KMYF at Bangalore by cadence Architects

KMYF at Bangalore, by Cadence Architects

The requirement was to build a 30-bed dialysis center. The unique feature of the site was that it was adjacent to an ancient South Indian Temple which was revered by the neighborhood for both its architectural presence and religious value.
KMYF at Bangalore by cadence Architects

KMYF at Bangalore by cadence ArchitectsThe site for the project measured 60’x40’. The requirement was to build a 30-bed dialysis center. The unique feature of the site was that it was adjacent to an ancient South Indian Temple which was revered by the neighborhood for both its architectural presence and religious value. The context in that sense was atypical of a generic urban setting. The design stance was therefore to make a sensitive intervention within the context, taking the building as a muted backdrop to the existing scenario with the temple as the main protagonist.

 

KMYF at Bangalore, by Cadence Architects 2

KMYF at Bangalore, by Cadence Architects 4With a challenging brief of a sensitive program for a hospital, it is crucial to understand the end-user who comprises of patients that grapple with emotional angst from the minute they step into the building premises. Conventional hospitals emanate a sense of sterility and are often intimidating. Hence, the principle idea was to create a building facade that is soft and dynamic, and feels light materialistically. It visually engages the patient before they step into the building almost distracting them from the function inside.

The wards have been stacked vertically to accommodate the thirty beds to ensure maximum space utilization. The building is detached from the ground to enable congregational and waiting spaces for the people. The ground floor also houses all the administration services. The services of the building are relegated to the rear and the terrace of the building is conceived as the cafeteria. Light is used as a dominant material to design the interior spaces. The softness is achieved through the use and treatment of all materials in a way that they all melt into one cohesive whole based on the detailing.

Given that the façade faces the west, the problem of the harsh sunlight hitting the building has been tackled by designing a blank white wall that would reflect maximum heat. Conventional windows have been replaced with shaded slit openings that are tucked in between undulations in the surface. The building façade is formulated by surfaces built out of brick that have a bellowing quality about them; the sensual quality of the undulations dematerializes the brick surface and renders an ephemeral feel to the building. The building skin is used as a filter to create light that is ethereal, rendering a soothing feel to the wards and the patients using them. The slivers between the bellowing shells allow light to permeate into the building only to create a spatial and visual feel that is as divine as the temple outside.

Owing to a tight site and a range of services to accommodate on the ground floor, a strategy to use syncopated metal pipes that form part of the façade and mask the services. The profile of the pipes in plan also lead a visitor into the building. The bottom half of the building is finished in a way to contrast with the hovering façade.

The façade is finished in white stucco, serving to be the perfect backdrop to the intricately detailed colorful shrine. The idea is to make the peels of the façade seem light and endow a sense of them billowing in the wind, and therefore lightness is a key effect that was intended to be achieved. This also dematerializes the heavy concrete and brick that has been used to construct it. Given that this is for an NGO, cost and maintenance was a concern, we have used locally available materials such as granites and less expensive materials such as kota as well.

Drawings

Fact File

Typology: Healthcare
Location: Bangalore, India
Principal Architect: Smaran Mallesh, Narendra Pirgal, Vikram Rajashekhar
Design Team: Thanikaivel Selvaraj, Ashwanth Birla, Gowtham Acharya, Nirali Ashra
Site Area: 2400 sq. ft.
Built-Up Area: 9700 sq. ft.
Completion Date:  August 2016
Photographer: Sergio Ghetti & Cadence

 

Share your comments

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent

The 100, Calicut, by Nestcraft Architecture

In this rural escape, The 100, Calicut, by Nestccraft Architecture, ensures a firm marriage between functionality and aesthetics and the planning suggests four bedrooms with attached toilets in a plinth area of 21OO square feet. The home and wabi-sabi landscape within this boundary facilitate meaningful life to 1OO souls.

Read More »
Pune

Pune – An Ever-Evolving Jewel

The essay traces the transformation of Pune from a quaint town to the vibrant city it is today. Mostly it is about the city’s aspects, which make it different and unique. The narrative reminisces about the city’s cultural richness and festive glory. It also points out a bit about the challenges posed by urbanization. But despite everything, Pune successfully retains its cultural essence, making it a city that preserves its glorious heritage while transforming.
This essay by Arpita Khamitkar is amongst the shortlisted essays.

Read More »

Reflection of Urban Inclusivity And Reality

The essay reflects on the author’s childhood memories centred around the Kohinoor Textile Mill. The mill, part of Mumbai’s Girangaon, played a significant role in the city’s industrial growth until the early 1980s. The essay fondly recalls the mill’s impact on the community, its cultural richness, and personal experiences. The author expresses concern about the loss of community identity and the impact of privatization, highlighting the need for sustainable urban development that preserves the city’s history. This essay by Pornima Buddhivant is amongst the shortlisted essays.

Read More »
The case of Phalke Smarak - Nashik

The case of Phalke Smarak

The essay titled, ‘The case of Phalke Smarak : Nashik’s untapped potential with existing urban public space’ – discusses how a promising urban scale public space project for Nashik city in the late 90s has slowly turned desolate, despite all the possibilities and potential the architectural design, site and overall context offers. It further tries to highlight the gap between the public and failed public spaces based on this case, and points towards public engagement for successful urban design, renewal and development. This essay by Asmita Raghuvanshy is amongst the shortlisted essays.

Read More »
The Good, the Bad and the Aesthetic - Bhopal

The Good, the Bad and the Aesthetic

This essay delves into how municipal corporations envision creating Western cities (instead of responding to the Indian context) and end up creating cities that only appear to work, instead of actually being more socially inclusive, dynamic and publicly active. The Smart Cities Mission then caters only to the rich and this becomes evident in not just the visuals they use, but also the manner in which they describe their vision of a World Class Infrastructure. This essay by Avani Mittal is amongst the shortlisted essays.

Read More »

WE ARE HIRING /

ArchitectureLive! is hiring for various roles, starting from senior editors, content writers, research associates, graphic designer and more..

 

PARTICIPATE /