BIRLA PLANETARIUM

AND MUSEUM
HYDERABAD
 BIRLA PLANETARIUM AND MUSEUEM IS
DESIGNED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HYDERABAD.
B. M. BIRLA SCIENCE
MUSEUM, HYDERABAD
ESTABLISHED IN 1990, B M
BIRLA SCIENCE MUSEUM IS
LOCATED IN SAIFABAD. THE
BIRLA SCIENCE MUSEUM IS
ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL
STRUCTURE, REFLECTING THE
ADVANCES MADE IN SCIENCE
AND TECHNOLOGY. THE
INTERIOR DÉCOR MATCHES
THE ARCHITECTURAL
EXTERIOR OF THE CENTRE
BUILT OVER 10,000 SQ. FT. IT IS
AN RCC CONSTRUCTION
BUILDING.
 1

1 -- BIRLA SCIENCE 3
MUSEUM

2 – NIRMALA BIRLA
GALLERY OF MODERN
ART

3 -- PLANETARIUM
 CONNECTIVITY

3 2
3
1
2
3 1
1
2
 ENTRANCE

LEFT SIDE PICTURE SHOWS THE

MAIN ENTRANCE GATE OF THE
MUSEUM. RIGHT SIDE PICTURE
SHOWS THE SECURITY POST
BESIDES THE MAIN GATE.

THESE PICTURE SHOWS THE PARKING AREAS OF TWO WHEELERS AND FOUR WHEELERS. PARKING AREAS ARE
SCATTERED TO MANY AREAS WITH IN THE SITE. THE PARKING AREA IS MEANT FOR THE VISITORS, STAFF AND
FOR THE OFFICES SITUATED IN THE BUILDING.
 LEFT SIDE
PICTURE SHOWS
THE SNACKS BAR
NEAR THE
ENTRANCE GATE.
RIGHT SIDE
PICTURE SHOWS
THE BOOKING
COUNTER WHICH
IS ALSO NEAR
THE ENTRANCE
GATE.

LEFT SIDE PICTURE SHOWS THE SIGN BOARD TO INDICATE THE BUILDINGS (AND THEIR TIMINGS) IN THE SITE.
RIGHT SIDE IMAGE SHOWS THE SCULPTURES NEAR THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE MUSEUM BUILDING.
 THESE IMAGES SHOWS
THE FRONT VIEW OF
THE MUSEUM. IT SHOW
THE GLASS PANELS AND
THE WALLS ARE CLAD
IN STONE. THE CURVED
STEEL SPACE FRAME IS
ON TOP OF THE
BUILDING.
(GROUND FLOOR):
AREA - 23,980 SQ.FT.
INTERACTIVE SCIENCE
CENTRE, RECEPTION,
ENTRANCE, STORE,
TOILET, OFFICE AND
SHOPS ARE
LOCATED IN THIS FLOOR.

INTERACTIVE SCIENCE
CENTRE IS HAVING THE
GALLERIES LIKE GLOBE &
TRISHUL, ILLUSIONS,
ELECTRONICS,
MECHANICS, GLASS AND
MIRRORS, FUN MIRRORS,
COLOUR MIXER, STORE,
AND CHILDREN AREA.
 OBSERVATIONS
• THE ENTRANCE LOBBY IS FINISHED WITH GRANITE FLOORING AND THE WALLS ARE ALSO COVERED
WITH THE RED COLOUR GRANITE UP TO A LEVEL OF 2.5M HEIGHT.
• SEATING IS PROVIDED AROUND THE COLOUMNS FOR THE VISITORS IN THE LOBBY AREA.
• IN THE INTERACTIVE SCIENCE CENTRE WHICH IS ALSO IN THE SAME FLOOR, THE PARTITION WALLS
ARE PROVIDED TO SEPARATE THE GALLERY SPACES. THESE ARE CURVILINEAR AND CLAD WITH
CERAMIC TILES.
• THE INCANDESCENT LIGHTS PLACED IN THE STEEL FRAMES HANGING FROM THE CEILING. THERE IS
NO FALSE CEILING.
• THERE IS NO ENOUGH DAY LIGHT INTO THE INTERNAL SPACES.
‘ILLUSIONS’ SECTION HAS EXHIBITS LIKE:
• ‘YOUNG OR OLD’,
• ‘CAGE THE BIRD’ AND
• ‘FACE OR VASE?’, THAT WOULD TEASE YOUR GREY CELLS AND VISUAL
CAPABILITIES.

