Gautam Buddha University

literature case study

group 3
Location : Yamuna Expressway, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh

Client : Government of Uttar Pradesh

Architect : C P Kukreja

Site Area : 511 Acres

Built up area : 6 million Sq. ft

Completion : 2008

Expected Footfall : 5000 students, 500 Faculty

- Gautam Buddha University is designed to reflect the ethos of

Indian Buddhist architecture in contemporary times.

-From planning to architectural vocabulary the campus has been

designed to imbibe the essence of local tradition with the present
global outlook.

-Vernacular planning and local materials come together with

modern technology to create a campus which is smart and
sustainable and sets an example for designing in harmony with
nature.
site & context analysis

Orientation

The site is orientation is along NE- SW

direction. And the buildings are perpendicular
to the wind direction to make maximum
utilization of natural ventilation.

The circular arrangement of academic blocks

ensures natural lighting throughout the day.

Microclimate

Summer temperatures - 45 - 23 degree

celsius.

Winter temperatures - Temperature falls down Rainfall Accessibility

as low as 3 - 4 degree celsius.
The use of locally available stone for
construction, careful placement of
courtyards, and water bodies regulate
comfortable temperatures inside the campus.
In monsoon, average rainfall is 93.2cm.
The campus design makes maximum
utilization of rain by rainwater harvesting,
and is carefully planned to encourage
proper rainwater runoff.
Located along Yamuna
expressway, the site is ideally
located, easily accessible from
various points in the city, and is
also equipped with a helipad.
 Mutual shading
Cross ventilation
Water body
Reduce winter sun
penetration from South, Green belt
here, Courtyard
orient the longer
facade along North

N N
● Here, the buildings are oriented based on site shape and central
axis.
● There are no wind traps near the buildings, hence wind can flow
through the campus.
● The penetration of winter sun is reduced by mutual shading.
● The courtyards also helps in shading and also it enhances the air
movement within the building
● The presence of waterbody in the direction of wind and the green
belt around the site create a microclimate within the campus
● Trees are placed strategically to block winter winds.
Mutual shading

N
concept

-The abstraction of the

overlapping chakras which
form the spatial entities in
the master plan brings a
rhythm in the dialogue
between the spaces.

-A metaphor for the rhythm

of life and death, success
and failure, light and dark,
and all the binaries which,
contribute to the creation of
the Universe.
form and planning
campus identity

The campus designed by reinterpreting Buddhist architecture in a

modern context.

The principles of Buddhist Architecture have been observed in the

planning i.e., balance between binaries of open spaces and built
forms, natural and man-made architecture, symmetry and
asymmetry.

campus typology

The campus is fairly homogeneous in nature. Use of geometric

patterns in spatial planning and adherence of a building typology
(monumental buildings, capped by a dome resembling buddhist
stupa) for all buildings renders the campus a cohesive whole. The
use of a common material palette also accounts for this character.

A strong sense of symmetry guides the planning

zoning student residential block

academic

main entry residential

landscape

administration

amenities

public zone

faculty residential block

zoning analysis

The campus follows a zonal growth pattern with distinct zones for each purpose,
namely residential, academic, and administration block.

Entry promenade forms the central axis of the site.

Administrative buildings zoned in close proximity to the entryway, making it easily

accessible.

The academic block forms the central point of focus of the campus, comprising of 8
individual units that surround a large water body.

Amenities like sports facilities, amphitheatre, etc. have been placed in between the
faculty and student residential facility in a haphazard manner.

The landscape connects various campus units and establishes a sense of harmony
and coexistence.
campus size

The campus has

been designed based
on ideal walking
distances. The
minimum distance
between the student
0.24 0.31 0.45 0.64 0.83
residential and
academic block
exceeds 200m,
whereas the farthest
distance goes upto
900 metres.

note : all distances in kilometres

site plan administrative
student residential
unit
building

landscape
meditation centre eco-lake

amphitheatre
road

museum

gate 1 faculty residential unit

indoor stadium
auditorium library
campus blocks
MEDITATION HALL

● Meditation centre is zoned very near to the

main entrance for the easy accessibility of
public users.
● It is a grand domed structure echoing the
ENTRY
architectural symbolism of Buddhist Stupa.
● The Meditation Hall is a large, column free
structure cladded in local stone.
● Library and reading rooms, which recieve
natural daylight via a continuous light well. EXIT

STATUE

Light well
LIGHT WELL
Meditation hall

Reading room
CIRCULATION
CENTRAL LIBRARY
● It located along the entrance axis.

