Amdavad ni Gufa

Ahmedabad, India

Photo © VSF

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Architects: VSC Vāstu Shilpā Consultants

Location: University Road, 380015 Ahmedabad, India
Year: 1994

Hussain-Doshi Gufa is a unique project blending state of art engineering know how with very primitive construction skills of execution.

Enigmatic in its spatial experience the form of Gufa is a direct translation of climatic and constructional obligations and knob an abstraction of personals fancies. Buried spaces, earth mounds, raised volumes and china mosaic finish renders the architectural energy conscious, in an otherwise harsh hot dry climate. Material resources are further optimised through its shell like forms and Ferro cement construction techniques. A simple wire mesh and mortar lined floor in a form of natural sag of cloth, evolved through scaled model studies, eliminates the need of any kind of foundation, as the basic form is continuous and efficient in optimising the stresses and its distribution. Similar economy of material is achieved through roof shells in a form guided by computer designs which resolve stresses to a minimum, requiring only an inch thick ferro cement shell without any form work. The construction is carried out with simple hand tools and by semi and unskilled workers on site.