THE MECHANICS SECTION INCLUDED :

• PEDAL POWER,
• DEFYING GRAVITY,
• ANTIGRAVITY CONE, S
• USPENSION BRIDGE,
• PENDULUM PATTERNS, ETC.
• HOLOGRAMS,
• SOAP FILMS,
• THE MARBLE RACE,
• BLACK HOLE,
• RACE THE ROLLERS,
• RACE THE ROLLERS AND SO ON FORMED A PART OF THE ‘PERCEPTIONS’
 THE INTERESTING EXHIBITS ARE,
• HOWEVER, INVISIBLE STRING WHEREIN IF YOU RUN YOUR PALM ACROSS THE WOODEN INSTRUMENT THUS
BLOCKING THE LIGHT EMITTED FROM THE BULB(S) HIDDEN IN THE HOLLOW OF THE INSTRUMENT,
• YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN RAAGAS — FROM CLASSICAL TO WESTERN TO DESI TO FILMI.

• THE OTHER INTERESTING OBJECTS ON DISPLAY THAT MAY CATCH YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION ARE SEE HEAT,

• CLIMBING SPARK,

• PENDULUM PATTERNS,

• BLACK HOLE,

• SPLIT PERSONALITY,

• GROW & SHRINK,

• COLOR MIXER, ET AL. T

• HERE IS A SPECIAL SECTION FOR THE KIDS CALLED ‘CHILDREN’ WHICH HAS VIDEO GAMES, MINI CARS,
AEROPLANES, HORSES, ETC, FOR THEIR ENTERTAINMENT.
• THE OTHER MOST INTERESTING OBJECTS ARE THE SEE HEAT, CLIMBING SPARK, SPILT PERSONALITY, COLOR
MIXER AND GROW & SHRINK.

(ONE MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT IS THAT A FEW OF THE EXHIBITS ARE EITHER NOT FUNCTIONING OR DON’T CONTAIN
THE BRIEF ABOUT HOW THEY WORK.)
LOWER LEVEL (CELLAR): AREA – 22,820 SQ.FT.
EXHIBITION SPACES OF THE INTERACTIVE SCIENCE GALLERY LOCATED ON THE
GROUND FLOOR.
• ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ART GALLERIES ARE THERE IN THIS FLOOR.
• A STORE, EXHIBIT DEVELOPMENT LABORATORY AND A STORE HAVE BEEN PLACED.
• A 200 PEOPLE CAPACITY AUDITORIUM IS THERE.
• FLOORING IS DONE WITH CERAMIC TILES.
• THERE IS NO PROVISION OF NATURAL LIGHTING AND VENTILATION
• ARTICLES ARE ARRANGED IN SHOWCASES WITH GLASS.
• FALSE CEILING WAS DONE WITH POP.
• GALLERY SPACES ARE IN DIFFERENT LEVELS IN FLOORING.
• PORCELAIN STATUES, IVORY ITEMS, BOOKS, CARPETS, VASES, METAL STATUES, ARMS,
PAINTINGS, EXCAVATED ANCIENT MATERIALS, WOODEN CRAFTS, STONE SCULPTURES
ARE PLACED IN THIS FLOOR.
FIRST UPPER LEVEL (FIRST FLOOR):AREA – 23,980 SQ.FT.
SECOND UPPER LEVEL (SECOND FLOOR):
SIMULATORS, NRSA, DWARAKA IN MINIATURE AND
ANTARCTICA IN MINIATURE ARE LOCATED IN THIS DINOSAURIUM AREA
FLOOR. – 14,230 SQ.FT.,
• SATELLITE PICTURES ARE DISPLAYED IN THE REMOTE SENSING OPEN TERRACE OF 9,000 SQ.FT.
AREA.
• GRAY COLOUR GRANITE TILES FLOORING IN THE LOBBY AREA.
• SOME PORTION OF THE FLOOR IS NOT IN USAGE.
• THERE IS NO VENTILATION IN THE DWARAKA SECTION.
• CERAMIC TILES FLOORING IN THE EXHIBITION AREAS.
 ABOVE PICTURES
SHOW THE ENTRANCE
TO THE DINOSAURIUM
GALLERY. AND ALSO
SHOWING THE OPEN
TERRACE WITH
COLUMNS AND SPACE
FRAMES.

