SWAY
a fall of a feather, captured in the essence of space

An event occurs in nature daily, amongst others, the drift of wind gently carrying a feather fallen from a winged body. If one were consciously aware to notice such an event at any time, they were to know the character of such a motion in space. We ask for a few seconds of your time to trace through your memory and remember the motion of a light feather gently gliding with the support of wind in the space. We would call that a serene and silent display of ballet in mid-air. And this almost-poetic movement of a feather in space, that sways, and dances in a fluid rhythm until it touches the ground is the core philosophy of our design for this academic and multi-functional institution. In the physicalizing of this design idea; the variations of connectivity in a space at a moment in time is what the swaying behavior of a falling feather resembles. Fluidity under the guidance of a space is how the design captures the essence of a learner’s journey under the guidance of an institution. This core idea has been an inspiration for developing a place that allows interactive and collaborative spaces for the exchange of ideas among the learners and professionals of today and tomorrow. In Nepal where traditional academia is defined by functionality, hierarchy, and, indoctrinated discipline our design approach challenges it with a futuristic idea of academia that values individuality, physical and mental well-being, and subtle order through diverse interactive spaces, common forums for the students, faculty, and professionals, and architecture that ignites lightness, curiosity, and ease.

We have proposed the ground level, the corresponding underground and upper level as well as the pre-existing outdoor ground of the Xavier Academy as an inter-connected public forum we have named the combination as ‘The Xavier Forum’. This variety of interactive spaces along with the renovated landscape is designed as a place for recluse and relationship-building for students and faculty. We have vertically punctured the ground to create a multi-functional hall that can be used as a gallery, discussion hall, library, or exhibition space with an ample amount of ambient natural light and ventilation using a series of voids and skylights. All the indoor and outdoor spaces in the forum are visually connected. Furthermore, identifying the individuals’ need for a private learning place where they can enjoy being on their own amongst the crowd, we have designed a pavilion within the lush green landscape of the Xavier Forum.

Physically, the sturdy mass of the Xavier forum composes the base of the building, which looks distinct from the rest of its facade; mimicking the feather’s final resting state on the ground with this monolithic presence. However, what looks bold and heavy on the exterior is fluid inside with carefully positioned skylights and openings representing a sense of elegant movement within the enclosure. With the Forum, we have tried to address the current narrowness and lack of openness in the existing XA building.

We have limited vehicular access towards the eastern section with surface bus parking however, there is a defined landscape connection for walkways and emergency exits. The western section is designed as the main connecting walkway with generous space dedicated to outdoor circulation. In both internal and external planning and circulation, we have given special attention to designing connecting spaces that feel open, safe, and interactive for individuals of all abilities on each level. We have proposed a separate, but equally inviting, entry point on the ground floor for the rentable spaces that connect directly to their floors.

We realize that the forum and the labs on the upper floors will be used by the entire academy, including students in the pre-existing building. Thus, to manage smooth mass gathering and mass circulation during peak hours, we have created multiple break-out spaces outside labs that can be used as recess lounges for students/teachers or can be used as VIVA examination areas, or simply as a space for a brief interaction with classmates and teachers before or after lab hours. These little spaces truly uplift the user experience in the building. Classrooms on each level have the flexibility to become one big interactive hall allowing more possibilities for joint learning. We have added more semi-open spaces around the classroom premises that will have the students get out of their classes and interact more, brainstorm ideas, read, and relax, in a well-ventilated well-lit space. To ensure that the teaching and non-teaching faculty also get the same user experience as the students, we have created semi-outdoor well-being and leisurely spaces for them on the fifth level with their own pantry facility and interactive lounge. We have designed the board meeting hall that provides an interactive layout for meetings, gatherings, or discussions and offers extra spaces for new means of communication and delivery.

On the ninth floor is a general cafeteria that can cater to a mass of 128 individuals at a given time. This semi-open area is for activities of common dining, and group gathering, and a place for the students and faculty to have a good time all while enjoying the serene view of the majestic hills and views of the bustling urban core of Kathmandu. Furthermore, this space can function as a spill-out zone for events hosted at the large multi-purpose conference hall above which holds a capacity of 225 pax. The multipurpose hall is an iconic skylit hall with angular ribs running perpendicular through the entire length of the hall. We have planned adequate spaces for backstage functions, services, maintenance, VIP seating lounges, and circulation in and outside the hall.
For the rented floors, we have designed open floor plans that vertically connect through a single spine of an open circular staircase- offering the rental spaces the same user experience of fluidity and movement as the rest of the building. The plans are flexible to be rented out by a single organization or by multiple.

While the core design concept carries the ‘sway’ of a feather falling, the feather's physical features conceptualize the building's facade. We have taken the strands of fiber within the feather as an inspiration for vertical metal louvers of varying sizes. These aren't just attractive elements but help control the building temperature from the harsh southern daylight. Furthermore, we have planned for these louvers to be dynamic by adding ball-bearing at joints which help the louvers sway with the wind casting dynamic shadows inside the building during daytime. This character also provides a sense of enclosure from the external surroundings in the semi-open terraces. The building adopts passive and active sustainability features with the provision of natural daylight seeping in and airflow circulating throughout for passive cooling of common spaces utilizing the rooftop to house large solar panels for clean energy.