PUNJAB MANDI BHAWAN, MOHALI, PUNJAB

1. www.iia-india.org 012014 MAY JOURNAL OF THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS
PUNJAB MANDI BOARD HEAD OFFICE, MOHALI
Ar Sarbjit Singh Bahga
bahga.sarbjit@gmail.com
SarbjitSinghBahgaisaChandigarh-basedArchitect,Urbanist,AuthorandPhoto-Artist.Hegraduatedin
Architecture from Panjab University, Chandigarh in 1979 and was conferred with Doctorate in
Architectural Science (DAS) in 2000. He is presently working on deputation as Senior Architect in the
Punjab Mandi Board, Chandigarh. His completed works include an impressive range of medical,
educational, administrative, commercial, recreational and residential buildings. His buildings are
responsive to function, climate and materials. He is a staunch modernist and an ardent, yet not blind,
admirer of Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Louis Kahn. Sarbjit is also a keen researcher, a prolific
architecturalwriter,andaFellowofUnitedWriters'AssociationofIndia.Hiscontributiontoarchitecture
has been largely recognized and his buildings/articles have been widely published in many architectural
journalsandbooks.
Exterior view
Punjab State Agricultural Marketing Board is a semi-
government corporate body established in 1961 with an
objective to control and supervise the marketing
network of sale, purchase, storage and processing of
agricultureproduceinthestate.
Presently, the Board is functioning from its own head
office building in Sector-17, Chandigarh. With the growth
of its activities and increase in staff strength, its office
space became inadequate. The Board thus decided to
construct its bigger corporate office building in Sector-
65,MohaliadjacenttoChandigarh.
The new Head Office Building becomes part of large
multi-utility complex comprising state-of-the- art fruit
and vegetable market, commercial shops and
showrooms established by the Board on a 20-acre plot.
The Head Office Building is located on a plot of two acres
on the south-west fringe of the complex. It is
approachable from two sides, one from main road on
north-west and the other from side road on the south-
westside.
Challengesbeforethearchitectwere:
 To design the office building which will match in
comfort and ambience with modern corporate offices
beingbuiltnow-a-days.
 To evolve an architectural vocabulary which will be a
blend of those of Corbusian era as well as latest trends

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Side view with ramp
in office buildings viz-a-viz new materials and
technologies.
 To make building energy efficient and potray the
energyefficientmeasuresonitsexteriorexpression.
The building having an area of 152000 sft plus 57000 sft
basement comprises six floors above ground. Basement
is meant for parking of 150 cars and requisite services.
Two circular ramps provide ingress and egress to the
basement. The ground floor accommodates mainly
entrance foyer, multipurpose hall and miscellaneous
services like bank, health clinic, gymnasium,
maintenancestores,etc.Allthemainofficesareonupper
fivestories.
The built-form of the office building has been evolved
ingeniously keeping in view all the constraints and goals.
In plan, the block is fragmented into three parts. Two
square blocks of 75 x75 feet size each at the ends have
been rotated at an angle of 45 degrees. By doing this
major portion of the office building made to align in
north-south direction which is considered good
orientation. These blocks which accommodate the major
chunk of the offices draw natural light mainly from north
or south side. East and west facades have been made
largely blank. The central block which accommodates
rooms of senior officers remained in south-west and
north-east directions -the orientation dictated by the lay
of the plot. Out of these two directions, the north-east
side is considered good as it receives morning sun which
is always welcome. Hence no special treatment was
required. The unwanted sun on the south-west side has

3. www.iia-india.org 032014 MAY JOURNAL OF THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS
Front fascade
been cut off by a combination of vertical louvers and
horizontal roof overhangs. This vocabulary has been
inherited from Le Corbusier, as the architect wanted to
incorporate it in the design of this building as a mark of
reverence to the master especially when it falls in close
vicinitytohisworks.
As per the client's brief, the building has to incorporate
the latest innovations for human comfort and ambience.
As a result the architect has to go in for a fully air-
conditioned building with ultra modern gadgets, lighting,
furniture, etc. Since the building has to be hi-tech and
Facade detail on north-east
Geometric Order
fully air-conditioned, the need to incorporate energy
efficient measures becomes even more important. The
following measures were taken to reduce the energy
consumptioninthebuilding:
 Orientingthebuildinginrightdirection.
 Exploringtheconceptofmutualshading.
 Minimizing the penetration of sun by vertical louvers
andhorizontalroofoverhangs.
 Emphasisonnaturallight.
 Drawing maximum day light from north and south
directions.
 Makingeastandwestfacadespredominantlyblank.
 Useofcavitywallsonouterfaçade.
 Use of double-skin solar control glass
(6mm+12mm+6mm) which blocks upto 73% of solar
heatbyreflectingittotheoutside.
 All solid portions of external façade are clad in
aluminium panels which also reflect the solar heat
outside. Also the gap in between the structural wall
and cladding acts as cavity which further cut off the
solarheat.
 Special efforts have been made to minimize the
impact of heat from terrace. Use of foam concrete has
contributedalotinthisregard.
 Incorporation of Building Management System (BMS)
and Light Management System (LMS) for optimal use
ofairconditioningandartificiallighting.
The building is a showcase of architect's accumulated
philosophy and incorporates salient features like 'strict
geometric order', ' symmetry', 'clarity in structural
systemsandservices'and'useofcontemporarymaterials
andtechnology'.
Project Details:
Area of plot : 2.08 Acres.
Covered area : 2, 09,335 Sft.
Project team : Baljit Kaur, Kulwinderjeet Kaur,
Ravinder Kaur, Parwinder Kaur,
Deeksha, Darshan Singh.
Contractor : Deepak Builders, Ludhiana.
Structure : Harbhajan Singh, Techpecific,
Mohali.
HVAC : Anuj Aggarwal, Ambience,
Panchkula.
Electrical : NK Jain, Panchkula.
Networking : RK Dhanda, Ludhiana.
Project coordination : Engineering Wing of PMB
and supervision headed by Chief Engineer RP
Bhatti.
Cost : Rs. 66.00 crores.

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Combination of horizontal and vertical lourers Internal courtyard Sky light providing light to internal corridors
Projecting block on north-east accommodate conference hall
Provision for light in basement
Skylight Ribbon windows

5. www.iia-india.org 052014 MAY JOURNAL OF THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS
Layout Plan
Ground Floor Plan
Section-Model