MUSEUM OF KNOWLEDGE

A DEMOCRATIC SOCIAL SPHERE

SUBMITTED BY:
DIPALI.R.MAHESHWARI.
ROLL NO. 06. BARCH 10TH SEM.

INTRODUCTIO
N
The design of the capitol complex was the jewel in

THE DISCONNECT:
the crown wore by corbusiers chandigarh. Being the Sadly, todays democracy doesnt reflect its motto. The
disconnect between the common people and the policy
symbol and identity of the city for many years, the
makers has made it difficult to solve the real time
capitol complex is still incomplete, for a fourth
building, the museum of knowledge was planned to problems. The increase in corruption delay of justice and
policies made without public inputs has evoked a need for
accompany the existing secretariat, assembly hall
and high court. The mok, according to corbusier was active participation of public in the democracy.
to function as a decision-making or a briefing centre
NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY:
for the government officials, highlighting the
The right to information was passed to promote
importance and applied use of technology and
transparency and accountability in the working of the
electronics in processing, synthesizing and
presenting large bodies of information related to the government. It gives rights to citizens to seek information,
question and understand the system better. It can pave
state matters.
the path to make democracy work in the real sense with
DEMOCRACY
real participation by the people of the nation.
1947-NEW FORMED DEMOCRACY:
India was on the on set of great
NEED FOR SOCIAL TOGETHERNESS:
Future. And unfettered faith with
Although today we are more socially connected through
newly formed democracy. Nehru
technology, it does not solve all our problems, it is
was a staunch believer
important for people to come together and socially
of the principles of democracy
connect to share, analysis and promote there cause for a
and its reformations.
real time development.
1950-CHANDIGARH-THE ENVISINED CITY:
The city was commissioned by nehru as a vision for RELEVANCE OF MUSEUM OF KNOWLEDGE:
a strong image of the newly formed democratic India. The museum of knowledge by corbusier was to be used
He wanted to break free from the stereotypes and
as a decision making or a briefing centre for any
hence commissioned corbusier to build the citys
government officials, to interpret large amounts of data.
image.
With the change in the way democracy functions today its
AN EVOLVED DEMOCRACY:
not just enough to have only the authorities taking all the
The well developed and fully evolved form of
decisions. The museum of knowledge today should
democracy today has matured over a long span of
represent the thoughts of modern India it must bridge the
time. It has waxed and waned but has somehow
gap between people and decision making authorities, it
survived to be the largest democracy in the world.
should support transparency in the system.
The problem with the present democratic model in
India is that people are not becoming better, aware
INFORMATION = KNOWLEDGE:
and more assertive with the help of the government It should not just be a centre to create knowledge by
that they have elected because of lack of
gathering people, but it must be a centre to process and
transparency and fear of authorities. There is chaos present that knowledge while being able to retrospect the
in the system which has lead to increase in the
same for the betterment of the society. It should also
corruption, exploitation and delay of justice. With the transform and act as the dynamic component in the
addition to new fundamental rights, its time to
complex while creating a social awakening.
experience the change in the system.

PROJECT DEFINITION
The proposal for museum of knowledge is to
bring in multiple dimensions to the urban fabric
of the city of chandigarh,
It will also serves,
1.As a peoples place. 2.As a cultural node.
3. As a community hub. 4. As a democratic
model. 5. As an urban park. 6. As a generator
of ideas. 7. As the regenerator of cities
social activity.
The museum of knowledge is not a typology its
a space for creation, processing and
presentation of data. Its a new vision for the
change required in todays democracy. Its a
prototype that can be implemented in all cities to
activate their public domains and generate
useful information to be put to good use.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Contemplating the relevance and importance
of le corbusiers version of modern
architecture in present time.
Intensify the democratic principles of the
capitol complex by incorporating the civil
society inside the museum of knowledge.
Enrich community life by injecting, activating
and rejuvenating the public space in and
around the museum of knowledge.
Designed to encompass the core themes on
democracy. It focuses on the needs of the
modern information society and makes
current information tangible to a broad public
audience.

SCOPE OF WORK

BASIC SPACE REQUIREMENTS

COMMUNAL HARMONY

INTERACTIVE SPACES.

Provision of open spaces to provide

interaction, recreation, etc.
To create a significant landmark for the
city of present and future while
respecting its other parent buildings.

EXHIBITION SPACE

Keeping in mind the paucity of space in

todays times, to explore the possibility
of designing multifunctional and
dynamic spaces.
WORK SHOPS. DIGITAL LIBRARY.

THESIS REPORT: SCIENCE MUSEUM AT RAIPUR.

