Institutional
UPSIC, Lucknow
The Lucknow office of Uttar Pradesh State Information Commission was given a clear directive: to optimize a compact site with cost-effective design strategies while creating a distinct architectural identity. The design features an exposed brick façade, recessed openings, and intricately patterned jaali walls, which enhance both aesthetics and functionality. Cavity walls serve as a low-cost passive design solution, significantly improving insulation and energy efficiency. The layout is carefully planned to maximize space efficiency, incorporating conference rooms, office spaces, and essential service areas, ensuring a seamless blend of practicality and architectural character.
Client:
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Client
Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh
Area
Front view of the UPSIC, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. The design harmonizes contemporary and traditional elements, ensuring functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics.
Architectural Description
It exemplifies a modern yet cost-effective architectural approach, optimizing a compact site while establishing a strong visual identity. The design harmonizes contemporary and traditional elements, ensuring functionality, sustainability, and aesthetics. It stands as an exemplary model of contextual, sustainable, and cost-effective design. The architectural strategy focuses on efficient space utilization within a compact site, integrating modern elements with traditional materials to create a distinct visual identity.
1. Spatial & Functional Planning
- The entrance canopy offers a grand yet functional entryway, with an accessible ramp ensuring universal design principles.
- The three-story structure efficiently accommodates office spaces while maintaining an open and well-lit environment.
- The terrace area, with railing features, hints at potential usage for outdoor gatherings or sustainable interventions like solar panels.
2. Form and Façade Treatment
- The interplay of vertical fenestrations and perforated brick screens provides natural ventilation, thermal comfort, and privacy.
- Extended eaves and overhangs offer sun shading while accentuating the building’s horizontality.
- The illuminated canopy at the entrance, coupled with integrated landscape lighting, enhances the nighttime visual identity.
3. Material Palette
- The façade prominently features exposed brickwork, lending a timeless and robust appeal while ensuring low maintenance.
- Glass elements add a modern touch, facilitating natural daylight penetration, enhancing transparency, and symbolizing the building’s function of information dissemination.
- White concrete contrasts against the brick and glass, offering a sleek and refined aesthetic.
4. Climate Responsiveness
- Perforated brick screens (jaali) regulate daylight while promoting passive cooling.
- The deep overhangs and cantilevered roof projections minimize heat gain and provide shading.
- The landscape integration, with soft and hardscape elements, enhances the microclimate and ensures a green, welcoming environment.
Side view of the UPSIC, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. A modern yet cost-effective architectural approach, optimizing a compact site while establishing a strong visual identity.
A glass-clad section : on the upper floors introduces transparency, symbolizing the building’s function as a public information institution. The deep overhangs and cantilevered roof projections minimize heat gain and provide shading. The entrance canopy offers a grand yet functional entryway, with an accessible ramp ensuring universal design principles.
View of the building from front-left corner, UPSIC, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
View of the Jali location on the front side, UPSIC, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
The exposed brick façade : combined with white concrete bands, lends a timeless aesthetic while ensuring durability and minimal maintenance.
Slender vertical fenestrations not only enhance natural ventilation and daylight penetration but also provide a rhythmic and modern façade articulation. Locally sourced bricks make the screen an economical and sustainable solution.
Perforated brick screens (jaali) : regulate daylight while promoting passive cooling. It diffuses sunlight, creating a play of light and shadow, which enhances interior comfort. It adds depth and texture to the façade, complementing the exposed brickwork.
The jaali : references traditional Indian architecture, where similar elements were used in palaces and havelis to combine functionality with ornamentation.
View of the window, UPSIC, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
View of the pergola, UPSIC, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Extended Metal Pergola for Sun Shading: The horizontal metal pergola acts as an overhanging sunshade, reducing direct heat gain on the brick façade. Its linear pattern creates an interesting shadow play, adding depth and dynamism to the structure. This shading device improves thermal comfort inside by minimizing excessive solar radiation.
Tall, narrow windows : ensure natural ventilation and daylighting while maintaining energy efficiency.
Interior of the meeting room, UPSIC, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Interior of the office room, UPSIC, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Interior of the workstaion, UPSIC, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Interior of the reception area, UPSIC, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
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