I

I
M

IIM AHMEDABAD
A
H
M
E LITRATURE CASE
D STUDY
A
B
A
D
 INTRODUCTION APPROACH
NAME OF THE PROJECT : INDIAN INSTITUTE AHMEDABAD IS WELL CONNECTED
OF MANAGEMENT WITH ALL THE METROPOLISES IN INDIA
YEAR OF ESTABLISHED : 1961 VIA AIR, TRAINS AND ROADS
ARCHITECT : LOUIS I KAHN, BIMAL PATEL  THE SITE IS LOCATED IN
I SITE AREA : 67 ACRE RESIDENTIAL AREA VASTRAPUR,
I BUILT UP AREA : 85,8000 SQM AHMEDABAD.
GROUND COVERAGE : 142,000 SQM  ACCESS TO THE SITE IS DIRECTLY
M CONTEXT : URBAN SETTING WITHIN AN FROM THE RING ROAD.
INSTITUTIONAL ZONE  THE IIMA IS 15 KM FAR FROM THE
A TOPOGRAPHY : MORE OR LESS FLAT LAND AIRPORT.
H  DISTANCE BETWEEN RAILWAY
STATION AND IIMA:9 KM
M
E
D
A
B
A
D
 THE ARCHITECT
DESIGNED BY LOUIS KAHN, A WELL KNOWN AMERICAN
ARCHITECT, THE 60 ACRE CAMPUS OF THE INSTITUTE
HAS IT ALL, A BLEND OF AUSTERITY AND MAJESTY,
SPACES FOR CASUAL INTERACTION, FREQUENTLY
I CHANGING PERSPECTIVES, AND A BALANCE BETWEEN
I MODERNITY AND TRADITION THAT COMPUTERS THE
SPIRIT OF CONTEMPORARY IN INDIA
M
CONCEPT PROGRMMES
A
ACCORDING TO LOUIS I KAHN, IT’S PLAN CONDUCTED
THE INSTITUTE OFFER A RICH MENU OF
H COMES FROM HIS FEELING OF A MANAGEMENT DEVELOPEMENT PROGRAMMES
M MONASTERY. ABOUT 45 PROGARAMMES ARE OFFERED
E HE ALWAYS WANTED TO GIVE A SOLID AND EVERY YEAR RANGING FROM SHORT
FORMAL LOOK HIS BUILDINGS. HE WANTED DURATION PROGRAMMES LESS THAN ONE
D TO CRETE A FORTERESS IN URICK IN WEEK TO YEARS MANGEMENT PROGRAMMES.
A
B KEEPING WITH THIS SOME OF THE THE DIFFRENT ACTIVITIES ARE AS FOLLOWS :
FEATURES:
A  EXPOSED BRICK WORK  POST GRADUATE PROGRAMME IN
D  LARGE OPENINGS OR VOIDS IN WALLS MANAAGEMENT
(CIRCULAR AND SEGMENTAL ARCH)  POST GRADUATE PROGRAMME IN AGRI-
 EXPOSED CONCRETE TIES BUSINESS MANGEMENT
 VERY LESS USE OF GLASS FOR WINDOWS  FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMME IN
MANAGEMENT
 INTERPLAY OF LIGHT AND SHADE  MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT
CORRIDORS PROGRAMMES
 HIDE ENTRANCES AND WINDOW  ACADEMIC RESEARCHES
OPENINGS  CONSULTING
 DIAGONAL SYSTEM OF PLACING THE
 SITE LAYOUT

I
I
M

A
H
M
E
D
A
B
A
D

 IT IS CONSTRUCTED IN 67 ACRES OF LAND.

