Sangath, under construction - detail of the 'sliding' formwork
Sangath, under construction - detail of the 'sliding' formwork

An ensamble of vaulted and flat roofed buildings arranged around a court, to provide space for an architectural office, a private trust and related activities; the building has a total floor space of 473m2 and is located on a 2425m2 site at Thaltej in Ahmedabad.

Reinforced ferro-concrete vaults were used minimally in early phase of design, however, they were found to relate strongly with Indian sensibilities and developed as the major design feature in later stages of the design process.
Reinforced ferro-concrete vaults were used minimally in early phase of design, however, they were found to relate strongly with Indian sensibilities and developed as the major design feature in later stages of the design process.
The main structural system is post-and-beam with brick infill and reinforced concrete slabs and ferro-concrete cavity vaults cast in-situ using a mobile or 'sliding' formwork.
The main structural system is post-and-beam with brick infill and reinforced concrete slabs and ferro-concrete cavity vaults cast in-situ using a mobile or 'sliding' formwork.
The works were conducted on a semi-experimental basis, using local materials and semi-skilled labourers.
The works were conducted on a semi-experimental basis, using local materials and semi-skilled labourers.
Close-up of roof surface, with round clay tiles (નળિયા) to provide insulation and a hand-plastered cement cover that is finished with broken china-mosaic cladding.
Close-up of roof surface, with round clay tiles (નળિયા) to provide insulation and a hand-plastered cement cover that is finished with broken china-mosaic cladding.

The programme and design were developed between 1976-80, construction began in January 1979 and the building was occupied in early 1980 while construction was still in progress. The building-cost was INR 1,470,000 (US$ 184,500 at 1983 currency conversion rates).

The major design element, vault for roofing, owes its origin to a happy accident. Years ago, when desigining a small, compact out-house on the site, I requested a building contractor friend for roofing sheets. He only had curved corrugated asbestos sheets, so I set about designing the outhouse and the results were striking. All the passers-by, my gardner and colleagues found the structure establishing a 'direct rapport' with the observer, and I found that the proportions of the vaulted roof (of the curved sheet) to the supporting structures were rather similar to Indian temples, the traditional head-dress ... and therefore were accessible to the Indian sensibilities, which led to this instant rapport.

I thought to recreate this expeience at another scale with Sangath, taking the building deeper into the ground, I reduced the height more, and the vaults became more dominant. Reduced height, and the difference with the ground helped the design of a stepped seatting for lectures and slideshows which led to the terrace level from which the roof vaults raise. The experience at this level is unique because it is not very often that roofs of buildings become part of day-to-day use, and directly link to the general landscape.

B.V. Doshi in conversation

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