BHARAT

BHAVAN

BHOPAL

Designed by
ARCHITECT CHARLES CHOREA

Introduction
The site for this Art Centre is on a gently sloping hill
overlooking the lake in Bhopal.
The natural contours of the site have been used to
create a series of terrace gardens and sunken
courtyards.
It houses a number of cultural facilities including a
museum of tribal art, a library, galleries for
contemporary art, workshops for lithography and
sculptures, and a studio for an artist.

 Inaugurated by then Prime Minister of India Shrimati

Indira Gandhi.
Its a public garden, museum and performing arts centre.
It houses some of the best and most lasting being created
in our towns, cities, villages and forests. It aspires to bring
into focus the glory, struggle and pain, depth and vision
of contemporary artist.
It houses a full fledged
theatrical company and
facilities including the
Antarang (indoor auditorium)
and Bhairang
(open-air amphitheater).

 Site features
Shape of site: almost square.
Topography:contoursite.
Soil condition: fertile soiland having good bearing capacity of soil
Entrancestothesite
Therearetwo
entrancestothesite. The
firstisthe main entrance for
visitors and administrative
staff etc.
Circulation
No vehicular movement.
Parking is outside the side.
100% pedestrian movement.
Material
Red sand stone slab

Planning Approach
Courtyard planning
For the consideration of climate, a series of terrace
gardens are designed which could be seen cascading
down the lake.
Each part of building is distinct yet allows easily into
one another linked by meandering paths. Total effect
makes the sense of surprise and pleasure.
The visitors enter at highest level and walk down a
pedestrian path flanked by pattern of courtyards to
reach various parts of the complex.

PLAN OF BHARAT BHAVAN

Light and Ventilation

Lighting and ventilation within the building are
provided by the top lights (from the concrete shells
and slots along the terrace parapets).
The openings to the courtyard and terraces have two
sets of shutters: inner one consisting of a
combination of a fixed glass and operable panel for
light and ventilation: outer one consisting of large
wooden doors for security).
The open to sky pathway is structured around three
courtyards from which one enters the various
activities.
Concrete skylights

 The feeling of open space is an essential part of

experience of visiting Bharat Bhavan. Progressing
through the terrace gardens and courtyards, one
comes across exhibition spaces, workshops and
dance theatres, in an easy and casual manner,
making them accessible to the citizens of Bhopal.

courtyard

Terrace garden

Design Concepts
The sunken built form is
influenced by subterranean
architecture seen in
western part of India
Different elements like
Skylight follows the same
form used in the Salvacao
Church. These low
lightening respond to the
domes across the water as
well as being rustic
descendants of Le
Corbusiers light funnel at
Chandigarh.

SUNKEN COURTYARDS IN BHARAT BHAVAN

The Form
The organization is in the form of clusters group.
The enclosed areas are grouped around the sunken
courtyards and sits on varied plinths respecting the site
contours and terraces above.
The building is organized on
regular formal square
modules. The organization
follows the gradual slope of
site and the functions are
interlocked by joining the
different levels.
The approach to the art center
from the main road on the
north-west side, being on
higher level from the site.

 It gives panoramic view of lake of the city. The long

steps lead down to the internal courtyards from the
entrance.
The movement through different activities opens
upon terraces and encounters nature. The
movement is based on shifting of axes through the
different levels within the building.

Scale & proportion

Scale and proportion of the building are very human
in nature. The creation of simple calm spaces is
done by using appropriate scales, proportion and
sensitive treatment to the walls.
Entrance to the courtyard is made just by extending
a horizontal band across two built masses, which
gives a sense of entering.
The individual square module is repeated forms a
larger institutional scale.
The size of courtyard and the built mass around are
proportional and provide comfortable spaces.

Nature of spaces

The plan generates two different kinds of spaces: open

to sky and enclosed.
The spaces are calm in nature.
The movement leads to the lake through activities
where space penetrates into each other and has a
visual transparency from within and outside.
The functions specially
linked to the courtyards,
inner volume changes
according to the site
conditions and
requirements of the
functions.

Functions

ROOPANKAR:
Roopankar is the only museum of arts
in India which houses both
contemporary, urban, folk and tribal
arts.
It has fully equipped workshops for
printmaking.
Circulation:
Efficient and well planned. This space
is characterised by continuous
modulations in the ceiling and floor
levels. The circulation system is such
that the viewer is directed to each
display in a continuous flow of
movement.
Finishes:
Walls - white
Ceiling - Exposed concrete
Floor Polished Kota stone

RANGAMANDAL:
Rangamandalhas at its disposal an indoor
theatrecalled
Antarang&an outdoor theatrecalled "Bahirang". It
owns an impressive theatre library&data collection.
Light & Ventilation:
Both natural& artificial
lighthasbeenmade
use of.Natural light
filters through the
shell skylight(canon).

ANTRANG:
Activities:
Stage, Rehearsal room,Backstage, Green rooms
Seating:
Seating has been provided on three sides ofthe stage.
There
are no aisles seating & circulation is on the same
treads.
Lighting& Acoustics:
The lighting of the stage iscontrolledfrom thecontrol
room.
The spotlights arefixed on rods on the low side of
thecoffers ofthe ceiling. The max. distance between
the last seat &the stage is 18m.Hence the sound is
clear. The coffers above are covered so as to reduce
echoes.

BAHIRANG:
Location:
It is located towards the lakeside so that the lake
forms abackdropfor the performances. There are no
aisles for circulation.
Vagarth:
It aims to protect and preserve the ancient &
contemporary poetry in the Indian languages, either
in spoken, or in printed form.
Anhad:
Documentsfolk and
contemporarymusic
and organizes concerts.
Karyalaya:
It is the administrative
block here.

Area Statement

Site area = 4 Acres

Fountain court = 400 sqm
Antarang court = 400 sqm
Tribal art court = 400 sqm
Administration = 64 sqm
Modern art gallery = 500 sqm + 275 sqm store
Library = 550 sqm
Tribal art gallery = 500 sqm + 274 sqm store
Restaurant = 150 sqm
Workshop = 600 sqm
Ticket counter = 36 sqm
Rehersal room = 350 sqm
Ashram = 200 sqm
Bhairang = 260 sqm
Toilets = 120 sqm

Inference

Positive Features
View of the lake
Informal nature of design
Location of outdoor auditorium on the bank of lake
Tribal paintings on the skylights make us essential with
the building stronger.

Negative features
Lack of natural daylight and sufficient ventilation
within the building mass.
High proportion of hard landscaped area.
Further more landscape does not provide any shade.
Split level planning accounts for some confusion for
the very first time.

THANK YOU