 IT HAS TWO CAMPUSES, THE HERITAGE CAMPUS AND THE NEW CAMPUS JOINED
BY AN UNDERGROUND GALLERY.
 IT IS UNIQUE LOUISH KAHN PLAZA.
 MOVEMENT

I
I
M

A
H
M
E
D
A
B OLD
NEW
A CAMPUS
MIAN ENTRY CAMPUS
D SERVICE/RESIDENTIAL ENTRY
 OLD CAMPUS: THE ACADDEMIC BLOCK AND DORMETRIES ARE CLOSE TO EACH OTHER GIVING A
SENSE OF MUTAL EXTENSION OF EACOTHER. WITHIIN THE SCHOOLPERMISES LIBRARY IS THE FOCAL
POINT
 NEW CAMPUS : THE CLASS ROOMBLOCK IS SEPERATED FROM THE DDORMITORIES BY A
CENTRAL AISLE, WHIICH IS AN EXTENSION OF UNDER PASS CONNECTING OLD AND NEW CAMPUS
 MASTER PLAN OF INSTITUTE IS DIVIDED IN TO TWO PARTS
 1. INSTITUTIONAL COMPLEX WITH LIBRARY, ADMINISTRATION, FACUALTY BLOCKS, SCHOOL BUILDING
AND STUDENTS DORMITORIES
 ZONING NORT
H

I
I
M

A
H
M
E
D
A
B
A
D

ACADMIC
BLOCK
HOSTEL RECREATIONAL
BLOCK BLOCK
STAFF MDC BLOCK FACULTY
 LAYOUT

I
I UNDER SERVICE
M PASSAGE TOWER

A ACADEMIC
H BLOCK

M
E
D
A
B
A
DINNING BLOCK
D MDC

AUDITORIUM ENTRY TO V.SARABHAI LOUIS KAHN PLAZA

 ORIENTATION ABOUT SITE
THE DIAGONAL LAYOUT HAD THE ADVANTAGE OF THE IT IS THE INSTITUTIONAL AREA OF
BUILDING BEING ORIENTED TOWARDS THE SOUTHWESTERLY THE CITY THE SITE THE SITE IS
BREEZES. THE ORIENTATION ALSO HELPS TO CUT OUT THE ON VIKRAM SARABHAI ROAD.
WEST SUN REDUCING GLARE.
MAIN COMPLEX : THE SITE HAS FOLLOWING
ADVANTAGES :
I  THE MAIN COMPLEX CONSIST OF THE TEACHING WING ON
I THE SOUTHERN SIDE, FACUALTY, ADMINISTRATION OFFICES  SITE IS WEL LINKED WITH
TO THE NORTH, LIBRARY BLOCK TO THE EAST AAND DINING
M HALL TO THE WEST
MOST PART OF THE CITY.
 AWAY FROM MAIN TRAFFIC
 ENCLOSED ON THREE SIDE BY THIS COMPLEX, IS OPEN MAIN
AREAS LIKE GOVERNMENT
ASSEMBLY SPACE, A LANDSCAPED COURTYARD
A  IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER OF THE MAIN COMPLEX IN THE POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE, ATRIA,
CEPT, ARE WITHIN ITS CLOSE
H SERVICE TOWER A MASSIVE STRUCTURE WHICH HOSES THE
VICINITY.
M AIR-CONDITIONING PLAN AT GROUND LEVEL
 THE SKYLINE OF THE CAMPUS GRADUALLY RISE ITSS ATTAINS
E HIGEST POSITION WITH THE SCHOOL BUILDING
CONTEXT
URBAN SETTING WITHIN
D AN INSTITUTIONAL ZONE.
A
B TOPOGRAPHY
MORE OR LESS FLAT LAND
A
D
FORM&MASSING:
ALL BLOCKS ARE RECTANGULAR
AND SIMPLE IN PLAN

