NICMAR | Pune

NICMAR – The National Institute of Construction Management and Research was built as a result of a pioneering threeway collaboration between the government, business houses and experts in the field of construction. The Institute is located at Balewadi near Pune.The Architect's primary objective was to create a building that showcased the construction industry.The initial scheme featured facades that included a multitude of materials and colours but were considered too flamboyant. Later, the building evolved to its present form, with its monochromatic shades and unconventional inclining columns. These exuberant inclining exterior columns are an arbitrary manifestation of a forward-looking architectural aesthetic and they go on to reflect the innovatory visions of the Indian construction industry. The architectural vocabulary is dominated with orderly clean lines amidst exposed stone surfaces, glass,concrete, aluminium, steel and ceramic tiles. Pale yellow granite cladding delicately accentuatesthe entrance.

The clear glass wall adjacent to the entrance enhances the expression of the steelstairs.The complex has been designed for teaching, research, conferencing and outdoor trainingactivities. The academic block is a 3-storey structure and includes classrooms, library, canteen, reference section, documentation centre, scholar's cabins, work area for support staff, computer centres and faculty rooms. Hostel facilities for students, staff accommodation and guestrooms also form a part of the campus. The site is relatively small for an institutional campus. The buildings are spread over 9,000 sq m on an 11-acre plot of land. Therefore, the design of the academic block focused on creating a sense of openness. It features a series of projecting flowerbeds on different levels, which provide visual relief for the classrooms and add to the aesthetics of the facade.