Regional science centre & planetarium Kozhikode
By Thommen.c.lukose
Location: Regional Science Centre & Planetarium Calicut functioning under NCSM (Govt.of India) shoulders the leading role in propelling science dissemination activities in Kerala, especially in the Malabar region. Calicut, the capital of Malabar right from the time of the Zamorin’s dynasty is now a fascinating place with unparalleled attractions including historic monuments, works of art and cultural contributions.
•Malabar region ,Kerala
The city attracts and accommodates visitors by outstretched red carpet of its enticing natural beauty. Situated in this land of distinct heritage RSC & Planetarium engages itself in dissemination of science through interactive exhibitions. The centre provides a perfect ambiance for exploring science through handson expositions, Planetarium, 3D theatre etc. It presents a plethora of facilities to inculcate scientific attitude in society. •Jaffer khan colony, Calicut
N.c.s.m organisation: National Council of Science Museums (NCSM) is the largest network of science centres/museums under a single administrative umbrella in the world. 27 science centres/museums of NCSM located in different sites in India have been visited by over 8 million people during 2010-11.
Continuous upgrade of display materials and technology happens in the Council as a part of its R&D activity.NCSM provides catalytic support to other organizations for setting up new science centres within and outside the country.
The Organization:
\ Computer room
Herbal garden
Canteen Toilet
Entrance :
•Two pathway, one with •Prehistoric creatures moving models •The other with interactive scientific Working model
•Entrance with Ticket counter , and Security room. •Layout shown
Spatial perception: Science park
About 35 exhibits adorn the spacious science park. Here students can explore and learn many scientific principles by playing with swings, pulleys, see-saw, gear train etc. fitted in natural settings. A pre-historic corner adds more substance to the park. A variety of prehistoric animals including dinosaurs are exhibited with a detailed note of their period of existence, food habits, and other living conditions
•Interactive installations , and scientific explanation for each one. •Well maintained gardens •And vegetations ,as we move through ,no signage.
•Domestic animals , swan ,ducks, rabbits , genie pigs ..etc •Dome like structured cage ,with ample shelter and sun light
•A statue of “jhallakanika”, Right at the centre ,installed as a part of public awareness on water consumption
•At the entrance of the main building . •A miniature rocket has been installed
•Octagonal shaped canteen •Open from 10am to 5 pm . •Adequate facilities •Strategically placed at the centre of the compound .
•Herbal garden ,green house created to nurture rare and famous herbal plants •Unnoticed ,lack of signage & placement
•Fully functional toilet , just next to the canteen •Cleaned at frequent intervals
•Workstation, the place were production of the exhibit takes place, •Machineries and storage area ,with •ample outdoor space
•On both side of the building there is large space provided for parking, •About 6 school bus can be parked along with staff vehicles •Accessible from the building as well as outside
Analysis/ insights The park right at the beginning , is a major attraction for the Childs Its informative and well detailed And it provides a fun way of learning Not providing a signage system here was good thing as it gave freedom to roam around Interactive installation well thought and engaged the viewer to the most Some model were not maintained to the fullest resulting to corrosion Placing a canteen next to it also provided area to move around with your food The herbal garden is unnoticed The garden is well maintained Frequently cleaned by maintenance staff every 3hrs Over use cause damage .
NCSM building Walking past the highly interactive and beautifully maintained garden, Science park ; We reach the main building , build by Architect N.M.Salim ,the build has derived its language from ancient south Indian temples , Even the direction of the entrance and exist was decided on those lines . To know more about planetariums , he has visited few research centre , which includes Nehru Planetarium ,Bombay. His base concept was temple of knowledge , and the language he choose was ancient Kerala style of architecture., a corridor running around a open space is a derivative of the “nallukattu� style , with galleries and other facilities on one side and open garden on the other and finally the planetarium at the centre.
architecture: Basically, temple architecture tradition of Kerala comes within the mainstream of Indian temple building tradition. Though, in the detailed articulation of its formal structure Kerala temple follows its own indigenous methods, the basic conceptions are not something different or extraneous from the total cultural developments of the mainland. It has been rightly observed that, "the temple as an institution, was an Aryan gift to the south India and that the so-called Kerala school is responsible only for covering the product of the Dravidian tradition."
