Kisan Mandi Bhawan

Case study 10 / 10 · Governance & Public Offices

Planned against the sun

Kisan Mandi Bhawan, Lucknow

A ten-storey Headquarters set diagonally on its site, with two office wings around a daylit atrium, completed in 1995.

Project
Kisan Mandi Bhawan
Location
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
Client
UP Mandi Parishad
Our role
Architectural and Engineering consultant
Built-up area
18,000 m²
Site area
6 acres
Project value
₹40 crore
Status
Completed 1995

01

The brief

A Headquarters for the U.P. Rajya Krishi Utpadan Mandi Parishad in Lucknow: about 18,000 m² of offices that would need to change over the years.

02

The site

A 6-acre site in Lucknow, facing the city.

03

The idea

Set the building diagonally on its site, on a strong central axis: two symmetrical office wings flank a central atrium that fills the interior with light and helps temper its temperature.

Workspaces are oriented to limit solar heat gain, and the service cores are placed to act as thermal buffers. Parking moves to the rear, so the building meets the city across green ground rather than across cars.

City roadParking at the rearLow sun1234567
Plan diagram of the idea, not to scale. It explains the Planning principles and is not the site plan.
  1. 1
    Set diagonallyThe building turns on its site, on a strong central axis.
  2. 2
    Two symmetrical wingsOffice wings on either side of the central axis.
  3. 3
    Central atrium and domeDaylight and tempered air at the heart; the dome rests on concrete columns and a ring beam.
  4. 4
    Service cores as buffersPlaced to shield the workspaces from heat.
  5. 5
    Structural gridA 6 m by 6 m grid leaves the office Interiors free to change.
  6. 6
    Open podiumVisitors arrive over landscaped lawns and planters.
  7. 7
    Parking at the rearThe front is kept for green ground.

04

The design

Two wings and an atrium
4.1

Two wings and an atrium

The plan is built on a strong central axis, and the atrium fills the interior with light.

Dome, render and terracotta
4.2

Dome, render and terracotta

White stone-grit render is banded with terracotta. Cantilevers and external fire escapes are drawn into the composition, giving the elevations depth and rhythm.

05

Outcome

ARCH-EN DESIGN was the Architectural and Engineering consultant. Kisan Mandi Bhawan was completed in 1995 and published in Architecture + Design.

  • Completed1995

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