Form Follows Sun:: Agriculture Bhawan, Mohali

Form Follows Sun:
Agriculture Bhawan, Mohali.

Architect: Sarbjit Singh Bahga
Overview:
 Introduction
 Layout Plan
 Form Follows Sun
 Plan & Section
 Front View
 Study Model
 Clarity in Structural Systems
 Geometry & Symmetry
 Side View
 The Porch
 Energy Efficiency
 North Facades
 Natural Lighting
 Functional Clarity
 Urban Modernity & Rural Rusticity
 Views
 Bold & Beautiful
 About the Architect
Form Follows Sun: Agriculture Bhawan, Mohali. Architect: Sarbjit Singh Bahga
Introduction:
 Agriculture Bhawan, Mohali has been designed with the aim to

accommodate various offices of Department of Agriculture,
Department of Horticulture and Soil Conservation, Punjab at one
place.
 Earlier there were more than one dozen offices of these departments
which were functioning from various rented premises scattered all
over the city.
 Bringing all these offices under one roof will not only ensure better
coordination amongst them but also add to the convenience of
farmers who visit these offices from far flung places.
Layout Plan
 Agriculture Bhawan is located on

a plot of 5.75 acres.
 The five-storied building has a

covered of 115284 square feet.
 Apart from this a Hostel Block

having an area of 14147 square
feet has also been planned in the
campus.
Form Follows Sun
The form and shape of the building has been dictated by the shape of the
plot and the direction of the sun. The design of the building ensures that
major chunk of office space falls on north side to get glare free natural
light throughout the day. Some offices, mainly officers’ rooms and
services have been placed on southern side.
Plan & Section
The plan of the building

follows the conventional
pattern of doubly loaded
corridor running in the centre
and giving access to the
offices on north and south
sides. Services have been
placed at the ends of the
corridor. Two lifts and three
staircases are provided for
vertical circulation.
Front View:
Study Model:
Clarity in Structural Systems:
Apart from functional

appropriateness, the building
shows clarity in structural systems
and services. The load bearing
structural components i.e., RCC
columns and services are strictly
stacked vertically with almost
negligible staggering. The clarity
thus evolved is truthfully
expressed in the building form.
The building seems to follow the
dictum of “Form Follows Function”
plus “Structure and Services”
Geometry & Symmetry:
Like most of the buildings by the architect, the plan of this building also follows the rule
of symmetry. Architect feels that strong geometrical and symmetrical plans have more
acceptance than asymmetrical plans. This is due to the persistence of such liking as
besets the common human mind-set. Architecturally speaking, such plans are less
vulnerable to undesired changes suggested or attempted by some clients at later stages.
Side View:
The Porch:
Energy Efficiency:
Efforts have been made to

design the building for energy
efficiency. For this the
measures like ‘thick outer
envelope’, ‘deep recessed
fenestrations’ and ‘roof
overhangs’ have been
incorporated in the design.
Ducts/service shafts placed
along the outer periphery act
as cavity walls and protect the
interiors from external heat,
which results in natural
cooling in summers. The plan
of the building has been
shaped in such a way that
most of its parts remain in
mutually created shade.
North Facades:
Natural Lighting:
Special emphasis has been
laid on natural lighting in the
building. The fenestrations are
judiciously located so that
almost all the areas in the
building get natural light. Very
deep areas, too far away from
external glazing have been
avoided. Architect feels that as
sun is the source of all energy,
one should be able to have a
glimpse of sunshine outside
while sitting inside. This way
one remains cheerful
throughout the day. Obviously,
such interiors are well
protected from the vagaries of
weather.
Functional Clarity:
Urban Modernity &
Rural Rusticity
The building is a pleasant combination of urban modernity and rural

rusticity. The urban modernity which mainly pertains to the interiors is
meant for providing comfortable working conditions to the staff. Well lit
interiors, latest finishes, open-plan systems and selective air conditioning
add to this aspect of the building. The rural rusticity, orderliness with fixity
and rigidity expressed on its exteriors makes the building belong to the
farmers who hail from rural Punjab and have, by and large, rustic life styles.
Views:
Bold & Beautiful:
About the architect: Sarbjit Singh Bahga
Sarbjit Singh Bahga (b1957) is a Chandigarh based architect, urbanist, author and
photo-artist. He graduated in architecture from Panjab University, Chandigarh,
(Chandigarh College of Architecture) in 1979. He works in the Department of
Architecture, Punjab and has 34 years of practical experience in designing and
supervision of various types of buildings, complexes and large campuses. He is
presently working on deputation as Senior Architect in the Punjab Mandi Board,
Chandigarh. His completed works include an eclectic and impressive range of medical,
educational, administrative, commercial and residential buildings. His buildings are
interesting and responsive to function, climate and materials. He is a staunch
modernist and an ardent, yet not blind, admirer of Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and
Louis Kahn. Sarbjit is also a keen researcher, a prolific architectural writer, and a
Fellow of United Writers’ Association of India. He has six books to his credit. His
books, Modern Architecture in India: Post-Independence Perspective (1993), New
Indian Homes: An Architectural Renaissance (1996) and Le Corbusier & Pierre
Jeanneret: Footprints on the Sands of Indian Architecture are considered as
landmarks in the history of contemporary architecture of India. Apart from this, he is a
keen photo-artist especially in the field of architectural photography and has won many
awards in this field. Bahga takes special interest in the overall development of
profession of architecture and improvement of built-environment. He is an active
member of many professional associations including the Indian Institute of Architects.
His contribution to architecture has been largely recognized and his buildings/articles
have been widely published in many architectural journals and books.
Email:
bahga.architect@gmail.com

Form Follows Sun:: Agriculture Bhawan, Mohali

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Form Follows Sun:

Agriculture Bhawan, Mohali.

 Agriculture Bhawan, Mohali has been designed with the aim to

 Agriculture Bhawan is located on

 The five-storied building has a

 Apart from this a Hostel Block

The plan of the building

Apart from functional

Efforts have been made to

The building is a pleasant combination of urban modernity and rural

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