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MOFA STUDIO’S FLUID DESIGN FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF WATER SPORTS The National Institute of Water SPORTS (NIWS) in GOA, designed by MOFA Studio, represents a fusion of intuitive and
PARAMETRIC design processes, creating an architectural language that is both globally relevant and locally rooted. Recognizing Goa’s reliance on the sea for economic growth, the government
established NIWS, the largest water sports institute in Southeast Asia. This initiative aims to formalize and advance the training and development of marine tourism and adventure sports in
the region. The design for NIWS was selected through an international competition, reflecting a bold, iconic statement that positions Goa on the global map. The design integrates the
cultural and economic significance of water sports into the educational framework, ensuring state-of-the-art training for local lifeguards and tour operators. The use of local materials at
the ground level combined with a floating roof creates a balance between local ethos and a global architectural approach. The functional brief is divided into distinct zoning areas:
institutional, administrative, residential, and recreational. The spaces between these zones are fluid and continuous, fostering informal interactions among various campus users. This design
approach connects the architecture to its broader context, merging the energy of adventure water sports with the educational environment. all images by Vinay Panjwani SEA-INSPIRED
ARCHITECTURE WITH ADVANCED DIGITAL FABRICATION The architecture of NIWS by MOFA STUDIO is inspired by the dynamic nature of the sea, with forms that erupt, rise, and fold into a series of
trochoidal waves. This creates a sense of constant motion and shifting perspectives within the structure. The design blurs the boundaries between its elements, with walls, floor plates, and
roofs engaging in a fluid dialogue influenced by the interplay of light and shadows. The complex, designed within tight government budgets, employs digital fabrication techniques for the
mega roof structure. The roof, resembling a free-flowing wave, spans 4000 sqm and is constructed using a lightweight grid shell structure with trapezoidal paneling. Comprising over 15,000
pipes and more than 5,000 customized roof panels, the structure is assembled like a jigsaw puzzle, ensuring efficient water flow through continuous gutters. This innovative approach makes it
one of the most complex digitally fabricated roofs in India. National Institute of Water Sports creates an architectural language, both globally relevant and locally rooted NIWS is the
largest water sports institute in Southeast Asia [embedded content] local materials at the ground level and a floating roof create a balance between local and global architecture the plan is
divided into zoning areas: institutional, administrative, residential, and recreational