The Management Development Centre is considered a school within a school, to train managerial personnel of public and private enterprises. The early concepts were discussed with Kahn, but the later design and development were done by me. There were certain constraints in terms of scale that came about because it is right next to the faculty housing.

Management Development Centre, Indian Institute of Management - Ahmedabad
Management Development Centre, Indian Institute of Management - Ahmedabad © Anant Raje Foundation

The building is basically an enlarged house, like a haveli or a mahal. A central court, flanked by two rows of rooms with a corridor that serves the rooms, connects on the front side with the classrooms, dining halls and lounge. The plans clearly indicate centrality (focus) in the form of an open-to-sky court, with rooms and lounges and concourses around it.

Location Plan
Location Plan: Management Development Centre, Indian Institute of Management - Ahmedabad © Anant Raje Foundation

The making of openings in brick masonry follows the previous order in Kahn buildings. The exposed brick masonry-bearing wall is the predominant architectural decision. Brick arches span the openings with reinforced concrete ties as restraining members making a composite order. Concrete aprons with clerestory light bring the light down to the basement, as interior light reflects better off concrete than brick. Strict geometry regulates the elements of architecture and helps make a tighter composition of spaces in such a way as to make one building shade the other in the hot sun