Inspiration Office, Kochi

Inspiration’s own office in Cochin, Kerala, covering an area of 2750 Sft, is a first of its kind structure and an experiment where we have attempted using bamboo in floor slabs, walls and roofs in ways that meet our contemporary spatial needs - an effort for which we have been honoured with the top position in Urban Office buildings category of the International Bamboo Buildings Design Competition, Hawaii 2007 and the National award by HUDCO.

With the backing of over 20 years of research done in structural application of bamboo by Late Shri K.R. Datye and Shri Vilas Gore of Geo-Science Services, Mumbai, the 

salient design and technology applications in Inspiration’s office campus include use of Bamboo in combination with RCC columns, ferro-cement beams, and a limited quantity of reinforced plaster so as to arrive at an attractive functional and replicable combination of technologies.

Bamboo replaces almost 70% of structural cement and steel, without compromising on strength and usability.  Almost 25% of the bamboo used in the building was cut from the immediate premises of the building.  Preservative treatment of bamboo by pressure treatment with Copper Chrome Borax (CCB) and liquid organic solvent preservatives are expected to enhance the life of bamboo for up to 35 years.

All work spaces overlook a central rain water harvesting pond. The orientation of the building is such that the north east morning winds blowing over the pond gets cooled and flows into office areas. Passages act as buffer zones stopping the rain and harsh light from entering workspaces.  An Anaerobic treatment plant (DEWATS) treats the sewage and waste water generated in the office. The system consists of an anaerobic baffled reactor, planted gravel filter and polishing pond. The treated water is recycled for gardening.

PROJECT DATA

Scope: Design + Build

Location: Ernakulam, Kerala

Timeline: 2001-02

Size: 3000 sq.ft

Collaborators: Vilas Gore, Stuba Engineering Consultancy