Re-Adaptation and Reuse of the Central Jail
Seshadri Road , Bangalore
Seshadri Road , Bangalore
Role: Junior Architect
In 2003, the BBMP and the Bangalore Agenda Task Force invited the architects fraternity to participate in a competition to SET THE CENTRAL JAIL FREE. Since the jail was shifted outside the city, the existing premises were to be reused as a public space. The jail, which one and all fear to go would form a platform wherein everybody could gather. A central contemplative zone comprising of water as its element formed the core idea to draw people inside and make them think about freedom in life. The passage towards this space is through a series of zones namely the magnate zone, the tropical buffer, the cultural zone and finally the contemplative zone.
Site area: Nearly 21 acres
Competition floated in the year : 2003
In 2003, the BBMP and the Bangalore Agenda Task Force invited the architects fraternity to participate in a competition to SET THE CENTRAL JAIL FREE. Since the jail was shifted outside the city, the existing premises were to be reused as a public space. The jail, which one and all fear to go would form a platform wherein everybody could gather. A central contemplative zone comprising of water as its element formed the core idea to draw people inside and make them think about freedom in life. The passage towards this space is through a series of zones namely the magnate zone, the tropical buffer, the cultural zone and finally the contemplative zone.
DESIGN GENESIS AND LAYERING
THE 4 TRANSITORY ZONES:
1. MAGNATE ZONE
2. TROPICAL BUFFER
3. CULTURE ZONE
4. CONTEMPLATIVE ZONE
KEY ELEMENTS ( IN REFERENCE WITH PLAN ABOVE):
1.THE WALL: Existing peripheral wall breaks free forming activity areas for public participation
2. THE KUND : A step well along the central axis as a pause point
3. THE AXIS: The strong axis leading to the watch tower is maintained to experience the old regime of the jail
4. THE BARRACKS: Some of these are renovated to be used as pavilions for art, music and exhibition
5. THE WATER BODY: The surface water is collected to form this pond where people old and young alike sit in contemplation.
