Administrative Building: IASS, Badrinarayan Sevagram, Meerut, U.P.

The Concept

The administrative building is designed as a contemporary institutional landmark for International Association for Scientific Spiritualism, Meerut. The building’s massing is defined by a primary monolithic volume, which is strategically punctured by deep-set windows and cantilevered elements. This interplay of solids and voids creates a rhythmic facade that shifts with the path of the sun, providing natural shading while maintaining a strong street presence.

Materiality & Texture

The material palette is a sophisticated blend of earthy tones and modern industrial finishes:

• Exposed Brickwork: The primary skin of the building features a cream-toned, stretcher brick bond that emphasizes the building’s horizontality and provides a tactile, human scale to the institution.
• Ornamental Parapets: Crowning the structure is a distinct brick frieze with geometric perforations, serving as a contemporary interpretation of traditional jaali work.
• Accents: Rectilinear frames surround key windows, acting as shading and framing devices, providing a crisp contrast to the textured handmade brick.

Key Design Features

• The Cantilevered Entry: A bold, suspended balcony marks the entrance, providing a sheltered “sense of arrival” while doubling as a green spill-out space for the upper floors.
• Climate-Responsive Fenestrations: The facade utilizes a mix of vertical slit windows and horizontal ribbon windows. This ensures that the interior offices remain well-lit while minimizing the harsh glare typical of the Meerut climate.
• Softscape Integration: Integrated planter boxes on the balcony, along the plinth and tree plantings surrounding the building soften the geometry of the brick and concrete, weaving nature directly into the workspace.

Spatial Fluidity

The building is designed to feel outward-looking and welcoming. The use of warm wooden doors and large glass panel windows ensures that while the building is structurally “heavy” while remaining visually transparent and welcoming. The flow of spaces further enhances this fluidity with an open plan office designed to create a collaborative environment.