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Case Study IAF Museum PDF
Case Study IAF Museum PDF
Introduction :
The IAF Museum, Palam is the first ever Aerospace museum of India.The IAF
Museum has the largest collection of aircrafts.It showcases the achievements of IAF since 1930.
it is built on the property of Northern Air Command. The museum offers an insight not only into
the history of the Indian Air Force but a complete picture of Military aviation in India. Starting
from the initial days when Indian aviators flew for the Royal Flying Corps during the First World
War, right up to the days of the Kargil Operations. The visitor is regaled with pictures,
mementoes, souvenirs, models, and the actual aircraft themselves.
Project Details :
Established : 1955
Location : Palam, New Delhi.
Access : The Museum is situated next to Technical Area Gate of Air Force Station Palam. It is
appx. 8 km from Dwarka, Sec‐9 metro station and only 1.5 km from airport.
Client : The Indian Air Force
Area : Around 4 acres.
1
Design Analysis :
Site Planning & Circulation :
• The site is irregular in shape and flat with an area of around 4 acres.
• It is approached from Palam road 15 m wide with entrance at a setback of 5 m from the
road.
• As the museum is entered, a black ceramic tiled walkway with hedges on both sides, leads
to the War memorial towards right.
• Further ahead lies the entrance to the museum block with indoor gallery space that opens
up further to the large hangar at the end.
• On the left lies the museum office and the cafeteria.
• The outdoor exhibits are not very much distributed except for two parts of the site with
outdoor displays as most of the aircrafts are accommodated within the hangar.
• The site orientation is such that the outdoor galleries open up towards south sun.
Site Plan
4m
2 m
0.5 m
Indoor Gallery‐2 & 3 :
• The second indoor gallery lies in one corner of the site along the boundary.
• The block is single storeyed and houses documents and weaponry preserved over a course
of wars.
• The block has circulation directed due to the U‐shaped building profile along which the
exhibits are being placed.
• Most of the display boards are vacant.
• Same linear pattern of exhibiting is followed without any surprises which does not attract
visitor’s attention.
3
36 m
Gallery 3 7 m
16 m
2 m
Gallery 2
0.6 m
4
Aircraft models
showcase
Length : 2 m
Width : 1 m
T – 59 Pakistani Tank Height : 2.2 m
Length : 6.04 m
Width : 10.7 m
Height : 2.59 m
Light Combat Aircraft
model case
Length : 1.5 m
Width : 1 m
Height : 0.8 m
Hangar : Area – 77 x 44 = 3388 sq.m.
• After crossing the entire length of Gallery‐1, a door leads to the hangar that exhibits
around 30 aircrafts along with few portraits and memorials.
• The hangar space measures 50m x 75 m and is a vast area with enough circulation space.
• The displays also include a vintage car used by Air Chief Marshall along with a statue of Flg.
Off. Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon.
• The circulation is not restricted linearly like the indoor galleries. They rather have a loop
formation hence giving a 360 degree efficient view of the aircrafts and other exhibits.
• To designate the circulation ,ropes are used along the walkway and aircrafts are placed
along it.
• A viewing platform is provided to have overall view of the hangar, however insufficient
height makes it impossible to view far off exhibits.
Slit opening in hangar
Track light, bulbs &
lamps in gallery 1 Tube lights in gallery 2
6
Structure :
• The structural system involved in the construction of large span hangar is portal frame
made out of rolled steel sections bolted together.
• The total span of frame is 45 m and are placed at a distance of 8 m centre to centre.
• If the beams and columns have a rigid joint between them then the structure so formed
will be a portal frame. It has stability against lateral forces.
White & blue exterior of War Memorial black
indoor gallery marble
False ceiling and ceramic
tile in indoor gallery
7
Inference :
• The building has no architectural expression in its envelope and internal spaces, hence fails
to attract tourist.
• The circulation inside the galleries is linear and dull. It does not define patterned
movement hence few exhibits are always out of general view.
• The lighting is very dull and inappropriate, with no natural lighting in indoor gallery‐1. The
illumination maintained in indoor gallery‐2 with natural lighting does not highlight exhibits.
• The outdoor spaces are not planned as could have been regarding large spaces for display.
• The viewing platform in hangar does not prove to be effective as only few aircrafts at
certain distance can be viewed.
Wooden frames block the Plain architectural facade
exhibit view
Wings of the aircraft
going beyond the
exhibit area obstructing
circulation
Abrupt entry to the hangar
Inefficient mezzanine platform