Student Housing Reimagined for Sustainable Living

Project: St. Andrews Institute of Technology and Management – Girls’ Hostel Block, Gurugram Architects: Zero Energy Design Lab, New Delhi

The Girls’ Hostel Block at the St. Andrews Institute of Technology and Management in Gurugram explores the intersection of education and sustainability through the lens of the vernacular. Completed in 2020, the design for the 25,000 sq ft Girls’ Hostel takes cues from the adjacent Boys’ Hostel Block and is articulated in brick and fair-faced concrete, with exposed structural members abutting along all sides. The hostel’s design empowers students with the freedom of movement within an environment that prioritises thermal comfort and functionality, to become an example of zero energy design.

The hostel is home to approximately 130 students, with dorm rooms spread across four levels in addition to hosting ancillary spaces like a pantry, recreational areas as well as social spaces. The ground floor comprises 12 double-occupancy rooms along with a double-height reception, pantry and indoor activity lounge where students can organise gatherings and social events.

The Brief

The design faced a series of challenges from conception to execution. The primary design challenge was to create a secure hub for the girls—a campus within a campus fitting into the urban master plan that did not restrict movement, while establishing a connection with the outdoors.