On the way - shelter for drivers

DEFINITION AND PURPOSE OF THE DESIGN

 

The purpose of the construction is to design an easily repeatable and adaptable construction that can be used in different parts of India. It is a hostel for 100 truckers who currently do not have the opportunity to stop somewhere for food, sleep or the toilet. The proposed facility will be located in southern India, near the city of Palakkad. One of the points of the assignment was that it should be a modular solution, especially due to the possibility of adaptation to different plots and the price of the building.

 

URBAN SOLUTION

The plot is located in southern India, in the province of Kerel, 9 km from the city of Palakkad. The surrounding area is almost non-existent, so we can say in advance that it will be the dominant feature of the place. The entrance to the land will be situated on the west side, by a power lane from the highway.

It will be a complex of buildings that will be functionally divided. There will be living units on the north, due to noise from the highway. On the south side of the built-up area there will be public buildings - a restaurant with a reception, toilets and public showers and a warehouse with a prayer room. The restaurant will be different in shape, but will still consist of a basic module. Toilets and public showers will be public and common to the whole complex mainly due to the simplicity of implementation, maintenance, price and the fact that there is a great shortage of public toilets in India. Since we are on the highway, such a solution is best.

 

ARCHITECTURAL SOLUTION

It is a complex of buildings, created from a single module in the shape of a quarter circle. This shape, idea and overall composition was inspired by Indian mosaic patterns - from one basic shape, a great variation in the layout of individual objects can arise.

The shape inspired by the mosaic was complemented by a sloping facade with a slope of 10 degrees, which has 4 meanings.

The first is the shading of the windows during the sharpest sun, for lunch when the sun is highest.

The second meaning is that this inclination creates space for undisturbed, yet understandable color separation of buildings. This color distinction will serve not only to distinguish the meaning - blue public toilets and showers, the red color of Hinduism (prayer room), but also to facilitate communication between the reception and the accommodated truckers, parents with children and truckers.

The third is the air gap between the unit itself and the casing, which will be freely ventilated to ensure passive ventilation on hot days.

The fourth importance is the overall design and dynamics of the complex

The accommodation unit is designed for 16 people due to the lower price, which is very important for a truck driver. Over time, the unit will be able to arrive at a double unit with 2 separate inputs.

The restaurant and reception will be a welcoming open building, complemented by a space with a water feature, which can serve both to cool the air of the south facade, as well as to rinse the face and refresh for the truck driver in warm weather. On the west side of the building there will be a reception with its own entrance and on the east there will be a glass restaurant with sliding panels, which will be able to open if necessary to create a terrace.

Public buildings such as showers with showers will include lockable showers where the visitor can lock themselves. The second public building is a place for prayer for all visitors to the complex, associated with a warehouse of charpais - cheap beds, designed to rent for a deposit for a short time (truckers who need to rest in the shade for a few hours) and for dirty and clean laundry.

 

DISPOSITION AND COLOURFULNESS

The introductory building contains a reception with a separate entrance, both for employees and visitors, so that it can be operated outside the opening hours of the restaurant and cafe. It is located on the west side of the building. The visitor will be introduced to the complex by an open glass facade wall, with a view of the movement inside the café - so the visitor will find out at a glance whether it is open or not. On the east side of the building is the above-mentioned restaurant. The technical background of the building (HVAC) is located in the northwest of the building, connected to the kitchen, which has its own entrance, its own locker room and its own toilet.

- the building is sufficiently different from the others, so a color division is not necessary here.

Toilets and showers are designed so that the round shape does not interfere with the drainage pipes from the toilets and showers - they are arranged in parallel. The hall is separate and there is also a clear window. All other windows will be milky or with opaque foil for privacy reasons.
- the color of the building is blue

The  prayer room and warehouse  will have a simple layout, divided into almost thirds of the two modules
-the color of the entrance to the prayer room is red (based on the Hindu religion)

The living unit has its own hall for taking off shoes. There is also a common terrace - for potential socialization by the truck driver and for dining space. As there will be bunk beds, space for storing things will be allowed to lock under them. Each guest will receive their own locker.
-the colors of the units are not given and the color can be chosen by the investor at his discretion.

 

CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS

A steel module was chosen as the construction. Steel is widespread in India - accounting for 6 percent of global steel production - it is 4th in the world.

Based on the observation, available information, consultation and comparison of individual spans of already standing steel cell structures, a square cross-sectional profile (200 x 200 mm) was chosen. The square cross-section is created by welding two U-profiles (100 x 200 mm). The thickness of the steel elements will be 7 mm. The module will be in the shape of a circle, the radius is 6900 mm

Wood was chosen as the lining material, due to the high temperatures (the corrugated sheet would be hot) and also due to easier handling and visual action.