Architecture

S P A Bhopal Campus

Brief

As part of its programme for developing teaching facilities and continuing the quality education delivered at its town centre site in Bhopal, the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) invited parties to submit proposals for the preparation of a masterplan for an integrated teaching campus on a 'greenfield' site located near the village of Bhauri.  The campus will provide administrative, academic, research and training, consultancy, reference, residential and sports facilities, along with other necessary infrastructure facilities for one thousand one hundred students.  Following success with the presentation and interview in the initial short-listing stages.  Keppie, together with design team partners Satellier, Buro Happold and Gardiner and Theobald, was invited to progress to the next stage, which required submission of concept proposals for the site.

Response

The proposal promotes a rectilinear geometry that sets an order to the site and enhances the interaction between built form and the existing natural landscape features.  These features are further harnessed by the landscape and infrastructure proposals.  The School of Planning and Architecture faculty buildings present a frontage along the western edge of the site and address the main vehicular route.  They are designed in a linear arrangement recognising both the learning programme and the existing topographical features of the site and as such allow for future flexibility and expansion zones to the south, without compromising the masterplan concept.  The faculty buildings are contained under a single roof structure resulting in external shaded areas between the buildings that will be enhanced by landscaping and will also act as the main social space for the campus, encouraging interaction between students and staff.

Outcome

The main driver for this masterplan was to provide a high quality, controlled environment for students and staff alike.  Defined guidelines for the urban development will ensure that built forms are considered, appropriate in scale and are in harmony with the masterplan concept as a whole.

Team