HQWNC: HEADQUARTERS WESTERN NAVAL COMMAND, MUMBAI |
The Architecture of Headquarters Building of the Western Naval Command, Indian Navy, Mumbai
This new grand monumental operations building of the Headquarters of Western Naval Command of Indian Navy is located in fort area. The architectural design is Symbolic and representative of Indian Navy’s stature - this building for operational facilities is well equipped with all modern facilities. It overlooks and offers magnificent views of Arabian Sea on front and vast views of Mumbai city on rear side.
The architecture thro the building’s curved shape, form and design responds to the bay shaped site and its context. Design of the building’s pyramidal form rises towards the sky with green terraces on both sides covered with pergolas. The sloping roofs at the top raise high with Indian national flag at the highest point of the building. It has large windows on curved cavity walls and the façade is clad with combination of yellow malad stone and white porbandar stone. The building’s elegant form and beautiful elevations remind the Maharaja Chatrapati Shivaji Railway terminus (CST) and Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai buildings of fort area. The building has 3 entrances the first being the main magnificent entrance for VIP’s on the central axis of the building on the front side. The other two are for Officers and Staff+ general visitors. At the topmost 5th floor is the office of the Commanding in Chief and Chief of Staff overlooking the sea and terrace garden. Each floor is accessed by the granite clad lift lobbies and further leads to the curved corridor the central spine of the building. The curved corridor is like street with doors and windows on the rooms with natural lighting. It gives a sense of far expanse, offers continuous opening new views. It has basement and open parking, central air-conditioning system, cctv based security system, fire fighting system. The terraces on all sides have planter boxes with green creepers and colorful flowering plants.
The building is also an important landmark example of urban design for the building’s historical surroundings, the urban context and city’s history. The Architecture of the building responds through design to the cultural heritage locale of Fort area.
The ongoing 25 years of research of the fort area of Mumbai and the architecture, heritage, urban design and planning of the buildings helped to design this project in its context. The architectural design is evolved to match the character of the fort locale externally while its internal design & planning is contemporary for the functional requirements of HQWNC. The terraced pyramidal form is also symbolical as well as physical reflection of the program and hierarchy of HQWNC within the building. All the work areas are planned together and adjoined with compact service core of lift lobbies, staircases, toilets and ducts.
The study of scales, proportions, construction systems and materials of the historical buildings informed its detailing. The façade and its details are intrinsically evolved out of the form and structure. Specifically developed was the malad and porbandar stone cladding system to façade and building form. The façade and entire building is kept free of any services and machine objects like air-conditioners. All the materials and finishes were chosen and color coordinated to create a unified golden yellow and white externally and light beige with white internally- so the building is highlighted at the same time it blends with the surroundings.
This new grand monumental operations building of the Headquarters of Western Naval Command of Indian Navy is located in fort area. The architectural design is Symbolic and representative of Indian Navy’s stature - this building for operational facilities is well equipped with all modern facilities. It overlooks and offers magnificent views of Arabian Sea on front and vast views of Mumbai city on rear side.
The architecture thro the building’s curved shape, form and design responds to the bay shaped site and its context. Design of the building’s pyramidal form rises towards the sky with green terraces on both sides covered with pergolas. The sloping roofs at the top raise high with Indian national flag at the highest point of the building. It has large windows on curved cavity walls and the façade is clad with combination of yellow malad stone and white porbandar stone. The building’s elegant form and beautiful elevations remind the Maharaja Chatrapati Shivaji Railway terminus (CST) and Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai buildings of fort area. The building has 3 entrances the first being the main magnificent entrance for VIP’s on the central axis of the building on the front side. The other two are for Officers and Staff+ general visitors. At the topmost 5th floor is the office of the Commanding in Chief and Chief of Staff overlooking the sea and terrace garden. Each floor is accessed by the granite clad lift lobbies and further leads to the curved corridor the central spine of the building. The curved corridor is like street with doors and windows on the rooms with natural lighting. It gives a sense of far expanse, offers continuous opening new views. It has basement and open parking, central air-conditioning system, cctv based security system, fire fighting system. The terraces on all sides have planter boxes with green creepers and colorful flowering plants.
The building is also an important landmark example of urban design for the building’s historical surroundings, the urban context and city’s history. The Architecture of the building responds through design to the cultural heritage locale of Fort area.
The ongoing 25 years of research of the fort area of Mumbai and the architecture, heritage, urban design and planning of the buildings helped to design this project in its context. The architectural design is evolved to match the character of the fort locale externally while its internal design & planning is contemporary for the functional requirements of HQWNC. The terraced pyramidal form is also symbolical as well as physical reflection of the program and hierarchy of HQWNC within the building. All the work areas are planned together and adjoined with compact service core of lift lobbies, staircases, toilets and ducts.
The study of scales, proportions, construction systems and materials of the historical buildings informed its detailing. The façade and its details are intrinsically evolved out of the form and structure. Specifically developed was the malad and porbandar stone cladding system to façade and building form. The façade and entire building is kept free of any services and machine objects like air-conditioners. All the materials and finishes were chosen and color coordinated to create a unified golden yellow and white externally and light beige with white internally- so the building is highlighted at the same time it blends with the surroundings.