Is there a place where one can read about art, architecture, and culture, attend movie screenings by diverse artists, and visit exhibitions? Yes, there is, thanks to Arthshila. A place where one can immerse oneself in curated creative experiences through a curious, engaging journey that seeks to inspire the mind. Be it an intellectual evening, a creative hideaway, or a research-filled assignment, Arthshila is the place to go. Arthsila is an initiative from the Takshila Educational Society, whose goal is to create an immersive platform for the creation and sharing of ideas centred on the arts, with spaces designed across the country, focusing on art, architecture, cinema, design, literature, and performing arts. There are five Arthshila centres- Ahmedabad, Santiniketan, Goa, New Delhi and Patna.
Arthshila Ahmedabad
The Arthshila Ahmedabad building is such that the visitor would prefer taking the stairs rather than the elevator. The building slowly reveals itself as an experience with the 5-storey bookshelf acting as its spine. To learn that the building changed hands and purpose multiple times would be a pleasant surprise, as it feels as if the building was destined to be a design and art library all along. The building is an artefact extended by Banduksmith, an architecture studio based out of Ahmedabad. The towering concrete structure is quite deceiving as the building, once entered, is full of life and colour through its books, activities and exhibitions. This centre’s focus particularly lies in the field of art and design, evident through its plethora of books on the subjects. The space consists of a Gallery/ exhibition space, a workshop space, an amphitheatre and an AV room. Adjacent to the amphitheatre is a cute little cafe where great conversations and winding down take place.
Arthshila Santiniketan
Santiniketan, a UNESCO World Heritage town, home to the Nobel laureate Shri Rabindranath Tagore, is the cradle of the Bengali Renaissance. The town rooted in culture, art and poetry is an embodiment of Tagore’s vision and philosophy of where ‘the world would form a single nest’. In this town, a contemporary space which celebrates the core values of culture that resonates with Bengal’s heritage- Arthshila Santiniketan. Just like the Ahmedabad centre, the structure of the Santiniketan centre also started out not as an intended art centre but as a residential building with a sloped concrete roof. Abin Design Studio, an architecture practice based out of Kolkata, transformed the 3BHK residence into a cultural epicenter. The sloped roof is extended with a sculptural court where likeminds can gather and immerse themselves in music, art, and culture. The rooms are converted into galleries that host exhibitions on fine art, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, and textile works, and art installations.
Arthshila New Delhi
Amidst the smog and the bustle lies Arthsila Delhi, in an industrial neighbourhood called Okhla. Arthshila Delhi focuses more on the visual arts and has a 100-seater auditorium. Designed by Archolm, an architectural firm from Noida, the architects set Arthshila apart through its materiality and the interplay of light, creating a space where art and architecture converge. The terrace space welcomes both formal and informal discussions, creating an accessible space for art appreciators. The corten steel and concrete facade stands out in a sea of glass, acting as a cultural confluence in Delhi’s urban canvas.
Arthshila Goa
“Thinkering” was a place where ideas would ferment, a place that welcomed artists, architects, designers, and thinkers to come together to tinker and ideate. In the quiet village of Nachinola, Aldona, Thinkering slowly transformed into Arthshila Goa, at the hands of the Goan architectural firm Matter. The architects at Matter found themselves on the site of an old Goan house, which was not in very good shape. Fighting the urge to demolish the structure, the architects retained the beautiful, thick walls and added a lightweight steel structure to hold the building together, giving birth to a space that acted as an experimental playground for ideas and stories.
Arthshila Patna
If one is travelling through Bihar and wants to visit a space that includes an auditorium, multi-level exhibition spaces, a children’s experience centre, workshop spaces, a bookshop, café, craft store, they would love Arthshila Patna. As it is designed by Archolm of Arthsila, Delhi fame, the architectural vocabulary of the two structures is quite similar. The interplay of corten steel and concrete is followed here, too. The auditorium of this centre made headlines as Bihar’s first vertical underground auditorium. Whether one wants to catch a film screening in the auditorium or discover a book at the curated selection at the Kitab Gah, this is the place to go.
Arthshila’s design program is very simple – create a space where people can read, a space where they can converse, host an exhibition or watch a movie. Whether that is done with an AV room, an amphitheatre, or an auditorium, the intent is fulfilled. Interesting films are followed by great discussions, exhibitions are met with genuine awe, good books are cherished, and finally, there is a sense of belonging. Arthshila is a great way to discover the city it is located in, a space where architecture meets art and culture meets the contemporary. Here’s hoping for the growth of these centres, from city to city, curious mind to curious mind.
https://www.arthshila.org/
https://banduksmithstudio.in/project/arthshila-architecture-and-design-library
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1375/
https://www.archdaily.com/1002752/arthshila-cultural-adaptation-re-using-private-infrastructure-abin-design-studio
https://www.archohm.com/projects/arthshila.html
https://www.architectureplusdesign.in/architecture/arthshila-by-archohm-endeavours-to-epitomize-the-essence-of-exhibition-spaces-within-the-context-of-delhi/
https://archello.com/project/arthshila
https://www.buildgrounded.com/this-is-epic/arthshila-goa
https://studiomatter.in/arthshila-goa-2/
