Soul of Sisodiya - An Adaptive Reuse Project

Project idea

The soul of Sisodiya bagh- is a contour-driven, five-tier vertical journey at Sisodia Rani ka Bagh. By sinking the Underground Craft Haat, OAT, and restaurant below grade, the design leaves Jaipur’s historic skyline completely unobstructed. This subterranean layout utilizes the earth’s thermal mass for passive cooling, while micro-courtyards create a Venturi airflow loop. Visually porous arcades turn this downward path into a continuous discovery of live artisan craftsmanship.

Project description

The architectural expression of the design relies on a thoughtful blend of traditional regional syntax and clean, modern geometry. Instead of utilizing intricate historic ornament, the project defines its visual character through structural massing, crisp geometric profiles, and the purposeful play of deep shadows. A rhythmic arcade of reinterpreted arches forms a porous boundary throughout the structure, framing internal vistas and inviting a sense of exploration without closing off the distinct functional zones. Thick masonry walls ground the building visually and physically, creating a series of interlocking volumes that feel carved out of a single monolithic mass. This layout strategy ensures that the new insertions serve contemporary spatial needs while maintaining a light, respectful footprint that preserves the visual continuity of the surrounding landscape.
​The interior layout is vertically stratified to organize different programmatic functions into an intuitive, sequential journey. The upper level hosts formal administrative spaces and the primary exhibition gallery, which uses a highly symmetrical arrangement of display pedestals to guide visitors along a balanced, linear path. To maximize floor area and keep lines of sight clear, retail displays and artifact niches are integrated directly into the stone wall elevations at a comfortable, eye-level sill height of 900\text{ mm}. Moving deeper into the structural volume, the plan transitions into a modular system of open shop bays that form a vibrant cultural bazaar. By replacing rigid glass storefronts with open arched thresholds, built-in shelving, and varied counter heights, the boundaries between the manufacturing workshops and the retail spaces are entirely dissolved. This lets visitors witness the traditional crafting process firsthand before stepping out into the lowest tier of the plan, where an open performance stage and an indoor restaurant are nestled within dense masonry boundaries that function as quiet, intimate acoustic enclosures.
​From an engineering perspective, the building operates as a highly efficient, self-regulating thermal mass that keeps itself cool without relying heavily on modern mechanical systems. By embedding high-volume programmatic zones—such as the subterranean bazaar and the lower dining modules—directly inside thick, earth-sheltered masonry, the architecture harnesses the ground's natural constant temperature to insulate the interiors against extreme external weather. This heavy thermal shell is paired with a clever passive ventilation system driven entirely by natural pressure differentials. Shaded pedestrian walkways and precisely sized, narrow arch openings are used to compress incoming air currents, triggering the Venturi effect to naturally increase wind speed across the open floor plates. These linear pathways terminate at centralized, open-to-sky micro-courtyards that act as solar chimneys; as the harsh sun heats the top of these air voids, the warm indoor air naturally rises and vents out of the top, which pulls a constant stream of fresh, cool air down through the shaded ground-level arcades. Finally, the deep artisan workspaces are illuminated by north-facing skylights, capturing consistent, glare-free daylight for detailed crafting tasks while blocking out direct solar radiation and unwanted heat gain.

Technical information

​The program is vertically stratified to seamlessly transition the visitor from high-level orientation to deep, enclosed experiential zones:
​Level +1 (The Top View Plinth): Houses the Administrative Office and the primary Permanent Exhibition Space. Positioned at the pinnacle, it acts as a quiet threshold giving visitors a panoramic canvas of the gardens and the Aravalli valley before they begin their downward journey.
​Level 0 (The Porous Entry): The immediate arrival zone introducing visitors to live interactive zones, featuring a integrated Souvenir Shop and semi-open craft kiosks.
​Level -1 & Level -2 (The Subterranean Creative Core): Tucked safely into the contours to preserve thermal comfort and heritage views. This level accommodates the high-volume Underground Craft Haat, modular stone workshops, and the subterranean bazaar.
​Level -7000 (The Activity Hub & Oasis): The lowest ground plane featuring a deeply integrated Open-Air Theatre (OAT) for performances and a Heritage Restaurant positioned adjacent to the historic baori (stepwell).

Documentation

Show PDF 1