SANGATH

B.V. DOSHI

JASHNDEEP SINGH
GEN 1
RESEARCH
INTRODUCTION
 The architect and urban planner Balkrishna V. Doshi Indian is one of the most
recognized and influential people of his country, but beyond that, their cultural theories
and philosophical teachings have placed in a prominent position in the international
scene.
 Balkrishna Doshi's own studio, Sangath, features a series of sunken vaults sheathed in
china mosaic as well as a small grassy terraced amphitheater and flowing water details.
Having been considered the building that fully describes himself, Sangath is a complete
combination of Doshi's architectural themes from his previous work including complex
interiors and structures, ambiguous edges, vaults and terraces. 
 “Sangath fuses images and associations of Indian lifestyles. Memories of places visited
collide, evoking and connecting forgotten episodes. Sangath is an ongoing school
where one learns, unlearns, and relearns. It has become a sanctuary of culture, art, and
sustainability where research, institutional facilities, and maximum sustainability are
emphasized.”
 SANGATH means “moving together through participation.”
 It is an architect  office.
 Location:   Thaltej Road, Ahmedabad 380054
 Client:    Balkrishna Doshi
 Period of construction:  1979-1981
 Project Engineer:  B.S. Jethwa,   Y. Patel
 Site area:   2346 m2
 Total Built-up Area:   585 m2
 Project Cost:    Rs. 0.6 Million ( 1981 )
CONCEPT
 “Sangath”, the name given to the complex, means “move together through
participation” and its purpose goes beyond designing homes or offices. It covers a wide
range of activities including research by the Vastu-Shilpa Foundation, funded by the
company Doshi, experimentation in arts and crafts, and studying various technologies
of construction or as the architect likes to define, “exploration artistic, social and
humanistic dimensions of technology “.  Here the key themes were: labyrinthine
networks of covered streets, overlapping spaces fusing into one another, shading layers
and cooling bodies of water.
 “Sangath” is a powerful architectural manifestation of an independent and original,
creative Indian architecture in its rediscovery of traditional and local in harmony with
the place, with people and with their past elements.
 Design concerns of climate ( temperature or humidity or sunlight).
 Extensive use of vaults
 Main studio partly bellow the ground (sunken)
 Very less use of mechanical instrument
 Special materials are used resulting in a low cost building costing it
 Lot of vegetation & water bodies
 Continuity of Spaces
 Use of lot of diffused sunlight
 Complete passive design
 Grassy steps which Doshi uses as informal Amphitheatre
ARCHITECTURE
 The dominant architectural forms in the complex are the vaulted, which are obtained
from a combination of local traditions and materials with historical examples culturally
prefigured such as temples or traditional headgear Hindus. These determinants joined
resulting in a complex new design to which must be added the unevenness in the main
study, below ground level and the dynamic interconnection of closed spaces both inside
and out, giving the vaults a dominant presence.
 Upon entering the complex, one immediately sees the silhouette of a vault lingering
behind an exterior wall, and a slight view of the interior is present through a small
break in the surface.
 The path turns and forces the occupant off of the north-south axis and alongside the
elevated garden walls. Now visible in perspective, the vaults begin to recede into the
background above the grassy amphitheater, water channels, and gardens in the
foreground. As one passes by the reflecting ponds that capture the vaults in still water
the entrance is made apparent. It lies at the end of an angled approach to the vaults.
 The building complex is built around a large courtyard terrace which is the main
entrance. Some of the buildings have sunk below ground level to certain ceilings domes
rise only to eye level.
 Passing through the main entrance, the visitor goes down some stairs into a room
covered by a dome and gets the option to climb a flight of stairs to a height of three
levels or go through a small hallway to the office of Doshi is presented and main
drafting room. In this part of the building, the ceiling plane rises to create enclaves of
multiple heights.
 The bottom of the vault in the hall of writing is topped with a concrete natural light
scattering in space.
SPACES
Sangath buildings complex, a set of domes and flat roofs at different heights at different
angles juxtaposed occupy an area of ​473m2 within 2.425m2 fully walled rectangular field.
The building complex is built around a large courtyard terrace which is the main entrance.
Some of the buildings have sunk below ground level to certain ceilings domes rise only to
eye level.
Patio
In the entrance courtyard fountain surrounded by dividing pools are located at ground
level and landscaped terraces. Some of the outer surfaces of the yard including arched
ceilings are coated with irregular pieces of white tiles.
In order to develop multiple objectives, the complex includes a set of open and closed
spaces that allow a variety of uses and have in common what Doshi described as the
essence of life in Indian villages, “sharing, because we must learn to respect the priorities of
the other person are as important as their own. ”
The juxtaposition of closed and open spaces is one of the links that make Sangath a
traditional building, which receives its power and beauty of local materials, the local
workforce skilled and unskilled and local values ​of architecture.
Main entrance
Passing through the main entrance, the visitor down some stairs into a room covered by a
dome and the option to climb a flight of stairs to a height of three levels or go through a
small hallway to the office of Doshi is presented and main drafting room. In this part of the
building the ceiling plane rises creating enclaves of multiple heights, complementing and
releasing between them.
The bottom of the vault in the hall of writing is topped with concrete natural light scattering
in space. At the end thereof an opening which can be appreciated from the entry site visitor
makes sense to recover its location along the main axis.
Studios
The design studios are in a double height volume topped by two domes. Including
a space with flat roof allows natural light until the end of the vaulted areas.
Perpendicular to this wing a block of four units is added, also vaulted. The two
units are facing the entrance courtyard feature a triple height and house on the
ground floor architectural design office, a conference room, lounge and a service
area. In the first and second floor spaces of Vastu- Shilpa Foundation and the
guest area are located.
PLANS
SECTION AND ELEVATIONS
SKETCHES
STUDIO
• The design studios are in a double-height volume topped by two domes, including a space
with a flat roof, allowing natural light from one end.
• The main entry lowers the visitor a few steps into the vault and proposes the choice of
ascending a flight of stairs in a three-story height or proceeding through the small corridor
by Doshi’s office and into the main drafting hall. Here the ceiling plane rises as the
inhabitant experiences how Doshi interlocks multi-height spaces and creates compression
and release between them. The underside of the vault in the main drafting room is finished
with a textured concrete that dispersed natural light into space. At the end of the hall lies
the opening saw from the site entrance and one regains their sense of place along the main
axis.