THE BUILD MASS OF

CONSIDERAABLE PROPOTION HAS
BEEN SUBUDED BY THE USE OF
LARGE CIRCULAR OPENINGS
 SITE CIRCULATION
•CIRCULATION PATTERN OF THE CAMPUS IS MAINLY PEDESTRIAN WITH VEHICULAR MOVEMENT LIMITED
TILL THE ENTRY POINT.
•THE WHOLE CAMPUS (DORMS AND ACADEMIC BLOCK) CAN BE TRAVERSED IN 10 MINUTES
•THE DEVELOPMENT OF SYSTEM OF PATHS, WALKWAYS AND RAMPS IS THERE TO REINFORCE THE
PEDESTRIAN SCALE OF THE CAMPUS
•THE WALKWAYS AT BOTH LOWER AND UPPER LEVEL DORMITORIES CREATE A VISUAL INTEREST AND
I EVOKE FEELING OF STREET BEING IN SUCCESSION
I ACTIVITIES&SPACE
CIRCULATION IN IIM CAMPUS IS
M S THROUGH THREE MAJOR ROADS
CLASS ROOMS 06 AREA-10MX14M
1. PERIPHERAL
SEATING CAPACITY-80NOS
2. INTERNAL
A SEMINAR/ CONFERENCE 05 AREA-8MX4M 3. SMALLER INTERNAL ROADS
H ROOM SEATING CAPACITY-40 SEPARATE ACCESSES ARE PROVIDED
FOR THE INSTITUTIONAL COMPLEX
M COMPUTER CENTER (EAC AREA-720SQ.M
AND THE RESIDENTIAL AREA.
H) CAPACITY-150
E PARKING OF
MANAGEMENT 01 AREA-900SQ.M
D DEVELOPMENT CENTER LEFT SIDE
OF
A FACULTY HOUSING 60 ENTRANCE
B STAFF HOUSING 90
AND IS
SHADED BY
A DENSE
STUDENTS HOSTEL 18 TOTAL AREA-900SQ.M TREES AND
D AREA OF 1 ROOM- TWO
2.7MX4M WHEELER BY
ASBESTOS
CEMENT
AUDITORIUM 01 SHADE

VIKRAMSARABAI LIBRARY AREA-3672SQ.M

CAPACITY-215
KITCHEN&DINNING RAMP
AND
SERVICE TOWER
 DORMITORIES
KAHN COMBINED THE LIVING AND
LEARNING SPACES. DORMS BEING ON
EXTENSION OF ACADEMIC ZONE.
PLACED NEXT TO MAIN COMPLEX.
DIAGONALLY IN ROWS OF THREE
I AROUND SEMI OPEN LANDSCAPED
I COURTYARDS WITH MAIN WALLS
RUNNING FORD INSTITUTIONAL
M COMPLEX .
DORMITORY BLOCK FORM ACTIVITY
CORE OF THE CAMPUS. 18 DORMITORY
A BLOCKS ACCOMMODATES ABOUT 400
H STUDENT.
M THIRD DORMITORY IN EACH ROW
HAVE CLUB ROOM OF COURT LEVEL.
E ROOMS IN GROUPS OF 10 ARE
D ARRANGED AROUND SERVICE CORE.
THE STAIRCASE , TEA ROOM & WASH
A ROOM ARE LOCATED TO PROTECT
B LIVING ROOM FROM SUN AND GLARE
A WITHOUT CONSTRUCTING BREEZE AND
VENTILATION
D

DORMITORY TYPE 1 DORMITORY TYPE 2

 FACULTY HOUSING RAVI MATHAI CENTRE
 HOUSES ARE GROUPED IN CLUSTERS •RMC IS A OCTAGONAL IN SHAPE.
 EACH CLUSTER HAS ONE TYPE OF •CONSISTS OF AUDITORIUM, COMPUTER LAB AND
HOUSING. ACOUSTIC OFFICES
•THIS AUDITORIUM HAS CAPACITY OF 500 SEATS.
•THIS IS LOCATED NEAR THE PARKING SO THAT THE
I STUDENTS AND FACULTY.
•THE ROOF STRUCTURE MADE OF REINFORCED CEMENT
I CONCRETE FOLDED PLATE
M •IT IS 1.8 M HIGH.
•AC DUCTS, ELECTRICAL CABLES AND RAIN WATER
GUTTERS ARE INTEGRATED WITHIN THE STRUCTURE OF
A DIAPHRAGM
H •SEMINAR ROOMS, FOYERS AND BACKSTAGE FACILITIES,
INSULATES AUDITORIUM FROM NOISE AND
M TEMPERATURE.
E
D FACULTY CLUSTER TRANSIT CLUSTER
A
B
A
D

