This is an Architectural case study on the Centre for Environment Planning & Technology (CEPT) building. Situated in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. This is done by an architecture student in semester 5.

1. Case Study
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES
BY-
APARNA
TWINKLE
CHANDAN

2. COLLEGES
AHMEDABAD,
INDIA
CEPT
1st
CENTRE FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL
PLANNING AND
TECHNOLOGY
BERKELEY,
UNITED STATES
3rd
JACOB
INSTITUTION
FOR DESIGN
INNOVATION
IOWA,
USA
2nd
VISUAL ARTS
BUILDING,
UNIVERSITY OF
IOWA

3. Case Study -
CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING AND TECHNOLOGY (CEPT), AHMEDABAD
-APARNA, 22

4. Total Site Area: 36421.70
sq.m. (9 acres)
Total built-up: 8000 sq m.
(School of Architecture)
University comprises of 5
faculties
● Architecture
● Planning
● Design
● Management
● Building Science and
Technology
Architect: Balkrishna
Vithaldas Doshi.
CEPT was Granted by
UGC in 2007
Construction type:
Exposed Brickwork and
exposed Concrete
Climate: Hot and
Semi-arid climate
02
03
04
05
01
Year of establishment - 1962
with Faculty of architecture
Construction completed -
1968
Latest establishment -
Faculty of management -
2013
06
Sources - CEPT University NZEB Report_V2.indd
Introduction

5. Bachelor’s in Architecture (5 years) (80 seats)
Master’s in Architectural Design
Master’s in Conservation and Regeneration
Master’s in Architectural History and Research
Master’s in Landscape Architecture (2 years) (24 seats)
PhD in Architecture
Faculty of Architecture
Sources - CEPT University NZEB Report_V2.indd
Courses offered
Bachelor’s in Urban Design
Master's in Urban Planning
Master's in Urban Transport Systems
Master's in Urban Infrastructure
Master's in Urban Housing
Master's in Urban Design
PhD in Planning
Faculty of Planning
1500 students

6. Sources -Google Earth NZEB Report_V2.indd
Site information
Location
● Kasturbhai Lalbhai Campus, University Rd,
Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380009
● Geographical coordinates - 23°02′15″N 72°32′59″E
● Topography - slight general slope towards the
northwestern corner
Site connectivity
● Airport 11 km
● Railway station 4 km
● 0.3 km from the municipal transport bus stand
● 1.1 km from Bus Rapid Transit System
Landmarks nearby
● Indian Institute of Management (IIM) - 3.1 km
● Amrit school of management - 230 mt
● University of Gujarat - 1.1 km
● School of engineering and applied science -
towards east
● M.G. Science institute, L.M. College of Pharmacy -
towards south
● Amadavadani gufa
NORTH

7. CLIMATE OF AHMEDABAD
● Ahmedabad has a Hot and Semi-Arid Climate, with marginally less than required for a tropical savanna climate; there are three main
seasons: Summer, Rainy, and Winter.
● Aside from the monsoon season, the climate is extremely dry.
● The weather is hot from March to June, the average summer maximum temperature is 42 ° C and the average minimum is 24" C.
Sources - Climate Ahmedabad - meteoblue

8. Sources - Climate Ahmedabad - meteoblue
● The southwest monsoon brings a humid climate from mid-June to mid-
September.
● From November to February the average maximum temperature is 30°C, the
average minimum is 13°C.
● The cold northerly winds are responsible for a mild chill in January.
● The average annual rainfall is 800mm and the maximum precipitation is for
15 days in August.
CLIMATE OF AHMEDABAD

9. RESPONSE TO CLIMATE (our analysis)
To avoid heating up of the campus, the following measures have been taken :
● Scattered planning and the building is planned with intermediate open spaces.
The campus of CEPT has scattered planning in which small landscape patches are
planned to avoid the heating up of the campus and the building is planned with
intermediate open spaces including open jury area, interaction spaces, and
passages. this lower down the heat to the building and building have openings in
north direction and large projection are provided on the south side
Garba circle made of brick under neem tree

10. RESPONSE TO CLIMATE (our analysis)
To avoid heating up of the campus, the following measures have been taken :
● Buildings have openings in north direction.
Since north light is not harsh, windows were strategically made inclined which will
increase the amount of light entering.

