Atelier for Built-Environment Research and Design

Institutional / Cultural

Extension and Renovation of the French Institute of Pondicherry

Completed

Extension and Renovation of the French Institute of Pondicherry, 11 Saint Louis Street, Pondicherry

2001-2002 · New building 900 sq.m; existing building 2,000 sq.m · 11 Saint Louis Street, Pondicherry · Stéphane Paumier

A contemporary extension re-interpreting the composition rules of an eighteenth-century courtyard plan facing the Indian Ocean.

Extension and Renovation of the French Institute of Pondicherry, 11 Saint Louis Street, Pondicherry — photograph 1 of 6
Extension and Renovation of the French Institute of Pondicherry, 11 Saint Louis Street, Pondicherry — photograph 2 of 6
Extension and Renovation of the French Institute of Pondicherry, 11 Saint Louis Street, Pondicherry — photograph 3 of 6
Extension and Renovation of the French Institute of Pondicherry, 11 Saint Louis Street, Pondicherry — photograph 4 of 6
Extension and Renovation of the French Institute of Pondicherry, 11 Saint Louis Street, Pondicherry — photograph 5 of 6
Extension and Renovation of the French Institute of Pondicherry, 11 Saint Louis Street, Pondicherry — photograph 6 of 6

Site: The site is located in the old city of Pondichery, the French part of the town along the sea shore. The existing building, facing the Indian Ocean, is one of the most remarkable structure of the French part of the city. The plan is based on a typical XVIIIth century “hotel particulier, entre cour et jardin” plan with a axis, symmetry & the center and small transparency between courtyard and garden, large rooms in on the sides.

Concept: The concept was to re-interpret these composition rules and scale for a contemporary project. Most of the colonial buildings have their main facade and entrance on the street side. Project proposed to give another main facade on the sea side. The central axis was extended to the sea shore and offers transparency from the entrance court to the sea through 90 m of built masses and courtyards. The internal floors are spit levels to give several views of the garden and the horizon line of the sea.

The width of the extension was kept as the original building, the height of the extension was as per the existing GF to keep the view of the Ocean from the First Floor Indology library. The typology of the arcades was developed in a more contemporary manner to integrate the old and the new. The South wall was extended to the seashore by use of cornice and band to articulate the fenestration. The image of the roof terrace is the one of a ship deck floating over the sea.

Programme: New building — laboratories of Botany, Pedology and Palynology for the department of Ecology, library, researchers’ offices. Existing colonial building — renovation of interiors and facades.

Materials: RCC structure and brick infill, teak wood doors and windows, black kadappa and black granite floorings.

Project Record

Client
French Institute of Pondicherry
Collaboration
Stéphane Paumier

Credits

Structure
Aastha Consultants
Electrical
Sarimanya
HVAC
R. K. Khanna
Plumbing
B. Subramanian
Construction
Dual Structurals and Industries Ltd.

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