GANDHI SMARAK

SANGRAHALAYA
CHARLES CORREA
BY NAZEEHA NAZNEEN
CHARLES
CORREA
Charles Correa, in full Charles Mark Correa,
(1930-2015). Indian architect and urban
planner known for his adaptation of
Modernist tenets to local climates and
building styles. In the realm of urban
planning, he is particularly noted for his
sensitivity to the needs of the urban poor
and for his use of traditional methods and
materials.
GANDHI
SMARAK
SANGRAHALAYA
The Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya
(Gandhi Memorial Institution) is a
museum and public service institution
dedicated to preserve the work and
memory and commemorate the life of
Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi. It is
located at Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram in
Ahmedabad, India on the banks of River
Sabarmati. It houses tens of thousands
of letters to and by Gandhi, as well as
photographs and books.
Mahatma Gandhi lived at the ashram on the bank of the
River Sabarmati between 1917 and 1930. It is from here
that he commenced his historic march to Dandi - a
milestone in his campaign of civil disobedience which
eventually let to Indian independence.

In order to reflect the simplicity of Gandhi’s life and the

incremental nature of living institution, Correa used
modular units 6 meters x 6 meters of reinforced cement
concrete connecting spaces, both open and covered,
allowing for eventual expansion.
It is an example of combining the Hindu architectural/
cosmological idea of isotropy and Modernist functional
planning. The concept of isotropy refers to an in finitely
scalable structure and can be seen in the repetition and
manipulation of the decorative elements in Hindu temples.
In the Samarak Sangrahalaya, the modular pavilion unit is
designed for easy extension and emphasizes the
accumulation of a single element to make a whole. Correa
placed five distinctly programmed interior spaces within the
asymmetrical grid plan.

The plan of the museum has also been compared to village

houses in India’s Banni region. Instead of single volume, the
houses consist of five huts each with a different function,
which surround to make a courtyard. The inhabitants walk
back and forth across the outside space to use the different
rooms.
VASTU
SHASTRA IN
SABARMATI
ASHRAM
SQUARE GRID: Square is the sacred
shape and is used wherever Vastu is
applied. Various other shapes can be
derived from square like rectangle (from
two rectangles), circle (by rotating square
toward infinity). Distorted 11x11 grid is
used and each square measures 6x6
meters.

COURTYARD: As Vastu Purusha Mandala

Lord brahma resides and that is why
courtyard or water body is provided in
centre of the building.
DIRECTIONS
ACCORDING
TO VASTU
NORTH EAST: Books as a symbol of
positive energy are placed in north – east
direction. Light reaches at around 3 am-
6am. This time is well suited for jobs like
meditation and concentration. Best suited
for pooja, yoga, study room. This part is
under the reign of Ishana.

NORTH WEST AND WEST: This is the house

of wind and water god that’s why toilet is
provided in this region and open gallery
and louvered windows are provided in this
direction.
EAST: This direction is ruled by Sun god
and as Sabarmati river flows in east and
south east and is believed the morning
sun purifies water and water is germ free
that’s why building placement is
accordingly.

SOUTH EAST: Dedicated to god of fire and

snack shop is proposed in this portion.

SOUTH: Office portion is in this portion

south monsoon provides excellent
ventilation.

SOUTH WEST: Dedicated to ancestors or

Pitru. This part of building is for store or
living space and hence building entry and
open gallery started from this direction.
CONSTRUCTION AND MATERIALS
■ The materials used in the construction are similar to the other buildings in the ashram:
tiled roof, brick walls, stone floors and wooden doors.
■ No glass windows are used anywhere in the building; light and ventilation being provided by
operable wooden louvers.
■ Boards are nailed underneath the
joist and tiles are placed atop the
joints.
■ Load bearing brick columns
support concrete channels, which
are both support the wooden roof
and direct rainwater.
■ The foundation is concrete and is
raised about foot from the ground.
■ The museum uses a simple but delicately detailed post and beam structure.
GALLERY
THANK YOU