The Black Taj

An incomplete memory of the Mughal Empire

Agra, India

Brief2 Grants Schedule Awards & Fees Jurors Partners Discussion Entries (46)Leaderboard Rules & Guidelines

Winner

1 Entry

pranav and UNI

The Black Taj - Presence in Absence - GPPB50

The intervention attempts to celebrate Taj Mahal as an epitome of an architectural poetry and physical manifestation of a soulful proposition of the mighty builder Shah Jahan. The obsessive insistence in refining the space that is bold yet calm, as a force that is able to penetrate and reveal the mystery of the human condition.

Runner-up

3 Entries

Christina and 4 others

Time Capsule

If Tajmahal represents the past then the complementary mass contained between the 4 minarets represent the present, which is the form of the proposed pavilion "Time Capsule". Both the Taj Mahal & the complementary mass forming a solid box representing history & Time. The outer shell a pixilated box made of glass as if it's sending a future image of Tajmahal.

Pratik and 4 others

The Black Taj - The exemplar of Mughal architecture - GACB87

By responding to the Taj, we intend to enhance the beauty of it. This metaphoric approach is envisaged to make people think repeatedly, eventually unfolding different layers of history each time; which will give this built space its timeless quality.

Gregor and 3 others

The Black Taj - XBST88

The Taj Mahal rises above the banks of the river like a solitary tear suspended on the cheek of time. - Rabindranath Thakur Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness. - Frank Gehry

Honorable Mention

12 Entries

Kirti and UNI

THE BLACK TAJ - UNBLACK - WQBX50

The city of Agra, rooted with our country's rich heritage, witnessed the rise and fall of an empire. This 100's of year old heritage is at the verge of its deterioration. So our proposal adds on to skyline of the city making TAJ even more prominent. A TRANSPARENT SPHERE IS PROPOSED TO KEEP THE IMAGE OF TAJ INTACT.

Marta and 3 others

The Black Taj - The Broken Tomb - PUVM49

A shatter residing the tomb of Shahjahan. The concept of Black Taj is interpreted as a memory of pain and agony which creates a cracked void. This void is a window to Mumtaz's life, and watches over her for eternity.

Hooman and 2 others

The Black Taj - The Black Bagh - KJVN21

The Black Taj; is constructed with no ordinary material. Stories from lovers, imaginations of enthusiasts, words of the people which is reflected into the Yamuna brings the Black Taj into existence. An existence which has a poetic essence to itself. An essence which is shared with the Taj Mahal.

Nabila and 3 others

THE BLACK TAJ - MEMNTO FOR SHAH JAHAN - DIFI54

Our design orchestrates a memento for Shah Jahan 'Builder of Marvels' where the most timeless material 'Light' has been used to create different abstractions & ambience of "Black Taj" (through shade, Total internal reflections on all sides of the cube by the materiality of glass) at the core of an optically corrected glass cube...

Simona and 2 others

The Black Taj - The Unbuilt Legend

Black Taj Mahal was built on a legend, about love passion and spirituality. The idea was to preserve beauty of the legend existing in the imagination of passers. To give people a hint instead of pure picture. To provoke their imagination. To give them the unique experience through the forest of curtains that serves as a filter on the perfect image of Taj.

Charlotte and UNI

The Black Taj - The Architecture of Bathing

With public bathing gaining momentum again in Western society, this program could be adapted to create a celebration of Mughal history, a place to relax and view the Taj Mahal, and a symbiotic site that both locals and tourists can benefit from.

K and 4 others

The Black Taj - Framing Echoes

A pavilion that opens new doors to experience the Taj without the presence of any. To resurrect the gardens of the past while reconnecting it to the soul of Agra, i.e. Taj Mahal. A notion that Shah Jahan might have built this in his imagination. A spatial drama of love enacted on opposite ends of the gorge the river creates.

Yusuke and 4 others

The Black Taj - DRKD47

Interpreting beyond love toward his wife, Shah Jahan protects the region of Agra in a multidimensional matter in time, scale, and systems. Our design is "embracement", a story extending the legend of Shah Jahan beyond love toward his wife, toward the people, and the surrounding environment.

Jon and 2 others

The Black Taj - The Ghost Taj - VTKI53

The idea is to create a "twin" platform to that of the Taj Mahal but empty, lacking monumental constructions, in which the virtual image of the Black Taj would be projected using 3D holographic projection technology. In this way a monument is built that is real & virtual, physical & ethereal, classic & radically contemporary.

Vipul and 2 others

THE BLACK TAJ - PGHF33

The Taj Mahal is the most celebrated monument in India. Its grandeur is unparalleled and unquestionable. Our project is a temporary installation which would channelize the authority of The Taj to draw people's attention to the plight of the not so celebrated monuments, and through its ephemeralness the installation would sensitize the citizens...

ATTO and UNI

THE BLACK TAJ - FUNM44

Our narrative and design process begins with the Mughal Garden. It follows the evolution and influence of the Garden on Mughal art, architecture and city design and takes cognizance of today's realty which is completely misaligned with this narrative. In their gardens the Mughals combined their love of Art with the landscape.

Yat and UNI

MAKING A NEW RUIN

Taking the form of a ruin, the design is an architectural assemblage; it draws attention to the absence of the Taj, it evokes a sense of incompletion. Like a great photograph that arouses speculation of what happened before and after the moment it was taken, it is to be completed only by the imaginations of its visitors.

Shortlisted

30 Entries

Hrishikesh and UNI

The Black Taj - IIRE87

The project aims at developing the site by maintaining the layers of the old culture and developing the structure to cater the functional needs by incorporating the elements which will be gone in the transition if not documented and maintained.

Nur Atika Zainal and 4 others

The Black Taj - Unearthing Legacy - AXZR71

The project is to look at the Black Taj as a reversed representation of Shah Jahans tomb. Tombs are generally focused on the person it holds but overall it is a representation of the person?s legacy. It is a symbol that brings forward a person?s contribution - lifeworks - architectural development and cultural values of city at the time.

Indrajeet and 2 others

The Black Taj - A Story in Black and White - YUHP25

Among the many empires the Mughals left a mark like no other in our country's history. From the desolate mountains to the lush jungles, their grandeur remains. The project seeks to recreate the triumphs and losses of a family born without a complete kingdom but to die as one of the largest empires in history, experience the rich history , a story in B&W.

Udit and 4 others

The Black Taj - Aux-Shia Bagh, The garden of Paradise - XJNN90

The proposal keeps intact the original idea of observing Black Taj as a reflection of Taj Mahal on Black reflective surfaces. With geometry and symmetry at core, the design celebrates and creates a 'Mughal Garden from paradise' as a final resting space for Shah-Jahan.