Jawahar Kala Kendra

Vastu shastra-inspired plan adapted and evolved by modern architect Charles Correa in the design of Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur, Rajasthan.[1]

Jawahar Kala Kendra is built like a red fort with no windows on its facade.The design was prepared by the noted architect Charles Correa in 1986 and the building was ready in 1992.[2] The plan is inspired by the original city plan of Jaipur, consisting of nine squares with central square left open.[3] The Jawahar Kala Kendra adapts and applies concepts from ancient architectural principles called the Vastu Vidya.[1][4]

Architecture of Jawahar Kala Kendra follows the Indian classical principle Vastu Purush Mandala. The plan of the building, in this style, is conceived as a model of the Cosmos. The specific Mandala invoked in Jawaha Kala Kendra is the Navagraha. The plan has nine squares, which represnt a planet each including two imaginary ones, Rahu and Ketu. [5]

The centre is an analogue of the original city pIan of the city of Jaipur drawn up by the Maharaja, a scholar, mathematician and astronomer, Jai Singh the Second, in the mid-17th century. His city plan, guided by the Shipla Shastras, was based on the ancient Vedic madala. Due to the presence of a hill one of the squares was transposed to the east and two of the squares were amalgamated to house the palace.Maharaja Jai Singh had one of the squares moved because of the presence of a hill in his design of the plan of Jaipur city. Correa as invoked the original mandala with the innovation of using one square as the main entrance.[6]

Correa's plan for the Kendra invokes directly the original navagraha or nine house mandala. One of the squares is pivoted to recall the original city plan and also to create the entrance. The plan of Jaipur city based on the nine square Yantra in which one square is displaced and two central squares combined. the squares is defined by 8m high wall, symbolic of the fortification wall along the Jaipur old city.

Hastakar Yantra, Jawahar Kala Kendra

The idea was to create a cultural complex that is imbued with a intinsic local context and historical ambience. Crossing the lush garden, as one enters the courtyard, one forays into a series of open-air pavilions. Archways lead to painted domes, amphitheaters, cafés, and art galleries that all seemed to be spatially aligned as if enveloping the structure.There is a mural of a palm reading at the entrance to the theatre which illustrates the association of astrology and astronomy by naming the planets on the mounds of the hand.[7] Ancient traditions, Medieavl Mughal aesthetics, and contemporary and evolving artistic sensibitlities find representation in Jawahar Kala Kendra in its architecture, design, and activities.

Rangayan, Mihir, Open Theatre, are few of the many theatres housed in JKK. The building has eight squres and one main entrance. Each of the squares is assigned to one planet in the plan and design. The square assigned to Planet Brahaspati houses the library; Planet Mangal houses the administrative offices; the Planet Budh houses the museum. The museum boasts of a collection of miniature paintings, jewellery, photographs, musical instruments and other cultural artifacts. Ketu houses other museum objects among which an ornate antique carriage is a prized object. Traditional wooden staues of Rajasthani carft, and traditional terracotta wall panels habe also been exhibited. Planet Shukra houses the theatres; Planet Shani houses the art galleries i.e. Sukriti, Surekh, Parijat, Chaturdik, etc. Rahu is the squarethat facilitates documentation and research. The central square dedicated the Surya of sun, just as sun is the centre of universe. It also serves as an open-air theatre called ‘Madhyavati’. The astrological symbol of each planet is illustratted in a mural in the adjoining wall of each corresponding section. The ground plan has two museums, a folk art center, a studio, a closed theatre known as ‘Rangayan’ and an open air theatre known as ‘Madhyavati’.

In Jawahar Kala Kendra many local traditional folk theatre like Khayals, Rammats and Tamashas are performed. Lok Rang the national folk festival is also held here annually. It has a library with 20,000 books on Art, Architecture, Culture, Sculpture, Music, Drama and other related subjects.Monographs of studies of various art forms such as Ghumar, Kanhaiya and Dhrupad have been published besides a major publication on Wall Paintings of Rajasthan, Treasures of Albert Hall Museum, Abhaneri etc.. Summer schools for dance, thetre, mjusic, paintng etc. are run regulsrly to train children. Renowned artists are invited for residency programmes.

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  Amphitheatre
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  Pergola
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  Door painted in Rajasthani Art
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  Hastkaar Yantra based on medieval Rajasthani painting
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  Central courtyard, Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur
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  Ceiling of entrance foyer at Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur
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  Display Area, Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur
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  Planet Budh
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  Planet Chandra
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  Planet Ketu

• Jawahar Kala Kendra A Case-study by students of School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi