A competition entry for a new campus to be designed for a modern institute building to stimulate creative minds. The design of the building was inspired by frequent revolutions of the world of fashion: a glamourous, flamboyant, and transformative worlds along with the latest trends of donning a new skin to the buildings by changing their external fabrics. A double skin metal fabric panels was designed to act as a thermal buffer drawing in natural air into the building.

Fashion and Architecture come together to give the NIFT building an identity of its own through a proposed perforated metal screen which drapes the building and reduces the energy load on the building. It acts as an embellishment and protection to the building beneath.

A building skin is an architectural mesh façade element installed as a building tension system to allow natural light and air circulation in a space. This same space, if clad with other building products like architectural louvers, architectural grilles and screens, and other façade wall panel system would require electric daytime lighting and potentially an exhaust system for air movements. The double skin of metal fabric panels acts as a thermal buffer and thermal flue which draws in natural air into the building. At the same time, it also qualifies the building as an Open Space. These skins generate considerable energy savings for the building by reducing usage of mechanical ventilation and artificial lighting. The building skin is a subtle transition from the Inside to the Outside.

Several multi-level courtyards have been planned in the internal spaces which is the traditional way of organizing large spaces to bring in transparency throughout the mass of the building in the form of voids. The cut outs in the courtyards are a combination of direct and indirect light so that there is no overheating and leakage.

The visual connectors such as staircase blocks become an important element in the building because of the various multilevel internal courtyards which promote interaction amongst cross section of students throughout the institute.

The interior of the building can be made vibrant using colour in a sophisticated and controlled manner to generate interesting and attractive forms and are designed to facilitate interaction-based learning.

The institute has been designed in such a way to promote open class environment where students do not have to be confined to one space. The peripheral spaces also become an important part as they change the atmosphere of the space from a stoic institute to a vibrant campus. The organization of classrooms and seminar rooms is along the outer edges so that there is enough light that floods the classrooms. The exterior façade maintains the relationship between the inside and the outside with transition spaces acting as a buffer between them. These are stilted corridors and shaded enclosed spaces.

The design for the institute also proposes amenities that can be used for generating funds.

The Atrium space with the stairs moving along its edge act as a hub of student activity and multi-level interaction. A commercial block towards the rear of the plot which can be leased out for pure commercial purposes. This block is segregated from the main institute and hostel block with a separate entrance so as not to disturb the students.

Certain commercial aspects can be integrated with the institute such as a cafeteria with an open area which acts as a food court and can be accessible to both public as well as the students. The kitchen can then be leased out to restaurant chains.

An open-air theatre along with the lawns and the recreation grounds can be leased out for public functions, staging of plays, etc. The enclosed auditorium planned on the ground floor of the academic block has been provided access towards the public area so that it can be leased out.

The outdoor display area of the NIFT Display Studio can be used as an Art Gallery showcasing private works & collections for commercial purposes.