National Center For Performing Arts, IGCA Lawns, New Delhi

Abstract

With the rapid modernization and due to the growing popularity of the western culture, people seem to have lost touch with their traditions and roots, Performing Art now fails to reach & touch the masses. There exists a large treasure of such arts which are limited within the bounds of their region or community. These art forms are heritage and need to be preserved by giving them required exposure Few examples of the successful attempts are Bharat Bhavan Bhopal, NCPA Mumbai, Jawahar Kala Kendra, etc. In addition to this there is still a strong demand of such centres in our country. In response to this strong desire for a cultural centre, the Union Ministry of Culture together with CPWD has planned to set up another such Performing Arts Centre in the National Capital. Delhi, being the capital city of India, Delhi provides tremendous opportunities for upliftment in current status of Indian Arts. A popular site has been chosen which is surrounded by buildings having a strong image and traditional character. Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts (IGNCA) Lawns, Rajpath Area, Central Secretariat, New Delhi. On southern side it has Rajpath, and on the western side theres is National Archives, Lutyens Bunglow on the northern and Raksha Bhavan on the Eastern Side. These roads that abut the site are lined with trees. The site also has large number of trees planted in rows and clustered at some places. The proposal to establish NCPA is an opportunity to create a complex that can, at the national level, host all forms of Indian performing arts, as well as visiting troupes and artists from all across the world. An integrated centre dedicated to the performing arts with numerous performing spaces, a multi-layered design catering to diverse styles of performing arts, is the need of the hour. iii The idea is to create a Link between People and Arts & Culture by activating a vibrant atmosphere through various performing arts and to create a private free atmosphere by inviting the public realm. This is done to Promote Arts and Culture by giving a platform to foster dialogue among the arts / regions of society, by Using Sites’ Potential as a Strong Urban Corner by releasing the Urban Corner in order to attract public & make them engage in the Performing Art Activities and by giving a Plaza Space to accommodate all cultural activities & provide a place to celebrate. There is an attempt to place the built form on buildable area as much as possible to prevent cutting of trees. Designed as an integrated form with series of open- semi open - built spaces. Large landscaped open spaces all around the complex provide areas for outdoor events and fests with are held in the present scenarios and at the same time it also respects the historic vegetation cover with has a high emotional value. The architectural character of the prestigious context has been incorporated in the design by using the architectural vocabulary in terms of materials and architectural elements. Yet at the same time, keeping in mind the present, a modern character has been given to the complex. The design harmoniously merges in the context but at the same time emerges as a modern building.