NCSCM

Chennai, India

Photo © Manoj Sudhakaran

Architects: Flying Elephant Studio

Location: Chennai, India
Year: 2016
Client: National Center for Sustainable Coastal Management
Architects: Akshita Sivakumar, Nakul Kumar, Nabila Birjis, Anisha Menon, Sabyasachi Routray, Vishal Siddamsetty, Dinesh Jayavel, Shankar Nar
Structure: Manjunath & Co
MEP: McDBERL
Service: McDBERL
Landscape: Vagish Naganur
PMC: Gleeds Hooloomann
Contractors: Renaatus Projects Pvt Ltd
Competition: Winner, Open National Level Competition, 2012

This commission was secured by winning a national level open architectural competition. The primary goal of NCSCM is to facilitate scientific inquiry and research pertaining to coastal studies that integrate human and natural environments.

The building footprint emulates dominant pattern of linear buildings on Anna University campus; suitable for the hot-humid climate. The new intervention sits lightly on a relatively ‘tight’ 2 acre parcel of land, offering minimum disturbance to existing natural features especially trees.

The strategy for occupying the site works backward, in a sense; starting with a complete monolith, then identifying significant markers on site and sequentially removing mass as required to retain nature, and create appropriate open spaces. The inclined axis running along the length splits the site into two forming the primary circulation spine, terminating in a grove of trees facing the Cooum river.