Jawahar Kala Kendra architecture and design. By Ar. Charles Correa

1. JAWAHAR KALA KENDRA

2. 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

3. 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

4. Sandarbh i.e Library
The 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 yellow
Quality of the planet Knowledge
Functionality 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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

8. 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.