SPA Campus // IN  

The School for Planning and Architecture is located at the fringes of New Delhi connected to the urban infrastructure and an outstanding natural setting. Our goal for the design of the new campus was to combine this vital urban experience of New Delhi with the spectacular natural environment. On a large scale, the site provides an extensive natural recreation area with the Delhi Ridge which continues into the actual site itself. On a smaller scale, this Delhi Ridge includes a natural “canyon” on the site. The canyon became an important element in the site layout as it provides a unique recreation and community area and creates the identity of the S.P.A. - the urban campus in nature.

To achieve this urban intensity for the new campus, the buildings are placed close to each other, providing convenient access to all facilities and to each other. The functions are mixed to ensure  a minimal distance between the different departments and the common facilities. In the same way the landscape alternates with the buildings, providing residential parks, urban squares and the canyon as central natural area.

The build form consists of two typologies, one for the residential buildings which have closed facades with windows and balconies and the departments, common facilities and the recreation buildings which have a glass facade, partially shaded with vertical elements. The unshaded glass facade is used in along the pedestrian boulevards where the facade is protected from direct sunlight by the sun-screen above the boulevards. The horizontal sun-screen above the boulevards is  constructed of two precast white, concrete elements which are combined to form the actual shading structure. The boulevards re continued intro the ground floors of the buildings providing a public space as exchange zone, activated by public programs.

Team: Wilfried Hackenbroich and Rainer Mühr with Deborah Rowe and Dalia Butvidaite
In collaboration with Sumit Diwan, Architect, New Delhi