DESIGN PHILOSOPHY AND APPROACH

This Vision document is basically conceptualizing the value of the campus that we envisage. While
referring to academic campuses, following are the major values one would associate with to
quantitatively assess the qualitative character:

-Academic value - Associative value -Architectural Design Value

Academic Value

Academic value is the enrichment factor that campus should provide for enhancing an academic
environment. It is created by the architecture and building planning of the campus and is the most
important factor affecting the educational environment.

For IIM Sirmaur the academic value shall be achieved through the following:

1) Character and environment

a. Support academic excellence,

b. Integrate places for learning and campus life

c. Architectural coherence in the campus

d. Co-existence of the built and natural environment

While the overall design should be iconic, at the same time it should assimilate with its local
environment. The design should ensure the institute is a local feature capable of standing up to the
rigrous associated with its location. The institute should present an image consistent with the local
environment and current ecological sustainable development (ESD) principles without dominating the
landscape. It should be:

 Constructed of high quality, durable materials

 Include principles of ESD design

 Maximize the use of the available open site

 Seamlessly integrate with the local environment

 Minimize the impact of the built environment on its surroundings

 Express image and functions of a world class institute

 Repeat, borrow or redefine landscape and building elements from the local surrounding area

2) Gathering spaces

a. Foster living, learning and discover – integrated social and academic activities

b. Informal gathering spaces in places which are convenient, comfortable and effective

3) Learning environment

a. Quality, enhanced to be equipped with technology, increased flexibility and interaction,

b. A stimulated campus setting

c. Promote interdisciplinary learning

 Comfort conditions and level of user control.

 Acoustic requirements.

 Well-equipped labs and workshops with all modern equipment’s.

 Specialist requirements for furniture, finishes, fixtures and fittings.

4) Research facilities

a. Recognition to the research needs Materials used should be of the best quality and be leading edge
in terms of their capabilities in the areas of sustainability and durability. At this time focus should be on
local and regional unique and best materials.

Research has showcased that usage of due architectural vocabulary and building elements can enhance
building performance affecting performance of students and faculty positively. In addition to this proper
deliberation on Lighting, Acoustics and Air environment generates a healthy facility, thus harnessing
good academic value in a campus master-plan which can bring in an overall positive performance of all
the users/occupants.

Associative Value

It is the value which defines the interface of the user with the campus. Residents of the campus
including students, faculty and staff share a very significant relationship with the campus which could be
expressed in terms of associative value, social adjunction, building character and various building
typologies are a measure of this. Being a residential campus, people spend a significant component of
their life in the campus and these people are bright minds shaping the country and its future, therefore
the association with the campus becomes a very important factor of their day to day life. The building
environment cannot afford to generate any sense of monotony or lethargy by any means in the minds of
residents which the associative value has to take care of. Elements leading up to the Associative value
would be:

1) Neighbourhood

a. Contribution towards enhancement of social environment of neighbouring communities – the nalah

and river which are the lifelines for the people in neighbouring villages should be integrated with design
in such a way that there would be no restriction in its flow lines.

b. Reinforce a sense of community – unify the campus using clear sightlines and circulation spines

c. Encouraging commingling of functions and promotion of dynamic range of social activities

d. Engaging neighbourhood environments

e. An appropriate balance of buildings and landscape

f. Respect adjacent neighbourhoods

2) Building typologies

a. Create a campus identity – uniqueness of the building and landscape which shape these spaces

b. Mix of building typologies celebrating the vernacular configurations in a classical set-up

c. Scale and character to campus area

d. Integration of public art

e. Utilization of regional crafts

f. Universally accessibly design The building’s siting and orientation should:

 Take advantage of the views (where possible)

 Minimize the impact of prevailing winds

 Encourage passive solar design

 Have a clear and identifiable main entry

 Provide good pedestrian and vehicular access