JAWAHAR KALA KENDRA

Historical ideology & planning concept

Mharaja Jai Singh who built the fabled pink city was moved by two seemingly conflicts set of ideas. One of them was ancient Navgrah ( the module of nine planets). Thus the pink city of Jaipur somewhere was past of Indian art which was later discovered by Late shri Jawahar lal Nehru thus this art centre is dedicated to him.

The plan was prepared by the noted architect Charles Correa in 1986 and the building was ready in 1991. The plan is inspired by the original city plan of Jaipur, consisting of nine squares with central square left open.

The well endowed library of the Jawahar Kala Kendra treasures numerous books and from the beginning of the JKK, the documentation of the Arts and Crafts have been done by the officals of JKK under the able guidance of Dr. Chandramani Singh. Ms. Singh is an art historian and has a vast experience in this field. Jawahar Kala Kendra also includes a museum namely ‘Alankar’. This ’Indigenous Art and Craft Museum’’ showcases the art, culture and visual heritage of indigenous Rajasthan. This museum has been conceptualised by Mr. Abdul Lateef Usta- a Heritage expert and Museuologist of international repute.The whole complex is itself a unique design & concept in the architectural industry especially the concept of nine squares as ‘ Navgrah’

layout plan

Each square was linked to the planet as per the characteristics of the particular planet and its astrological values and the functionality of the square.This Navgrah concept with its energy values their favorable colour, quality and the favourable functionality to the each planet with square kept in mind while designing and allocation of spaces.Partly open courtyards and the traditional design elements of Rajasthan have been incorporated in the complex.

The landscaping was also done as per planets astrological values in the whole complex in each square wherever was required

Sandarbh i.e LibraryThe whole complex in itself has a unique design & concept in the architectural industry, the concept of nine squares as ‘ Navgrah’.Each square was linked to the planet as per the characteristics of the particular planet and its astrological values and the functionality of the square.This particular square was linked with ‘Jupiter’ the characteristics were matched in such a way Linked planet ‘Jupiter’Favorable colour lemon yellowQuality of the planet KnowledgeFunctionality allotted Library

Favorable colour As and when the square was representing the planet ‘Jupiter’ the astrological value was kept in consideration.The favorable colour of this planet was lemon yellow so the square was treated with yellow colour in the external finishing and the water body was added in the partially open area to make the environment more lively.

Part plan of library Pond area and pergola

Play with light and shadow

The second most significant feature which was been adopted in this particular square was the spectacular play with the light and the shadow. As the the square was partially open to sky and the particular side had the full height glazing in it the partial open roof was treated with the architectural feature ‘ pergolas’. The cut out was designed in such a way that the corridor will alwayz remain in shade and has the pond in corner which would reduce the effect of the harsh sun to the library.

Use of local material

The spanning between beams was designed and kept such that the local material available like wooden bamboo sticks could be used to complete the entire space frame.

Central core open air theatre

Madhyavarti i.e Open air theatre

The theatre was located and placed so well in layout and planned that the rest of 8 square were well connected to the central open theatre and the best part of it were the stepped platforms which could be used as seating areas. The same were surrounded by the 8m high walls and the design stepping was incorporated in the corners of two walls to make them more interacted to each other.The stepping and the walls were cladded with red sandstone the locally available material the theater was opening into the library , Vehicular entrance ,gallery and workshop as shown.

Tilam food court

The food court has been the excellent example of the traditional rural architecture of Rajasthan. The structure has been made in brick masonary then later finished with the mud and the roof has been framed in MS circular pipes and then covered with fibre sheet both framework in MS and fibre sheet have been finished with the local putty to give it a rural effect. The art work on walls, planning and the sitting arrangement on floor ‘baithak‘ was designed to set an excellent example of our rural and cultural eithics in India

 INFERENCES:

•The buildings in a contemporary metaphorical replication of the basic plan of the city of Jaipur, based on the vastu pursh mandala. The architect in his attempt to create a brand image for the historical city, has tried to get the essence of the existing form but superficially . 

•The critical sustainable aspect of the traditional architecture of Jaipur has not been tackled well. 

•The place has an amazing interplay of light , shadow and colours, evoking emotions in the user and invite him to move further.

•The spaces flow as an narrative and changes the moods of the user, but the over all circulation lacks of continued covered corridor, which makes the place unusable during summers and  rains.

•The open air theatre is only good to look at, it is enclosed by the high walls which create acoustic and ventilation problems at the time of crowd.

•The high walls with no fenestration in the  façade makes the building enclosed and ir does not open up to the city. however within the building the activities are disintegrated  but combine to a heterogeneous mixture of various cultural activities happening individually.