Gayathri
Shetty graduated in Architecture from the B. M.
S. College of Engineering, Bangalore.
She
then went on to work with Venkatramanan and Associates
in 1985-86 and also at Mistry Architects from
1986-91, where she was an associate partner. Currently
she is partner at Gayathri Namith and assocaiates,
which she started in 1992.
Gayathri is a member of the Council of Architecture
and the Indian Institute of Architects.
Situated
on either banks of River Thunga, on a thickly wooded
hillock, the campus consists mainly of 2
temples, A Samskrutha
Pathashalam, Residential quarters
of the Shankaracharya, the priests and the students
and Samadhis of the
earlier Shankaracharyas.
The design aimed at creating conditions conducive
for the advancement of the intellectual and spiritual
faculties, by responding positively to the immediate
environment and the rich architectural
heritage of the region. The plan that
subsequently developed was open in natureletting the surrounding landscape gradually
merge with the built form. Many of the rooms were repositioned
in order to
accommodate trees on
the site. The approach through a meandering pathway
and entrance on both sides has benches for students.
The building has grown along with the landscape
with no fixed geometrical pattern. The roofed corridor
that links up the office, the classrooms and the
assembly hall practically twists and winds along
the various trees and rises and falls according
to the contours of the site. The columns that support
the roof are retrieved from dilapidated
traditional houses. The classrooms are
segregated for acoustic privacy. Perforated walls
built at the floor level facilitate ventilation.
The flooring is locally available, of traditional
clay tiles. The Prarthana Mandir, octagonal in plan
has wooden flooring and niches in the walls. A combination
of wire cut brick walls, red oxide flooring, and
Mangalore tiled roofs exude a
warmth and earthiness requisite. The
open spaces between the various blocks are stepped
along the contours of the site and act as interesting
interaction areas between the pupils and the teachers.
The
attempt is to bestow character and ambience appropriate
to a place where ancient texts have been deciphered,
taught and passed on to succeeding generations
keeping alive an age old tradition in the Hindu
way of life
