SYNOPSIS Life today has become very monotonous while culture seems forgotten, with people shuttling between work and home. In such a situation, there is a need to recognise the importance of 'self-expression', which forms the essence of art. This thesis project proposes to bring art closer to urban life by sowing the seeds of art in the city of Delhi. Located next to the Sultan Garhi tomb, the first Islamic mausoleum in India, the Cultural & Recreational Hub aspires to enhance the quality of urban life and strength the cultural roots. Having recognised the importance of the lesser-known Sultan Garhi tomb, research into the philosophies of Islamic architecture and the heritage structure lays the foundation for the project. The phenomenon of public spaces and the relationship with art & culture is then studied, followed by outlining the history of performance spaces in the country. The research is concluding by an understanding of the typologies in the mixed-use project. The project site is closely linked to nature and heritage, surrounded by expansive greens on three sides while also having the Sultan Garhi tomb right next to it. The project treats these as directives of the site, which thus guide the stage-wise development of the project, moulding it to suit the programmatic needs and requirements of the site. Intending to integrate culture into the complex, the project features various design moves which bring the diverse communities together. The Sultan Garhi corridor weaves creatively through the built, winding around the central court and the sunken retail plaza, connecting the learning, exhibition and performance spaces of the arts centre to the commercial complex of offices and retail along with a series of stepped terraces. Through the design development stages, the project creates a key connection to the Sultan Garhi tomb, thus activating the heritage structure complex. The incorporation of sustainable local materials and large span construction systems form a major component of the technology research. The project thus passionately aims to enhance the quality of life existing in the southern parts of the city of Delhi today, by becoming an inspiration for a vibrant, artistic urban environment in unison with nature and heritage.
Sultan Garhi Cult. & Rec. Hub | Palak Verma
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