Smritivan Earthquake Museum and Memorial by Siddharth Bathla |
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| DESIGN NAME: Smritivan PRIMARY FUNCTION: Earthquake Museum and Memorial INSPIRATION: The unique, thriving culture of Kutch in west India, gave impetus to the museum’s content and design. The Timelessness of human resilience, absorbed from a nearby 4000-year-old civilization is carried forward in the museum’s ethos. The region’s rapid recovery post-2001 quake is embodied in Smritivan as universally relatable stories of human determination. Content design, scenography, and installations are based on and emerge from the rich local living traditions and crafts of the Kutch region. UNIQUE PROPERTIES / PROJECT DESCRIPTION: India’s largest memorial-museum, coming alive with stories of the devastating 2001 earthquake woven into the philosophy of the space. Metaphor of resilience and constant change is presented across 7 thematic blocks. Collaboratively designed with master craftspersons, vibrant, local crafts create scenography. Large-scale quake simulator, digital homage and personal stories bring an emotional connection. To animate the visitor experience, live actors and artists bring the museum journey alive. OPERATION / FLOW / INTERACTION: Since its inauguration, the museum receives an average footfall of foreign tourists and locals over 100,000 every quarter. Holistic end-to-end placemaking and local community engagement through digital marketing, and innovative public events are an extension of the design strategy. Each visitor adds a part of themselves to the museum through digital tributes for quake victims, which collect into a bright beam of light. India’s first design biennale on the “art of storytelling” was hosted here recently. PROJECT DURATION AND LOCATION: After winning the open design competition on a proposal based on the concept of “eternal resilience” the project was initiated in 2018, in Bhuj city of Kutch district, Gujarat. Following detailed research and design, on-site execution began in 2020. The Smritivan Earthquake Museum and Memorial were inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India in August 2022. We continue to curate and engage with public programming for the museum. FITS BEST INTO CATEGORY: Interior Space and Exhibition Design |
PRODUCTION / REALIZATION TECHNOLOGY: All bespoke installations and narrative elements were custom-designed and fabricated in India, following iterative experimentation and prototyping. A fresh approach to processing local resources was implemented to create contextually-rooted exhibit spaces. Local craft persons were commissioned to co-create the largest ever narrative-based artworks of their repertoire. Contextual materials such as woven textiles, in synergy with durable materials like steel, create a blend of local and global expression. SPECIFICATIONS / TECHNICAL PROPERTIES: An integral part of the memorial, the museum is spread over 9200 square meters of indoor and outdoor experience on the Bhujio-Dungar hill. The exhibition space is divided into seven blocks, which are further divided into 27 galleries. On an average each gallery is 8 meters wide, 12 meters long and 4.5 metres high. The museum also houses other amenities like library, shop, cafe, auditorium, play area and temporary exhibition spaces. TAGS: Earthquake memorial, earthquake museum, immersive, interactive, craft, human-centric, scenography, storytelling, resilience, Bhuj, culture centre RESEARCH ABSTRACT: Narrative and design development took shape based on intensive continuous research rooted in ethnography, literature review, and archival data. Being an earthquake museum inspired by resilient stories of people and landscapes, geological, archaeological, and seismological experts directed the entire process. Personal stories and archival data were collected, analyzed, and curated from recurring, extensive field visits undertaken across entire quake-affected areas and humanitarian organizations. CHALLENGE: The responsibility to present sensitive personal and complex stories of the earthquake and beyond, to evoke varied emotions was a creative challenge and opportunity. Moving from an incident to an overarching story based on the ideas of resilience was pivotal. The 27 similar galleries dealt with an innovative, contextual design strategy for distinct and memorable thematic experiences. Translating the big idea into a physical reality demanded a smart orchestration of various stakeholders. ADDED DATE: 2023-02-28 20:28:28 TEAM MEMBERS (13) : Creative Director: Siddharth Bathla, Design Director: Prashasti Chandra , Visual Design: Masood Khan, Installation, Scenography: Suryanath Sunny , Research,Content: Niharika Joshi, Architect: Prashul Sharma, Special Artist: Mukul Goyal- Sculptor, Special Artist: Vankar Vishram Valji - (weaver shyamjibhai)- weaving, Special Artist: Dr. Ismail Khatri- block printing, Special Artist: Mukesh Bhanani- kala Raksha, Special Artist: Gafur Khatri- Rogan art, Special Artist: Paresh Khamir- lacquered artwork and IMAGE CREDITS: Image #1: Photographer Bharat Aggarwal, Smritivan, 2022. Optional Image #1: Photographer Bharat Aggarwal, Smritivan, 2022. Optional Image #2: Photographer Bharat Aggarwal, Smritivan, 2022. Optional Image #3: Illustrator Masood Khan, Smritivan, 2022. Optional Image #4: Photographer Bharat Aggarwal, Smritivan, 2022. Video Credits: Cinematographer Sohaib Ilyas, Smritivan, 2022. Sound Credits: ANBR - Stars, Ardie Son - Come back home, Ardie Son - Tonight is Golden, Smritivan, 2022. |
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NAME: Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority PROFILE: The Government of Gujarat (GOG) established the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA) on February 8, 2001 to co-ordinate the comprehensive earthquake recovery program. The GSDMA is registered as a society under the Societies Registration Act. GSDMA vision is to go beyond reconstruction and make Gujarat economically vibrant, agriculturally and industrially competitive with improved standards of living and with a capacity to mitigate and manage future disasters. To undertake social and economical activities for rehabilitation & resettlement of the affected people that would include new Housing, Infrastructure, Economics Rehabilitation, social Rehabilitation and other related programme. To prepare programmes and plans to mitigate the losses on account of disasters as a strategy for long terms disaster preparedness. To undertake research and study regarding causes for losses on account of natural disaster and to suggest remedial measures for minimising the same. To undertake research and study regarding causes for losses on account of natural disaster and to suggest remedial measures for minimising the same. To obtain funds for rehabilitation and resettlement and to ensure optimum utilisation of these funds obtained in the form of grant, aid, assistance or loan from Government of Gujarat, Government of India, World Bank and ADB, USAID, DFID, IFRC, and donors, NGOs, and from financial institutions, Public and private trusts or any other organisations. To manage Gujarat Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Fund. To act as a nodal agency, and to co-ordinate various issues relating to the deserving victims out of the funds, either directly or through a common fund, created for these purpose in any other feasible mode. To provide to arrange financial assistance so as to achieve the objects of the society. To raise money through financial instruments, bonds, deposits or such other manner may be permissible under the provision of Societies Registration Act, 180 and the Bombay Public Trust Act 1950. To develop approach, philosophy, policy guidelines and action plan and other relevant aspects for meeting out disaster of any kind; Management , Administration, Investment & Reinvestment of funds out of sale proceeds received from the sle of land, buildings, Equipments, furniture, fixtures, debris or any other things or articles or infrastructure. To act as a nodal agency and to coordinate various issures related to the maintenance of hygienic living conditions, welfare of victims, environmental maintenance and such other welfare measures, as may be assigned to the deserving authority. To do all the acts and things conducive for the attainment of the above objects in the most possible manner, which are relevant to fulfil the objects of SOCIETY. |
| AWARD DETAILS | |
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Smritivan Earthquake Museum and Memorial by Siddharth Bathla is Winner in Interior Space and Exhibition Design Category, 2022 - 2023.· Press Members: Login or Register to request an exclusive interview with Siddharth Bathla. · Click here to register inorder to view the profile and other works by Siddharth Bathla. |
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