CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES AND

ACTIVITIES , PUNE BY CHRISTOPHER BENNINGER

THE CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT
STUDIES AND ACTIVITIES (CDSA) IS
A PLACE OF EXPLORATION,
REFLECTION AND ANALYSIS ON
THE GREAT LABORATORY THAT IS
INDIA. IT WAS BUILT BY THE
ARCHITECT FOR HIS OWN TRUST
ACTIVITIES WHOSE FOCAL
CONCERNS ARE THE STUDY OF
DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES AND
THE ROLE OF PLANNED
INTERVENTIONS IN SOCIETAL
CHANGES AND
TRANSFORMATIONS. PROFESSOR
BENNINGER WAS THE FOUNDING
DIRECTOR OF THIS INSTITUTE IN
1976, AND REMAINS THE
PRESIDENT OF ITS GOVERNING
BODY.
FACTFILE PHILOSOPHY
• LOCATION :PUNE ,MAHARASTRA RATIONAL PLANNING CONSTITUTES AN
• ARCHITECT : CHARLES BENNINGER ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR RECONCILING ANY
• AREA:15 ACRES CONFLICT BETWEEN THE NEEDS OF
• BUILT UP AREA :2,500 SQMCOMPLETION : 1994 DEVELOPMENT AND THE NEED TO PROTECT
AND IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT.
SITE ATTRIBUTES
TO ENSURE OBJECTIVITY IN DECISION
THE CAMPUS SITS ON A TERRACE , ALONG THE FALL OF A
MAKING IT IS ESSENTIAL TO DESIGN GENERIC
HILL , WHERE THE SLOPES OF INDIA’S WESTERN GHAT
METHODOLOGIES
MOUNTATINS MEET THE GREAT PLAINS OF THE DECCAN
.
PLATEAU . SUCH A LOCATION PROVIDES VISTAS UP INO THE
THE GOAL OF CDSA IS TO ADDRESS THE
MOUNTAINS OR DOWN A VALLEY TO THE CITY
GOALS OF POVERTY ALLEVIATION, EQUITY,
PARTICIPATORY DECISION MAKING AND
SITE CIRCULATION SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, AND TO
ONLY ONE ENTRANCE INTEGRATE THESE ISSUES INTO
SITE IS SLIGHTLY INWARDS FROM THE ROAD DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES.
VEHICLES ARE ONLY ALLOWED TILL THE ENTRANCE & THE
DESIGNATED PARKING
VEHICULAR MOVEMENT IS RESTRICTED INSIDE THE
CAMPUS
PEDESTRIAN MOVEMENT IN THE SITE IS FACILATED
THOUGH PASSAGES & CORRIDORS LUSH GREEN FOREST ON
THE PERIPHERY & WELL LANDSCAPED COURTS ON THE
INSIDE
THE ENTRANCE LEADS TO THE ACADEMIC QUADRANGLE
FROM WHERE IT DIVERTS TO VARIOUS PASSAGES
THERE ARE 4 HOSTEL BLOCKS

ACCADEMIC QUADRANCE
1. INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE SITE PLANNING AND ZONING
DEVELOPMENT (ISD) THE SITE IS DIVIDED INTO 2 DISTRICT ZONES
• ACCADEMIC ZONE
2. EXECUTIVE TRAINING CENTRE AND • HOUSING ZONE
HOSTEL THERE IS A BUFFER BETWEEN THESE ZONES
3. SCHOOL OF DEVELOPMENT PLANNING FROM THE ENTRANCE PLAZA THE SITE DIVERTS
4. BARBARA WARD LIBRARY AND INTO ACADEMIC ZONE ON THE RIGHT & HOSTEL
ON THE LEFT
DOCUMENTATION CENTRE BETWEEN THE HOSTEL & ACADEMIC ZONE IS THE
5. NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED RECREATIONAL ZONE WITH CAFETERIA . THE
STUDIES IN ARCHITECTURE LIBRARY IS ALSO CONNECTED TO THIS
HOSTEL –RESIDENTIAL ZONE
EXECUTIVE TRAINING CENTRE AND THE RESIDENTIAL VILLAGE OF THE INSTITUTE , SET BACK IN THE
HOSTEL CAMPUS GARDENS IS COMPOSED OF [16 RESIDENTIAL SUITES]
A CAPACITY FOR 50 PEOPLE WITH 4 DORMETORIES, 12 , STUDENTS DORMITORIES [24 SHARED SPACES ] EACH HAVING
SINGLE/DOUBLE ROOMS AND 2 SUITS 2 SEMINAR AN ATTACHED TOILET & PRIVATE COURTYARD .
HALLS WITH A CAPACITY FOR MORE THAN 100 DORMITORIES , RESIDENTIAL SUITES & OTHER FACILITIES
PEOPLE ENCOMPASS APPROX 25,000 SQFT OF BUILT UP SPACE.
EACH BLOCK HAS ITS OWN PRIVATE SPACE AND BETWEEN 2
HOSTELS BLOCKS IS A SHARED OPEN COURTYARD
ACADEMIC ZONE
THE CAMPUS IS PERCHED ON A HILL TERRACE , 200M ABOVE SEA LEVEL , ALONG THE SLOPES
OF INDIA’S WESTERN GHATS MOUNTAIN AS THEY MEET THE GREAT PLAIN OF DECCAN PLATEAU
, PROVIDING VISTAS UP INTO THE MOUNTAINS OR DOWN INTO VALLEYS . THE MILD CLIMATE
ALLOWS THE INSTITUTE’S ACTIVITIES TO TAKE PLACE OUT OF DOORS AND UNDER SEMI
ENCLOSED SPACES WITHIN THE 15 ACRE