TIME-SAVER STANDARDS FOR BUILDING TYPES

Knowledge center:
Research and development cell: 100sqmt
Discussion rooms: 45sqmt
Lecture halls(2nos): 60sqmt
Seminar rooms: 80sqmt
Digital library: 150sqmt
Toilet: 80sqmt
Museum:
Exhibition halls and galleries: 700sqmt
Demonstration cell: 75sqmt
Archives section: 135sqmt
Ticketing counter: 20sqmt
Information kiosk: 40sqmt
Toilet: 80sqmt.
Miscellaneous:
Reception space:
Entrance foyer and ticketing:100sqmt.
Administrative offices:
Directors cabin:25sqmt.
Registrars cabin: 25sqmt.
Researchers rooms: 50sqmt.
Conference halls: 60sqmt.
Restrooms service rooms: 50sqmt.
Vip lounge: 50sqmt.
Social and leisure:
Caf (for 50 people) :80sqmt.
Restaurant (for 100 people) :145sqmt.
Open air theatre: for 150 capacity
Retail and tuck shops (4nos.): 12sqmt.
Auditorium: 250 sqmt.
Other gathering spaces.

SITE ANALYSIS.
LOCATION:
CAPITOL COMPLEX, CHANDIGARH
SITE AREA:
16,500M2(1.65 HECTARE)
GOOGLE EARTH:
LATITUDE: 304536.66N
LONGITUDE: 764822.24E
MAX BUILT UP AREA:
30800 square metre
(Area of the basement is not included)

FEASIBILITY OF MUSEUM OF
KNOWLEDGE IN CHANDIGARH:
Museum of Knowledge must be utilized to regain
free and open citizen access to the capitol, as a
place of democracy, which has been lost due to
security concerns in the age of terrorism.
BEST TIME TO VISIT CHANDIGARH (I)hot- mid-march to mid-june

HOT; 26%
HUMID; 26%

MAX GROUND COVERGE: 30%

The maximum building/structure height
Allowed is 18 metres above site level and
6 metres below site level.

SITE PHOTOS

COLD

HOT

HUMID

PLEASANT

(Ii) humid-late-june to midseptember

(Iii) pleasant- mid september
to mid-november
(Iv) cold- mid november to
mid-march

THE SITE:

SITE TOPOGRAPHY:
The site is 3.5m above ground level.

SKYLINE:

APPROCH TO SITE:
The capitol complex was strategically
placed at the northern most edge of the
city.
The complex is approached by an
extension road, origination from the jan
marg and dividing the capitol plane into two
virtual halves.

SITE SURROUNDING
THE OPEN HAND:

The most thoroughly developed of the chandigarh monuments as well as

the most important as a compositional element in the capitol complex is
the monument of the open hand.
It says "open to give, open to receive". The open hand, like the museum
of knowledge, serves to define the outer edge of the capitol complex and
to uphold a man made sculptural from against the rugged profile
THE ASSEMBLY
the himalayas . the hand rises 85 feet from an excavated plaza, which is
provided for debate on public affairs.
The giant hand is designed to turn on ball bearings to indicate
THE ASSEMBLY:
The assembly was conceived as a
symbolically the direction of the wind that is the state of affairs.
The surface of the hand was to be coated with baked enamel in orange,
rectilinear structure.
THE OPEN
It is square in plan with a monumental white and green the colors of the indian flag
HAND
portico facing the main plaza.
On the lateral facades both the portico
and the office block would be defined
HIGH COURT:
by solid and walls.
It has a rhythmicarcade created by a
The large chamber is in hyperbolic form
parasol-like roof, which shades the entire
of the cooling tower with an average
building.
thickness of 15cm.
Keeping in view the special dignity of the
The small council chamber are in
entrance for them through a high portico
rectilinear frame.
resting on three giant pylons painted in
The upper portion of the tower is
bright colours
extending above the roof line.
Double roof.
An assembly chamber is 128 ft in dia at
Rough concrete finished ramp.
its base and rises to 124 ft at its higest
The entrance lobby is paved with whitish
point.
flag stone set in the rows of varying widths.
This tower was designed to ensure the
The horizontal circulation, consisting of open
natural light, ventilation and proper
corridors on the rear faade, is also
acoustics.
ineffectively sheltered.
Separate circulation accommodation of
TOWER OF SHADOW:
all groups is provided.
Just beyond the solar monument is the tower of
shadows a demonstration of corbusier's theories of
sun control, consisting of a series of platforms
oriented to the cardinal points and containing sun
breakers on three sides (except north).
This concrete structure is a culmination of the in
TOWER OF
depth studies of corbusier on the path of the sun and
THE HIGH COURT
SHADOW
ways to control its penetration in to the built up