search

New CEPT University Campus | Christopher Charles Benninger

New CEPT University Campus | Christopher Charles Benninger

As CEPT University has grown and evolved from very informal teaching and learning methods, in an ashram-like atmosphere of small classes, gradually evolving into a world-class university with highly diverse and numerous course offerings, the need for additional learning spaces has increased, almost to the point of crises.

Thus, the Board of Management decided to create a new hub for learning and research, that addresses the future vision of the campus. The Academic hub is envisioned as a center for teaching and research, integrating students from many professional disciplines into a common gathering area.

A large research facility will integrate into the hub at a later stage. At present a new centre of learning is envisioned that will include a much-needed auditorium with a capacity of seating five hundred participants; four lecture spaces seating up to eighty people each; eight classrooms accommodating forty students each, and eight seminar rooms accommodating between twenty-five and thirty students each. These facilities will also require supporting sanitary facilities, as well as vertical and horizontal circulation areas. Additionally, Exam snap is included in the course curriculum throughout the academic years.

The commission was awarded to Christopher Benninger who has been associated with the CEPT University since he came to the School of Architecture as a Fulbright Fellow in 1968. In late 1971 he returned to CEPT, from the Graduate School of Design, where he was teaching, to initiate the School of Planning. Since his days at CEPT, he has founded the Centre for Development Studies and Activities, taught architecture and planning, and carried out the designs of numerous award-winning educational campuses. His well-known designs include the Centre for Development Studies and Activities; the Mahindra United World College of India; the new campus at IIM, Calcutta; the emerging IIT, Hyderabad; the Institute of Social Sciences, New Delhi; structures at the College of Engineering, Pune; and the Samundra Institute of Maritime Studies, amongst others. He is the architect for the new Azim Premji University at Bengaluru. These institutes and other award-winning projects, ranging from large industrial pavilions to corporate headquarters, convinced the management that his extensive teaching career, published works, half-century association with CEPT, and his outstanding design career were the required prerequisites to undertake this important commission.

New CEPT University Campus

The concept design for this new Academic Hub locates the facility in the North-west corner of the CEPT University campus. The design envisions the built form as being a vibrant hinge, interconnecting a promenade running in front of the School of Architecture, along the iconic campus lawn a connecting through a portico to a water feature where the storm collection pool is, and a lively concourse passing the new café, leading into the Shrenikbhai Lalbhai Plaza.

The design creates a two-level gathering portico, from which one enters the auditorium, accesses an elevator, ascends stairs up to the first level and accesses sanitary facilities.

New CEPT University Campus Plan
New CEPT University Campus

The plan was evolved in a manner to conserve the older trees on the site, by sliding the structure in three portions from the east to the west, making pockets for these trees. The west side of the auditorium employs movable fenestration opening out onto the water pool. The first level hosts verandah connecting to the upper campus lawn. A bridge connects the café, which sits at a raised level, into the first floor of the portico.

Learning spaces are accessed from a central airy atrium, employing natural light from skylights above, and ventilation drawing fresh air in through sliding screens on the facades, making a building envelope, which shades the entire structure and protects it from the harsh summer sun. Fresh air is gathered from verandahs between the classrooms and these screens. Thus, there is a double skinned envelope employing flexible, moving shade screens on the outer face, separated from sliding glass panels within the classrooms vide small verandahs reminiscent of the balconies in the School of Architecture. All the sectional-elevation heights mirror those of the iconic School of Architecture, constructed more than fifty years ago, gifting a sense of enclosure, yet openness to the campus lawns.

The materials palette includes exposed concrete, aluminium framed glass fenestration within the interior, aluminium sliding jaali panels on the facades, and glass sliding panels set back within small verandahs.

There is an attempt to create transparency though the building, using opaque glass walls between the classrooms and the atrium, while employing solid walls between classrooms. Floors will be of polished Kota stone.

