VISUAL ASPECTS

How does the building come across to visitors from

its common spaces such as corridors, lobbies,
vestibules, staircases etc.
 A building is a composition of elements such as the staircase,
corridor, passageways, lobby, vestibules etc.

These elements play certain roles and end up giving a

character to the building as a whole.

Functional role Psychological role

It is a pre-requisite for a Once the functional role has been assigned then
building to be usable. this comes into play. A sensitive architect would
incorporate these aspects also.
 Functional role

To form connections
between spaces.

Eg.,
•The corridor
connecting the rooms
in an office to the
conference room.

•A staircase
connecting two floors
Psychological
Psychological rolerole

External approach
(visually)
•Easy accessibility of a building
entrance
•Easy accessibility of a
building
•Inviting entrance
character of the
building Open spaces within
•Inviting character of the
building •Eg. Courtyards and atriums.
If well connected to external surroundings,
encourages casual use, is a sign of life.
Passageway – giving inviting
character to building
Connecting courtyards –
offers community interactions

Pathways and steps-

Gives visual sense of
direction
Set mood

Prepares one for what

lies ahead.
Deconditions one from
the external world and
preconditions him for
what is coming.
E.g.. A temple evokes
sentiments and
prepares one to
connect with god.
 Three parameters to set mood

Time of transition
•Outside exit of a movie hall
•Corridor connecting employee’s cabin to the boss’
office.

Symbolism
Eg. The ramp at NIFT, delhi
(abstraction of a concept)

Iconic representation

Eg. Pictures or paintings of god in a temple.

(literal representation)
 Symbolism

Staircase descends into Makes people feel it’s an

the well shaft symbolizing ablution tank rather than a
pataal lok regular well.

Step-well, Adalaj

The ramp in the second

courtyard of NIFT is a
symbol-element. Reminds
one of the fashion world.

NIFT, Delhi
An interesting sitting space between
•Outside exit of a
exit of movie hall and the car park,
movie hall
gives one ample time to discuss the
movie at length with friends.

Walkway overlooking the river

makes you spend time connecting
with the beautiful view it captures.
•Tiers- resting space for visitors,
socializing an interesting place for
women fetching water

•Encourages casual use of building

A factor that compels one to go further

Create curiosity Eg., in the Step-well at Adalaj, Gujarat

•Movement is through inclined plane- elements arranged in

accordance with the constantly changing angle of eye. There is a
dramatic downward perspective.
•Constant change in axis, building doesn’t reveal everything at once.
Gradual unraveling of what lies ahead creates mystery, involves
visitor in the process.

Step-well at Adalaj
 The building is so spectacular, it’s
almost unreal.

Compels one to visit it.

The Beaubourg, Pompidou

 •From escalators – finest view of Paris,
this feature attracts more visitors that the
museum inside can attract.

The Beaubourg, Pompidou

When one visits a place whose effect can
be felt more while looking at it from a
distance in perspective, then its important
to see yourself in the context for a
complete experience. For this you need a
reflecting element (e.g.. A water feature or
a reflecting glass façade).

Because of the difference in the surface

articulation, the quality of light differs in
both cases.
 Entrance
CASE STUDY

SANGATH,
AHMEDABAD
-studio and office

The realigned axis

helps one to notice the
undulating landscape
and the metal sculpture
placed in the movement
of route. Which
otherwise may have
remained unnoticed in
corner

Entrance is having a peep

hole- giving a visual clue of
building to visitor
At this point, the vault
appears horizontal on ground
plane as well as vertical
through reflection in water

The experience
is canalized by
means of tapered
side wall

The raised plinth maintains the visual

reference of the building while consciously
guiding the visitor further by means of low wall
Transition to a subsequent
arrival space defined by
tipple height vaulted roof

Arrival space opens to

staircase to mezzanine floor

node further orients

to studio through the
visual link which
reconnects to first
arrival space near the
entrance- a person is
allowed to move in 360
so as the more time he
spends , the more he’ll
experience

So at each turn, each node unfolds newer nuances for experiential
enrichment and visual impact
•The transition from outdoor to indoor
•The sequential unfolding experience
•The integration of landscape
•The way of spaces revealing themselves in an interactive manner
makes the architecture of building experiential
The two pilasters flanking
the wide steps are the first
and only external clue
denoting the entry.
A downward movement is
revealed only upon
climbing these initial steps.
Once the visitor
reaches the pavilion
like structure with the
octagonal beam
frame, it becomes the
first point of pause,
surrounded on three
sides by inclined
planes of rising
steps, the node
leaves only one side
open to approach,
perpendicular to the
previous axis.
Once the physical and visual axis of the visitor shifts by 90 degrees, the
beautiful building that was hidden in the ground is revealed. This pause
point astounds the visitor and fills him with pleasure of a discovery.

•Constant change in
axis, building doesn’t The columns and
reveal everything at beams provide
once. Gradual the visual frame
unraveling of what lies which enhance
ahead creates mystery, the sense of
involves visitor in the
depth providing
process.
visual
references.
 •Tiers- resting space for visitors,
socializing an interesting place for
women fetching water

•Encourages casual use of building

As one moves deeper into the

Staircase building, the perception of
descends enclosure is reinforced by the
into the well decreasing intensity of light,
shaft making the path progressively
symbolizing vertical, more intimate and
pataal lok contained. Once the visitor
accustoms himself to the
degree of darkness and
intimacy, he is astounded by
the flush of light at reaching
Makes people feel it’s an ablution the open to sky well.
tank rather than a regular well.
 spaces for casual interaction; frequently changing perspectives; and a balance
between modernity and tradition that captures the spirit of contemporary India.
crits are held in the wide corridors, which
is a plus because it allows students to
share work, even though no tacking
space was provided.
 The triple
Ahmedabad textile mill height
association volume,
like an
entrance
portal,
Hand rail mass on right edge of offers a
mass on right edge of ramp, sense of
eccentrically placed groove in arrival.
kota stone (flooring), ascending
floor plane of ramp, all converge
in perspective onto the small
backlit window aperture placed
enface.

The right High parapet, taller

façade with than the eye level,
baffles lets in takes away any
bright light, outward distractions,
which guides maintains
the route of introverted nature of
the visitor stairway and
towards the movement path.
right edge.
 The eccentric
perception of
the arrival
portal, creates
the visual axis
diagonally
towards the
doorway.
This along
with involution
of the curved
wall plane,
places
emphasis on
the wall
space.