Design Brief | The Drawing Board 2023

Summary

The eighth edition of the Drawing Board Competition, hosted by Mindspace Architects, focuses on designing an archaeological museum at a historically rich site in Badami. The site features stunning Rock Cut caves, temples, and a large lake, creating a unique architectural opportunity. Participants are challenged to integrate their designs with the natural and historical elements, considering factors like materiality, the environment, and the site's visual and experiential impact. The goal is to create a structure that either stands out or blends seamlessly into the landscape, enhancing the site's beauty and historical significance.

Takeaways

• 📍 The event is the eighth edition of the Drawing Board Competition, organized by Mindspace Architects.
• 🏞️ The competition site is in Badami, known for its ancient Rock Cut caves and temples dating back to the 5th to 7th century.
• 🌊 The site is located near the Agastya Lake, with the caves on one side and the Bhoothnath Temple on the other.
• 🔨 Participants are tasked with designing an archaeological museum on the site, replacing an existing low-key structure.
• 🌳 The site features a cliff with cascading terraces down to the water, offering a unique architectural challenge.
• 🚶 The approach to the site includes a pedestrian-dominant road with low-scale houses, leading to a dramatic reveal of the lake and temple.
• 🛤️ There are multiple gateways and a pathway through rock formations that provide a magical, canyon-like experience.
• 🪨 The site's materiality is significant, with the use of a beautiful yellowish-brown rock that has aged gracefully over centuries.
• 🌅 Designers are encouraged to consider changes in eye level and how it affects the perception of the site, especially in relation to the sunrise and sunset.
• 🛠️ The challenge is to create a structure that either makes a bold statement or seamlessly integrates into the environment, respecting the site's historical and natural context.

Q & A

What is the Drawing Board competition?

The Drawing Board competition is an architectural design challenge that has been held for eight editions, attracting increasing participation each year.

What is the significance of Badami as a site for the competition?

Badami is known for its historical Rock Cut caves dating back to the 5th to 7th Century, along with temples and a significant lake called Agasthya Lake, making it a unique and inspiring location for architectural design.

What are the main features of the site in Badami?

The site features the Rock Cut caves, a series of temples, the Agasthya Lake, a cliff overlooking the water, and a large ghat (series of steps) on the western side.

How is the approach to the site described in the script?

The approach to the site is through low-scale houses with winding roads, and upon reaching the site, one experiences a dramatic reveal of the lake and the temple beyond a large cantilevering rock with a tree behind it.

What is the task for participants in the competition?

Participants are tasked with designing an archaeological museum on the site, replacing an existing low-key structure with the potential for a more impactful design.

What is the current size of the existing archaeological museum?

The existing archaeological museum is approximately 6,000 square feet.

What is the proposed design approach for the new museum?

The design approach should consider the site's unique features, including the cliff, the cascading terraces, the water edge, and the surrounding temples, aiming to create an experiential and harmonious structure.

What are the site's physical boundaries?

The physical boundaries of the site include the cliff, the edge of the water, and a small shrine, with the road being pedestrian dominant and having minimal traffic.

How does the script emphasize the importance of the site's visual and physical experience?

The script highlights the importance of the site's visual and physical experience by describing the magical and unforgettable experience of walking through the rocks, the changing eye levels, and the influence of light and the surrounding environment.

What is the significance of the materiality in the design of the new museum?

The materiality is significant as it should respond to the local context, using the yellowish-brown rock found in the area, which has aged gracefully and is used in the construction of the historical temples.

What decision do participants need to make regarding the architectural statement of the new museum?

Participants need to decide whether the new museum should make a bold architectural statement or dissolve into the background, becoming part of the overall environment and scenario.