The Government of Germany decided to move the Visa Section which was inside their administrative building to a new building within their 2.3-acre campus with guard rooms and a separate vehicle entry to address the safety and security issue of the sensitive office.
Project Name: The Consulate of Germany
Architect: Anjan Gupta
Status: Completed in 2010
Client: The Government of the federal Republic of Germany
Location: Alipore, Kolkata
Built-up area: 365 sq.m.
Project Cost: 3 Cr. INR
Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany:
The scope of work was to develop the basic design guidelines given by principal architect from Berlin into a detailed strategic plan. Since the campus was situated on a corner plot with roads abutting two sides the new building was placed at a far corner and away from the existing building such that the new office occupied a secure place inside the campus with separate access for visitors and staff.
The strategic design and planning were done in two separate zones for the new visa office and the security complex integrating the existing administrative block. The planning and design of the new buildings followed a minimalist yet modern approach while satisfying the functional requirements without imitating or replicating the rich colonial style of the existing building.
For the construction of the new buildings a double-shell structure and insulated slate roofing system was used to cut down on the energy requirements of this hot climate. Locally available materials and technology were used which conformed to various Green building norms and German standards. The project included civil, structural, complete interior design, finishing works, sanitary plumbing, electrical, HVAC, fire-fighting, communications, landscaping and campus enhancement.
Anjan Gupta
Architect, Interior designer & urban planner
Website – www.anjanguptaarchitects.com
Anjan Gupta received his Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) degree from Bengal Engineering College, University of Calcutta in 1981, Master of City Planning (MCP) degree from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur in 1983 and Master of Architecture (M.Arch) from Iowa State University Ames, USA in 1985.
He started his career with Eva Maddox Associates as a Senior Architectural Designer before joining Skidmore, Owings & Merrill as Project Architect. He worked on the projects including the AT&T Corporate Center in Chicago, Arthur Anderson Professional School Campus in Illinois and the Canary Wharf Urban Design Project in London. His Association with SOM was followed by working with ISD Inc., Perkins & Will and finally OWP &P (now Cannon Design), as a Senior Designer.
Anjan Gupta Architects – Firm’s profile
On his return to India in 1992, Mr. Gupta set up his firm Anjan Gupta Architects and since then the practice has successfully bloomed into a house of integrated and comprehensive design services. The experiences gained from his various ventures abroad, the analysis of the clients’ tastes/interests in the project and his ability to express his designs under budgetary constraints bring out a piece of art which is well appreciated by the respective clients. The practices’ portfolio includes projects ranging from Health Care and Hospitality to Research Laboratories, Auditoria design, Institutional, Foreign Consulates, Recreational, Educational and Residential architecture.
