MARC MAHE Off Campus

Bangalore is thriving with micro campuses from several universities. Nestled in the core campus of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). MARC emanates from its role as the central focal point of a bustling academic hub. The design program includes a 1,200-seater Auditorium. With the soft enclosure of a rectangular plaza, the relationship between the built and open spaces is explored with a hidden order. The movement of people outside the building in the plaza was orchestrated to create pockets of visual interest and enhance a sense of place. As users trail through the diverging ramps, the spatial thresholds between the plaza and the building disappear. Supporting infrastructure for a campus of over 12,000 students, the structure is designed with a rigid framework of steel trusses. The division of the spaces creates a rich spatial interchange and blurs the boundaries between indoor and outdoor plazas. The upper levels emphasize the functionality of the auditorium and the idea of movement. Porous transitions are explored through multiple layers concentrated around the circular form of the Auditorium. The central core functions like a magnet, with open plazas expanding in its magnetic field. Rather than reinforcing boundaries, the design focuses on removing more than it adds to reduce the impact of the urban weight while also creating social spaces. The building skin was rendered in vivid orange continuing inside out symbolizing the youthful, vibrant and innovative ideologies that define the very essence of the campus.