SJK Architects is an architecture, interior design and master planning practice founded in 1990 by Shimul Javeri Kadri, and led by her and Partners, Vaishali Mangalvedhekar, Sarika Shetty and Roshni Kshirsagar. They design spaces for a rapidly urbanising India, meticulously crafted from a study of climate, culture, history, and technology.
“We believe in designing environments that are rooted in the earth – using the sun, the wind, and nature to create spaces that are suffused with light and contemporary innovations that draw from Indian traditions and spiritual metaphors,” says Shimul.
PROJECT IN FOCUS – JSW Sanjeevani Multispeciality Hospital
Location: Raigad, Maharashtra
Typology: Healthcare
Year of Completion: August 2021
Design Concept: The project is a case study in social, environmental, and economic sustainability.
Material Palette: AAC (autoclaved aerated concrete), Ita Gold limestone
What we Heart: The use of grey water from the STP (sewage treatment plant) and ETP (effluent treatment plant) to irrigate the hospital landscapes and in flushing systems. • Energy-saving features like the solar-powered hot water system and a variable chilled water pumping system to minimise AC loads, carbon monoxide sensor for fresh air intake
India’s rural communities face a significant shortage of healthcare facilities. Less than 25% of the country’s healthcare facilities are concentrated in rural areas where 70% of the population resides. An initiative of the JSW Foundation, the JSW Sanjeevani Multispeciality Hospital by SJK Architects in Dolvi village, Maharashtra, was envisioned to bridge this gap in the rural areas of the Raigad district. The architects designed the facility as an antithesis of the typical fear-inducing, white, sterile spaces that hospitals are infamous for. Warm, earthy colours in the form of ochre flooring, earth-coloured walls and the dark-brown roof, commonly found in the local context, create a sense of comfort and belonging. Smooth and calm recuperation is at the heart of spaces such as balconies along patient rooms and wards. Connection with nature has also been a particular focus of the design, with many studies linking it with reduced anger, fear, and stress and increased feelings of pleasantness.
