BHARAT BHAVAN

INTERNET CASE STUDY

SUBMITTED BY:- PRAVEEN SINGH SUBMITTED TO:- AR.

VINAY GAUTAM
18BAR1115
4TH ‘B’
LOCATION:-
 BHARAT BHAVAN,BHOPAL

 In the late 1970s, the Government of India launched an initiative to

build in every state capital an institution to celebrate the cultural
and creative output of the nation. Although the scheme was largely
unsuccessful, one shining example remains: Bharat Bhavan (‘India
House’), located in Bhopal.
 Designed by Indian architectural luminary Charles Correa, this multi-
arts center first opened its doors in 1982. More than thirty years
later, it continues to house a variety of cultural facilities and play
host to multitude of arts events. The design of the complex is a
product of Correa’s mission to establish a modern architectural style
specific to India and distinct from European Modernism. Drawing on
the plentiful source material provided by the rich architectural
heritage of his home country, at Bharat Bhavan Correa produced a
building for the modern era which manages to also remain firmly
rooted in the vernacular traditions of India’s past.
Built into a hillside which slopes down toward a lake, a series of terraces and
courtyards comprise the complex. Upon entering, the visitor has the choice of
following the path of terraces cascading down to the lake, or descending to the
three courtyards which provide access to the majority of the cultural facilities.
These include contemporary art galleries, a museum of tribal art, an
auditorium, a library of Indian poetry, a print shop, and a studio for an artist-in-
residence. From the courtyards, wide glass-paneled openings to the buildings
ensure the arts program is both literally and figuratively accessible to all. At the
bottom of the site sits an amphitheater, where open-air performances take
place with the lake forming a natural backdrop.
The route through the terraces encourages movement down the
site’s natural gradient, with the courtyards providing tranquil
spaces for rest and relaxation. The dialogue between these two
components creates an ebb and flow of energy around the
complex, in what Correa described as a “Ritualistic Pathway”. The
ritual of following a sacred pathway is, he claims, “a universal
impulse, found in all cultures and religions.” Correa emphasized the
spirituality of his own pathways by drawing parallels with those
found in religious architecture, including “the sun temples of
Mexico” and the Hindu temples of Bali “with their ritualistic
Correa also noted secular examples of the Ritualistic Pathway, such as
the palace city of Fatehpur Sikri and Le Corbusier’s promenade
architecturale, though he claimed the latter was merely “a ‘secular’
phrase to express what is in reality a deep and sacred instinct.” At 
Bharat Bhavan, the flights of stairs between the terraces reference
traditional Indian architecture while implying the sanctity of the
pathway. The stairs are reminiscent of ghats steps found in Indian cities
which lead down to a body of holy water, just as Correa’s steps guide
the pedestrian to the lakeside. Indeed, Correa cited the bathing ghats
on the bank of the River Ganges at Varanasi as a stylistic influence.[4]
At Bharat Bhavan the steps guide the pedestrian
European Modernism, and in particular that of Le Corbusier, had heavily
influenced modern architecture in India for much of the 20th century.
Correa was somewhat wary of this trend, and criticized Le Corbusier’s 
Palace of the Assembly at Chandigarh for being poorly ventilated,
insufficiently lit, and wholly unsuitable for India’s hot and humid
climate. Correa’s architecture, conversely, is shaped by its
environment, with climate control a primary concern in his design
process. Indeed, this was often a necessity, as much of his early work
consisted of projects for squatter housing, where inhabitants did not
have the means to pay for air-conditioning and were forced to rely on
the building itself to regulate temperature.
The long-term success of Bharat Bhavan is largely due to its enduring
popularity with local residents. The courtyards create communal public
space, with the steps around their peripheries providing articulated seating
for residents to meet and socialize. The terraces have proven popular with
families, who spend their evenings promenading down to the water’s edge
and enjoying the cultural offerings of the complex. In creating a building well-
suited to the needs of contemporary society while making use of familiar
architectural motifs, Correa manages to reconcile modernity with tradition; a
significant step towards his goal of establishing a distinctly Indian
Modernism.
Requirements of Bharat bhavan :-
 1. Permanent museum,
2.Green room 3. Open
air amphitheatre
4.Indoor theatre 5. Restaurant

6.Auditorium 7. Store

8.Workshop 9. Special
exhibition area
10.Office 11. Library
12.Workshop
studio 13. Toilet
14. Ticket counter
Circulation
SPACE (AREA):-
MATERIALS:-
LANDSCAPING:-
ANALYSIS:-
THANKS