Followed by Gandhian values of environmentalism, the Environmental sanitation institute in Ahmedabad is constructed in 1985 by Ar. Yatin Pandya of Footprint E.A.R.T.H. . This institute is built focus on training, education, and awareness programs in the field of environmental health and sanitation which will improve the sanitation and health issues we are facing in our nation through professionals and social workers by demonstrating and implementation in national and intern national levels. It’s a non-governmental institution that strives to provide a better quality of life to rural peoples and the urban poor of India by improving their sanitation situation.
Design philosophy and considerations
[As we said earlier the Gandhian values of environmentalism such as the philosophy of austerity, denouncement of ostentation, and truth translation are expressed in the built environment with an exposition of materials and exploration of spaces. There are four key aspects considered during the design considerations program, the physical context of the site, the ideology of design, and the demonstration of environmental sustainability and ecological balance. Just like other structures of Footprint E.A.R.T.H., this structure has also considered macro and micro levels of climatic aspects such as orientation based on wind and reduced solar gain, brick cavity walls insulate the interiors from the very ambient atmospheric varying temperatures which are followed by solar radiation, etc…
Planning and Design
The site was initially a smaller triangular plot on the southeast which is the only accessible area from the road and thus becomes the entry plaza, which brings follows us into the institute. The existing three trees are used as guideways for saving themes them from deforestation in the future. The tightness caused by the junction of the rectangular and triangular plots of land demarcates the main movement route to the institute from the one, which leads to the residential and service areas. There is the garden in the north allocated for futuristic development which grows along with the institutional corridor which acts as a bridge between built and unbuilt areas. Residential and service areas are accommodated in the southern half of the development which has a clear distance from institutions. The high skyline of a southwest block is breathing which the astonishing view of the Northern garden along with the view from the bridge across the canal.
Informal space organization, low skylines, ground-hugging profiles well fed with plinths and courts, simple material and technology, and the sensory scenery of built form through the roof are some of the design features in this attempt. The design consists of a contrasting color palette of red exposed brick and white cement concrete which creates a trio combination with landscapes green as well as the exposition of truth in the material which is followed by Gandhian values and a sense of sanitation and health. This experiential dimension to architecture, of movement through a sequence of spaces in a flow of mind and the sense of discovery of gradually unfolding spaces, vistas, and interconnected elements is optimized. Through this process communication between a visitor and the built space will lead to the process of understanding the space through investigating the space and curiosity which leads to the sense and language of the space. Thus, the choices presented in the process of moving through the ensemble become the main determinant of the way the space reveals itself to the visitor just like Footprint E.A.R.T.H. structures.
ESI is a reminder
Footprint E.A.R.T.H. always focuses on creating a built environment that doesn’t harm people or the environment. The Gandhian philosophy and institution program requirements are strictly followed in this space. By creating an informal space environment the visitors will have a scene of their own space and its responsibility for cleanliness. The outdoor spaces are well maintained and developed as much as the indoor spaces. A wide range of series of junctions and long corridors as the connectivity of adjacent spaces will create a feeling of traveling through the wood by identifying our destinations like we are our-self discovering the path of our life. Informal and formal gathering spaces are all around the indoor and outdoor spaces, especially outdoors which built-in seats around the grown-up trees.
ESI (Environmental Sanitation Institute) is a reminder for us that we keep forgetting about Gandhian values on the prior occasion of our nation facing health and sanitation problems all around Indian despite urban and rural areas. Institutions like these are speaking to us through the space about the importance of sanitation and health in our daily life. The contrast in material colors and textures will create a sense of truth to material and construction technologies. The program doesn’t consider the age group participation of people is rather considered the instruction of admin. The Gandhian idea of learning together is adapted here. The trees are also surviving spoken to us by assigning the signage job to them. So, ESI reminds us that philosophy can be spoken through the built space.
