Red Fort Center

Visitor Orientation for Dalmia Bharat Limited monument mitra with implementation partner Sabhyata Foundation

Red Fort Visitor Centre is an adaptive reuse project which celebrates the historic legacy of a Unesco World Heritage Site in Delhi. The experience center presents the history and context of the iconic heritage complex through engaging and immersive spaces. The life and significant past of the Red Fort is brought alive, by conserving its heritage character and layering it with contemporary experiences.

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Red Fort Center by SIDDHARTH BATHLA

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Visitor Orientation by SIDDHARTH BATHLA

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SIDDHARTH BATHLA Red Fort Center

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SIDDHARTH BATHLA Visitor Orientation

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Unique Properties

Located within the Red Fort, an iconic unesco Site, the Visitor Centre serves as a gateway for visitors to experience the fortress's heritage-built fabric. Through adaptive reuse, these long-term defunct colonial barracks come back to life. The design strategy pursues conservation efforts to replicate the materiality deciphered from the fort itself. While celebrating the stories of life and culture of the fort, the contemporary interventions live up to the fortress's multi-layered history.

Tags

adaptive reuse, storytelling, conservation, exhibition design, experiential design, narrative design, information center, Red Fort, Immersive experience, Heritage upliftment, lighting, Augmented Reality

Production Technology

The conservation was rooted in using local knowledge of materials and processes, with lime, brick dust, stalls of jute, bail water and Badarpur sand. In keeping with the heritage palette, the bricks were custom-crafted to match the existing dimension used in the barrack. Red Sandstone procured from the mines that provided stone for Red Fort adorns the flooring. The refurbishment included replacing existing M.S. Girders and replenishing initially used wood with new seasoned Teak and Sagwan wood.

Design Challenge

The responsibility of positioning the monumental artefact and its harmonious integration with the heritage surrounding steered the whole design process. Persistent efforts to restore the barracks with authentic processes, lead to creating a standard for other barracks in the fort. Carefully planned minimal interventions accentuate the character of the heritage. With a footfall of about 975 visitors daily the barracks have transformed into a living cultural space for the Red Fort visitors.

Project Duration

Falling right after the entry into the Red Fort, these barracks serving as a an optimum location for visitor orientation. The project commenced in January 2019 with the primary objective of conserving and restoring the barracks. The onset of the pandemic necessitated and the site temporary closed. The work resumed in December 2020 and the project culminated in the creation of the Red Fort Visitor Centre in January 2022.

Operation Flow

Through naturally-lit corridors, the visitors immerse in the scenery of the fort outside while uncovering the stories of the Red fort inside. A wide passage connecting the two corridors allow the visitors to meander through the building to engage with various interactives and installations. Ushers and actors punctuate the journey of the visitors. The ground floor offers stand-alone experiences and services, while the Red fort story comes alive as a complete curated experience on the first floor.

Research

As a historic colonial structure set out in a Mughal precinct, the conservation approach dealt with studies on material philosophy, best local practices and structural understanding to restore and celebrate the inherent value of the heritage. A detailed understanding of the history, culture and continuous evolution of the Red fort rendered the engaging storytelling experiences. Several miniature paintings were studied to create a coherent visual language and scenography of the visitor centre.

Inspiration

The continuing significance of Red Fort and the barracks themselves being an artefact to the story of India’s independence movement gave impetus to the design approach of the Visitor Centre. The center was originally built from the debris of the demolished Mughal structures which expose and celebrate the intricately carved pieces embedded within the walls of the colonial barracks. The organic textures, non intrusive punctuators and contemporary scenography and all surrender to their notable surroundings.

Image Credits

Image #1: Photographer Andre J. Fanthome, Red Fort Center, 2021 Optional Image #1: Photographer Andre J. Fanthome, Red Fort Center, 2021 Optional Image #2: Photographer Andre J. Fanthome, Red Fort Center, 2021 Optional Image #3: Photographer Andre J. Fanthome, Red Fort Center, 2021 Optional Image #4: Photographer Andre J. Fanthome, Red Fort Center, 2021 Video Credits: Cinematographer Sohaib Ilyas, Red Fort Center, 2021 Sound Credits: Adobe Stock, Red Fort Center, 2021

Project Overview

Red Fort Center Visitor Orientation has been a Platinum winner in the Cultural Heritage and Culture Industry Design award category in the year 2023 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Platinum A' Design Award is recognized for honoring designs that stand at the forefront of creativity and innovation. It is the highest accolade bestowed by the A' Design Awards, acknowledging works that blend remarkable innovation with impactful societal contributions. These designs not only showcase exceptional artistic and technical proficiency but also highlight their creators' commitment to advancing the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. Recipients of this award are celebrated for their role in shaping the aesthetics and trends of our time, contributing significantly to the enhancement of quality of life and promoting sustainable development.

Platinum Recognition

SIDDHARTH BATHLA was recognized with the coveted Platinum A' Design Award in 2024, a testament to excellence of their work Red Fort Center Visitor Orientation .

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