With the mission to develop Uttarakhand as "Herbal State", the Herbal Research and Development Institute (HRDI) is established at Gopeshwar for conservation, development and sustainable utilization of the valuable Medicinal and Aromatic Plant resources of Uttarakhand. The vision of the Institute is to restore the natural environment and to develop it as leading herbal destination for the healthy life of national and international communities. The steeply contoured site to design was located on the bend of the serpentine mountain road in the midst of the pristine beauty of the Garhwal Himalayas of Uttarakhand. The study of context and topography with the primary objective of the Institute being that of conservation and sustenance demanded for a site responsive design and the complex which is designed by taking the contours into consideration. The site is split into 3 levels to minimise cut-fill i.e. Upper-Level, Mid-Level and Lower-Level. Vehicular movement was restricted to the mid-level with a driveway to reach the drop-off and entrance lobby from where we conceptualised the ease of pedestrian access to lower as well as upper levels. The more public interface of the institute such as training, scientist’s rooms and support facilities were also clubbed in the mid-level. The pedestrian access was further accentuated by interconnected pathways and courtyards for series of corresponding activates clustered together at various levels with split-level building design in order to reduce the plinth area of development and conserve the natural landform. Functionally the lower level caters to library, laboratory and guest rooms overlooking the valley and snow peaked mountains. Upper level is provided with administration block, director’s office and conference hall along with support services. Sloping roofs stepping at various levels as per master plan and porch covered with pergolas evoke a sense of relatability with the surroundings. Clerestory windows were introduced within the sloping roofs for training and working spaces to allow for diffused light within deep spaces especially during the winter months which would otherwise need artificial lighting for efficient operations. Sloping roof in all the buildings was further designed with edge termination into pronounced gutters as part of roof profile so as to allow for snow melting during winter months and heavy rainfall during monsoons with ground water recharging pits at pre-planned locations. Selection of materials like exposed Brick for the exteriors and pergolas with an earthy colour palette adds a flavour of local style of construction.