rigid and curved brick volumes collide at girl’s nursing college & hostel in india

lea zeitoun May 13, 2024 4 min

Girl’s college & hostel for Model education trust

Neogenesis+Studi0261 completes the Girl’s college & hostel for Model education trust in Surat, India. Planned as a nursing school to facilitate courses from GNM to MSc (Nursing), the building symbolizes the trust’s identity and purpose with a modest working environment. The master plan of the institute encompasses three brick volumes (meant to be executed in phases), which are strategically placed to create a central garden as an active open area. ‘As the site lies in close proximity to an industrial area, ensuring the safety of female students was crucial for creating a conducive learning environment and fostering a sense of security,’ says architect Jigar Asarawala. As a result, the studio opts for an introverted layout by peripherally planning the staff areas and circulation core toward the road and the main classrooms and labs toward the central garden.

rigid and curved brick volumes collide at girl’s nursing college & hostel in india - 1 — all images © Ishita Sitwala / The Fishy Project

Neogenesis+Studi0261 plays with rhythm, levels, and passages

The Girl’s college & hostel by Neogenesis+Studi0261 (see more here) comprises rigid squares and a curved staircase block, co-existing in rhythm, and connected with passages. The facade considers a fair scale while articulating an appropriate visual impact and hierarchy. Such a juxtaposition with projections creates a dynamic facade composition for the western side. In contrast, the structural setbacks and passages help break down the rigidity and scale of the eastern facade. Split levels and terraces, meanwhile, help facilitate floor-to-floor connections and offer visual interest through variation in elevation. Expanding on the layout, the 5,000 sqm area facilitates efficient workflow and interaction amongst students and staff and efficiently uses space. The passages and terraces are introverted (i.e., towards the open area within the site), while circulation unfolds through a succession of terraces, passages, and necessary pauses.

rigid and curved brick volumes collide at girl’s nursing college & hostel in india - 2 — Girl’s college & hostel for Model education trust

exposed brick and concrete with a splash of greenery

The material palette combines exposed brick and horizontal concrete bands in between, revealing an industrial charm with a modern sophistication that does not overwhelm the setting. Kota stone flooring with WPC profiles for door frames creates a silent, neutral palette, with hints of greenery emphasizing its character. According to the architects, the tangibility of Girl’s College & hostel is understood as the day passes; the sun movement poetically highlights transitions indoors and the double-height passage. ‘The kinesthetic experience of the architecture here choreographs human movement through spatial constructs. In reflection, the design and execution process has been both rigorous and rewarding as it successfully aligns with the institute’s objectives and expectations,’ concludes Neogenesis+Studi0261.