Case Study - Sloping Site

CAMPUS ON A SLOPING SITE
BHARAT BHAVAN
A CASE EXAMPLE
1
Following Points for a Case Study
The Brief and the Architect’s response

Diagrams of facts/ observations
Dig deep to understand why? Add to diagrams
Follows DK ching and Christopher Alexander
Form
Circulation
Fenestration
Principles/ properties
If approach from top... Why?

Courtyards... Why?
Roof garden... Why?
Clustered and grid planning...Why?
Network type circulation... Network/ Meandering (Interconnected)
Nature... Open to sky
Approach... Direct/ generating curiosity/ framed/ horizantality. .
Ar. Sonal Nirmal Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal

Campus on a Sloping Site
AR. CHARLES CORREA’S RESPONSE
FOR A CULTURAL CENTRE

IN
BHOPAL

NEED FOR A CULTURAL CENTRE
Intention of the Centre:
o In the 1970s, when India was a nation that had newly found its freedom, it was on a path to
make a distinct identity. The objective of the government was to make a cultural centre in
the capital cities of India to celebrate the cultural and creative output of the nation.
o to create an interactive proximity between the verbal, visual and performing arts.
o Bharat Bhavan provides space for contemporary expression, thought, quest and innovation.
Bharat Bhavan seeks to provide a creative and thought provoking milieu to those who wish to
contribute something new and meaningful, in contemporary scene in the fine arts, literature,
theatre, cinema, dance and music. It houses some of the best and most lasting that is being
created in our towns, villages and forests.
o Bharat Bhavan in Bhopal was built under this endeavour and is one of the most successful
centre for the same.
o Inaugurated by the then Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi on 13th February 1982,
Bharat Bhavan is multi art centre set up to create an interactive proximity between the
verbal, visual and performing arts. Established and financed by Govt. of Madhya Pradesh,
and run by an autonomous trust (Registered under section 5(1) of M.P. Public Trust act ),
http://bharatbhawan.org/
https://www.archdaily.com/791942/ad-classics-bharat-bhavan-charles-correa

LOCATION:
Site and Environment
Bharat bhavan is located along the slopes of Shamala hills is a semi-forst zone within Bhopal,
overlooking the Upper lake (Bhojtall) The hills are reserved for cultural institutions.
Context
LOCATION:
Bhopal has a composite climate, which means it has extreme hot summers and cold winters with a
moderate rainfall. Evening breezes are cool.
Microclimate at the site because of the lake... Cool evening breezes and lower temperatures.
The site offers panoramic

view of the lake and
Bhopal city beyond.
It already was a
Location Plan
recreation space for the
locals.
Context
LOCATION:
Context
INTRODUCTION
Architect’s response to the intention:
o To make a strong Indian Identity... Rooted in tradition and make a mark of modernism, much
different from the modernism of Europe.
o To have more of open spaces where people can contemplate, speculate.
o To have built mass that is weaved around the open space to have a direct connection with
open space.
A space to contemplate, speculate A space to discuss, debate...
A secular and democratic space for the people To promote local cultures and contemporary art
to use at all times.
Context
INTRODUCTION
o Sloping site and water: Elements borrowed from Indian traditional architecture like Fatehpur
Sikri and the ghats of Varanasi.
o The experience of descending the Ghats (The ritualistic pathway) like in those of
Varanasi are adopted to establish the connect with water.
o The experience one has while moving through Fatehpur Sikri complex or the red fort at
Agra; a series of open to sky and enclosed spaces i.e. Courtyards... All interconnected
allowing free movement in and around.
o The reason being the harsh climatic, the experience and the image one carries from history.
Courtyards of Fatehpur Sikri – Interconnected The Ghats of Varanasi

Context
INTRODUCTION
o Correas own personality, intentions and sensitivity to Indian Architecture
• The building does not overpower the surroundings.
• The importance given to the experience spaces rather then the built form.
• Correa’s own study on the shunya & bramhasthan for the central courtyard.
• The transition of spaces instead of starkly contrasting open and closed
spaces.
• His study on the importance of the use of square in Indian architecture. (both
Hindu and Islamic)
o Correa’s own study and exposure to modernism
• Studying architecture in MIT and being exposed
to various theories on modernism, critical
regionalism and the emerging post-modernism.
• Le Corbusier building in India.
• Developing on to critical regionalism ...
Command over structural systems , technology
and use of modern materials.
Context
CONCEPT: •Experience of moving through the campus.
MOVEMENT •Interconnected courtyards (The void, shunya, bramhasthan)
•Built form, a mere definition of courtyard.
The natural slope of the site have

been used to create a series of
terraced gardens and sunken
courtyard.
Over - View
Approach: Dual level
Over - View
Internal Movement: multiple choices and fexibility
Over - View
VIEWS AND CIRCULATION LEADING TO FORM ORGANISATION
L A K E
N
Possible views, Pause points,
Entrance in the central portion... Easy connection with all parts
R O A D

CIRCULATION LEADING TO FORM ORGANISATION
Store
Ar. Sonal Nirmal Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal 15

SLOPE LEADING TO FORM ORGANISATION

JUXTAPOSITION: CIRCULATION AND SLOPE LEADING TO FORM GENERATION
L A K E
Green Amhtheatre
room
Terrace Terrace
Terrace
Print shop
Library Store
Terrace
Studio Green theatre

theatre room Library
Admin
Courtyard
Book
Shop
Indoor
Auditorium
Lobby Courtyard Tribal art
museum
Permanent
museum
Store Courtyard
Administration
Permanent museum
R O A D

CIRCULATION AND SLOPE LEADING TO FORM GENERATION
The manifestation of the concept/ idea
• Three layers/ masses layered and interlocked... Corresponding to the movement.