TYPE 1 STAFF
CLUSTER MARRIED
STUDENT
 THE MAIN BLOCK CONSIST OF, VIKRAMSARABHAI
1. CLASS ROOM LIBRARY
•LIBRARY BLOCK FORMS FOCUS OF DESIGN
2. FACULTY WING LAYOUT AND BINDS VARIOUS BLOCKS AND
3. LIBRARY SPACES TOGETHER
4. ADMINISTRATION •CONCEIVED IN TWO SEPARATE BLOCKS WITH
TOGETHER BY A CENTRAL SERVICE CORE
LIBRARY •NATURAL LIGHTING THROUGH LARGE ROUND
I OPENINGS FROM LIGHT WELLS ON FRONT
I SIDE
•STAIRWELL ACTS AS SEPARATOR OF TWO
M BLOCKS
11.8M

•THE LIBRARY FUNCTIONS ARE ORGANIZED IN

A VERTICAL SECTIONS
a. GROUND FLOOR – CHIEF LIBRARIAN’S
H OFFICE, AUDIO VISUAL ROOM AND
M REPROGRAPHY. MICRO DOCUMENTATION,
NON
E
3.3M

BOOK MATERIAL SECTIONS, CURRENT

D PRESS, INDUSTRIAL INFORMATION, BLOCK
INDIVIDUAL PLAN OF
A 15 M CLASSROOMS
ACQUISITION, TECHNICAL SECTION
CLASS ROOM b. FIRST FLOOR-ISSUE AND RECEPTION
B COUNTER, PERIODICALS, STACK ROOM,
FACULTY
A  GROUPED IN CLUSTERS, CONSIST OF CLASS LATEST
BLOCK
ARRIVALS, MANAGEMENT OFFICES
ROOM S AND SEMINAR ROOMS ALONG WITH c. SECOND FLOOR- COMMON READING,
D SEMI OPEN SPACES RESERVED READING, JOURNALS AND
 IT CAN BE ENTERED FROM TWO SIDES STACK
 THE SEMI OPEN SPACES ACT AS TRANSITION
POINT BETWEEN DOUBLE HEIGHT CORRIDOR LAWN
AND CLASSROOMS
 THE CORRIDORS ALSO HAVE A SENSE OF LIBRAR
Y
BELONGING ACT AS AN EXTENSION OF CLASS
ROOMS BY ALLOWING DISCUSSION AND
INTERACTION CLASS
 KAHN’S CONCEPT OF SERVED AND SERVANT ROOMS
 14.3 M

FACULTY BLOCK
•THE CORRIDORS ARE HAS
VERY LESS LIGHT AND
VENTILATION

24.7 M
•THE STAFF ROOMS ARE
ARRANGED IN CLUSTERS
I
PLAN OF FACULTY
I BLOCK
M
DINING BLOCK
A
HMANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT CENTRE •DINING AREA WITH GOOD ARRANGEMENT OF
M •SEPARATE BLOCK AWAY FROM MAIN BLOCK LIGHT AND VENTILATION
•CONNECTED TO SEPARATE SERVICE
E •COMPRISING OF OFFICE, CLASSROOMS, LECTURE ENTRANCE FROM ROAD
D THEATERS, COMPUTER FACULTY ROOMS AND •KITCHEN ‘DINING IS LOCATED ON THE
RESIDENTIAL UNITS FOR STUDENTS
A •SPATIAL ORGANIZATION SIMILAR TO MAIN BLOCK NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE SITE.
•IT IS CONNECTED WITH DORNITORV BLOCK
B •COURT IS THE MAIN TAIURE WITH A PASSAGE KNOWN AS VILLAGE
A •BALCONIES
11 ROOMS ARE CENTRALLY AIR CONDITIONED WITH
OVER LOOKING LANDSCAPED COURT
•THE DINING HALL FOR STUDENTS, FACULTY
AND STAFF IS THE SAME
D