11. RESPONSE TO CLIMATE (our analysis)
To avoid heating up of the campus, the following measures have
been taken :
● Large projection are provided on the south side to cut off the
sun rays to enter in spaces.
STUDIOS

12. DESIGN PHILOSOPHIES
Sources - CEPT PINTEREST
ARCHITECTS PHILOSOPHY
• Elimination of classroom feeling
• Architecture without barriers
• Integration of open spaces
• Ease of interaction between various departments

13. DESIGN PHILOSOPHY IMPLEMENTED (OUR ANALYSIS)
● Many informal sitting areas were made in between courtyards and plaza.
● Play of levels was used extensively to provide places of sitting for discussions between
faculty or students.
LEVELS USED FOR SITTING TOO
INFORMAL SITTING AREAS
RECTANGULAR SHAPED
AREAS FOR SITTING
People sitting
for discussions
Benches for sitting

14. OPEN AREAS
● Interior of studios were exposed to exteriors through balconies. Hence
making it open space.
BALCONIES OF STUDIOS
BALCONIES OF STUDIOS (INSIDE)
DESIGN PHILOSOPHY IMPLEMENTED (OUR ANALYSIS)

15. DESIGN PHILOSOPHY IMPLEMENTED (OUR ANALYSIS)
BRIDGES CONNECTING FA AND FP
INTERMEDIATE OPEN
TO SKY SPACES
ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT SOUTH VIEW
CONNECTION BETWEEN DEPARTMENTS
OPEN SPACES -> INTERCONNECTIVITY OF SPACES
SITTING BENCH
MADE OF BRICK
AND CONCRETE

16. DESIGN PHILOSOPHY IMPLEMENTED (OUR ANALYSIS)
BASEMENT USED FOR TENNIS TABLE
BASEMENT USED FOR JURY
BASEMENT USED FOR PERFORMANCES
MULTI-FUNCTIONALITY OF SPACES

17. Sources - PININTEREST CEPT University
● Playing with levels
● Usage of local materials
● Inclined skylights
● Studio spaces have bay spaces facing the
exterior
● Recessed and angled windows
● Open spaces
FEATURES

18. Sources - Instagram
Steps or levels made of brick and sandstone are used for segregating places a
well as they provide a space reading, organising informal discussions,
performances etc.
Playing with levels
FEATURES
People sitting for
discussions
BENCH FOR SITTING

19. Sources - Instagram
Steps or levels made of brick and sandstone are used for segregating places a
well as they provide a space reading, organising informal discussions,
performances etc.
Playing with levels
FEATURES
People sitting on
stairs watching
performances

20. Sources - Instagram
There are inclined skylights on top of the
studios, perpetually letting in natural light Into
the spaces. Skylights were provided in south
direction.
Inclined skylights
FEATURES
Skylights from outside

21. Sources - GOOGLE T CEPT University
Brick wall
Usage of local materials
FEATURES
Stairs of
Sandstone
Brick paving
Concrete roof
glass
Local materials have been used,
essentially to reduce the installation
and maintenance costs.

22. Sources - cept staircase – The
Ahmedabad Blog instagram
Concrete basement
Usage of local materials
FEATURES
Concrete paving
Concrete
stairs
Concrete
stairs Concrete flooring of
basements
Kota stone
stairs

23. Sources - INSTAGRAM CEPT University
Studio spaces have bay spaces facing the exterior
FEATURES
The studio spaces have bay spaces facing the exterior, creating semi-
private spaces which are yet totally open to the exterior spaces where the
individual can be alone with nature even in the environment of a studio
Studios and balcony
basement
These balcony spaces
of studios also have
grass embedded now,
and as per cept student,
this is the “best space
for them.”

