10 things about Krushi Bhawan building; the People's Choice Winner at the AZ Awards 2020

Odisha's architectural marvel Krushi Bhavan designed by Studio Lotus has won the People's Choice Winner in the Social Good category at the prestigious AZ Awards 2020  (AZURE’s international architecture and design competition). This was the only project from India at the globally recognized prestigious award.

Here are some architectural details about the structure. 

1. The complex houses the administrative offices for the Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Empowerment, Odisha government designed around courtyards filled with ponds and trees.

2. Regional materials and techniques feature all over the building. The north wing of the building is made using laterite and khondalite stones sourced from nearby mines.

3. The brickwork that wraps the upper floor is designed using a traditional dyeing technique called Odisha Ikat. The bricks were made from three different colors of clay sourced from the surrounding areas.

4. The perforations in the facade help to naturally cool the building.

5. Apart from being a workplace for 600 staff, Krushi Bhavan also houses spaces for community engagement.

6. The ground floor has a free-flowing public space that opens out into a plaza. It has an amphitheater and a garden with a pond to naturally cool the space. The entrance is lined with trees and stone colonnades, which doubles as a shady place for employees to have their lunch.

7. A learning center, gallery, auditorium, library, and training rooms are also located on the ground floor.

8. The building's rooftop has urban farms that can be used to demonstrate the best agricultural practices.

9. Krushi Bhavan's night-purging system pulls cool air in through the northern facade after dark which lowers the building's temperature before the hotter daytime hours.

10. The courtyard design, along with recessed windows, also features brick louvers that create shade and airflow.