IMAX - AHMEDABAD
The project for the IMAX Theatre at Science City, Sola Road, Ahmedabad, was commissioned to the firm
by the "Gujarat Council of Science City".
The building is conceived to engage our sensibilities in such a manner that our understanding of Nature
and its relationship to Man, Science and Technology is enhanced.
To provide a Civic Plaza to the citizens of Ahmedabad, where such facilities are sorely lacking and to
demonstrate an energy efficient green building.
PLAN
ELEVATION
The Theme of Knowledge through Illusion & Reality as experienced through IMAX technology is used
to give direction to the architectural experience. The Complex is designed so that the visitor`s
experience oscillates between Natural and Manmade, Virtuality and Reality while moving
through the site.
The lotus plaza is the fulcrum around which the sequence of entering and exiting the complex
revolves. This circuit is traversed through descending into the depths of the earth into an exhibition of
nature and technology called the "Spiral of Knowledge" which culminates into the entrance foyer.
An 8m wide and 6m high series of mirrors forms a Periscope- the focus of the Entrance Foyer. This
Periscope not only demonstrates the fundamental principle of Optics, but also forms a social
space.The periscope floods the Foyer with natural light reducing day-lighting loads in this
subterranean chamber thus saving energy.
From this foyer, one enters the IMAX theatre where technology enables us to experience nature at a
supra scale, albeit `virtually`. The route ends back at the Lotus plaza and brings viewers back in
physical contact with the natural world.
The major components of the program are a theatre with 651 seats for 2D films and 556 seats for 3D
films. In addition to the IMAX theatre, there is a 50 cover speciality restaurant, a 100 cover
multi-cuisine cafeteria, Cyber café, Exhibition and 3d virtual reality video games area. During normal
functioning, a total of a 1000 persons will be present inside various parts of the complex and another
300 to 500 persons outside on the plaza.
The themes of point-counter point, gateway and event in architecture are explored by setting
the theatre block and restaurant block at two ends of the Lotus plaza. The five elements: the five
lotus ponds distributed over the surface of the plaza represent Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Ether. A
variety of lotus and water lilies in five colours grow in these ponds along with fish, algae and other
organisms to complete a fully sustainable micro world representing our bio diversity and ecological
sustainability.
The waters of the lotus plaza are an important element here; as a service that is both necessary and
beautiful. They are used as heat exchangers for the air conditioning and the mist generated by the
process wafts across with the natural breeze to cool the plaza. Green houses{ phase II} at the other
end of the plaza will use this bounty of recycled water to produce vegetables by hydroponics for
consumption in the cafeteria and restaurant.
The relationship of the building and the landscape emerges due to the severity of the
climate and need for insulation, provided naturally by nestling within the earth, like the
traditional subterranean architecture of Gujarat- the Step well, one of which exists not
very far from the site. Besides helping to save on energy this act helps in better
acoustical control in a building where such control is extremely relevant. The
subterranean structure also adds towards better earthquake resistant qualities as
experienced here only two years ago.