LOCATION : Jawaharlal Marg, JAIPUR

Completion : 1991
TYPE : Arts and crafts center
Architect : Architect Charles Correa
PLOT AREA : 9.5 acres
BUILT-UP AREA : 8100 sq.m.
Introduction
Jawahar Kala Kendra also known as nine-square house of culture, Jawahar Kala Kendra is an
arts and crafts centre located in the city of Jaipur. the centre is important not because of the
nomenclature but its close association with the city of Jaipur itself. The centre was built in the
year 1986 and the construction completed in 1991. The centre was launched by the state
government to provide space to the cultural and spiritual values of India and display the rich
craft heritage. The centre is dedicated to the late prime minister of India Jawaharlal Nehru.

Locauon
lL ls locaLed ln Lhe prlme locauon of souLh !alpur. 1he cenLre ls slLuaLed on !awaharlal marg
opposlLe Lo 8a[asLhan Commerce College. lL ls locaLed on a parcel of land havlng an area of 9.3
acres and Lhe bulldlng ls surrounded by lush green landscaped garden. Cn one slde lL has a
Shllp Cram made ln a repllca of clusLer of vlllage huLs. 1he cenLer was opened Lo publlc an Aprll
1983. Lhe bullL- up ls around 8100 sq.m.

Connectivity
Railway station 7 kms
Airport 6 kms
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Entrance
9
1 2
3
4
5
6 7 8
BLD
NO.
PARTICULARS FLOOR
1 Aministration block G.F
2 Madhyavarti open
theatre
G.F
3 Library
Audio visual
reading
G.F
F.F
4 Sphatic art gallery/
Music and dance
Sphatic art gallery
G.F
G.F
F.F
5 Parijat I
Parijat II
Srajan workshops
Srajan photo
workshops

G.F
G.F
G.F
F.F
BLD
NO.
PARTICULARS FLOOR
6 Alankar museum
curator
G.F
F.F
7 Sudarshan art gallery
Surekh art gallery
Chaturdic art gallery
G.F
G.F
F.F
8 Satkar cafeteria
Guest house / dormet
G.F
F.F

9 Rangayan Krishnayan
Director theatre
G.F
G.F
LAn
Concept
The centre is an analogue of the original city pIan of Jaipur drawn up by the
Maharaja, a scholar, mathematician and astronomer, Jai Singh the Second, in the mid-17th
century. His city plan, guided by the Shipla Shastras, was based on the ancient Vedic
madala of nine squares or houses which represent the nine planets (including two
imaginary ones Ketu and Rahu). Due to the presence of a hill one of the squares was
transposed to the east and two of the squares were amalgamated to house the palace.

Correa's plan for the Kendra invokes directly the original navagraha or nine house
rnandala. One of the squares is pivoted to recall the original city plan and also to create
the entrance. The plan of Jaipur city based on the nine square Yantra in which one
square is displaced and two central squares combined. the squares is defined by 8m
high wall, symbolic of the fortification wall along the Jaipur old city

Jaipur city was not
only planned but its
execution was also
coordinated by
Sawai Jai Singh II, in
such a manner that
a substantial part of
the city developed
within seven years of
its foundation. His
reign was probably
the most glorious
phase in the growth
of the city.
PLAN OF JAIPUR CITTY
ACTIVITIES
The centre has been made in eight blocks housing
museums,
theatres,
library,
arts display room,
cafeteria,
Hostel,studio
The centre is frequently occupied with artists and arts loving people. Many exhibitions
and performances by local artists are displayed at the centre. The annual festivals of
classical dance and music are held in the centre. The centre hosts many workshops of
dance and music.
Layout
Each of the nine planet is represented by a square, 30m x 30m, defined by red sandstone
walls, 8m high. The programme of the Arts Centre is disaggregated into nine separate
groupings, each corresponding to the myths of a particular planet; for instance the planet
Guru ( which symbolises Learning) houses the Liberary. The traditional symbol of each planet
is expressed in marble and stone inlay in the stone walls that surround it. The central square,
as specified in the ancient Vedic shastras, is a void: representing the Nothing which is the
true Source of all Energy.
Construction techniques

