All solid portions of external façade are clad in
aluminium panels which also reflect the solar heat
outside. Also the gap in between the structural wall
and cladding acts as cavity which further cut off the
solar heat.
Facade detail on north-east  Special efforts have been made to minimize the
impact of heat from terrace. Use of foam concrete has
contributed a lot in this regard.
 Incorporation of Building Management System (BMS)
and Light Management System (LMS) for optimal use
of air conditioning and artificial lighting.
The building is a showcase of architect's accumulated
philosophy and incorporates salient features like 'strict
geometric order', ' symmetry', 'clarity in structural
systems and services' and 'use of contemporary materials
and technology'.

Project Details:
Area of plot : 2.08 Acres.
Covered area : 2, 09,335 Sft.
Project team : Baljit Kaur, Kulwinderjeet Kaur,
Ravinder Kaur, Parwinder Kaur,
Geometric Order Deeksha, Darshan Singh.
been cut off by a combination of vertical louvers and Contractor : Deepak Builders, Ludhiana.
horizontal roof overhangs. This vocabulary has been Structure : Harbhajan Singh, Techpecific,
inherited from Le Corbusier, as the architect wanted to Mohali.
incorporate it in the design of this building as a mark of HVAC : Anuj Aggarwal, Ambience,
reverence to the master especially when it falls in close Panchkula.
vicinity to his works. Electrical : NK Jain, Panchkula.
As per the client's brief, the building has to incorporate Networking : RK Dhanda, Ludhiana.
the latest innovations for human comfort and ambience. Project coordination : Engineering Wing of PMB
As a result the architect has to go in for a fully air- and supervision headed by Chief Engineer RP
conditioned building with ultra modern gadgets, lighting, Bhatti.
furniture, etc. Since the building has to be hi-tech and Cost : Rs. 66.00 crores.
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 Combination of horizontal and vertical lourers Internal courtyard Sky light providing light to internal corridors

Projecting block on north-east accommodate conference hall

Provision for light in basement

Skylight Ribbon windows

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 Layout Plan

Ground Floor Plan

Section-Model

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