The Judicial Courts of Mumbai

Project idea

Judicial courts in the Indian democracy do not receive the respect they deserve. The existing court building in Bandra East ( A suburb in Mumbai) is a drab building sitting amidst other governmental institutions such as the MSEB ( electricity board) and ONGC both of which lack the character and image of 21st century India. A juxtaposition with glittery skyscrapers of BKC ( Bandra Kurla Complex - commercial complex approx. 1km from the site) creates a sense of disconnect.
The 'kalanagar' flyover blocks half the elevational mass of the existing building and the skywalk (connecting to Bandra railway station) abutting the plot terminates abruptly. The notary offices around the court building spill onto the 21m wide road crating havoc and traffic snarls disrupting the functioning of a nearby bus depot. All these factors and more create a sense of chaos and stress making it impossible for a court building to function the way its supposed to.

Project description

what one strives to achieve is a court building that responds to its context not only its physical but also the metaphysical bound by the linearity of time. A judicial building that embodies a sense of command and respect.
The experiential quality is of a heavy mass with an omnipresent gaze evoking a sense of authority. This is achieved by elevating the court rooms above the flyover to a height of 25m so as to not stoop under its shadow or be subdued by the influence of other buildings.
Being a corner plot, the form of the proposed building breaks free from the solid geometry of the government buildings to accentuate the concept of breaking free and being conspicuous from all vantage points. The form comes to symbolize the marriage of technological advances and aesthetic beauty that india strives for in the 21st century.
Programmatically the proposed building segregates the public vis-a-vis the administration and the courts.

Technical information

Panel 1
Research and SWOT analysis of the existing building and its context
This panel consists of a detailed understanding of the master plan presented by the MMRDA ( mumbai metropolitan regional devlp. authority) merged with real time analysis of the site through various parameters such as pedestrian density, traffic congestion, solar heating effects, ventilation pattern, decibell mapping, etc.
This panel takes the help of :
i) 3d site modeling on softwares
ii) MMDRA and BMC maps for flood prone zones and land allocation
iii) decibell testing through sound testing devices
iv) traffic mapping through google maps
v) pedestrian density through on site analyisis
vi) heating effects and ventilation from meteorological dept.

panel 2
Design panel for the proposed building iteration.
Along with the rendered view from the most important vantage point i.e. the pedestrian approaching the building, the panel showcases axonometric plans at different levels and its key for allocated functions.
This panel takes the help of :
i) Structural stability softwares like staad pro. (** The structure can be conceptualised as a set of 5 tower cranes connected side by side each with plan dimensions of 6m x 6m. The Mild Steel members utilised are:
stanctions = Built up section with 2 ISMB 500
beam members = ISMB 250 and ISMB 500
trusses = ISMB 250 or box sections )
ii) Autocad plans and its extrusion to form axonometric plans.
iii) 3d modeling with context.

Panel 3, 4, 5
Views of spaces in the building
These panels showcase the rendered views of various functions with humans and their interaction with the space.