ARCHITECTURE THESIS

SYNOPSIS.
Academy for mountaineering & winter sports

6/10/2018
SPA, MYSORE
Rihal Poonacha
 INSTITUTE FOR MOUNTAINEERING & WINTER SPORTS.

INTRODUCTION

Mountaineering describes the sport of mountain climbing and related activities such as skiing,
bouldering and also activities such as paragliding which are possible in high altitude regions. An academy of
mountaineering and related sports train aspirants in the technical aspects of the sport, safety measures,
types of land features, disaster management, etc.

RELEVANCE OF THE PROJECT

Meet the rising demands of mountaineering as a professional venture. Limited institutions in India,
i.e. seven institutions, in which seats are booked a year in advance.

AIM
To create spaces which mimic mountains in form, texture, scale, etc, to help train aspirants in a
man-made environment while tackling challenges such as sub-zero temperatures to provide optimal
thermal comfort.

OBJECTIVES

o To gain a better understanding of anthropology, scale and its influence on learning.

o Provide design solutions to create a simulative learning space.

SCOPE

o To incorporate natural site conditions, such as topography, physical features, as part of design to
enhance training experience.
o Revive traditional and vernacular architectural styles, use locally available materials.
o To gain a better understanding of anthropology, scale and its influence on learning.
METHODOLOGY

o Study climate responsive materials that provide thermal comfort in sub zero temperatures.
o Use locally available materials within 50 km radius.
o Incorporate modern technology to make structures less prone to damage to extreme weather
changes.
o Explore earth architecture and its benefits.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH WORK

o Study response of various materials to climate.

o Visit to several mountaineering academies for an insight of existing conditions.
o Interviews and feedback from instructors and trainees.
o Compare existing conditions at various institutions, thereby tackling the problems faced .

PRIMARY CASE STUDIES

o Nehru Institute of Mountaineering, Uttarkashi.

o Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering & Winter sports, Pahalgam.
o Equilibrium Climbing Station, Bangalore.

SECONDARY CASE STUDIES (LITERATURE)

o Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering & Allied Sports, Himachal Pradesh.
o Himalayan Mountaineering Institute, Darjeeling
REQUIREMENTS
o ADMINISTRATION / OFFICES
o TRAINING AREAS
o LECTURE HALLS
o LIBRARY
o GYMNASIUM
o INDOOR CLIMBING GYM
o MEDICAL DEPARTMENT
o CAFETERIA
o DORMITORIES
o KITCHEN / DINING AREA
o MUSEUM, SOUVENIR SHOP
o INDOOR AUDITORIUM / SEMINAR HALL
o EQUIPMENT STORE
o STAFF QUARTERS
o GREENHOUSE

ACTIVITIES

o CLIMBING
o BOULDERING
o BASIC MOUNTAINEERING COURSE
o ADVANCED MOUNTAINEERING COURSE
o SEARCH & RESCUE
o DISASTER MANAGEMENT
o SKIING
o PARAGLIDING

These activities are conducted batch wise, with 50-60 trainees per batch. Each course is conducted
for a duration of one month & continue year round. Courses such as paragliding and skiing are
seasonal.
On request courses are also conducted for corporate firms, government organisations,
Schools & colleges.

SITE SELECTION

Site is selected based on natural features such as topography, availability of snow covered slopes for
skiing, river stretch for rafting and kayaking. Such factors are found in the northern states such as Himachal
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir and northern parts of Sikkim & Arunachal Pradesh.