Minig heritage museum: a journey through Chhattisgarh's evolving landscape/

Abstract

Chhattisgarh, a state endowed with vast mineral resources such as limestone, coal, and iron ore, plays a pivotal role in fueling India’s industrial economy. From steel production to cement manufacturing, the state is home to some of the country's most significant extraction and processing zones. However, this industrial prominence is often at odds with a lack of representation — the stories of its land, labor, and transformation have not been meaningfully documented or showcased for public understanding. While proposals have emerged in the past to establish a Chhattisgarh Mineral Heritage Museum, none have materialized. This gap highlights a need for a dedicated institution that not only archives the state’s industrial past but also reflects on its present challenges and future directions. This architectural thesis addresses that need by proposing a Mining Heritage Museum at Mandir Hasaud, Raipur. The project aims to offer a holistic representation of Chhattisgarh’s industrial landscape through spatial storytelling, experiential learning, and community integration. The site — a nearly exhausted limestone quarry on the outskirts of Raipur — is both symbolically and physically appropriate for this intervention. The quarry, with its exposed red-yellow terrain, deep cavities, and water bodies, is a remnant of decades of extraction. Instead of being dismissed as a post-industrial void, it is envisioned in this project as a foundation upon which memory, awareness, and transformation can be built. The museum is designed as a dynamic space that goes beyond conventional archival functions. It offers layered narratives of mining and industry in Chhattisgarh through immersive galleries, interpretative landscapes, educational facilities, and public interaction zones. It aims to preserve and showcase the region’s industrial legacy while simultaneously engaging with its environmental and social implications. The architecture is developed around an idea of transformation — turning what was once a site of resource depletion into a place of cultural enrichment, knowledge-sharing, and ecological healing. The Mining Heritage Museum reclaims a depleted quarry in Raipur as a cultural and ecological landmark. The museum explores both the progress and consequences of mining while offering spaces for education, reflection, and community engagement. Water bodies, embedded galleries, and create a sensory experience rooted in memory and transformation. As a model for industrial tourism and post-industrial regeneration. Keywords: Industrial Heritage, Post-industrial Landscape, Chhattisgarh, Raipur, Quarry Reclamation, Sustainable Architecture, Experiential Design