● magnificent statue of Mahatma Buddha positioned in front, which is

visible from any point within the campus, hence becoming the focus.

● At the foot of the statue is a lake which functions as a vibrant meeting

place for the students and faculties.

● The faculty blocks are planned around the lake like a necklace and are
connected by a magnificent colonnade.
Lake
statue

Meeting place Central library statue

Central library

axis
ACADEMIC BUILDING

● The academic and faculty blocks are

arranged radially along the central
waterbody.
● Academic Blocks have 8 departments
assembled around a water body
enclosed by a green buffer.
● The courtyard allows air movement
within buildings. Trees are placed
strategically to block winter winds.
● Orientation: Buildings are oriented
based on site shape and the central
axis.
● Courtyards ensure good shading of
facades.
 Courtyard Courtyard

Ground floor First floor

HOSTELS

● Every hostel also has its own badminton, volleyball, and table
tennis courts, open to everyone, without any time restrictions.
● The faculty and students' residences are planned as two distinct
communities in the campus as low rise building, with sports
complex as a buffer space.
sustainability
University as an Environment Friendly Campus

● Has minimum demand for electricity, water and other

natural resources.
● Strives to cater to all its water demands through
sustainable processes such as rain water harvesting.
● Recycles and Reuses all its waste on site and loads the
environment to the minimum.
● Density of the screen design ensures building in different
orientation get adequate, diffused natural light.
● Double loaded corridors get natural light through
skylight.
● Maximum use of local building material (stone) and local
craftsmen.
site responsiveness

Jaali is innovatively used as a screen, sunbreaker, a

protection to the glazed facade.

The jaali patterns are abstractions of Buddhist texts.

Passive Design controls such as recessed windows,

helps in reducing the heat intake. Thus reducing total
electrical energy consumption.
Jaali pattern
Glass

Single glass unit has been used in the housing and

hostel. (use only at night)

Double glass unit has been used in the admin block,

library, faculty block, guest house and meditation
centre.

Section showing recessed

windows
The buildings have been designed to promote natural lighting and ventilation, making the architecture of the University,
energy efficient.

Daylight Pattern

Buildings have optimized window to wall ratio to

allow sufficient natural light, keeping heat gain
minimal. Floor plates are thin to allow natural
light to come from both the sides. Courtyards
and jaali allow non glare light to enter. With these
design features, buildings are naturally lit
throughout the day.
 Water strategy

● Rainwater from entire site is collected partially in central water

body, and partially in underground tanks, which acts as a water
source.
● STP plant is utilized to recycle sewage.
● Complete water recycling through creation of lakes and water
bodies helps in maintaining the water balance at the site.

Water Balance Diagram

Water source

HVAC

Domestic
Flushing
Water
Sewage
treatment Water System on Site
Landscaping

Renewable Energy
Solar PV Panels of 500 KW and Solar Water Heater
of 100000 Litres are used. Most of the residential
housing campus for the staff and faculties have
solar panel to support the hot water supply. The
academic buildings have solar PV Panels.
Vegetation as a Micro Climate Regulator
The forest helps in creating a comfortable microclimate within
the campus that helps in naturally combating the intense
summer heat and chilly winters which is the characteristic of
this location.
-127 acres of green area
-50,000 trees
-Bodhi trees planted in
periphery
Abundant use of plantation indigenous in nature
offers advantages like decreasing the
temperature, increasing water holding capacity
of the soil and in using fewer resources.
services
Waste Management

● Waste segregation at source and collection at each building level.

● Multi colored waste bin are provided at each floor of buildings.

● Central waste collection area is proposed near the periphery of the

site.

● Waste movement is carefully calculated to avoid occupant

interactions.

● Segregated waste is diverted from the site to their respective

recycling facility.