OPEN TERRACE IS
HAVING MOSAIC
FLOORING.

• INSIDE THE DINOSAURIUM A SKELETON OF

A SAUROPED DINOSAUR IS ARRANGED.
• 3’6” HEIGHT RAILING IS PROVIDED AROUND
THE SKELETON.
• COLUMNS ARE CLAD WITH STONE FOSSILS.
DINO BONE FOSSILS, DINO AREA SET,
PAINTINGS, FOSSILS OF ANCIENT MATERIALS
ARE ARRANGED.
BIRLA PLANETARIUM
• The Birla planetarium is covered in the area of built-up of 11,500sqm.
• The planetarium is rcc dome of 48'6" which is covered inside with 38'4" aluminum perforated screen which acts as theatre
space for planetarium
• The capacity of space theater is 140 persons .
• The planetariums holds sky shows everyday at different timings in different languages. The show covers the various aspects
of the cosmos, space, solar system, galaxies, comets, eclipses, the Hubble space telescope .
• The show lasts about 35 minutes.
• Sump provided separately for planetarium is 40,000ltrs .
• Electrical room and generator room are separated for science centre and the planetarium.
• Planetarium has been highly treated in terms of acoustics through various methods to get a good quality of sound enhancing
the show experience.
• Seating arrangement ( reclining chairs) is proper but it was not used to its fullest.
• The only drawback is that a projector is placed at the centre which creates a visual obstruction during the show.
OBSERVATIONS
• RCC FRAMED STRUCTURE. COLUMNS ARE PLACED IN THE GALLERIES BUT THEY ARE NOT DISTURBING THE CIRCULATION
OF THE VISITORS , AS THE PARTITIONS ARE PLACED ALONG THEM.
• IT IS AT THE HEART OF THE CITY NEAR NAMPALLY IN HYDERABAD.
• SITE IS ON THE HILL. SO THE LAND IS VERY UNDULATED.
• MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY.
• STONE, GLASS, STEEL IN SPACE FRAMES, TILES WITH PRIMARY COLORS, POLISHED GRANITE AND CERAMIC TILES HAVE
BEEN USED ALONG WITH
• CONVENTIONAL MATERIALS.
• THERE ARE THREE FLOORS AND A BASEMENT.
• SCIENCE RELATED EXHIBITS ON THE GROUND FLOOR AND OTHER EXHIBITS IN THE REMAINING FLOOR.
• A LOT OF SPACE IS AROUND THE MUSEUM, SO FUTURE EXPANSION IS POSSIBLE.
• LAWN, TREES AND GARDEN WITH SCULPTURES ARE THERE.
• ALL KINDS OF VISITORS OF ALL AGE GROUPS VISIT THE MUSEUM.
• VISITORS FLOATING IS LESS.
• NO TRAINING PROGRAMMES
• NATURAL LIGHTING IS NOT SUFFICIENT SO IT IS USED ONLY TO LIGHT UP THE CIRCULATION SPACES ALONG THE WALLS IN
UPPER FLOORS, BUT IN CELLAR THERE IS NO NATURAL LIGHT. ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING IS NECESSARY. LIGHTING FIXTURE ARE
HUNG IN THE FORM OF FRAMES.
• HUGE SPACES ARE NOT UTILIZED FOR THE MUSEUM PURPOSE. SOME ARE GIVEN ON RENT.
• SEPARATE TOILETS FOR GENTS AND LADIES ARE PROVIDED.
• NO MUSEUM SHOPS ARE PRESENT.
• CLOAK ROOMS AND TICKETS COUNTERS ARE AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE SITE.
• CANTEEN IS PROVIDED AT THE ENTRANCE GATE AND NEAT PARKING.
• SURVEILLANCE ROOM IS PROVIDED IN THE GROUND FLOOR NEAR THE ENTRANCE AND CC CAMERAS
WERE INSTALLED THROUGHOUT THE MUSEUM.
• DRINKING WATER IS AVAILABLE.
• GENERATOR IS PLACED AT THE BACK OF THE MUSEUM BLOCK.
• LIBRARY AND OFFICE SPACES ARE PROVIDED