studio sP+a

Predetermined Form at the Qatar National Museum in Doha. Desert rose inspired interlocked curved planes create shaded spaces and openings. Besides formal patterning there are interesting details of constrained mullion sections compensated by triple laminated glass supports as well as flooring and signage systems.

Taru/ Nature by Oberoi. Located In a valley of laterite soil and wilderness the units are embedded in the undulating topography with walls of laterite radiating outwards into the landscape. .landscapes

Strange Details at Laxmiwadi. Hexagonal Basalt stone block load bearing walls with raised pointing along with Load Bearing masonry walls with brick piers embedded.

Saroj Sadan 2020. Residential high rise buildings in Mumbai work with thin edge surfaces in metal and glass to maximize floor space index (fsi) consumption. This results in a typical blanched and monotonous presence within the city and its skyline. At Saroj Sadan, Volcanic Basalt stone forms the base of the building at the street while exposed brick is used as walls between the concrete frame of the building as it rises vertically. , .sharma_03

Stairs as theater. Epsilon Carbon staff housing.

Precast diagrid structure and shading device define the extent of a school currently under construction. A repeating tartan grid of program and circulation are punctuated by a central courtyard and a displaced entry block. JSW school, Nandyal.

Site visit to a verandah between trees

Centrifuge. Centering programs to the courtyard while orienting rooms to views out. Pic 1. Aerial view
Pic 2. Spiraling Stair

Form and Formlessness. Pictures 1/2 are of Mitavali , a Chausath Yogini temple form ( only 13 of these circular types are known to exist in India). It is rumored to have inspired Lutyens when designing the circular Parliament building form. Pictures 3/4 are of the Bateshwar temples within the Chambal ravines, inaccessible until the recent past and home to bands of dacoits. An incredible initiative by ASI negotiating with the Dacoits and helmed by ASI archeologist KK Muhammad enabled their preservation and restoration.

The Center and the Edge. Palaces at Datia and Orchha are contrasting diagrams of mass and void. Datia Palace has a 7 storey central building and immultilayered vertically staggered courtyard while the Jahangiri mahal has layered courtyards as well but with the building at the edge and the center as a void.

Epsilon Staff Housing, Vijaynagar.
A courtyard type on a contoured site navigated through sectionally staggered floor plates within the same building. The staircase hence becomes a zipper joint between the two disparate elevations within the building. The master plan on the last slide explains the pedestrian nature of the housing with peripheral vehicular access. The courtyards of all buildings open into the pedestrian planted forest creating a visual and physical connection on ground through the entire master plan. Photographs: .sharma_03