● Collected organic waste is moved to central waste to manure

treatment plant.
circulation
The entire circulation system is carefully planned to ensure that the
complete vehicular movement is restricted to the periphery of the campus
allowing for a completely pedestrian-friendly environment in the campus.
Separate tracks for cycles have been provided to move safely from one
place to the other.

● To promote a healthy lifestyle and cut down on vehicular pollution, Classification of path
the Gautam Buddha University has decided to make its campus a
no-vehicle zone soon. ● Pedestrian path
● The varsity plans to procure electric vehicles which would be used ● Vehicular path
by students, staffers and visitors to travel within the campus. ● Cycle path
● The move is aimed at discouraging students and teachers,
including non-teaching staff members, from using motorised Buffering using tree provided
two-wheelers and cars on the campus to go from one building to between the paths
another.
 circulation
Pedestrian path

Major vehicular
path

● Major vehicular movement is restricted to

the periphery of the site.
● Dedicated pathways for pedestrian
movement through out the site encourage
entry safe pedestrian movement.
vehicular circulation
Parking area

No vehicle zone
Students residential block
Pedestrian path
Parking slots

Academic block Faculty residential block

parking

No
vehicle
zone
 Parking area
Separate parking area for two wheeler, 4
wheeler, and cycle provided

Entry towards parking

area
Parking lots

Path widths and accessibility

Vehicular path width - 8M
Pedestrian path width - 2M
Cycle path width - 1.5M

Pedestrian path separated with the help of

Trees as
trees ,which provide shades in pedestrian buffer
path.
Vehicular path
Paths are designed according universal
design
 Vehicular
path

Cycle track
pedestrian path

Inclusion of bicycle pathways in design

encourages the practice of cycling among
students.
 Social Interactions
● Like the hierarchy of the activities one observes in
their daily life, the activity pattern of life in the
campus consisting of education, sports, meditation,
celebration, and leisure have been distributed in this Unbuilt
very rhythm.

● Also the vast area of the campus provides plenty of

pockets for social and cultural activities. Built

● Each building block, whether academic or residential

is given its own open space.

Academic blocks

Only 12% of the campus is built up, the

right treatment of remaining open spaces
becoming imperative.
 Walkway connecting
different blocks ● It is seen that even though the
campus is spread over a large area,
each block is connected to other
through colonnade aisles.
Open central courtyard
Green space adjacent to● This helps the foster the
each block
interdepartmental interactions.

● The open spaces are zoned in such a

way that the common ones at the
View of academic block
Main entry from inner center, followed by a semi-private
circle
space towards the outer end.

Residential
Main vehicular path block

Internal courtyard
Internal courtyard

Major pedestrian Major pedestrian

pathway within path within each
each block block

Residential block Main vehicular

path
Student housing layout Faculty housing layout
landscaping
● A dense forest at the entrance acts as a visual and sound buffer. It
creates an evident difference in environment, as the tranquility
within the campus is a stark juxtaposition to the chaotic frenzy
outside.

● Reflect waterbodies – structured and free form, lotus pools and

fountains dotted the campus so as to instill the sense of calm and
contemplation within the environment.

● Seating pavilions punctuated the hostel courtyard.

Native trees to create a sense of

continuum within the campus

Landscaping is in sync with the form

Buffer separating academic and

residential spaces

Central axis / Symmetrical

 inferences
Pros
● The campus is well designed taking the surrounding context and climate into consideration.

● The zoning pattern follows a hierarchy which is highly essential in designing student spaces.

● The materials used are locally sourced and makes use of local craftsman skills. Thus reducing the heat intake of
the building.

● Ample number of openings are provided, making the interiors well lit throughout the day. The use of jaali acts as a
sun braker.

Cons

● The social spaces provided do not have ample shading, making these spaces inaccessible during the summers.

● The amenities are not well planned, since they are only scattered around a central area.

● The whole campus is not vehicular accessible, there are few spaces that are only pedestrian friendly. This is important
mainly in emergency situations.
GROUP 3

13. Anphy Abraham

14. Anushka Pramod

15. Aravind P

16. Aromal Sajith

17. Chanchal M

18. Devika Ranjith