Location
As one is on the Bandra Worli Sea Link in Mumbai, a building paints a picture of a sand sculpture against the backdrop of blue skies. The Bombay Art Society, a nonprofit art institution of 23,304 sq.ft. built-up area was designed by Sanjay Puri and completed in 2011.
The client, the Bombay Art Society, a not-for-profit institution, was granted a 14000 sq. ft. plot by the government in Bandra Reclamation area. The picturesque view of Mahim Bay of Arabian Sea is framed by the large glazed façade. Ample parking space and easy access make it a perfect choice for a space devoted to art and its audience, and to house a gym and a restaurant.
Sustaining the Artistes
Due to the nature of the requirement for spaces, two distinct types of areas were created, rendering it mixed land usage. The foremost objective was to have art galleries and associated spaces. To sustain and support upcoming artists and related events, office space with a separate entrance was created. All this is accommodated in the resultant usable space of around 4850 sq. ft. of land –after the required setbacks. Thus, there are 3 levels of office space above 3 levels of exhibition space.
Cubism meets Fluid Architecture
The building almost seems like a cubist sculpture made of fluid. There is a monochromatic colour palette and the edges of the geometric shapes gently curve throughout the sculptural building. The building form gives the impression of a cuboid and a cylinder amalgamated together atop a thick rectangular monolith. The curvilinear edges of the geometric shapes give the building skin fluidity. Two layers of hex mesh and RCC circumferential ribs provide the skeletal structure for ferrocement skin. Thermocol blocks have been used for insulation and to reduce skin weight.
Form follows Function
Each shape houses a different type of space, providing a perfect setting for “form follows function”. There are two basement floors for vehicle parking. A very humble entrance to the art space, above the basement, has minimal perforations along the curved walls, providing ample space for exhibiting artworks. The ground floor has one of the two art galleries. The second gallery is a double-height space, sharing quarters with the restaurant on the first floor. The whole of the second floor is dedicated to the auditorium.
As the form departs from the monolith to the cuboid and the cylinder, this transformational space has been utilised for services and to accommodate structural modification.
Commercial offices on the fourth, fifth, and sixth floors are enclosed within the cuboid. The glass façade perfectly frames the views of the sea, breaking the monotony in the building skin and adding a tad bit of viable aspect. Having a separate access, makes it detach from the recreational spaces below.
Spiral Staircase, the Masterstroke
The fluidity of the building is not limited to the skin but extends well into the interiors. The spiral staircase connecting the bottom three floors, built with wood becomes a masterpiece in itself. Together with the curved walls, it provides continuity of the exterior treatment well into the interiors of the exhibition spaces.