MANAGEMENT
DEVELOPMENT DINING BLOCK
CENTRE
 ADMINISTRATION
INCLUDES, BLOCK
1.RECEPTION
2.PUBLIC RELATION OFFICE
3. CONFERENCE ROOM
4. ROOM FOR STAFF
I
I SERVICE TOWER
M  PLACED IN THE CORNER OF THE CAMPUS
 MASSIVE STRUCTURE THAT STANDS LIKE SYMBOL
OF TEMPLE OF LEARNING.
A  HERE THE SKYLINE OF THE CAMPUS SUDDENLY
H RISES AND ATTAINS HIGHEST POSITION.
 ALL THE SERVICES HAVE BEEN LOCATED IN THE
M SAME TOWER WATER TANK SERVICE ROOM
E CONNECTING BRIDGE
D  CONNECTS CLASS ROOMS TO DORMS.
A  THE LIVELIEST SPACE IN THE CAMPUS.
B  OPEN SPACE FOR SITTING AND CHATTING DURING
FREE HOURS.
A  THE OPEN BRIDGES BECOMES SLIPPERY IN THE
D RAIN. LOUIS KAHN PLAZA

 INSTEAD OF USING SEVERAL COURTS. ONE LARGE

COURT IS USED AT THE CENTRE
 THIS COURT IS OPEN, AIRY AND GREEN.
 STANDING IN THE PLAZA GIVES THE FEELING OF
PEACE.
 MOST OF THE PEOPLE LIKE TO SPEND THERE TIME
IN IT, AS IT IS FELT PEACEFUL, COMFORTING AND
RELAXING.
 NEW CAMPUS
 THE INSTITUTE DEVELOPED A NEW N N
CAMPUS TO ACCOMMODATE THE
GROWTH.
 THIS WAS ACHIEVED BY EXTENDING
THE PRESENT CAMPUSES BY A FURTHER
I 39 ACRES.
 THE NEW CAMPUS INCLUDES STATE-OF-
I THE-ART INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT
M AND CONVENTIONCENTRE ALONG WITH
CLAS ROOM, DORMITORIES AND
ANCILLARY FACILITIES.IT HAS ADDED 5
A MORE CLASS ROOMS AND 12 SEMINAR
H ROOMS..
THE NEW CAMPUS HAS TWO
M MAJOR SECTIONS:
E 1. ONE SECTION CATERS TO NEEDS OF RESIDENCE
PGP,PGP-ABM AND FPM COURSES. BLOCK
D ACADEMIC
BLOCK
A . THIS SECTOR CONSIST OF SEVEN SITE PLAN ZONING
B DORMITORIES, FIVE CLASS ROOMS,
FOUR SEMINAR ROOMS, FACULTY BLOCK
A AND ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING.
D 2. THE OTHER SECTION IS REFERRED TO AS INTERNATIONAL
MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT CENTRE. THIS ALSO CATERS TO
THE NEEDS OF PGP-X AND OTHER EXECUTIVE DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS.

. THIS SECTION CONSISTS OF 164 RESIDENTIAL ROOMS , THREE

CLASS ROOMS , TWO SEMINAR ROOMS ,24 SYNDICATE ROOMS
AND EXCLUSIVE DINNING HALL .
. THER ARE FOUR RESIDENTIAL SECTION PARALLEL TO EACH
OTHER .THER ARE THRE FLOORS WHICH CAN BE ACCESSED BY
 UNDER PASSES
THE TWO CAMPUSES ARE SEPARATED BY A 132 RING ROAD.
 THE PEDESTRIAN UNDER PASS THE TWO CAMPUSES INTO A
SINGLE UNIT.
 IT FUNCTIONS AS A EXHIBITION SPACE.
 LIFTS OPENABLE TO TWO SIDES ARE USED.
I  SKYLIGHTS ARE PROVIDED OVER STEP.
I
M

