BOOK CASE STUDY

BHARAT BHAVAN BHOPAL

BHOPAL
1975 - 81

In the late 1970s, the Government of India launched an initiative to build in

every state capital an institution to celebrate the cultural and creative output
of the nation. Although the scheme was largely unsuccessful, one shining
example remains: Bharat Bhavan (‘India House’), located in Bhopal.
Designed by Indian architectural luminary Charles Correa, this multi-arts
center first opened its doors in 1982. More than thirty years later, it continues
to house a variety of cultural facilities and play host to multitude of arts
events. The design of the complex is a product of Correa’s mission to
establish a modern architectural style specific to India and distinct from
European Modernism. Drawing on the plentiful source material provided by
the rich architectural heritage of his home country, at Bharat Bhavan Correa
produced a building for the modern era which manages to also remain firmly
rooted in the vernacular traditions of India’s past.
Built into a hillside which slopes down toward a lake, a series of terraces and courtyards comprise the
complex. Upon entering, the visitor has the choice of following the path of terraces cascading down to the lake,
or descending to the three courtyards which provide access to the majority of the cultural facilities. These
include contemporary art galleries, a museum of tribal art, an auditorium, a library of Indian poetry, a print
shop, and a studio for an artist-in-residence. From the courtyards, wide glass-paneled openings to the
buildings ensure the arts program is both literally and figuratively accessible to all. At the bottom of the site sits
.
an amphitheater, where open-air performances take place with the lake forming a natural backdrop.
The route through the terraces encourages movement down the site’s natural gradient, with the
courtyards providing tranquil spaces for rest and relaxation. The dialogue between these two
components creates an ebb and flow of energy around the complex, in what Correa described as a
“Ritualistic Pathway”. The ritual of following a sacred pathway is, he claims, “a universal impulse, found
in all cultures and religions.”[1] Correa emphasized the spirituality of his own pathways by drawing
parallels with those found in religious architecture, including “the sun temples of Mexico” and the Hindu
temples of Bali “with their ritualistic pathways up the hillside.”
History
Correa also noted secular examples of the Ritualistic Pathway, such as the palace city of Fatehpur Sikri and Le
Corbusier’s promenade architecturale, though he claimed the latter was merely “a ‘secular’ phrase to express
what is in reality a deep and sacred instinct.”[3] At Bharat Bhavan, the flights of stairs between the terraces
reference traditional Indian architecture while implying the sanctity of the pathway. The stairs are reminiscent of
ghats; steps found in Indian cities which lead down to a body of holy water, just as Correa’s steps guide the
pedestrian to the lakeside. Indeed, Correa cited the bathing ghats on the bank of the River Ganges at Varanasi
as a stylistic influence.[4] At Bharat Bhavan the steps guide the pedestrian to the lakeside; the religious
connotations emphasizing the sacred nature of this pathway.

European Modernism, and in particular that of Le Corbusier, had heavily influenced modern architecture in
India for much of the 20th century. Correa was somewhat wary of this trend, and criticized Le Corbusier’s Palace
of the Assembly at Chandigarh for being poorly ventilated, insufficiently lit, and wholly unsuitable for India’s
hot and humid climate.[5] Correa’s architecture, conversely, is shaped by its environment, with climate control a
primary concern in his design process. Indeed, this was often a necessity, as much of his early work consisted of
projects for squatter housing, where inhabitants did not have the means to pay for air-conditioning and were
forced to rely on the building itself to regulate temperature.

Save this picture!

Interesting facts
Rather than importing the “sealed boxes” of European architecture,
necessitated by the colder Western climate, instead Correa created
“open-to-sky spaces.”[6] He observed that “in a warm climate, the best
place to be in the late evenings and in the early mornings is outdoors,
under the open sky.”[7] The sunken courtyards at Bharat Bhavan
provide shade from the scorching midday sun, while the raised
terraces offer refreshing air and space at cooler times of day. This
climate-control solution was lifted directly from India’s architectural
history, inspired by th.e courtyards and terraces of the Red Fort at Agra
Key people
Choose three leaders for Black History Month using Bing.com and discuss their lives and
accomplishments. Here are some examples:

Bayard Rustin was a close advisor to
Martin Luther King and an American
leader of the civil rights movement. Rustin
organized and led several protests,
including the 1963 March on Washington.
Jesse Owens was an American track and
field athlete and four-time gold medalist
in the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany.
Owens specialized in the sprints and the
long jump.
Zora Neale Hurston was an American
author, anthropologist, and filmmaker. In
1937, she published her famous novel,
Their Eyes Were Watching God.
Arts and literature Click icon to add picture

Provide examples of art and literature that are

significant to Black History Month. Here are a
few examples:
• The writing of James Baldwin
• The music of Miles Davis
Click icon to add picture
• The artwork of Alma Thomas
How to celebrate
List some ways you can celebrate Black History Month.
Here are a few examples:
• Discover African American artists
• Read African American authors
• Listen to African American musicians
• Learn important moments of African American history
 Conclusion
Provide a brief summary of your presentation.
Remind the audience what you covered in the previous slides.
Questions & answers
Invite questions from the audience
Resources
List the resources you used for your research:
• Source #1
• Source #2
• Source #3