JAWAHAR KALA KENDRA

A contemporary building based on archaic notion of the cosmos.

Jawahar Kala Kendra is an arts and crafts center located in the city of Jaipur. The center is important not because of the nomenclature but its close association with the city of Jaipur itself. The center was built in the year 1986 and the construction completed in 1991.

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

The high walls with no fenestration in the  facade makes the building enclosed and it does not open up to the city. 

9 SQUARE Mandala invoke Symbolism of traditional city and also used as “STRUCTURING” device

• Heights of each block: 8M

• Size of each square: 30M*30M

The plan of Jawahar Kala Kendra is a reflection of the original city plan of Jaipur, which is based on the concept  of nine Mandalas or navagraha placed in a grid pattern with  one block displaced to accommodate the main entrance.

The astrological symbol of each planet is  directly expressed in a cut-out opening on its external wall. 

Representation of these nine blocks as the nine planets. For instance library in Jupiter  section which represents wisdom and knowledge. The Mars section representative of  power has the administrative block. 

CLIMATE

• Hot and dry climate  

• Summer: 40-45 degree Celsius  

• Winter: 5 -25 degree Celsius 

• Winds: dusty winds and sand storm 

• Rainfall: 500-650 mm

DISTINCT FEATURES

• Materials used are red sand stone and white marble. 

• Central courtyard bringing light and air  is built of red sand stone 

• Internal courtyard in blocks.

• Small square windows are used with jaalis for ventilation. 

• Central courtyard brings light and air for ventilation.

• Artificial lightning and use of skylights, fenestrations and pergolas with varying heights in building bring right amount of sunlight into built space.

• Amazing interplay of light, shadows and colors evoking emotions in user.

• On these external surfaces, the presence of each of the planets is expressed by its traditional symbol inlaid in white marble with polished black granite and mica slate recalling the surfaces of astronomical instruments at Jantar Mantar.

RAJASTHANI ART

• Depiction of local tradition using art.

• Heavy battened doors defining entrance.

• Traditional paintings on walls.

• Walls are decorated with traditional paintings depicting royal heritage of the state.

• Carved wooden doors, furniture items, pots and terracotta artifacts that offer a glimpse into traditional art and architecture of Rajasthan.    

 

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