Construction techniques

Interiors of the Kendra
The first planet is Mangal. Since this planet represents Power, it was to house the Director
and his administrative offices here. This planet becomes the entry point to the whole
complex so along the walls of the Mangal Mahal is an explanation of the Navgraha, and on
the ceiling under the dome is painted a Jain cosmograph depicting all the rivers, mountains,
animals, and vegetation of the manifest world around us.
The permanent ethnographical art gallery called The Alankar Museum potentially depicts the
tangible and intangible heritage of Rajasthan, through a vast range of artifacts exhibited
here.
Another six exhibition galleries presently work as art exhibition spaces and many artists of
international status have enjoyed showing their creations here. For them, this art center has
been buoying as a civic playground for developing and presenting new and challenging work
across the arts. They have taken the institution as an innovative and a convenient way of
thinking about India art and culture.
The well endowed documentation section (library and audio-visual division) contains latest
and a vast range of publications on theatre, fine arts and music attracting scholars and art
connoisseurs.
Adjoining the main building of the JKK is Shilpgram- a rural complex with six huts
symbolizing the rural ambience of various regions of Rajasthan. These are - Marwar, Braj,
Shekhawati, Tribal, Desert land and Hadoti. Apart from routine based art-culture oriented
activities a mega annual festival named
The dome in Mangal Bhawan
Jain cosmograph depicting the menifest world
Alankar museum depicting rajasthani heritage
The imaginary planet Rahu,
symbolising the solar eclipse.
Hence the white and black
interlocking circles and in
the centre : the Axis of the
Universe
Hastkar yantra based on a
medieval rajasthani painting
Surya Kund
The Surya Kund is a very important area and is at the central part of the nine grahas.
On every wall of the kund, traditional symbol of planets is expressed in white marble.
Steps of sandstone are constructed on all the four sides of the court.
A play of levels with central stage invites various activities to be performed at the
court and thus the court also acts as an open amphitheatre.
The walls of the kund are cladded in red Agra sandstone topped by a coping of beige
Dholpur stone the same materials used for the Jantar Mantar Observatory, in the
Agra Fort, in Fatehpur Sikri.





Construction Techniques and Materials
lrom Lhe plan of Lhe bulldlng Lo Lhe lnLerlor of Lhe rooms, Charles Correa has
concenLraLed enurely on Lradluon and lLs revlval - and Lhe focus ls one lmage of Lhe
bulldlng raLher Lhan locauon and lLs consLrucuon.
1he exLerlor of each walls are covered ln red sandsLone, whlch repllcaLes Lhe
pecullar archlLecLure of !alpur planned by !al Slngh.
1he lnLerlors are palnLed ln Lhe ausplclous colours, emouons, and myLhlc lmagery
assoclaLed wlLh LhaL planeL.
Landscape elemenLs such as shrubs and green paLches ln an organlc form wlLh waLer
bodles are puncLured beLween Lhe varlous acuvlues whlch acL as refreshlng elemenLs.
1he colour comblnauon of green and red sandsLone glves a very vernacular feel ln an
conLemporary sLrucLure.
1he slmpllclLy ln reglonal characLer of Lhls lnsuLuuon nds expresslon ln Lhe red
8a[asLhan sandsLone wlLh whlch lL ls faced, Lopped by coplngs ln uholpur sLone.
Play of Light and Shadow
One of the most significant feature which is
adopted, particularly in the square Sandharb
i.e library, is the play of Light and Shadow. It
is partially open to sky and the particular side
had full height glazing in it.
The partial open roof is treated with the Pargolas. It is
designed so as the corridor always remains in shade and
pond in the corner, reduces the effect of harsh sun in the
library.