The earliest studies of Kerala temples include references to houses, with Stella Kramrisch pointing out the nalukettu and ettukettu houses, with four or eight wings, apartments or rooms, were built according to requirements of the classical Vastusastra, the architectural treatise. A truly indigenous contribution to the mainstream of Indian architectural tradition is the circular temples. The ponderous appeal of the sloping conical superstructure above the circular basement and walls is a clear testimony of the local idiom
Circulation path: Inside the building . Gallery zone :2
Gallery zone :3
Gallery zone :1
Entrance
•Long stretch of corridors around the octagonal planetarium, like south Indian temples style •Galleries on one side & •Well kept garden on the other Auditorium
Dinking water no:2,pictograms provided
library
Visitor facilities: Notice board
Telephone /suggestion box
•Signage all throughout the pathway •In 3 different languages
•Stairs leading into the building •Way for handicapped also provided at the entrance .single ,entrance and exit like temples Entrance to building Waiting area
•Information on timing, •Facts on soft board •Waiting area •Suggestion box , and a phone booth
Exhibits/ centres :
Mirror magic Planetarium
Fun science
Herbal Garden
3D theatre
Human Endurance
Auditorium
Hall of Astronomy
Hierarchy: PROJECT CO-ORDINATER V.S.Ramachandran
EDUCATION OFFICER
TECHNICAL asst.
Sunil Kumar
Jayat ganguly
Asst. EDUCATION OFFICER Binoj.V
PRODUCTION DESIGNER Manoharan
TRANIEE’S
GRAPHIC DESIGNER Justin
OFFICE asst. Murali menon
CIVIL ENGINEER
ELECTRICAL
Sabhavati
SECURITY\MAINTAINENCE Satish
Thomas
Analysis/ insights Welcoming with a energy ball installation was a good way to grab attention But its quite hard for visitors to navigate from there Signage is poor . Fixed circulation path , little more freedom to move around in galleries A little more attention to maintenance . Few exhibits were not even working , Untidy toilets , one more toilet would really help . A similar visual language for the signage and the name boards Trainees are very approachable , even the security should be a little more loss with kids Over good atmosphere ,but visually jarring . Lack of pre- planning shown (for galleries together)
Astronomy gallery:: Hall of astronomy is Highly interactive gallery , Filled with information on astronomy. The main target audience are high school students . The entire display is in chronological order with one video station , a interactive quiz centre and finally a interactive panel on astronomy as specialisation / study options .
Located at gallery zone :2
Circulation\plan \elevation:: Ground plan
Circulation path :
Elevation
Reflected ceiling plan::
•Chronographic order
•Print stickers on poly carbyl , acrylic , regular led used
•Tube light from behind the display board
•Metal rod structure •Creating orbital structure
•Realistic statue 1:1 scale
•built in speaks , as we move closer narrations are provided
•Interactive installation found at every corner to get the interest going
•A model of the solar system from one corner to another
•Interactive exhibit
•The mars rover , •Movable with the touch screen provided
•3d surface created
•Video room , a very colour full false ceiling ,unused , but very informative , seating not very comfortable •Clustered
•Led light hardly visible at night
•Well labelled exhibit in three language
•A lot of waste space at the top, just painted blue and false ceiling given to break the space
•The very curvy structures helps in circulation
•Quize area •Switch system to control .
•Led screen showing the score . Big and visible .
•Career guidance / important personalities
Analysis/ insights: A little too much of info on few the installations , even the text is a little higher level For students to understand Textured glass spreads lights , works well for the display , direct led light causes reflection Lot of space at the top wasted The default lighting , doesn't work , In the placement of the fan Better communication between the designers and the production team before setting up an exhibition . Better graphics . Constantly cleaning the glass help a lot. A lot of reflection happening inside the hall ,main reason is the default setting of the tube lights
Process: Content proposal
PROJECT CO-ORDINATER
Addition\ subtraction
NCSM ,Mumbai
Scripting
PROJECT CO-ORDINATER
Design
Production / designing /Assembling
NCSM ,Mumbai
TECHNICAL asst. EDUCATION OFFICER PRODUCTION DESIGNER CIVIL ENGINEER GRAPHIC DESIGNER ELECTRICAL
NOTE: Study done about the planetarium show is available with me .Its more about visual elements , there is hardly any spatial content , i will submit them as raw detail necessary .Already two areas have been detailed in this document .
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