2.Living & Learning Design Center (LLDC) Kutch, Gujarat.
1. Project Overview
Name: Living & Learning Design Center (LLDC)
Location: Ajrakhpur, 10 km from Bhuj, Kutch district, Gujarat
Architects: Uday Andhare & Mausami Andhare
Completion: 2015
Site Area: 8 acres
Built Area: 11 150 m²
2. Site & Context
Setting: Semi-arid outskirts of Bhuj, formerly industrial/agricultural land, now a craft-
education campus.
Climate: Hot summers up to 31 °C, winters around 12 °C; low annual rainfall.
Surroundings: Adjacent to existing orchards; master plan includes a museum block, crafts
school, and residential enclaves.
3.Masterplan & Zoning
Three-part ensemble:
a. Museum block (Phase 1)
b. Crafts school studios
c. Residential enclaves
Built-to-unbuilt relationship: Courtyards and interstitial spaces are as important as the
buildings, creating a continuous open-air workshop environment.
a. Museum Block (Phase 1)
This is the main public-facing area, featuring:
o Exhibition galleries
o Auditorium
o Library
o Craft display areas
Zoning logic: Exhibits are placed in the cooler, shaded areas. Service and circulation
zones buffer against heat on the outer facades.
b. Craft School and Studios
Placed adjacent to the museum but more inward-facing for focus and activity.
Divided into:
o Artisan workshops
o Teaching studios
o Outdoor working areas
These zones are semi-public, encouraging interaction between artisans and learners,
while maintaining work privacy.
c. Residential Zone
Located at the rear and quieter side of the site, away from public museum footfall.
Includes:
o Guest accommodation
o Artisan housing
o Dining and common areas
This section shows a linear transition from the museum (public zone) to the open courtyard,
followed by the workshop (semi-public), and finally the housing (private zone), illustrating a
clear functional and spatial hierarchy. It also highlights the use of open courtyards for climate
control and community interaction.
Sections b–b’ and c–c’ below show how the space integrates galleries, auditorium,
workshops, and admin spaces with courtyards and ventilation shafts for natural light and
passive cooling. The cooling tower and sunken courts enhance thermal comfort, while the
volumes are scaled to suit each function.
These elevations show how the building responds to climate and function. The entry
elevation (E) opens into a shaded courtyard with taller volumes and vertical windows for
natural light. The west and south facades (F & G) have smaller, deeper-set openings to reduce
heat gain, showcasing a climate-responsive, minimalist design with solid wall masses and
careful window placement.
4. Geometry & Massing
Overall geometry: A rectilinear base with layered volumes stepping around internal
courtyards.
Massing: Simple blocks combined to form sheltered, shaded courtyards; balanced through
symmetry and repetition.
Structure: Regular grid of columns and planar slabs, defining clear bays for workshops and
exhibition galleries.
5. Plan Organization & Circulation
Core/perimeter strategy:
Exposed facades on the south and west are solid to limit heat gain.
Inner courts and north-facing apertures are porous for cross-ventilation.
Layering: Service functions and circulation corridors buffer the hot facade, protecting inner
studios and galleries.
Movement: Continuous walkways and open courtyards guide users through exhibition,
learning, and residential zones seamlessly.
6. Environmental & Sustainability Strategies
Rainwater Harvesting: Tanks collect up to 500 000 L annually; water used for
drinking and passive cooling.
Radiant Cooling: Stored rainwater circulates through pipes beneath floors and
terraces to drain heat and stabilize indoor temperatures between 30–34 °C with
minimal mechanical cooling.
Passive Cooling Tower: An overhead water-tank shaft doubles as a nighttime cooling
tower—stacked water bottles create thermal mass; cool air is ducted into the
auditorium.
Fenestration Control: South and west windows are carefully angled to admit winter
sun while shading summer sun; fixed apertures promote natural ventilation day and
night.
Vegetation: Native, drought-tolerant trees in and around courtyards create shade and
micro-climates for outdoor activities.
7. Daylighting & Materiality
Skylights: Concrete truncated-conical skylights channel diffuse daylight into
galleries. An IR/UV-filtered glazing over each oculus cuts heat gain and protects
exhibits.
Materials: Locally sourced stone and brick for thermal mass; exposed concrete
emphasizes craft and ruggedness appropriate to Kutch’s vernacular.
8. Key Inferences
1. Vernacular + Modern: Combine local craft techniques (e.g., brickwork, passive
systems) with contemporary form.
2. Courtyard-Centric Layout: Use open-air courts to foster artisan workshops,
exhibitions, and community gatherings.
3. Integrated Sustainability: Embed rainwater harvesting, radiant cooling, and
greywater reuse into building fabric.
4. Layered Comfort: Buffer hot facades with service zones and deep verandas,
protecting interior creative spaces.
5. Daylight Control: Tailor skylights and glazed apertures to balance exhibit lighting
needs with thermal comfort.