WATER ELEMENT
• Water appears as an integral character in this symphonic orchestrated experience. Monsoon rain splashes over the vaulted roofs
and slips into oversized gutters and channels, filtering into a network of ponds that at night reflect the moon’s glow off the glittering 
white mosaic surfaces.
• Details used showing the sensitivity towards water flow, include that are so minute yet experiential, such as the careful bending of
metal railings, which provide a surrealistic view of water droplets falling from the studio during monsoon.
• Rainwater and Overflow of pumped water from the roof tank are harnessed through roof channels that run through a series of 
cascading tanks and water channels to finally culminate in a pond from which it is recycled back or used for irrigating vegetation, also
working as a climate control factor.
REGIONALISM AND CLIMATE RESPONSIVE DESIGN
• The sunken interior spaces are insulated by clay within the structure. The heat from the sun is reduced by grassy mounds and the white reflective china mosaic that covers each vault. Doshi used
this traditional technique not only to reduce the heat inside the building but also as an important element of the methodology in the use of waste material. Air cooling is not achieved by
mechanical technology, which in turn is expensive, but by strengthening traditional cooling devices, improved screens cold water through which air is sucked and returned to the interior spaces,
using the stack effect method.
• Along with natural connections, Sangath holds connections to India’s culture. The layout resembles the way that a temple develops a series of stages into a final platform while the form loosely
imitates the boldness of a stupa.
• The dominant architectural forms in the complex are the vaults, which are obtained from a combination of local traditions and materials with historical examples culturally prefigured such as 
temples or traditional headgear Hindus.

