location: Ahmedabad

area: 260 sq m

design response

A meeting space is inserted in the centre of the existing space with columns and deep beams, sub-dividing the space into clusters of activities. The Centre houses a library/archive, project offices, director's suite, in addition to the meeting space. The partitions enclose these clusters in a simple and unobtrusive manner, reflecting the clarity of layout.  We faced a classic design quandary of having to choose between retaining the old ways and moving onto the new ones.  We chose to continue the Gandhian ways of the campus, and incorporated traditional floor seating elements for the library and Director's office. Across the campus, one will find these traditional floor seats (gadda) paired with low teak tables (dhaliya) as the common form of seating arrangement.  A wainscot band in powder blue oil paint, and meeting space in yellow lends a cheer to the space.