CAFRAL, RBI, Mumbai

CAFRAL (Centre for Advanced Financial Research and Learning), an institute for advanced financial research as proposed by the RBI in the financial capital Mumbai, has been briefed to be a world class institute where top financial researchers and strategists from across the globe would converge for furtherance of economic betterment of mankind at large. The design for CAFRAL was mainly befitting this noble cause and global scale. Located at a site on the Worli Sea face along the coastline of Mumbai, the design for the RBI’s Advanced Research Centre called for sensitivity towards the green aspects. These green design considerations included the existing trees on the site, a birds’ sanctuary in the vicinity, the view of the sea and breezes thereof and a maximization of available climatic advantages. Starting with a modular approach, team Kalayojan proceeded with a segmented massing of the built form so as to form several interlinked courtyards at various levels. These courts, which were calculated to be shaded at all times of the day, were placed at different vertical levels and also served different functions. The massing also took care of accessibility to sea view and breezes for all parts of the building. The sizes and shapes of the building blocks were designed to minimize solar heat gain. The courts also serve as ample grounds for interaction, as required by the design brief. The massive stone clad front coupled with interior glass surfaces matches up the authoritative image of the RBI with a contemporary look in a global ambience. Conference and Seminar rooms, researchers’ rooms, library, recreation facilities, residences for the director, researchers and assistants as well as studio apartments for visiting researchers and delegates, ancilliated by dining and catering arrangements have been provided in the building. Campus layout -In the start, an open center, a series of sequence of courtyards – staggered diagonally to maximize the openness and the feeling of campus, around which is clustered the built form. Institutional on the ground and first floor and residence above.

MOVEMENT-From the entrance plaza, through auto glass-sliding shutters, we step into the entrance lobby with offices to the right, a lounge to the left and conference room up ahead, step left onto the threshold between the Formal Court and the Green Square, walk below the bridge into the main conference block, with a multipurpose/dining room on the ground and a 150 seat conference on the first floor or walk up the open stair into the research rooms on the first floor, above which is the podium with the gym , pool and dining spaces connecting the institute below with the residences above. The bigger residences are at a corner, open on three sides, with the smaller rooms in between. The director gets the penthouse on the terrace.

1 large and 2 small conference rooms and break away rooms

2 seminar rooms

Dining hall for 300 capacity

Library and recreational facilities (including swimming pool)

Residences: Director’s room, faculty rooms, inters and visiting faculty rooms, senior and junior level researchers rooms with scope of expansion