MUSEUM OF MODERN ART 1

SYNOPSIS – MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

Diksha Gupta

State Institute of Urban Planning and Architecture

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Contents

1. Introduction………………………………………………………………………..3-5

1.1. Background……………………………………………………………………...3

1.2. Need for study…………………………………………………………………...4

1.3. Aim and Objectives……………………………………………………………...4

1.4. Methodology…………………………………………………………………….5

1.5. Scope and Limitations…………………………………………………………...5

2. Related studies…………………………………………………………….……….6-8

2.1. Case studies……………………………………………………………………...6

2.2. Literature Studies………………………………………………………………..8

3. Site study………………………………………………………………………….9-11

3.1. Site location ……………………………………………………………………..9

3.2. Site analysis…………………………………………………………………...9-11

3.2.1. Geographical parameters………………………………………………….9

3.2.2. Site features……………………………………………………………...10

3.2.3. Site plan………………………………………………………………….10

3.2.4. Site surroundings……………………………………………………...…11

3.2.5. Site connectivity………………………………………………………....11

4. Design brief…………………………………………………………………....…12-14

4.1. Site requirements…………………………………………………………..……12

4.2. Spatial requirements……………………………….............................................13

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1. Introduction

1.1. Background

Modern art represents an evolving set of ideas among a number of painters, sculptors,

writers, and performers who - both individually and collectively - sought new

approaches to art making. Although modern art began, in retrospect, around 1850

with the arrival of Realism, approaches and styles of art were defined and redefined

throughout the twentieth century. Practitioners of each new style were determined to

develop a visual language that was both original and representative of the times.

A Museum is a building, place or institution devoted to the acquisition, conservation,

study, exhibition and educational interpretation of objects having scientific, historical

or artistic value and make them available for public viewing – through exhibits that

may be part of the permanent collection or through temporary exhibits. The word

Museum is derived from the Latin ‘muses’, meaning ‘a source of inspiration’, or ‘to

be absorbed in one’s thoughts’. It is the role of the curator to look after the objects

and explain their history to visitors. Museums can be said to ‘bring the past to life’

and are fantastic representations of the different periods of our cultural history. They

enable visitors to touch, feel, see, hear, experience and smell the past. Many

museums offers a programme of events for different groups eg. families, under fives

etc. This is in contrast to the early museums which mainly catered for adult

audiences.

Museum of modern art has been important in developing and collecting modernist art.

The collection offers an overview of modern and contemporary art, including works

of architecture and design, drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, prints,

illustrated books and artist's books, film, and electronic media, etc. Museum of

modern art also involves art restoration facilities, to artist studios and an outdoor
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performance theatre aiming to empower artists so that they play a critical role in the

evolution of the community.

1.2. Need for study

A ‘museum’ is an institution that cares for (conserves) a collection of artifacts and

other objects of artistic, cultural, historical, or scientific importance and makes them

available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary.

The basic idea of museum of modern art is to celebrate the modern arts from all over

the world and also advance public understanding of the modern art. The museum

shall serve as a place where tomorrow’s artists, scholars, students and visitors alike to

have an enhanced experience to the critical role of art in the community and can learn

about the modern art and the artists be inspired to work within the art sector. The

museums been seen as gauge to the economic health of the community and a way to

increase the sophistication of its inhabitants. The spaces created should be such that

the visitors are compelled to visit the museum repeatedly over a period of time and

not just once. The museum can be designed with rejuvenation and refreshing

ambience to avoid public’s exertion. Hence museum is an ideal project to expand and

hone one’s creative skills in designing to come with something that stand as a grand

architectural master piece inside out.

1.3. Aim and Objectives

The aim of the study is to come up with a design which, creates a space that can

exhibit the various arts merging modern and contemporary, together with performing

arts, music, cinema, photography, literature, fine art and sculpture in a way so that it

can be appreciated in the present as well as the future decades, a museum that is

welcoming, inspirational and innovative to all visitors.