24. Studios
FEATURES
The studios have large openings which open into the greenery outside.
Panels at the sides help the students to put up the important and useful
sheets.
All the studios are above one another, along with the adjacent lecture
rooms.
SOURCES - CEPT UNIVERSITY — Aakruti - Ahmedabad Curriculum - Programs - Faculty of Architecture - CE
D'source Design Gallery on Center for Environmental Planning and Technology - 2

25. Studios
FEATURES
STUDIOS INTERIOR
SOURCES - FACEBOOK

26. Sources - facebook instagram
Recessed and angled windows
FEATURES
Recessing in
windowsskylights
Recessed windows protect from the hot sun, while angled windows
assure that maximum light reaches the interiors
Angled
windows

27. Sources - CEPT University Campus Map
North side - The first building is the Faculty of Architecture and
Faculty of Planning and lawns are in front of the building.
South side - Faculty of Technology and Faculty of Design with
School of Interior design and New Library building and Hussain
Doshi Gufa and canteen and recreational area.
East side - amenities are placed like canteen, stationery, printing
shop, etc. and a basketball court, on the front side it has faculty
parking
SITE PLANNING
N

28. FACULTY
OF
ARCHITECTURE
(FA)
FACULTY
OF
PLANNING
(FP)
LILAVATI
LALBHAI
LIBRARY
SHRENIKBHAI
PLAZA
NORTH LAWNS

29. Sources - Campus Expansion Plans - Academics - Event -
CEPT
NORTH
ROADS
NORTH
LAWN
BUILT
STRUCTURES
HARDSCAPING
SOFTSCAPING
SOUTH LAWN
GUJARAT UNIVERSITY ROAD
GUJARAT UNIVERSITY
PARKING
ENTRANCE POINTS
ZONING
● Access points
● Entrance -
● Main access on
the northern side
(from the
secondary road)
● 1 entrances on
the western side
(from main
university road)
● 2 entrance on the
southern side
(internal access)

30. Sources - facebook instagram
NORTH LAWNS
This location is commonly known as north lawns as they face north direction
The main entry to this campus is also located on this side.
It has neem trees and grass.
North lawns
entrance
FA
North lawns
FA

31. Sources - facebook instagram
NORTH LAWNS
The undulating levels are here.
BV Doshi left those levels as it is and made that area a place to sit, relax etc.

32. Sources - facebook instagram
SHRENIKBHAI PLAZA
SHRENIK BHAI PLAZA IS AT SOUTH OF FA AND WEST OF FP.
THIS IS AGAIN A COMMON PLACE FOR STUDENTS AND HENCE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES HAPPENS HERE.
TERACOTTA TILING

33. FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE
FACULTY OF PLANNING
LIBRARY
FACULTY OF TECHNOLOGY
FACULTY OF DESIGN
CANTEEN AREA
KANORIA CENTRE OF ARTS
VIKRAM SARABHAI COMMUNITY SCIENCE CENTER
NZEB
HUTHEESING ARTS CENTRE
DEPARTMENTS AND
LIBRARY
PUBLIC AREAS
(CANTEEN, CENTRES)
AMDAVAD NI GUFA
HERWITZ GALLERY
NORTH
WORKSHOP AREA
ZONING OF AREAS
NORTH

34. NOT OPEN TO SKY SPACES
OPEN TO SKY SPACES
FACULTY OF PLANNING
FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE
SHRENIKBHAI PLAZA
CANTEEN AREA
ZONING OF OPEN TO SKY AREAS
NORTH

35. Sources - ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST Foundation Studio | CEPT - Portfolio
PLANNING STRUCTURALLY
● The basic component of CEPT is a derivative of pair of parallel, load-bearing walls supporting a flat floor slab.
● The building is two-storeyed with a split-level basement.
● The spaces created by volumes and voids are visually exciting.
● The whole building is very simple and architectural elements are expressive of their function
CONCEPT AND PLANNING
BRICK PARALLEL WALLS
SPLIT LEVEL BASEMENT

36. FACULTY OF PLANNING
FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE
WORKSHOP
CIRCULATION
SERVICE AREA
LEVEL 1
ZONING OF DEPARTMENTS
NORTH

37. FACULTY OF PLANNING
FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE
WORKSHOP
CIRCULATION
SERVICE AREA
LEVEL 2
ZONING OF DEPARTMENTS
NORTH

