Book case study-1

Shri Ram Centre of Performing Arts, Delhi

 Introduction:
Shriram Bhartiya Kala Kendra (SBKK) is an Indian cultural institution which runs
a noted school for music, dance and performing arts in New Delhi. It was founded

1.2 shri ram centre of performing arts

 by Sumitra Charat Ram in 1952, and imparts training in Indian classical dance styles
and music, including Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Chhau, Hindustani Classical
music, both Vocal and Instrumental. It associated organisation is the Shriram Centre
for Performing Arts at Safdar Hasmi Marg, in the Mandi House area, the cultural
hub of Delhi, the centre includes a theatre for the performing arts, a theatre repertory
company and an acting.
Often referred as Bhartiya Kala Kendra, the Kala Kendra hold an important place in
history performing arts education in India. Its current director is Shobha Deepak
Singh, daughter of its founder, Sumitra Charat Ram. Today, it is best known for its
annual Ramlila, the enactment of the life of Rama which takes place during the 10-
day Dussehra festival. First begun at the centre in 1957, the Ramlila has, over the
years, used different choreographers and style to include both folk and Indian
classical dance to produce fresh choreographies.
Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts (SRCPA) is run by the Indian National
Theatre Trust established in 1958 the promotion of Art and Culture, with people like
Sheila Bharat Ram, Kamla Devi Chattopadhyay, Nandita Kriplani and Aditya
Srivastava associated with it. The Centre runs a certified Two-Year Acting Course.
The SRCPA Theatre Repertory Company started in 1980 and Puppet Theatre
company, which over the years saw the rise of modern puppetry under puppeteer Dadi
Padamjee.
 Architect:
Shri Ram Centre of performing arts is designed by Shiv Nath Prasad with help from
theatre doyen, Ebrahim Alkazi.

 Location:
4, Safdar Hashmi Marg, Todarmal Road Area, Mandi House, New Delhi, Delhi
110001

1.2 location
plan of shri ram center of performing arts
 Accessibility and approach – 16km, Delhi international airport.
6.4km new Delhi railway station
220m. mandi house metro station
600m mandi house bus stop

 Site area:0.25 hectares 2500 square m.

Key plan of sri ram art center

The site is located in the highly dense colony where the movement of traffic
is major.
 Ground coverage: 33% (825 square meter)

 Building dimensions: Height -18m

Diameter of cylinder – 21m.
30 x 30m is the size of rectangular box.

 About the Building:

1. It can be regarded as an example of work resulting from the second phase of le
Corbusier’s influence.

2. This building expresses, through architectural form. The variety of functions

the building is to house. For instance, the theatre is in cylindrical form and the
rehearsal spaces are in the form of rectangular mass.

3. The building is unique in its architecture: its base is shaped like a cylindrical
on top of which sits a horizontal rectangle.

4. The ground floor and first floor are within the cylindrical half of the building.
Its auditorium on first floor – the Shankar Lal Murlidhar auditorium – is
designed for theatre music performances.

Shankar Lal
Murlidhar
auditorium

5. The auditorium, which boasts of a proscenium stage, has a seating capacity of

about 556 people at two levels. The main hall seats around 403 and the
balcony seats around 153 people.
6. There are two cylindrical blocks (canteen and some offices) placed on the left
side rising up to a lower hat than auditorium.

7. The celebrated concrete box is oddly appropriate for the site, a triangular slice
of land abutting the Mandi House Chowk. As if presenting an oversized
concrete-wrapped gift box to the circle, and the thousands of cars, auto-
rickshaws, bicycles and pedestrians which navigate its busy stream every day.
Green rooms are in a separate block placed to the backside of the main
building connected to stage via staircase.

8. Rather than copying design patterns of master’s work Prasad might have
followed the design process which resulted to the obtained form. In a true
rationalist manner Prasad explored the use of pure geometric forms cylinder
and cuboid to create a piece of sculpture.

9. In the Tibet House Museum building Shivnath Prasad developed his own
vocabulary for presentation of Corbusier's Modern style by designing a simple
elevated cube with two sides as dead walls and front and rear side as openings
inviting daylight to serve the purpose of a museum.

Plan of the Shankar Lal Murlidhar auditorium

10. These openings were protected by balcony projections and vertical fins. A
curvilinear block to the left housing an office at an intermediate level.

11. A similar block on the backside of the building but purely rectangular in shape
serves as an asymmetrical counter form to the curvy block.
 12. The lower structure of ground and first floor houses reception space and a
lounge, a private office in the curvilinear block at an intermediated level while
servants’ room and office on respective lower and upper level of backside
rectangular block.

13. While elevated cube houses three floors, first for conference halls and
galleries, second for museum and third for library. There was a concept of
different forms differing in expressing different functions.

Reference:
1. http://ontheroad.danielmarkiewicz.com/2012/03/04/58delhisri-ram-arts-centre/
2. https://www.slideshare.net/chanderprakashsuthar/shri-ram-centre-of-performing-arts-
delhi