TAPMI Center for Global Development
and Competitiveness,
designed by The Purple Ink Studio
Manipal, located on India's southern coast in Udupi district, owes its transformation to the vision of Indian physician, educator and philanthropist T.M.A. Pai. In 1953, he initiated the construction of an academic center in the village, which then had a population of 2,000 to 5,000. Today, Manipal is a dynamic educational center with a student population of nearly 30,000 - more than half of the total population. However, infrastructure development, driven by more academic institutions, has shaped a rigid urban structure. It lacks spaces conducive to meeting, exchanging ideas and building relationships - elements crucial to young people, who are the city's driving force. The TAPMI Development and Competitiveness Center, a project by local office The Purple Ink Studio, associated with the T.A. Pai Management Institute, an autonomous business school in India. The facility combines academic functions with a social role, bringing a new quality to the urban fabric.
The TAPMI Development and Competitiveness Center in Manipal is expected to become a space conducive to meeting, exchanging ideas and building ties
Photo by Suryan Dang © The Purple Ink Studio
location: architecture
in harmony with the landscape
The TAPMI Center is located on a 40-acre campus, perched on a hill with panoramic views of a valley surrounded by lush vegetation. It covers an area of about 460 square meters, making it a relatively small building on the scale of the campus, but its location gives it a strategic role. The road surrounding the building winds along the natural lines of the site, starting on campus and gently descending toward the valley. This layout emphasizes the relationship between the building and the landscape, integrating the facility with neighboring buildings and open areas.
TAPMI Center for Development and Competitiveness, Manipal, India - site location
© The Purple Ink Studio
program: a space that lives
The project builds on TAPMI's values, prioritizing spaces that support collaboration and community building. As originally conceived, the building was to house lecture halls, administrative spaces, workshops and a café - all on the first floor and one floor. However, the architects at The Purple Ink Studio went further, asking the question: can a building serve a role beyond basic utility functions? The answer is a space that is not limited to class hours, but becomes a center for social activity, accessible to students and residents at all times.
TAPMI Development and Competitiveness Center, Manipal, India - the building will become a center of social activity, accessible to students and residents at all times
Photo by Suryan Dang © The Purple Ink Studio
design process: from simplicity
to symbiosis with nature
The design process, illustrated in diagrammatic form, shows how a simple block evolved into an organic structure that interacts with its surroundings and responds to the needs of its users. Initially, a two-story "L" shaped building was assumed, aligned along the road, with the longer side adjacent to the street for visibility and easy access. In the next stage, "voids" were introduced - open spaces cutting through the block, which act as courtyards, common areas, and improve air circulation and light access to the interiors.
TAPMI Development and Competitiveness Center, Manipal, India - diagram illustrating the design process
© The Purple Ink Studio
Next, a portion of the block was shifted to create additional open space, which gave the building a dynamic feel and allowed for smooth pedestrian movement - both through and around the facility. A key step was to convert the roof into usable space. The architects created a terrace, which gained a new function with canopies to protect it from the sun and rain. These semi-open areas provide functionality regardless of the weather, while maintaining contact with the outdoors.
TAPMI Development and Competitiveness Center, Manipal, India - an important element of the project is the reinterpretation of traditional umbrellas
photo by Suryan Dang © The Purple Ink Studio
An important element of the project is the reinterpretation of traditional umbrellas. The architects transformed them into bamboo, openwork structures that act as sun and rain covers. Bamboo, as an ecological and sustainable material, is widely used in the region, and its lightness and natural character fit in with the idea of sustainable construction. The structures harmonize with the surrounding vegetation, creating a cohesive relationship between architecture and landscape. In the final design stage, the building was fully integrated with nature. With organic shapes, natural materials and seamless transitions between interior and exterior, the building does not dominate its surroundings, but becomes an integral part of them, almost growing out of the landscape.
TAPMI Development and Competitiveness Center, Manipal, India - cross-section of the facility
© The Purple Ink Studio
form and materials: contrast and harmony
The finished building is distinguished by two contrasting layers. The lower part, massive and minimalist, is made of smooth white material. Straight lines and large glazing open up the interiors to light and views, while the light-colored facade adapts the structure to local climatic conditions. The upper part is light and dynamic - dominated by round bamboo canopies resembling umbrellas or mushrooms. Their openwork structure, made of radially arranged elements, allows air and light to pass through, creating an airy atmosphere. Some of the roofs are covered with vegetation, which promotes water retention and offers space for relaxation. The greenery surrounding the building - trees, shrubs, lawns - reinforces the impression of symbiosis, and the bamboo canopies harmonize with the treetops, emphasizing the organic character of the block.
TAPMI Development and Competitiveness Center, Manipal, India - interior of the building
photo by Suryan Dang © The Purple Ink Studio
design strategy: three pillars of the concept
1. building as a community
In a region with a variable climate and heavy rainfall, terraces are often left unused. The architects introduced canopies that transform the terrace into a flexible space for meetings and events. The gradual lowering of the ground levels allows for a natural connection to the surroundings, eliminating barriers between users and the landscape. The centerpiece is the angala, an open amphitheater that serves as a multifunctional zone, encouraging spontaneous interaction. The canopies of the chhatris, inspired by traditional Indian architecture and made of bamboo in collaboration with local artisans, protect from the sun and rain while referencing the cultural heritage. The arrangement of these structures on the terrace reinforces the functionality of the space, integrating it into the daily life of the campus.
TAPMI Development and Competitiveness Center, Manipal, India - the centerpiece is the angala, or open amphitheater
photo by Suryan Dang © The Purple Ink Studio
2 Architecture in harmony with the landscape
The building does not function as an isolated mass - its boundaries intermingle with its surroundings. Bridges, ramps and organic building lines facilitate accessibility and connect different levels of the site. The building acts as a mediator that unites the campus with nature, offering spaces for work, relaxation and events.
TAPMI Development and Competitiveness Center, Manipal, India - The facility acts as a mediator that ties the campus to nature, offering spaces for work, relaxation and events
photo by Suryan Dang © The Purple Ink Studio
3 Space for the city
The TAPMI Center extends beyond the boundaries of the campus, acting as a link between the academic community and Manipal. The lack of a traditional main entrance emphasizes its openness. Students and residents also use the space outside of class hours, giving it a continuity of life. The project fills a gap in the urban fabric, offering a model of sustainable development that draws on local resources and traditions while responding to contemporary needs.
TAPMI Development and Competitiveness Center, Manipal, India - the lack of a traditional main entrance emphasizes its openness
photo by Suryan Dang © The Purple Ink Studio
the future of academic spaces
TAPMI's Center for Inclusive Growth and Competitiveness is an example of a space that goes beyond the conventional campus framework. The open and flexible facility adapts to the changing needs of education. It combines local traditions with innovative solutions, creating a place that enhances the present and prepares the ground for the future. It's a space that lives, inspires and brings the community together - inviting people to explore new possibilities in the heart of Manipal.
Elaborated: Anastazja Dżupina
Illustrations provided courtesy of The Purple Ink Studio.
