The client for the Krushi Bhawan, a government office building in eastern India, had a very different notion at first about the project. “We initially envisioned a typical glass office building,” admits Srinibas Naik, speaking for the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment in Bhubaneshwar, the capital of the state of Odisha. “But gradually we warmed up to this unconventional design.” When Studio Lotus, the Delhi-based architecture firm, got the commission, they took the brief and radically developed it, creating a low-rise redbrick facility that embraces local traditions, deeply engages the public, and tackles climate concerns—all of which are seldom inspirations for modern government buildings in India. Located in the center of the city, near other state facilities, the Krushi Bhawan sits in a garden and is open and inclusive. “We wanted to provide a well-lit and ventilated building, as well as explore the connection of the city to the building’s interiors,” says Sidhartha Talwar, design principal and cofounder of Studio Lotus. “All of this is missing in the nearby office buildings.”
The plan of the four-story, 140,000-square-foot concrete structure is based on a grid of approximately 15 feet by 15 feet. The main floor is accessible to the public, while the government offices are on the upper floors; a roof terrace will eventually be accessible for training purposes. From the main gate are two pathways—one for the public to an elevated plaza that has community spaces and landscaped areas, and another that leads to access for employees. From the raised plaza, the public can enter the building’s central courtyard, which is surrounded by various multifunctional facilities, training rooms, a gallery, and an auditorium used both by the department and for public events.
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