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The objectives of the study are –

- To understand the functioning and requirements of a museum of modern art.

- To value natural light in place of artificial lighting by using ECHY1 technology as

an integral part of the design process.

- To encourage art merging modern and contemporary.

- To provide a soothing environment2 to the visitors.

- To educate the public about the museum’s mission and the different arts in India.

1.4. Methodology

i. To study the connectivity of various galleries and services in a museum through

related studies.

ii. To understand the environmental, functional and perpetual aspects of the project.

iii. To study the area, location, access, topography, vegetation, soil, climate, rules of

development, bye-laws, etc. of the site.

iv. To frame the requirements to be defined.

v. To conceptualize the design.

vi. To arrive at a solution that is sensitive to all the above aspects.

1.5. Scope and Limitations

The cultural heritage of India- its theatre, music, dance, painting, sculpture,

architecture, etc. is as diverse and as complex as the country itself. The museum will

bring, under a single roof, two broad areas of work: collection, preservation and

exhibition of fine art objects, dating from the late 18th century to the contemporary

times: and the promotion of art education and research. The main idea is to design a

1
ECHY technology is an ideal daylighting solution for museums and galleries. It is an innovative technology: a
daylighting system which bring natural light in the buildings via fibre optic, providing visual comfort and well-
being.
2
Soothing environment for a museum describes a calm environment minimising the confusion in finding ways
to galleries, it includes appropriate use of lighting focusing main on natural lighting, position of the displays
eliminating shadows, reflections, and glares, and even the colours and patterns used in the museum.
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museum of modern art with adequate site planning, accessibility, services, functioning

and landscaping such that the built form is balanced by natural elements incorporated

into the building to give the visitors a soothing environment. Such a design would

require an understanding of measures to capture natural light and ventilation and the

psychological aspects of comforting by design.

The limitations account to the fact that there are not many examples of museums of

modern art in India, so the process of information collection is limited. Since most of

museums of modern art are located abroad, studying their designs and then coming up

with a similar museum which is suitable for the Indian culture is more challenging.

2. Related studies

2.1. Case studies

 National Gallery of Modern Art

The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) is the premier art gallery under

Ministry of Culture, Government of India, located near India Gate, New Delhi, and is

designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens along with Herbert Baker using the concept of the

Central Hexagon. The structure has a butterfly layout and a central dome, made by

red and yellow sandstone.

Site Plan
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 National Museum

National Museum is located in Janpath, New Delhi, and is designed by Ar.Deolalkar

in indo-sarcenic style. The National Museum was to be completed in three phases,

third phase is under construction. The museum activities are distributed in a three

storey high building. A large double height entrance hall gives the direct access to a

library and an Auditorium. Main Concept is based on the central court, the main

circulation court core from which the galleries radiate out. The court is the landmark

in orienting the galleries, which begin, and end in this core and acts as a focal point.

Hence, after moving in one of the galleries one comes back to the circular court and

orients oneself.

Site Plan

2.2. Literature studies

 Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

One of the most famous museums in New York City. The Guggengheim, was

designed by world renown architect Frank Lloyd Wright, in modern style, in 1959.

The design of the cylindrical building was to be a “temple of the spirit”. Its unique

ramp gallery extends up from ground level in a long, continuous spiral along the outer

edges of the building to end just under the ceiling skylight and then transports visitors

to different levels of the museum where they can ogle over world renown art.
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Building is inspired by Wright’s love for the automobile – Planetarium – designed for

visitors to drive up the ziggurat-like ramps. The museum is sunk from the level of the

street, and separated by a planter

Aerial View

Site Plan

 ARKEN Museum of Modern Art

ARKEN Museum of Modern Art is a private non-for-profit charity, state authorised

contemporary art museum in Ishoj near Copenhagen, Denmark. ARKEN was

designed by the Danish architect Soren Robert Lund, in a distinctive architectural

form. The museum building is an attraction in itself, it portrays a stranded ship a few

metres from the beach. The museum is located in scenic surrounding. The museum

cafe hangs like a boat on the side of the building and through the large panoramic

windows overlooks Koge Bay. The museum shop is the area’s leading design shop

with an inspiring mix of Nordic design.

