KAGGALIPURA – INDIA A COMMUNITY CENTRE THAT RESPECTS THE INDIGENOUS ARCHITECTURAL TRADITION
In a world that seems obsessed with the most overbearing architectural projects, some studios, such as A Threshold, based in Bangalore, South India, are now thinking more ecologically and they are quietly redesigning the future of the planet, with an impact on the architecture and design sector.
The eco-friendly community and multifunctional centre they designed, Subterranean Ruins, evokes a different kind of grandeur, harmoniously connected to the local soil, identity, and culture. Built within a lush 1.2-hectare orchard in Kaggalipura, not far from the megalopolis of Bangalore, this award-winning architectural project offers a sustainable building solution.
Staying in this country retreat, which also serves as a farmhouse on weekends, conveys the impression of living inside a work of art. The design not only respects the original character of the land, but also offers the inhabitants a connection to the land, creating a series of intriguing spaces that evoke a sense of shelter and intimacy.
At first, the building appears to merge, yet it quickly captures the senses with its cavernous spaces, which plunge naturally back into the earth. The topography of the plain, which has a height difference of four metres, offered the built structure the opportunity to immerse itself in the landscape, minimising its impact on the surrounding environment and offering practical advantages such as natural insulation and climate control.
At the same time, a system to collect rainwater was implemented to support existing agricultural activities. The rough walls and floors, which give the space a character interwoven with the site and its history, were made of red bricks and natural stone taken from nearby quarries and kilns. In accordance with local architectural traditions, bricks and stones were bonded together with lime mortar and mud, with a cement content limited to 5 per cent.
Today, Subterranean Ruins is a vibrant community centre that is often the venue for activities such as art exhibitions, workshops for local school students and, in particular, involving the residents of Kaggalipura. It seems that the more architecture is built by, with and for the community, the better it is.
By Domusweb.it
