DESIGN NARRATIVE

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LEMNISCATE

A Design Narrative for a Fashion Design Institute
(G+1 | Infinite Loop Form | Sustainable & Sculptural)

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Concept Inspiration

The term "Lemniscate" refers to the infinity symbol (∞), representing limitless creativity, continuous learning, and the cyclical nature of design evolution—core values for a Fashion Design Institute. This iconic form shapes the spatial experience, flow, and identity of the building.

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Site & Spatial Organisation

• Form:
  The building plan is a fluid lemniscate shape, symbolizing seamless transitions between public and private, indoor and outdoor, academic and social zones.

• Levels:

  • Stilt Floor: Used for vehicular circulation, two-wheeler parking, and service access. It also encourages natural ground permeability and ventilation, especially on sloping terrain.

  • Ground Floor:

    • Studios, admin, material library, cafeteria, and exhibition spaces arranged along the loop.

    • The central node of the loop is carved into the site contours to create an amphitheatre, forming a vibrant community hub open to sky or shaded by extended roof planes.

  • First Floor:

    • Houses classrooms, faculty cabins, resource centers, and open terraces.

    • On one side of the contour, the floor follows the site’s natural dip, allowing a stepped seating area or balconies overlooking the amphitheatre below.

 

Architectural Features

• Contours & Land Integration:
  The site’s natural contours are retained and celebrated. The building partially sits into the earth, enabling thermal comfort and a low visual impact on the landscape. The amphitheatre emerges organically as a sculpted void.

• Roof Design:
  A sculpted, sinuous roof plane follows the lemniscate loop.

  • Integrated skylights provide ample natural light to internal studios.

  • Green roof patches promote biodiversity and reduce urban heat impact.

• Facade Expression:

  • Combination of vertical bamboo fins, vegetated trellises, and perforated jaali panels.

  • These not only offer a dynamic skin but also ensure solar shading, natural ventilation, and a strong tropical character.

 

Sustainability & Passive Design

• Material Palette:

  • Locally sourced bamboo, rammed earth walls, and lime plasters reduce embodied energy.

  • Recycled fabric panels (symbolic of fashion waste reuse) are integrated into select interiors.

• Climate Response:

  • Cross ventilation enabled by open stilt and central cutouts.

  • Green buffer zones and shaded courtyards moderate microclimate.

  • Rainwater harvesting tanks and greywater reuse embedded in the stilt level.

 

User Experience

• The infinite circulation loop allows students to walk, interact, and explore without dead ends, reflecting a journey of discovery.

• Studios are designed to be fluid, openable, and interconnected, encouraging cross-disciplinary collaborations.

 

Conclusion

LEMNISCATE is not just a building; it is a philosophy of endless creativity and ecological mindfulness. Rooted in form, landscape, and sustainability, it becomes a living canvas for future fashion designers to express, evolve, and inspire.

Let me know if you’d like this turned into a presentation layout, 3D conceptual sketch, or diagram illustrations for your design submission.