Maximizing Wind Flow : Wind from West and
South-West side is taken in by juxtapositioning
structures so as to create a central open
space through which wind can flow
unobstructed.
Stack Effect Ventilating window at upper Lighting Indirect Lighting oUpper Level Large
volume releases the accumulated hot air Openings - Facing North. oSkylights as projected
through pressure difference. masses from the roof. oSmall cut-outs on roof slab
filled with hollow glass blocks.
STRUCTURE AND MATERIALS
• With the help of a mobile formwork vaults “Sangath” were constructed with hollow clay tiles embedded in the walls. The outer skin is covered with tiles fragmented pieces of waste material
from a manufacturer. Air cooling is not achieved by mechanical technology, which in turn is expensive, but by strengthening traditional cooling devices, improved screens cold water through
which air is sucked and returned to the interior spaces.
• Sangath also hopes Balkrishna Doshi create a connection between nature and the individual. The general form exaggerate the details of nature with its rolling hills, spaces such as caves, terraced
land and water channels with reflective surfaces. Rainwater is channeled through the vaults smooth, round and deposited in the troughs.
• The hollow interior spaces are isolated by clay within the structure. The sun’s heat is reduced grassy mounds and reflective white mosaics that cover each vault. Natural light filters into the
interior spaces during the day, while the moon is reflected in ponds and around the porcelain tile overnight.
• The decor is based on building materials, with the exhibition of prints formwork in concrete ceilings, contrasting with the soft and smooth concrete floor rust-colored red.
All materials and 60% of the workforce were local.

•3.5 cm thick  RCC

•8 cm ceramic fuses
•3.5 cm thick RCC
•6 cm thick water proofing
•1 cm thick broken China mosaic finish
•Ceramics are temperature resistant.
•Broken China mosaic is insulative and reflective
surface.
•Broken China mosaic  gives a very good textures.
•Water cascades from fountain into series of
Channels
•Glass bricks
•Diffused light in the drafting studio
•Whole area is covered with vegetation
•Terracotta pots and sculpture lying in the compound
ADVANTAGES
• Not require mechanical heating and Cooling
• Reduces greenhouse gas emissions from heating, cooling, mechanical ventilation and
lighting
• Take advantage of natural energy flow
• Maintain the thermal comfort
• Minimizing Solar Radiation on South and West side : The structure is closely integrated with the outdoor spaces. Vegetation on site is almost left to grow into wilderness. The West
and South façade is shaded by dense trees.
• Maximizing Wind Flow : Wind from West and South-West side is taken in by juxtapositioning structures so as to create a central open space through which wind can flow
unobstructed.
• Vaulted Roof Form The roof form creates an efficient surface volume/ratio optimizing material quantities. Higher Space Volume provides for hot air pockets due to convective
currents that keep lower volumes relatively cool.
• Stack Effect Ventilating window at upper volume releases the accumulated hot air through pressure difference.
•  Insulation Building is largely buried under ground to use earth masses for natural insulation. External walls of the building are nearly a meter deep but have been hollowed out as
alcoves to provide storage that becomes an insulative wall with efficiency of space.
• Lighting Indirect Lighting oUpper Level Large Openings - Facing North. oSkylights as projected masses from the roof. oSmall cut-outs on roof slab filled with hollow glass blocks.
• ConstructionTechnique Locally made clay fuses over the concrete slab to form a non-conductive layer. The clay fuses entrap air. Known as sandwich vault.  
• Use of Waste Material Paving material is a stone chip waste while roof surface is glazed tiles waste. They have been carefully handcrafted and integrated into the
design by fully using the waste products, which also promotes craftsmen and traditional heritage.
• Water channels: Rainwater and Overflow of pumped water from the roof tank are harnessed through roof channels that run through a series of cascading tanks and
water channels to finally culminate in a pond form which it is recycled back or used for irrigating vegetation.
• A temperature difference of about 8°C  Time lag for heat transfer is nearly 6 hours  30% to 50% reduction in cooling energy
• Waste material reuse  Water Recycling  10% saving in cost through lack of finishes.

DISADVANTAGES
• Daily-use ceramics also have the fly in the ointment, the biggest weakness is low impact strength, impenetrable touch, easily damaged, is a fragile good, there are
cracks recommended not to use, more easily broken, hidden dirt is not clean May produce bacteria
• Chinese mosaic tiles are very costly
• The extensive green buffer requires high maintenance
• Use of cement concrete contributes to green house effect, thus not environmentally friendly