Indian architecture firm Cadence Architects has created a folded white shell facade dressed for a Health Clinic in the city of Bangalore, India. Called KMYF, the project sits in an area measured by 60ftx40ft and placed adjacent to an ancient South Indian Temple which was revered by the neighborhood for both its architectural presence and religious value. The basic requirement for the design was to create a 30-bed dialysis centre. 

The context points out atypical concept of a generic urban setting. Cadence's basic design approach was to make a sensitive intervention into the context, so the studio looked at the building as a backdrop to the existing scenario with the temple as the main protagonist. 

Covering a total of 901,15 square-meter (9700 square-foot) built space, the wards in the building were stacked vertically to accommodate the thirty beds. The building was detached from the ground to enable congregational and waiting spaces for the people. The services of the building were relegated to the rear and the terrace of the building was conceived to be a cafeteria.

The building façade is formulated by surfaces built out of brick that has a bellowing quality about them; the sensual quality of the surface dematerializes the brick surface and renders an ephemeral feel to the building. The slivers between the bellowing shells allow light to permeate into the building only to create a spatial and visual feel that is as divine as the temple outside.

Project Facts

Project name: KMYF

Architect: Cadence Architects

Location: Bangalore, India

Status: Built

Built-Up Area: 9700 sq.ft

Site Area: 2400 sq.ft

Completed Year: 2015

All images © Sergio Ghetti & Cadence

> via Cadence Architects