The Central Library of IIT Bombay, Mumbai – SANJAY UDAMALE ARCHITECTS, MUMBAI

The Central Library of IIT Bombay is one of the India’s largest libraries of Science, Engineering and Technology. Located in the heart of the campus it is surrounded with lush greenery, the 90,000 sft building accommodates over 500000 excellent collections of physical books, journals and non-book material in science, engineering, technology, humanities, social sciences and management and same also in digital format. The requirements consisted additional space for physical and digital functions, entire renovation, repairs and interiors with furniture. We consider the library is core of knowledge in this academic campus. So architecture is designed for inspiring environment and as a contemplative place of learning.

The building is in pristine white in lush green surroundings with solar protection fins like a piano.

The display racks for new books in circulation hall with comfortable sitting alongside.

The digital knowledge lab with windows towards central courtyard as well as external side.

Circular columns are washed subtly in white with indirect yellow light in ceiling creating warmth in the reference reading hall. The tables in a leaf shape built around the sequence of circular columns.

The reference reading hall has book racks on one side with reading tables in the centre and other side. It is filled with natural light wherein the ceilings are stepped to get maximum natural light from windows.

The periodical hall has low height display racks to allow natural light through the entire hall. The curvilinear racks display magazines with various types of seating. The colours are kept minimal and coordinated from walls, floors, ceilings to furniture to create a warm contemplative space.

Natural light is used to make pleasant ambiance in the entire building. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), Mumbai is world renowned India’s foremost institution of Engineering, Science, Technology and Research set up in 1958. Its educational & residential campus of more than 200 hectares is serene green island in the crowded dense city of Mumbai. IITB is declared as institution of national importance and is accorded the status of a university in India.

The extension to building is planned to seamlessly integrate with existing building both externally and internally. The entire building is redesigned as open plan and for views across the various spaces and surrounding greens including the central courtyard. Easy circulation is organized in the floors aligning the movement horizontally as a complete loop around every floor of the building (like a circumambulation path) and the loop is connected vertically at four corners by staircases. The vertical expansion at the top most floor is constructed in lightweight metal frame structure. It has external elevations with glazed walls for maximum natural lighting and external views of the landscape.

The glass below roof overhang opens the space from inside to outside and vice versa in natural landscape.

Some external areas are clad in metal sheets combining the textures of corrugated metal with sand plaster finishes of solar protection fins.

All library administrative office functions are brought together. A digital knowledge lab, language lab, 24×7 reading hall, new entrance hall are added. All the existing trees are preserved, protected and additions are built around them. Care is taken that the site ecology and microclimate is maintained and enhanced.

The main entrance is designed as large canopy above a glass box and added as an entry to the great institutional building. The circulation lobby is designed as a welcoming entrance hall. The open central courtyard is provided with café and landscaping for informal sitting and discussion on steps. The building except entrance lobby is air-conditioned to preserve the books and create comfort conditions for the readers and visitors. The architecture & interiors is a continuous dialogue between inside & outside, between architecture & nature, between users & natural light, between spaces inside and universe outside. The natural light, coordinated white colour and pastel shades, textures & furniture to create calm, peaceful & refreshing atmosphere to study in concentration. The library has become core magnet of the campus.

It’s important since this project brings several ideas together right from designing with reference to site and context, learning in midst of green and openness, using light for interesting environment to saving of energy, climate and place informing design, connecting users with architecture of inside and outside and reimaging the library and its architecture in the digital age.

We are continuously working to find suitable materials for expressing architectural ideas. For eg in Central Library IIT Bombay we have used glass for letting in the natural light in all spaces to create pleasant and inspiring ambience. Glass has allowed us to open views to outside greenery and create inside outside dialogue with surroundings. As the seasons change the spaces get activated accordingly. Metal is used for light weight metal structure, roof and wall cladding work both internally and externally. Both materials are easy for construction and future maintenance.

The central courtyard has 3 large trees with garden in two levels with cafe opening out to lower level.

The staircase in granite leading to upper level periodical hall from entrance.

The entrance block is a RCC canopy over a glass box openly welcoming the visitors in the green surroundings from all sides.

Natural Light is used in Library as main design tool which reduces energy bill of artificial lighting. The green surroundings are preserved to keep microclimate cool and reduced heat loads. Deep shaded windows, large overhangs for sun heat and glare protection is adopted to reduce heat loads and maximum natural ventilation for lower energy consumption throughout the life cycle of the buildings.