Nashik: Traditional door-size windows with two-level panes, wooden pillars, ventilators, and a large building of two or more storey with groups of rooms arranged around open courtyards are the special features of the 'wadas' of the Peshwa era, mostly seen in the Old Nashik area.

While the wadas in old city are on the verge of extinction, an architecture institute here has dedicated the design of its new campus to the same theme, as a tribute to the traditional dwelling. The new building of the Institute of Design Environment & Architecture (IDEA) at Chandsi has a connection with heritage architecture of wadas. This campus was formally inaugurated on Thursday.

"Wadas have been our subject of study and research for years. When we decided to design our new campus, the wada concept emerged prominent. Through the wada-like structure, our aim is to highlight the beauty of this type of architecture. We also aim to stress the fact that such architecture is most suitable for the climate of Nashik," said Vivek Patankar, dean of the college.

For Rahul Dabir, the architect of this building, this structure serves many purposes. "We hardly need any artificial light, fan or cooler in this structure. It is designed in such a way that we get sunlight throughout the day and cool breeze after opening windows. The traditional courtyard of the wada is being used for multiple purposes like assembly, workshop, model making. The solar panels on the rooftop produce enough power to charge our laptops and mobiles and run servers," said Dabir. While built in a traditional manner, the campus has all modern facilities, right from WiFi to intranet.

"It was a learning experience for students to watch this building taking shape. It took hardly seven months to build this three-story structure as we used funicular shells roof system. Our classrooms are situated 4ft below ground level, which ensures automatic cooling and ample light during day time," said Akshay Marda, a student.

Students further plan beautification of the campus by creating installations and developing gardens in open spaces. They wish to make the campus a must-visit place for every architecture-lover.