JUSTIFICATION

Sahyadri Mountain Ranges, Western Ghats

Older than the Himalaya mountains, the mountain chain of the Western Ghats represents geomorphic features of immense importance with unique
biophysical and ecological processes. This 1,600 km long chain of Mountains has been added to the list of World Heritage Sites by the United Nations since
2012.

A significant characteristic of the Western Ghats is the exceptionally high level of biological diversity and endemism. This mountain chain is recognized as
one of the world’s eight ‘hottest hotspots’ of biological diversity along with Sri Lanka.
The forests of the Western Ghats include some of the best representatives of non equatorial tropical evergreen forests in the world. At least 325 globally
threatened (IUCN Red Data List) species occur in the Western Ghats. The globally threatened flora and fauna in the Western Ghats are represented by 229
plant species, 31 mammal species, 15 bird species, 43 amphibian species, 5 reptile species and 1 fish species. Of the total 325 globally threatened species
in the Western Ghats, 129 are classified as Vulnerable, 145 as Endangered and 51 as Critically Endangered.
This chain of mountains after entering the state of Maharashtra is recognized as the Sahyadri Mountain ranges
Through the years, due to globalization, these forest covers are depleting at an alarming rate and this depletion has taken a brutal toll on the flora and
fauna inhabited in these forests!

Attempts of preservation of living natural resources began in here, the need has been felt for institutions that could undertake training, education and
research and create awareness amongst everyone. Research center should be established with technical support from the Indian Council for Forest
Research and Education (ICFRE) and Wildlife Research Institute (WRI).

Need for Protection-

Importance of a Research and Training Institute
Research in biodiversity conservation is critical to the protection of public
health and the progression of knowledge that welfare both human and
nature. Biodiversity conservation denotes to the protection, upliftment, and
organization of biodiversity in order to develop ecological welfare for current
and future generations The more we know, the better we can address threats
to species diversity.
Ever since attempts of preservation of living natural resources began in India,
the need had been felt for institutions that could undertake training,
education and research in the rapidly developing science of conservation. In
particular, the vast field of wildlife conservation, research and protected area
management remained largely unattended for the long decades after
independence. To address these threats and to develop the habitat conditions
of the animals, the root cause is to be identified.
Protecting the ecology of the Western Ghats is of vital
importance not only because it would save many endemic
species from extinction but also to protect and prevent
calamities of the nature and magnitude like that of the Kerala
floods of 2018 and 2019.
In order to do so, the Government needs to identify and
implement different strategies to understand the impact of
Current Research Institutes in India developmental activities on ecology, pollution control, and
After independence under the self-sufficiency movement of Pandit conducting research to save these species.
Jawaharlal Nehru, quite a few research centers were set up with
the base infrastructure. Some of these were existed from British
times.
we see such structures today, we find they do not possess only
architectural characters, but all there has been no thought given in
planning and designing. In fact, what one can find in these campus
is a chronology of public work department which may be a
structure or two existing from British time also. But if we go to see
in the other way, they are regarded as primary or main research
center in the respective field in India.
Such centers carry out research work on projects involving the
government or recommended by the government only.

M.M.C.O.A.
CENTER FOR ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION SHREYA LOHAKARE
FIFTH YEAR B.ARCH
CASE STUDY
BOTANICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Location: 1700 University Dr. Fort worth, Texas, Internal planning:
United State -The main building, The Thinking Block, is divided into two wings with a large atrium at the center.
Client: The Botanical Research Institute of Texas. -This is a public space having a gift shop, museum and a small hall.
Built up Area: 70,000 Sq Ft (6,500 Sqm.) -The Archive Block consists of a herbarium, a windowless block having double doors system at the
Plot Size: 52,000 Sqm entrance.
Built to Unbuilt Ratio: 0.125 -There is also a transition of open and built spaces on the first floor made by scooping out parts of
The institute is a Head Quarter of BRIT, it houses A Varity of the building as shown in figure’s 7 and 8.
functions which are divided in to two Structures, “thinking
block” which includes admin areas, research houses,
educational departments, Exhibits and public spaces. The
other is “Archive Block”Which includes herbarium and
library
Zoning and site planning:
Site surrounding on the
- North side Cultural District
East Side Trinity Park
- South side Botanical Garden
West Side Cultural District
The site is well connected to by 25 m wide roads.
The building is centrally placed on the site
surrounded by the garden with parking at the west.
The main entrance is at the west side from the
University Road.
Figure ground: - The institute is a part of the large
botanical garden built on a plot size of 52,000 sqm
structure is built a very small footprint to give more
place to gardens as shown in fig.3 Volumetric
Arrangement: - The building is a regular
rectangular box place on one another with voids in
form of terraces on the first floor and grand atrium
at the entrance as shown in fig.4

Inference and program development:

The institute is located near the green belt of the West Fork Trinity River it is a part of the
botanical garden with the conservatory to its south.
- The ratio of built to unbuilt is 0.125 which is very less amount of built up area with large garden
around structure.
- This garden is having a well-planned theme. The building is well segregated in to two wings with
a central public space which divides education and research wings.
-The Herbarium is placed close to the research wing.
- The Herbarium of 1320 sqm in size is well segregated in collection department and the archive.
This building is also have a separate service entry and a staircase block with double door blocking
system to control the internal temperature and humidity. This houses of large variety of plant
spices is along with the catalogue.
M.M.C.O.A.
CENTER FOR ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION SHREYA LOHAKARE
FIFTH YEAR B.ARCH
Site Selection
The Western Ghats traverse the States of Kerala, Tamil
Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra and Gujarat. These
mountains cover an area of around 140,000 km² in a
1,600 km long stretch that is interrupted only by the 30
km Palghat Gap at around 11°N
The property is made up of 39 component parts grouped
into 6 sub-clusters. The serial approach is justified in
principle from a biodiversity perspective because all 39
components belong to the same biogeographic province
and remain as isolated remnants of previous contiguous
forest.
SUB-CLUSTERS
The 6 sub-clusters are:
WESTERN GHATS
Sahyadri
Talacauvery
Nilgiri
Anamlai
Periyar
Agasthyamalai

Taking in consideration the Sahyadri sub-cluster, it is

further divided into 4 parts, namely:
Kaas Plateau
Koyna
Chandoli
Radhanagri Aim:
• To design a sustainable model of bio diversity research institute using various passive
The Koyna region and area around the Koyna Wildlife
design strategies, which would help to decrease the use of energy resources and to
Sanctuary is being considered as a potential site to
develop the research and exploration center. compensate for the climate change caused due to concretization the design of the
research institute would research studies.
• To spread awareness and educate people regarding the ecological preservation by
providing appropriate training programs, academic courses, advisory in ecological
research and management.
Objectives: User Group:
• To increase open green and breathing spaces in the
built form. - To develop a research institute for
higher studies and encourage the public masses for
making sustainable choices considering the
environmental surrounding.
• Minimum harm to the existing terrain and disturbing
the natural environment.
• Create Environment awareness amongst youth.
• Provide proper training regarding ecological
preservation.
• Undertake rescue operations / search missions.

M.M.C.O.A.
CENTER FOR ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION SHREYA LOHAKARE
FIFTH YEAR B.ARCH