A
H
M
E
D
A
MATERIAL AND
B
 TECHNOLOGY
THE BUILDINGS ARE CONSTRUCTED IN LOAD BEARING .
A  ARCHES ARE EXTENSIVELY USED WHICH ARE
D CONSTRUCTED IN BRICK RESTED ON CONCRETE MEMBERS.
 THE EXPOSED BRICK WORK GIVES IIMA A LOOK OF A FORT.
 AHMEDABAD HAS EXTREME CLIMATE :
SUMER ; SHORT AND VERY COLD.
WINTER: SHORT AND VERY COLD.
 SO THE BUILT FORM SHOULD INSULATE THE LIVING SPACE.
 TRADITIONAL MATERIAL BRICK WAS USED.
 BUT IN THE NEW CAMPUS CONCRETE IS USED AS THE
BUILDING MATERIAL.
 USE OF LIGHT
 LIGHT IS VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENT USED IN THE BUILDINGS WHICH HAS MADE THE IIM
BUILDING SUCH A SUCCESS.
 LIGHT COMING FROM CIRCULAR AND SQUARE OPENINGS KEEPS ON MOVING INSIDE THE
BUILDING OR THE CORIDORS GIVING IT A LIVING CHARACTER.

I
I
M

A
H
M CORRIDORS PLAZA PASSAGE
E USE OF ARCHES
D  ALMOST ALL TYPES OF ARCHES ARE EFFECTIVELY IN VARIOUS PART OF IIMA.
A  THEY ARE GOOD , BEAUTIFUL,BREAKS THE MONOTONY OF THE STRAIGHT WALLS AND THEY
B ALLOW LOT OF LIGHT AND AIR.
 ARCHES MADE IN THE WALLS GIVES INTERSTING PATTERN OF LIGHT INSIDE THE BUILDING.
A  ARCHES USED IN CORRIDORS GIVES A FRAME FOR THE LANDSCAPED AREA OUTSIDE.
D

FACULTY BLOCK FACULTY CORRIDOR

 ANALYSIS
CRITERIA
ENTRY •THERE ARE 4 ENTRIES –
1.RESIDENTIAL 2.INSTITUTIONAL 3.SERVICE
4.NEW CAMPUS.
•THE MAIN ENTRANCE IS NOT VERY GRAND.
I ZONING AD LAYOUT •IT IS ZONED TO ACADEMIC AND RESIDENTIAL ZONES.
•ARRANGEMENT OF PLANNING IS FORMAL.
I •REPETITION OF BLOCKS CREATES CONFUSION.
M FOCUS •NO VISUAL FOCUS
•LIBRARY IS LOCATED ON MAIN BLOCK WHICH IS
FOCUSED
A
TOPOGRAPHY •SITE IS FLAT.
H •MAIN BUILDING IS ON STILT.
M VEGETATION •SPARES VEGETATION
E •DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN.
D CIRCULATION •CONNECTED ACCORDING TO ZONING
•CIRCULATION IS THROUGH PERIPHERAL AND SMALLER
A INTERNAL ROAD.
B •VEHICULAR ACCESS THROUGH PERIPHERAL AND MAJOR
A INTERNAL ROAD ONLY.
•SEPARATE PATHWAY WERE CONNECTED WITH BRIDGES.
D •SEPARATE SERVICE ENTRY
BLOCKING/MASSING •BLOCKING IS IN GRID PATTERN FOR INSTITUTIONAL.
•LINEAR ARRANGEMENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL AND
HOUSING
•MASSING WITH SOLID WALLS
•HORIZONTALLY SPREAD PLAN.
OPEN SPACES •PLANNED OPEN SPACES FOR INTERACTION AND
RECREATION.