A Healing Hand

Reversing the customary negative connotations of a rehab home for alcohol, drug and other addictions, this sprawling campus in Gujarat, India by Art & Architecture Associates relies heavily on its connect with nature and a holistic approach to these afflictions. The project was a finalist at the WAF 2018.

Grim. Uninviting. Regimented. Institutional. Constricting. ‘We decided at the onset that no such associations would be evoked by the ambience of the Alpha Healing Centre in Jambughoda, Gujarat,’ says Dharam Patel, Principal Architect, Art & Architecture Associates. The site lay 50 kms outside the city of Vadodara, Gujarat, in an untouched reserve with large old trees; undoubtedly, this played a huge role in assisting the endeavor to create a resort or spa-like ambiance through the design. An additional 5,50,000 sq ft of landscaping was added around the built-up area of 75000 sq ft, since the size of the site permitted it. ‘Moreover, since the Gujarat state highway runs a mere 100 feet away from the main building, we created a road parallel to it at the entry instead of driving straight in, to create a sense of arrival. Trees have also been planted in this area, creating a green buffer from the highway,’ adds Patel.

Moving away from straight lines in the effort to subliminally convey a relaxed atmosphere, gentle curves were adopted for the footprint of the structures, laid out in the shape of a flower and its petals. The refreshing, rejuvenating associations of a flower have been carried through in a subtle way, without making forced connections through the design. ‘The footprint arrived at through the curved lines enabled us to conserve and bypass as many trees as possible on the site, some of them even emerging from the canopy of a structure,’ says Patel. Additionally, the fragrance of flowers in the man-made landscape fills the senses of visitors and residents alike.