Goals: One of the main objectives of this building was to resolve the existing contradictions in terms of program. Although the new buildings proposed on this site were programmatically much larger than the existing mess they were essentially extensions of it and hence needed to highlight its importance. The new interventions not only had to take cognisance of the old mess building but also became an aid to strengthen the relationship between the existing building and the site. While the physical characteristics of the site were the starting point for design there were other more ephemeral qualities suggested by the context that we tried to capture in our design. The skyline of the thermal power house with its choreography of coloured lights and stacks spewing smoke, the curved silhouette of the cooling towers, an eroded retaining wall by the river bank and the quality of light in the early evenings gave us a palette of images that began to weave themselves into the imagery of the new buildings. The use of the existing mess bungalow and its garden was kept unhindered right through the construction.

Resolution: Emulating the diagram of a Palladian villa the existing bungalow extends it’s arms of outhouses from both sides to embrace the existing garden. The conference centre (phase 5) forms one arm while the new officer’s mess (phase 1 - completed) forms the other. A brick colonnade defines the garden and moves around the fulcrum of the existing mess. The positioning of the new buildings is intended to not only reinforce the relationships of the various parts but also encompasses the sweeping vistas of the Sabarmati river as it bends and sweeps past the site. Within the mess itself all 18 rooms, the lobby and dining hall have a view of the grounds and the river beyond but also open out into an internal courtyard. Reminiscent of the light wells of the traditional pol houses of Gujarat this tall, narrow court is a more intimate, contemplative space in contrast to the bigger, public garden outside. Inside the courtyard large walls are deliberately left blank so that they maybe animated by the changing shadows through the day. The triangle of sky framed by the courtyard is reflected off a water wall that ends in a series of granite steps - steps that imitate the rhythm of the river bank.

The court with it’s water body also acts as a passive cooling device to vent and cool the building. For most part of the summer months the air-conditioning system though provided is not required due to this. All the rooms and kitchen are supplied hot water through a solar heating system. The future phases consist of renovating the existing mess bungalow, addition of VIP suites, sports facilities including a swimming pool and a conference centre and amphitheatre.