How Institutional Design can Embody and Promote Community Values and Cultures

Architecture is the direct representation of a society’s culture and values – particularly relevant for institutions that shape such factors. Their design should then take cues from local contexts, incorporating local culture to serve as a sign for what the community stands for.

Translating culture

Our design for Amity University, Kolkata takes inspiration from the famous Bengali addas – found in cafes, eateries and even roadside tea stalls, they spawn political and philosophical discourse and are a robust example of how user activities shape placemaking.

Translating the nodal character of an adda, the design scheme places all social functions at the heart of the campus. This node anchors the campus massing and subsequent vertical development, yielding 10.4 lakh sq.ft of built area.

Urban Motifs

Further, the design scheme adapts two key motifs from the urban characterof Kolkata – the colonnades associated with colonial-era structures, and the leaves of the Harsingar plant.

The colonnades frame the walkways intersecting the campus core, supporting the span of the roof connecting the amenities and define the transition between built and open spaces in the form of public avenues; while the Harsingar plant has been adopted as a motif in the facade.

Such interventions further underscore the vital presence of local culture within the institute, creating an anchor for the community.

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