Site Plan Aerial View of the Museum

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3. Site study

3.1. Site location

Site is located on the Western Bank of Sabarmati River, in Paldi, Ahmedabad. It is

located on the stretch between the Ellis Bridge and the Sardar Bridge. Site is easily

accessible from State Highway 17. The land is under Ahmedabad Municipal

Corporation.

3.2. Site analysis

3.2.1. Geographical parameters

- Latitude of Ahmedabad is 23°4” N and Longitude of Ahmedabad is 72°37” E.

- Altitude ( height above sea level of Ahmedabad ) is 55m.

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- Average annual rainfall of Ahmedabad is 750mm (July to September)

- Climate of Ahmedabad is -

 Summer : 24°C - 39°C ( may exceed 42°C or above )

 Winter : 10°C - 24°C ( t may dip to 5°C )

3.2.2. Site features

- Topography - The site is flat with subtle undulating differences in the surface

topography.

- Vegetation - Existing vegetation is in degraded stage and is reduced to small patches

along the river bank.

- Drainage pattern - Natural drainage pattern to the river Sabarmati is north to south.

3.2.3. Site Plan

Site is on the right side of the Sardar bridge. It is elevated at an height of approx. 5m

from the level of lower promenade. The site is almost at the same level as of the

bridge going along the site.

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- Sabarmati river is at LVL.-5200

- Lower promenade is at LVL. -4950

- Sardar bridge is at LVL. +2000

- The road in front of the main entrance is 25M wide.

3.2.4. Site surroundings

5. Nagina Mosque

7. Sardar Bridge

4. V.S. Hospital Proposed

Site 3. N.I.D. ,1964

6. Ellis Bridge, 1893 1. Tagore Hall, 1966 2. Sanskar Kendra, 1954

B.V. Doshi Le Corbusier

3.2.5. Site connectivity

Le Corbusier
Approach to the site –

- From Paldi Bus Stop – 0.9 km

- From Kalupur Railway Station – 5.9 km

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- From Sardar Vallabhai Patel International Airport – 12.9 km

4. Design brief

4.1. Site requirements

Site Area 6.5 acres = 26304.6 sqm.

Permissible Landuse Institutional

Maximum permissible ground coverage 45% = 45% of site area = 11836.8 sqm.

(G.C. )

Maximum permissible floor area ratio 2

( F.A.R. )

Maximum height 30m

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Setbacks Front setback – 9m, Side setback – 6m,

Rear setback – 6m

Parking 30% of maximum permissible F.A.R =

30% of 52609.2 = 15782.76 sqm.

- 20% reserved for visitors =

20% of 15782.76 = 3156.6 sqm.

- 50% of total parking is reserved

for cars = 7891.38 sqm.

4.2. Spatial requirements

Zoning of the museum will be done into three primary subdivisions based on the

functions

1. The Art Gallery

2. The Office Block

3. Public services and Amenities

- The Art Gallery –

i. Design gallery

ii. Photography gallery

iii. Painting gallery

iv. Sculpture gallery

v. Literature gallery

vi. Architecture gallery

vii. Closed exhibition space

viii. Lecture hall

ix. Art appreciation hall

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x. Art workshop

xi. Library

xii. Auditorium

xiii. Minor storage facilities.

- The Office Block

i. Reception and waiting area

ii. Chairman’s room

iii. Curator’s cabin

iv. Conference room

v. Staff room

vi. VIP lounge

vii. Staff canteen and pantry

viii. AV room

ix. Records and archives section

x. Restoration centre

xi. Administrative and accounts section

xii. Arrival and acquisition section.

- Public services and Amenities

i. Restaurant, food court and garden cafe

ii. Open air theatre

iii. ATM kiosks

iv. Ticket counters, Information center

v. Museum shop and museum book store

vi. Cloak room, public toilets

vii. Parking facilities

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