38. FACULTY OF PLANNING
FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE
WORKSHOP
CIRCULATION
SERVICE AREA
LEVEL 3
ZONING OF DEPARTMENTS
NORTH

39. FACULTY OF PLANNING
FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE
WORKSHOP
CIRCULATION
SERVICE AREA
LEVEL 4
LEVEL 5
ZONING OF DEPARTMENTS
CONCLUSION FROM PLANS
There is almost equal proportion of faculty and students areas.
The studios are placed at north.
Service areas are provided after every regular interval.
All of the areas are interconnected.
Inward looking building with majority toward inside.
NORTH

40. LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3
LEVEL 4
LEVEL 5
STUDIOS/CLASSROOMS
ADMIN AREAS
PUBLIC AREAS
CIRCULATION
SERVICE AREA
ZONING OF AREAS
NORTH

41. SOURCES - Foundation Studio | CEPT - Portfolio
CIRCULATION AND ACTIVITY MAPPING
NORTH

42. LANDSCAPING
PALM PLANTS
NEEM TREES TO
PROVIDE SHADE AS
WELL AS TO ABSORB
HEAT
● The campus is full of neem trees, which were
planted over the years since the initial phase
to make the hot Ahmedabad climate cooler.
● The trees provide a perpetual changing
pattern of light and shade.
SOURCES - Centre for Environmental Planning & Technology (CEPT) by BV Doshi

43. LANDSCAPING
SOUTH SIDE OF FA SHADED BY
NEEM TREES
PROPER SHAPED LANDSCAPING OF HERBS
WHEREVER POSSIBLE
LIGHT AND SHADOW THROUGH TREES
SOURCES - Centre for Environmental Planning & Technology (CEPT) by BV Doshi

44. BASEMENT
On one side of the basement, a rising contour can be seen, and on the other side step towards the
central courtyard thus, the north and south wall have been avoided.
SOURCES - Architecture Undergrad Juries 2014 | CEPT Portfolio
UNDULATING SURFACE
NATURAL SLOPECONTOURS
BASEMENT
BASEMENT
PLAZA
SOUTH VIEW
NORTH VIEW

45. BASEMENT
The basement is a multipurpose space. It is a very active space on the campus. Numerous activities are performed bere like cultural
programs, fest and exhibition, indoor games.Academic juries, open seminars, and interactions are held in this basement.
SOURCES - Architecture Undergrad Juries 2014 | CEPT Portfolio

46. MULTI-FUNCTIONAL BASEMENT
PATH TO BASEMENT

47. CENTRAL COURTYARD
The central court is a combination of paved and unpaved areas, shaded by trees in certain areas.
All entrances are linked to the courtyard by pedestrian pathways. Hence the courtyard is an area of heavy circulation and interaction.
The courtyard has grown organically with the addition of an informal seating court and has a large unpaved area, lacking in grass or
vegetation.
Cultural activities reading, games, meetings, etc. happen here.
SOURCES - BALKRISHNA VITHALDAS DOSHI (aka BV DOSHI) CEPT University in the city Ahmedabad
UNPAVED AREAS
BRICK AND CONCRETE PAVED
PATHWAYS
INFORMAL SITTING COURT

48. CENTRAL COURTYARD
The overall planning is done around a central court with a built mass on sides and green one side which give the campus noise
protection from traffic Architect has included uneven contour into the plan transforming a drawback into a delightful experience of
space. SOURCES - BALKRISHNA VITHALDAS DOSHI (aka BV DOSHI) CEPT University in the city Ahmedabad

49. BRICK JAALIS
Brick jaalis as shading devices were used at some workshop areas.
These jaalis were made during renovation of cept and not at the establishment.
SOURCES - BALKRISHNA VITHALDAS DOSHI (aka BV DOSHI) CEPT University in the city Ahmedabad

50. SOURCES - SPA aurangabad Nid & CEPT ahmedabad primary case study
AREA PROGRAM

51. SOURCES - SPA aurangabad Nid & CEPT ahmedabad primary case study
AREA PROGRAM

52. THANK YOU