The Sikkimese have great respect their astounishingly beautiful and diverse environment. To set an example on how economic growth and an increase of tourism can take place in a harmonic relation with nature, the government has embarked on a series of human resource and building projects.

fUSE Studio and Architecture BRIO have been appointed via an international tender to design the Biodiversity Training Institute of Sikkim. The Biodiverity Training Institute is located near Sikkim’s capital Gangtok. Sited on a slope, it faces world third highest mountain, the Kanchenjunga. Spaces like training halls, workshop space, conference auditorium, library, research labs and residential facilities will face this wonderful view. It will become a place for education on Himalayan flora and fauna. Furthermore it will be example of environmentally friendly building design.

Training Institute

The design of the building is compact with a small footprint. It makes use of solar energy, local vegetation and wind. The thermal mass of the walls will be used to moderate fluctuations in the indoor temperature. Local materials like rammed earth and natural stone are chosen to increase the thermal accumulating qualities of walls and floors. The divers vegetation of Sikkim will become an integral part of the building. Moss grown stone walls and a vegetated herbal roof with local plants will cover the exterior. The institute intends to become a meeting place to educate through the exchange of knowledge. More importantly it aims to inspire as an example of the Sikkimese ‘green mission’.

Concept

Massing, programmatic and sustainability diagram

View of Kanchenchunga – The diverse vegetation of Sikkim will become an integral part of the building such as the vegetated roof with local plants.

It is a meeting place to educate through the exchange of knowledge, and to inspire an example of the Sikkimese ‘green mission’.

A biodiversity ‘hotspot’, the landscape varies from dense green forests to the high snow covered mountains in the North.

Prayer flags at site – The Sikkimese respect their diverse environment and are developing and studying strategies how to keep economic growth and increase of tourism in a harmonic relation with nature.

Fog at site

Spaces like training halls, workshop space, conference auditorium, library, research labs and residential facilities will face the wonderful view of Kanchenjunga

Exterior view of court with water filter pond

Auditorium overlooking the mountain range – Thermal mass of the walls will be used to create moderate fluctuations in temperature.

Sun and shadow analysis diagram – the design of the building makes use of solar energy

Biodiversity: Mosses as pioneering species in the successive growth of a forest

It will become a place for education on Himalayan flora and fauna

The diverse vegetation of Sikkim will become an integral part of the building such as the vegetated roof with local plants

Thermally insulated wall construction which forms a canvas for mosses and ferns to grow

Site line-out. The Training Institute is located near Sikkim’s capital Gangtok, placed on a slope it faces world third highest mountain, the Kanchenjunga

Plan 1

Plan 2

Plan 3

Plan 4

Section 1

Section 2

Section 3

Section 4

Section 5

Section 6

Section 7