28 Aug 2024
Within the base of the 270-foot high statue of belief in Nathdwara, Rajasthan, India, a museum to evoke self-analysis, bringing together a holistic combination of the soul (aatma), mind (mana), and body (Tann), has been created in an 18,000 sq. ft space.
In keeping with the concept of the museum in terms of what needs to be portrayed, the overall space is divided into a series of rooms, each of which offers a different experience through the depiction of natural elements in immersive experiences.
The museum is entered through a large foyer, purposely designed as a fluid volume. The walls, ceiling, structural columns, reception desk, and seating benches are homogeneously finished with a thin layer of foam concrete that fluidly encapsulates all of these elements, while simultaneously absorbing sound.
This sculptural volume, enveloped in a concrete grey, calms visitors, transporting them to a tranquil state before entering the 18 sequential zones that have been created.
Visitors are led from this cavernous entrance to a narrow undulating corridor with images portraying the making of the museum. Next, each room is entered one by one, with different themes conveyed through audiovisuals and immersive experiences.
The design of this museum overcomes the challenge of working with a floor plan that is irregular in shape, with multiple structural elements, creating a sequential flow of volumes and experiences with a neutral palette throughout to enhance the audio-visual and immersive experiences within.
Technical sheet
About Sanjay Puri Architects
Sanjay Puri Architects has been ranked at number 32 on Archello’s list of Top 100 architects worldwide The firm is also listed in Archdaily’s list of Top 100 architects worldwide, as well as in the WA UK top 100 architectural firms, and the Architizer New York’s top130 architecture firms in the world.
Winner of the CDA 2023 Paris Best Residential Project Worldwide, The LOOP Design Awards -Best Large Architectural Firm, The Best Completed Building – Production Energy & Logistics in the World Architecture Festival, Singapore 2023, The Best Housing Project Worldwide in the World Architecture Festival, Lisbon 2022, and The LEAF Awards London, Best interior project 2021, the firm has been recognized with over 450 awards, including 300 international design awards.
The firm, led by founding partners Sanjay Puri and Nina Puri, has won architectural projects in Australia, Spain, Montenegro, UAE, Oman, and Dallas USA, and is currently involved in the design of projects in 36 Indian cities.
Sanjay has been on the jury of the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona, Singapore, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Lisbon, being the first Indian architect to be on the jury. He has also been a judge for The Architectural Review Awards, UK, Dezeen Awards, UK, The Plan Awards, Italy, and India Awards, Australia, and has been a speaker at several international and national conventions.
Sanjay is a registered member of the RIBA, UK, Society of American Registered Architects (SARA, New York), Indian Institute of Architecture (IIA), and Indian Institute of Interior Designers(IIID), and has been a part of the Heritage Conservation Committee, New Delhi.
With a current firm strength of 108, evolving design solutions that are contextual and sustainable and creating spaces that explore spatial perceptions, with new design directions that form the essence of the firm’s design philosophy.
