An Immersive Experience with Fluid Volumes

Within the base of the 270-foot high statue of belief in Nathdwara, Rajasthan, India, a museum by Sanjay Puri Architects to evoke self analysis, bringing together a holistic combination of the soul (aatma), mind (mana), and body (tann), has been created in a an 18,000 sq.ft space.

Photo credit: Mr. Vinay Panjwani

In keeping with the concept of the museum in terms of what needs to be portrayed, the overall space is divided into a series of rooms, each of which offers a different experience through the depiction of natural elements in immersive experiences.

Photo credit: Mr. Vinay Panjwani

Photo credit: Mr. Vinay Panjwani

The museum is entered through a large foyer, purposely designed as a fluid volume. The walls, ceiling, structural columns, reception desk, and seating benches are homogeneously finished with a thin layer of foam concrete that fluidly encapsulates all of these elements, while simultaneously absorbing sound. This sculptural volume, enveloped in a concrete grey, calms visitors, transporting them to a tranquil state prior to entering the 18 sequential zones that have been created.

Photo credit: Mr. Vinay Panjwani

Photo credit: Mr. Vinay Panjwani

Photo credit: Mr. Vinay Panjwani

Visitors are led from this cavernous entrance to a narrow undulating corridor with images portraying the making of the museum. Next, each room is entered one by one, with different themes conveyed through audio visuals and immersive experiences.

Photo credit: Mr. Vinay Panjwani

Photo credit: Mr. Vinay Panjwani

Photo credit: Mr. Vinay Panjwani

The design of this museum overcomes the challenge of working with a floor plan that is irregular in shape, with multiple structural elements, creating a sequential flow of volumes and experiences with a neutral palette throughout to enhance the audio visual and immersive experiences within.

Sanjay Puri Architects

The firm, led by founding partners Sanjay Puri and Nina Puri, has won architectural projects in Australia, Spain, Montenegro, UAE, Oman, and Dallas USA, and are currently involved in the design of projects in 36 Indian cities. The firm has been recognized with over 450 awards, including 300 international design awards. Sanjay has been on the jury of the World Architecture Festival in Barcelona, Singapore, Berlin, Amsterdam, and Lisbon, being the first Indian architect to be on the jury. He has also been a judge for The Architectural Review Awards, UK, Dezeen Awards, UK, The Plan Awards, Italy, and Inde Awards, Australia, and has been a speaker at several international and national conventions.