New cept university campus is conceived as a green and sustainable one, using non-toxic materials, recycling all the water, employing passive lighting by reflecting daylight from the jaalis up to the ceilings in the classrooms, using air coolers and water-based VRV air handling, where needed, and shading the structure from Ahmedabad’s hot sun. Photovoltaic electric panels on the roof reduce the use of carbon fuels while shading the insulated roof from the piercing Ahmedabad sun! Four lecture spaces with lecture theatre seating which caters up to eighty people each.

source

A Modern Bali House With Timeless Tropical Charm | Biombo Architects

Located in the coastal village of Pererenan, Bali, House Terra is a contemporary response to tropical living, designed by Biombo Architects as a family retreat. The project balances built space and landscape, creating a strong connection between architecture and nature while offering shelter from the island’s monsoon climate. Editor’s Note: “House Terra, more than a […]

Read More

Minimal Home Interior Design That Honors Heritage in a 15′ Wide Plot | Dinterplay Architects

Located on a 15′ x 95′ ancestral plot in a pal village, Surat, India, this residence is designed for a multi-generational family of seven. This minimal home interior design solves light and space challenges within a narrow plot. The family wanted to stay connected with their community and preserve their cultural roots. The site has […]

Read More

This Bungalow Is A Poetic Take On Modern Exterior House Design | Sparc Design

“The sky’s ever-changing canvas, painted with hues of blues at dawn and greys and blacks at dusk, seamlessly weaves itself into the very fabric of this home’s architecture and interior.” Located in a comparatively narrow lane of bungalow plots, this modern exterior house design borrows its modern straight-line form and color from the sky. A […]

Read More

15 Courtyards in Houses: Designing Tranquil Spaces That Elevate Homes

Timeless architectural features, such as courtyards, are always associated with bringing the naturally public forms to the world’s heart, building the most peaceful, secluded outdoor areas. These outdoor spaces maximize the living experience with their private space feature, which gives one the option for leisurely relaxation, recreation, or gardening. Furthermore, it has also been a […]

Read More

The Residence Features An Exposed Brick Design That Enhances Its Street Presence | R+R Architects

The residence is sensitively designed and compatible with the neighborhood. Distinct from neighboring structures, the building creates a strong relationship to the streets by virtue of its large windows in facades. While there are dramatic and larger scale elements that define the building, it is also broken down into comprehensible human scale blocks with an […]

Read More

This Simple Contemporary House Design Harmonizes Craftsmanship and Nature | Karaagre Designs

This contemporary residence, covering 7500 square feet, combines modern design with timeless elegance to create a peaceful and luxurious retreat within a busy urban environment. The home is built around large frames that open up to nature, blending the interior with its surroundings. The design focuses on craftsmanship and harmony, making the simple contemporary house […]

Read More

Neuroarchitecture: Designing for the Human Mind

Imagine walking into a sunlit room with high ceilings, warm wooden floors, and a view of a leafy courtyard. How do you feel? Calm? Inspired? At ease? That’s not just your mood—it’s your brain responding to the space around you. Neuroarchitecture is an evolving domain that merges the understanding of neuroscience, psychology, and architecture to […]

Read More

Postmodernism Architecture: History, Elements & Famous Buildings

Architecture is more than just the construction of buildings, it is a reflection of our values, art, culture, and society. It is a movement towards new, promising, and philosophical design strategies. One such movement that significantly influenced the architectural landscape is Postmodernism architecture. In this research article, readers will find a comprehensive guide for Postmodernism […]

Read More

Mango Tree House is a Reflection of Traditional Modern Home Design | Offbeat Studio

Mango Tree House is an artfully designed personal residence that seamlessly integrates traditional architectural elements with the comforts of modern living, embodying the essence of traditional modern home design. Some houses are more than just structures; they hold stories, memories, and a deep connection to the land. Mango Tree House is one such space—one that […]

Read More

Modern Architecture Homes: 15 Trending Styles To Explore

What if the home of the future didn’t have walls? Modern architecture homes aren’t just about aesthetics – it’s a rebellion. A conscious break from tradition. In a world obsessed with innovation, our homes are becoming laboratories of design, sustainability, and radical thought. Modern architecture homes are sharp-edged, glass-wrapped, tech-infused sanctuaries that defy the standard. […]

Read More
  • METALLIC CHAIR DESIGN

    Contemporary-Modern Home | SDeG