VIEW OF THE RECREATIONAL

BUILDING
• THE ACADEMIC QUADRANGLE
REFLECTS THE PODIUM OF GREEL
GYMNASIA THAT WERE ALSO
PERCHED ON THR BROW OF A HILL
SLOPE ON THE FRINGE OF ATHENS.
• THE GROUPINGS OF BUILDINGS
1. ENTRANCE THE ACADEMIC ZONE CONSISTS OF : AROUND THIS PLATORM FOCUSING
2. ACADEMIC QUADRANGLE 1. SCHOOL OF DEVELOPMENT PLANNING ON VIEWS AND STATUES ALSO
3. OFFICE 2. INSTITUTE OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DRAWS ITS ROOTS FROM CLASSIC
4. STUDY 3. LIBRARY , 3 CLASSROOMS AND TOILET BLOCK
5. SEMINAR GREEK TRADITIONS
THE RECREATIONAL BUILDING HAVE CAFETERIA ON THE GF & ACTIVITY
6. DIRECTOR SPACE ON THE FIRST FLOOR
7. CLASSROOM
8. DINING ROOM
9. KITCHEN
10. WET CORE
11. COMPUTER LAB
12. STUDIO
13. ADMINISTRATION
14. RECREATION
MATERIAL
A FABRIC OF BUILD HAS EMERGED FROM ASSEMBLAGE OF THREE GENERIC
ELEMENTS
STONE
EHICH HAS BEEN CLEARED OFF THE LAND WHERE TERRACES AE PLANTED WITH
ORCHDS FORM A STRONG PATTERN OF E-W PARALLEL WALLS.THIS CREATES A
RUSTIC SENSE OF RURAL SPACE
THE SPACE ENCLOSED BETWEEN THESE BASALT WALLS OEN TO VIEWS OF THE
MOUNTAIN IN THE WEST AND GROWING METROPOLIS TO THE EAST.
TRANSPARENT SLIDINGG GLASS PANELS
THEY ACTS AS A SCREEN THAT CAN BE ADJUSTED IN INDIVIDUAL SPACES TO
REGULATE THE BREEZE AVOIDING THE NEED FOR ELECTRIC FANS & THUS
PROVIDING ENERGY FREE LIGHTING DURING THE DAY
TILE ROOF
SLOPES MORE STEEPLY TOWARDS WEST , FROM WHERE STRONG WIND BLOWS,
BEARING THE HEAVY MONSOON RAINS OFF THE ARABIAN SEA. FACING EAST THE
SLOPE GENTLY AGAINST THE DELICATE MORNING SUN. THIS ASYMMETRY ,
WHICH IS USED THROUGHOUT THE FABRIC , REFLECTS THE THOUGHTFUL MIND .
LANDSCAPING THE SILLHOUTE OF A SCULPTURED
THE 3 ELEMENTS ARE HELD TOGETHER BY A SYSTEM OF COURTYARDS , BUST BY THE FAMOUS ARTIST
STONEWALLS, STONE STAIRS AND PAVED PATHWAYS. PIRAJI SAGGARA GREETS ONES
STAGGERED STEPS WITH SITING BLOCKS AND LOTUS PONDS ,ALL APPROACH INTO THE RAISED
REFLECTS LOCAL FORMS OF SPACE MAKING , COMMON IN THE VILLAGE PODIUM COURTYARD. FALLING ON
SQUARES , MOSQUE COURTYARDS & TEMPLES OF THIS MOUNTAINOUS TWO LEVELS , THE STONE PAVED
REGION PODIUM IS PLANTED WITH GREAT
RESTRAINT ,WHILE GIANT
EARTHEN POTTERY PROVIDES
STORAGE FOR RAINWATER.
TRADITIPNAL SEATING PLATFORMS
KNOWN AS ATLAS ARE USED FOR
RISING UP THE STATUES.

THE HARDSCAPE & THE SOFTSCAPE ENHANCE

THE CHARACTER OF THE BUILT SPACES . IT
COMPLIMENTS THE MATERIAL &
ESTABLISHESA HARMONIUS BALANCE
BETWEEN THE BUILTT AND UNBUILT SPACES.
THERE IS A KIND OF RHYTHM BETWEEN THE
BUILT AND UNBUILT .THE PRESENCE OF
PATTERN OF PROPORTION AND OF TEXTURE
PROVIDE A CONSTANT SENSE OF
CONSISTENCY THROUGHOUT THE CAMPUS