JAWAHAR KALA KENDRA

Location: Old city of Jaipur, Rajasthan- India

Period of Construction: 1986-1991
Architect: Charles Correa
Client: Rajasthan Government, India
Purpose: Cultural centre to preserve the Rajasthani arts & crafts

INTRODUCTION
 Jawahar Kala Kendra’ (JKK) is one the best examples of Indian contemporary
architecture built in a planned historic city of Jaipur, where the modernity fuses with the
past through different space organization and materials used.
 This culture center for the city of Jaipur, is dedicated to the memory of India’s great
leader Jawaharlal Nehru. Ideas for the building, sited in an open field near the university
in a new part of the city, formed in correa’s mind; but it was not until 1986 that the
concept for the building was finalized.
 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
center was launched by the state government to provide space to the cultural and spiritual
values of India and display the rich craft heritage. The center is dedicated to the late
prime minister of India of Jawaharlal Nehru.

CONCEPT
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 whole complex is
itself a unique design and concept in the architectural industry especially 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 navgrah concept with its 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.
  CI
RCULATION:
PROGRAMMATIC DENSITY: RESPONSE TO CLIMATE:
Material: red stone and white marble.
 Vaastu symbol on façade of each unit.
 Small punctures on wall for ventilation.
 Light shafts have step profiles with marble capping.
 Light shafts at corner of each unit.
 Central courtyard brings in light and air. Punctures on wall.
 Circulation and planning: grid iron planning with connectivity.
 Density: Specially even, programmatic density varies.

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 color lemon yellow Quality of the planet Knowledge
Functionality allotted Library PART PLAN OF LIBRARY POND AREA AND PERGOLA.
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 always 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.
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. CENTRAL OPEN-AIR THEATRE.
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 masonry 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 ethics in India

 Adjoining the main building of Jawahar Kala Kendra is a Shilpgram- a rural complex
with six huts symbolizing the rural ambience of various regions of Rajasthan.
 These are Braj, Shekhawati, tribal, desert land and hadoi from the districts namely
Bharatpur, Kota, Durgapur, Barmer, Sikar and Jaipur.
 Apart from routine based art- culture oriented activities a mega annual festival named
‘LOKRANG’ is held in the month of October-November.

SHILPGRAM COMPLEX:
 Response to program: a volumetric module which is very well defined. Response
to context: going with tradition.
 Hircrachy: well defined, based on program it occupies. Community space:
mixture of formal and informal space.
 Scale of unit relatable to human as it does not overpower us and also make
ground spaces fell larger.
 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 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.