• Generating multiple pause points... For contemplation... Absorbing things... Moving.
• Thus buildings tucked gently inside the slope... Generates terraces accessed directly from Road
• Follow the horizontality of the site…. Subtle intervention…
Road
Lake
Context
SEGREGATION OF SPACES AS PER FUNCTION
L A K E
Green Amhtheatre
room
Terrace Terrace
Terrace
Print shop
Library Store
Terrace
Studio Green theatre

theatre room Library
Admin
Courtyard
Book
Shop
Indoor
Auditorium
Lobby Courtyard Tribal art
museum
Permanent
museum
Store Courtyard
Administration
Permanent museum
R O A D

FUNCTIONS: ACTIVITIES & SPACES : SMALLER GRID
L A K E
Advantages of a dual grid...

Small – 2m
Larger – 8m R O A D

FUNCTIONS: ACTIVITIES & SPACES : DUAL GRID

FORM
The manifestation of the concept/ idea
• Buildings tucked gently inside the slope... Generates terraces accessed directly from Road
• Follow the horizontality of the site…. Subtle intervention…
• Inspite of the larger grain size; minimum disturbance done to the site.
• Grids help in generating an interesting , multiple types of proportion... This is what helps in holding
the campus togeter
Road
Courtyard Library
Library Terrace
Road
Lake
Context
CIRCULATION AND FORM Approach
Dual access: A direct entry through a series of steps

leading down to a courtyard.
A broad horizontal frame marks the entry. Human
scale.
Marks an all inclusive environment.
Network/ Meandering circulation
Each space is easily connected to other space

through the courtyards and terraces
Flexibility of movement and multiple views and
vistas offered.
Entry to each space/ courtyard marked by a

broad frame
Over - View
FORM/ ORGANIZATION
Organisation: Clustered
•No pure form
transformation observed.
•Multiple axis and multiple
scales of spaces… with
deep interlock and
connections.
Courtyard •Units/ Masses locked into
one another in section as
Courtyard
well as Plan
Built
Courtyard
•A manifestation of the
idea of a democratic
Built
Entarnce secular space.
R O A D
Over - View
SCALE
Public scale:
Height of the built as well as the fenestration is relatable to human
height.
A subtle entry to the complex... No drama or very strong sense of
mystery... Only a sense of curiosity.
At no point in the campus does the built mass over power you.because
the masses decend along with the slope.
Public Scale:
The broad horizontal massing accommodates large groups of people.
More inviting.
Breaking down into number of smaller spaces help reduce the
monumental feeling... Eg Courtyayd, terraces, change in material.
Proportion of height to width of courtyards is 4:18 keeps one connected

as well as lets in many people giving it a public scale
Recessed openings which follows a common language all along.

Use of bricks aid in further scaling down of the masses... Which other
wise would have looked brutal and monotonous .
HUMBLE
Built Courtyard Built

MATERIAL & TEXTURE
How does it affect us
The use of bricks aid in further scaling down of the masses making the
whole space more humane because a uniform and rough texture forms
on the surface... Which other wise would have looked brutal and
monotonous .
CONTINUITY
A similar material continues on the ground at the edges of the vertical
surface. A monotonous backdrop provided for the outdoor artwork.
The roughness imparted by the subtle variation in bricks imparts a visual

appeal, catches attention. Its gerua colour makes its association with
earth very strong.
The large heavy wooden doors... Makes it appear sound and strong.
The continuity is in the rawness of the material and the earthy colours.
DISCIPLINE
Brick walls also impart a sense of discipline and order; orthogonal
geometry further adds to it.
The discipline is in the following of the grid and door/ window sizes in the
multiples of the given grid.
Over - View
CONCLUDING REMARKS
A Rigid Grid,... Yet A freedom of movement
A flexible Plan
A subtle / humble appearance
a non- building experience
Over - View
Properties of a Good Architecture (Nature of Order)
Inner Calm
Roa Built Courtyar Built Built
d d
Alternate Repetition
Lake
Levels of Scale
In the various varieties of spaces and experiences in
each... Enclosed, semi-enclosed, open, recessed
openings, amphitheatre
Positive space
Readable Square/ cubical form
Framing of the entrance
Continuation of the lintel band
Over - View

Case Study - Sloping Site

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CAMPUS ON A SLOPING SITE

The Brief and the Architect’s response

Follows DK ching and Christopher Alexander

If approach from top... Why?

Ar. Sonal Nirmal Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal

FOR A CULTURAL CENTRE

Ar. Sonal Nirmal Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal

Ar. Sonal Nirmal Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal

The site offers panoramic

A space to contemplate, speculate A space to discuss, debate...

Courtyards of Fatehpur Sikri – Interconnected The Ghats of Varanasi

The natural slope of the site have

Ar. Sonal Nirmal Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal

Ar. Sonal Nirmal Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal 15

Ar. Sonal Nirmal Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal 16

Studio Green theatre

Ar. Sonal Nirmal Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal

• Three layers/ masses layered and interlocked... Corresponding to the movement.

Studio Green theatre

Ar. Sonal Nirmal Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal

Advantages of a dual grid...

Ar. Sonal Nirmal Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal

Ar. Sonal Nirmal Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal 21

Dual access: A direct entry through a series of steps

Network/ Meandering circulation

Each space is easily connected to other space

Entry to each space/ courtyard marked by a

Proportion of height to width of courtyards is 4:18 keeps one connected

Recessed openings which follows a common language all along.

Built Courtyard Built

Ar. Sonal Nirmal Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal

The roughness imparted by the subtle variation in bricks imparts a visual

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