This unique and iconic project was conceived in 2018 through a limited, invitation-only international design competition. Adjaye Associates, a renowned architectural firm with offices in London, New York, and Accra, invited S. Ghosh & Associates to be part of the design team. The winning proposal from 2018 was further refined for a new site opposite the International Airport in New Delhi, and construction is currently in full swing.
The project aims to address the cultural vacuum in people's lives, where malls and cineplexes have replaced traditional cultural institutions and art. The initial design concept strives to achieve a clear synthesis between the project's objectives, the typological requirements, and its response to both the physical and cultural context. A chequered plan organizes the layout into a series of solids and voids (courtyards and courts), while the structural module allows for large spans, enabling light to enter from the top and sides.
The building is constructed as a self-cleaning white concrete edifice, addressing environmental concerns related to concrete use in developing countries, particularly in infrastructure projects. The concrete mix used achieves an extremely low-carbon footprint, and the building itself is designed to have a lifespan of 100-150 years, offsetting the carbon footprint over three generations of buildings. Additionally, the building aims to achieve a LEED Platinum rating through various innovations and the use of materials with recycled content throughout the project.
Project Lead
- Project Team: Abhishek Dhar, Aditya Agarwal, Aditya Sreedharan, Ashish Pandey, Ayush Pal, Bishnu Rathour, Daniel Stollar, Manisha Kumaran, Owais Asif, Sanchari Majumdar, Sonali Patle, Sumit Anand
- Associates: Adjaye Associates, Mahendra Raj Consultants Pvt. Ltd., Aeon Integrated Building Design Consultants LLP, Avante Facades (previously Axis Facades), Veneklasen Associates, HPG Consutants Pvt. Ltd., National Specifications UK, Charcoal Blue, Studio Fractal, Satish Khanna Associates, Endpoint, Plan A Consultants, EDS Global, Qonqests Technical Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Gaurav Chandiwala, Dipanshu Biswas (Shavi Engineering and Construction Pvt. Ltd.), WSP (Structural, MEP, Sustainability)
- Year and Location: New Delhi, Delhi.
- Keywords: Cultural, Auditorium, , Design Competition, , Leeds Platinum Rated