‘The Earth’ is an experience center that pays homage to its surroundings. ‘The Earth’ seeks to uphold the ethos of achieving sustainability through adaptability for future repurposing.
The project was initially conceptualized as a marketing experience centre. The design takes a mindful approach to sustainability through a sensible choice of materiality and texture. Along with the project brief, the design team envisioned the project as a flexible gallery space that can be used for future repurposing. The design idea strives to extend the life of the built space beyond the client’s initial required purpose. The ethos behind this project has been achieving sustainability goals not just by the choice of materials and construction techniques but by increasing the longevity of the structure.
The essence of architecture here, is simple, timeless, and adaptable, featuring a MS framed structure that is surrounded by a pool of water. The locally sourced CSEB used for the walls run seamlessly onto the floor thereby blurring the divisions between the vertical and horizontal surfaces. Furthermore, drawing inspiration from the simplicity and elegance of temple architecture, the design thought embraced innovative joinery details to minimise the use of concrete, inspired by the ancient mortar less construction. The design experiments a dry cladding technique with a simple grey granite stone. Each stone is 2ft in width and interlocked together through rebate joints. This system eliminates the need for concrete by being held in place through concealed metal clamps at the top and bottom. Sleek vertical grooves are carved on the granite, which adds an understated contemporary touch to the extensive stone carving seen on temple stone. The use of locally sourced materials respects the idea of sustainability by reducing the time and fuel for transportation, while also blending seamlessly with the surrounding context.