PRADRASHANENDRA

Academic Work

Cultural Exhibition Center

Lakota lake in Jamnagar, Gujarat, India (Warm and humid climate, as per climatic zones of India )

The Project was designed and developed for the need that was felt throughout the years in the city of Jamnagar, that is to showcase the traditional art and skills which have been done by the community for a long time. The city and nearby town are famous for bandhani traditional cloth art, jewelry and many more, in addition to that, it has biodiversity as many migrating birds travel here. So to come up with a design that supports the biological diversity of animals and birds and promotes local art was of key importance for the design.

Water was part of the community and through interaction with people, got to know that it played a significant role in the people of Jamnagar, however, the development of Lakota lake and its surroundings by the government it leads to further diversification in the community and thus natural ecosystem and water were neglected by the people. Thus this project focuses on “Bringing water and its diverse ecosystem back to the people of Jamnagar and providing a mode of earning for the local community”.

As humans, we have five senses out of which Touch, Hear, See through Eye and Smell play important roles using them to bring people closer together and to nature, which was done by providing ghats throughout the structure and an amphitheatre which changes as per the level of water and can become different space throughout the year. In addition to this water, activities were introduced with more promotion to the local business and providing interaction spaces throughout the complex.

The surrounding area near the site is dense in nature and they have been developed over many decades, however during the redevelopment of the Lakota lake the road which goes to the site was proposed and which helped in connecting the city. And promoting residential spaces in the surrounding.

However, the commercial was not able to develop and thus got neglected in the city, even if have historical importance in the city and further became a dead space in the city. Moreover, the other side of the lake was completely neglected and lost all connectivity with the community and surrounding even, leading to getting polluted throughout the years.

Recreational

This chart visually highlights the local business which was done on the street or in shops around the Lakota lake, with time distribution that is morning, afternoon and evening also providing information regarding the footfall of the area and how the space interact with the surrounding. As one can see, area 7 was not having any business and thus became the neglected part of the city and developing it played a critical role in the city’s development.

SKETCHES form formulation throughout the space. Moreover, to not overpower the surrounding historical building and palace, it has a giving an impression of a historical palace structure in a more organic and dynamic roof changes with the space thus providing

The design inspiration came from the surrounding, which was flamingo and turtle, as the design was keeping in mind nature and promoting community. According to me blocking the connection of people with the Lakota lake, and the local ecosystem will not bring them together, so the site which is divided by the road in between was developed by raising the building mass from the roadside, but having a slope on the lakeside to promote interaction with nature and community itself and bringing water back to the local people by bringing them close to the water at locations which are accessible from the road.

In addition to this, all the spaces were connected through a ramp linking all four complexes and connecting the space above which plays a critical role in community connections and the columns supporting them are in the Flamingo bird neck.