Sharanam Centre for Rural Development

Pondicherry

Hand-built by local people trained on the job by the architect this centre in rural southern India is both an exemplar sustainable development and a force for social change in the area.

Hattie Hartman, The Architects Journal

Pondicherry, India

Built at the edge of a rural landscape ravaged by illegal quarrying, the Sharanam Centre for Rural Development enables SARVAM, a local grass roots NGO, to expand its community-led transformation of chronically underdeveloped villages outside Pondicherry, India. In this scarred context Jateen Lad sought to create buildings of dignity and tranquility while addressing pressing social and environmental concerns in the process.

Meaning “refuge”, Sharanam was conceived in the aftermath of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami to host active community programmes uplifting all aspects of village life including health, education, income generation and special initiatives for children, women and the elderly.

The building comprises a large vaulted multi-purpose hall, a variety of meeting spaces, offices, a newspaper studio, a community radio station and a sanitation block within a 5-acre site healed and revived through extensive plantation. The entrance sequence leads through a eucalyptus grove and along a majestic avenue of palmyra trees to a shaded green amphitheatre cut into the natural slope of the site.

water channel and pond with palm trees at the entrance at sharanam pondicherry

The entrance sequence is defined by the avenue water channel, entrance pond and green amphitheatre.

children's class inside the earth building at sharanam pondicherry

The superstructure comprises an array of thin earth vaults

large earth brick vaults spanning over granite steps at the entrance to sharanam pondicherry

Thick slabs of local black granite step down into the main hall

studio space under a large earth vault and earth pillar at sharanam pondicherry

The semi-sunken studio and veranda for the village newspaper team underneath the mezzanine gallery and behind the main hall.

The project uses minimal steel and concrete and is constructed from the most local of resources – the red soil of the site from which over 200,000 unfired compressed earth blocks, of 9 different dimensions, were manually pressed. These attained considerable strength by being stabilized with 5% cement and wet cured under the hot sun. Compared to market bricks, tests demonstrated these precise blocks were three times the compressive strength, one-third of the price and contained one tenth of the embodied energy.

Rammed earth foundations throughout, earth mortar and earth plasters mixes further reduce the energy embodied of the construction.

pile of sieved red earth mixed with small amount of cement at sharanam pondicherry

The red soil of the site is sieved and stabilised with 5% cement

thousands of compressed earth bricks made by local workers at sharanam pondicherry

Manufacturing over 200,000 compressed earth blocks from the red soil of the site. These environmentally friendly bricks were not fired but wet cured under the hot sun.

The superstructure expresses the strongest structure with the least material. Self-supporting techniques without any formwork are utilised to build an array of six extremely thin structurally optimised masonry vaults, spanning 9.5m and only 9cm thick at the keystone, under which distinct gathering spaces are created through folding walls, level changes and ornamental ponds. A massive granite thinnai – a raised platform inspired from Tamil vernacular homes and temples – encloses the hall and is scaled for conversations amongst small groups, workshops for 50-60 or an audience of 200. Beyond the deep stage a smaller circular hall is set out under the detached eastern vault.

village masons building earth brick vaults without formwork at sharanam pondicherry

Constructing the 9.5m span masonry vaults without formwork

The main hall enclosed by the deep granite thinnai

thin concrete bridge over a long pond under tall vaulted roof at sharanam pondicherry

Split-level ponds underneath the vault opening

open interior with trees and earth pillars and earth vault at sharanam pondicherry

Circular hall under the detached eastern vault

In response to the hot and humid climate, the open array of piers funnel coastal breezes into the building ensuring thermal comfort without air-conditioning or fans. Radiant underfloor cooling naturally extracts the heat from the surface of the stone flooring and granite thinnai.

Shaded spill-out spaces and green verandahs connect to office buildings with long minimalist walls contrasting with the light, openness of the superstructure. Ventilated cavity walls naturally cool the interiors - which are notable for the full height adjustable teakwood framed glazing, cool-to-touch earth plaster walls, pigmented flooring and insulating roof gardens.

array of earth brick pillars and a palm tree at sharanam pondicherry

The open array of masonry piers funnel the coastal breezes into the buildings while the projecting walls separate public and private spaces

open pillars and walls at sharanam pondicherry

The superstructure viewed from the south-east showing the verandas, stage wall and media office (right)

office interior showing yellow floor, earth brick walls and large teak windows at sharanam pondicherry

Interior of the media office showing the naturally pigmented flooring, curved ferrocement roofing channels and the full-height teakwood framed adjustable glazing and sliding doors opening onto private courtyards

office interior with polished concrete floor and teak wood windows at sharanam pondicherry

Interior of the director's office with polished concrete floor, joinery in reclaimed teak wood and a smooth concrete soffit cast insitu on to mud formwork.

jateen lad and two men standing on roof garden under palm trees at sharanam pondicherry

Accessible roof gardens above the office buildings help keep the interiors cool even in the hottest months

Built entirely by hand with rudimentary tools and without a contractor, the construction was a development project in its own right upgrading the employable skills and livelihoods of over 300 local village workers who were trained on-the-job in a range of precise skills and techniques.

Through this approach Sharanam successfully demonstrates how architecture, when driven by human issues and ethical practices, can genuinely contribute to social and economic development.

Since completion Sharanam has allowed SARVAM to expand their outreach to benefit more village communities. Furthermore, local special-needs schools, development agencies, farmers and teacher training institutes all host regular events at the centre.

simple workers tools arranged on the ground at sharanam pondicherry

Project: Sharanam Centre for Rural Development
Location: Pondicherry, India
Client: SARVAM, Sri Aurobindo Society
Funding Partner: Cadburys Schweppes Asia Pacific

Status: Completed
Size: 5 acres (20,200 sqm)

Architect, Project Manager & Construction Management: Jateen Lad

Project Assistants: Trupti Doshi, Chandranath Sinha, Peter Barrett, Spencer Fretwell.

Head Masons: Bhaktawatchalam, Palani, Velmurugan | Masons: Manikandan, Aramugam, Kumar, Sisubalan, Manibalan, Kumar, Muthulingam, Ramraj | CSEB Blockmaking: Mohan, Senthil, Rammurthy, Thangaraj | Precasting: Palani | Steelwork: Aruldas, Haridas, Aureka | Plumbing: Jayawardene, Kumaravel | Joinery Elangovan | Stonework: Mustafa, Madanmohan | Pigmented Flooring: Vastukam | Paintwork and Polishing: Thirukaranasur, Saravanan | Gardens and Irrigation: Elangovan

Geotechnical Consultant :IV Anirudhan | Earth Technology Advisor: Auroville Earth Institute | Electrical Engineer: Jagannathan, Asha Electricals | RCC Structural Advisor: Somadev Nagesh Consulting Engineers | Radiant Cooling Design: Dr. Surendrah Shah.