PROJECT DETAILS

Le Corbusier: Sanskar Kendra Museum, ?–1957

  • Ahmedabad, India, Show on map
  • #CUL #Brick #Monolith #RescueCampaign #South Asia
  • The Sanskar Kendra Museum was designed by Le Corbusier as a closed box elevated from the ground. On the roof is a pool that can be filled with water on a hot day. Le Corbusier imagined a poetic experiment: flowers and plants would be put directly on the water. Then the water would be treated with fertilizer to enhance the unnatural growth of giant flowers, tomatoes and pumpkins. In the evening, visitors would wander around the artificial roof landscape. Of course none of this became reality. Nevertheless, the cool, dark exhibition spaces are worth a visit on a hot day. This project is part of the Architecture Reading Aid Ahmedabad (Ruby Press, 2015). © ARA (Fanelsa, Franke, Helten, Martenson, Wertgen)

  • Sanskar Kendra's integrity was and is still threatened by an additional building that started to get built inside the premises and just in front of Le Corbusier's building. After local architect's interventions and big opposition of the public including a petition, the local government decided to stop this construction, but the structure is yet not removed, remaining in front of Sanskar Kendra's facade to the main street. There have also been recent interventions in the central courtyard consisting in downpipes that channel the monsoon water to the ground, thus preventing it from going through the gargoyles and removing the desired effect by Le Corbusier. Special thanks to Rocío Conesa

    In 2018 the municipality asked for conservation plans, however they didn't receive any applicants. In lack of a curator or guides the museum continues to be in poor condition.