The Role of Type and Model in the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad Campus, India

Kahn in designing the Indian Institute of Management,

Ahmedabad Campus in 1962, he didn't only discuss the concept of

institution and its functional problems but studied the tradition of

Indian culture , the Indian way of life , the city , and its

institutional structure . His emphasis was on reflecting the

tradition of India by integrating education with culture as

essential requirements of human growth. It is the well-being of the

body and soul; it is the reason for living, "the three inspirations

are the inspiration to learn, the inspiration to meet, and

inspiration for well-being. They all serve really, the will to be, to

his goal in designing this project in a country which has many

advantages and constraints.

This country has climatic problems which vary from cool winter

to scorching summer. The building materials are brick and

concrete. Brick is locally available and concrete is possible but

expensive and heat radiating. With these limitations, Kahn had to

design a project which provides an interaction amongst the

students, the faculty and student, and their integration with the

functional and climatic needs.

These were the circumstances that had involved in the process of

designing this project. However, in order to see the role of type

and model here, one should understand the way the project was

set up as well as to define type and model.