Beneath, Beyond and Unbound

Beneath, Beyond and Unbound is a visionary reinterpretation of Bharat Bhavan, conceived as a contemporary work of cultural architecture rooted in inclusivity, fluid spatial experience, and community engagement. Set in Fort Kochi, Kerala, the project responds to the city’s cultural vibrancy, climatic conditions, and evolving public life by proposing an urban third space—a place that exists beyond home and work, where people gather simply for the joy of being together.

Drawing from sociologist Ray Oldenburg’s concept of the third space, the project positions architecture not as an elite or monumental object, but as an accessible and welcoming civic landscape. The proposal transforms Bharat Bhavan into a non-elitist cultural hub where art, movement, landscape, and social interaction merge seamlessly.

Context: Bharat Bhavan and Cultural Legacy

Bharat Bhavan has historically represented India’s commitment to fostering art, literature, and performance within a civic framework. Traditionally conceived as a multi-arts complex, it has housed galleries, theatres, workshops, libraries, and spaces for folk and classical cultural expression. Beneath, Beyond and Unbound builds upon this legacy while critically reimagining how cultural architecture can evolve in response to contemporary urban and social needs.

Situated in Kochi—a city globally recognized for the Kochi-Muziris Biennale—the project aligns itself with an urban context that already celebrates art as a public and participatory phenomenon. Rather than functioning as a closed institution, the proposed Bharat Bhavan becomes an urban insert, integrating itself into the city’s everyday rhythms and reinforcing Kochi’s identity as a cultural capital.

Design Intent: Architecture as a Third Space

At its core, the project seeks to create a home away from home—a space that is safe, inclusive, and emotionally resonant. The architecture deliberately avoids hierarchy and rigid zoning. Instead, it adopts a fluid spatial language where galleries, gathering spaces, and landscapes interweave organically.

The design challenges conventional gallery typologies by dissolving hard boundaries between inside and outside, built and unbuilt, movement and pause. Visitors are not directed through a linear sequence but are encouraged to explore, linger, and interact freely. This openness reinforces the idea that art is not confined to curated rooms but is embedded within lived experience.

Spatial Organization and Experience

The project is organized across multiple levels, each responding to different modes of engagement:

• Fluidic Gallery Spaces: These form the heart of the project, offering experiential galleries that flow with the site’s contours. The galleries transition from open, naturally ventilated spaces to more enclosed environments, accommodating diverse forms of art and exhibition.
• Funnicle Gathering Spaces: Sculptural gathering zones act as social condensers, encouraging informal interaction, performances, and collective pause. These spaces are designed to frame views, modulate light, and enhance sensory experience.
• Open Air Theatre (OAT): Positioned as a communal focal point, the OAT strengthens the project’s role as a cultural and performative landscape rather than a static building.
• Landscape Integration: Landscape is treated not as a leftover space but as an active architectural layer. Green pockets, pathways, and shaded courtyards blur the distinction between gallery and garden, enhancing comfort in Kochi’s warm and humid climate.

Materiality and Climate Response

The material palette draws from local materials and textures, reinforcing contextual relevance and sustainability. Brick, textured plaster, and earth-toned surfaces provide thermal mass while visually grounding the project in its regional setting.

Architectural punctures, courtyards, and controlled openings allow natural light and ventilation to shape interior atmospheres. The underground and partially sunken galleries benefit from thermal stability, while open galleries and circulation paths promote airflow—ensuring comfort without excessive mechanical dependence.

Inclusivity and Democratic Design

A defining ambition of Beneath, Beyond and Unbound is its commitment to inclusivity in art and architecture. The project rejects the notion of cultural spaces as elite or intimidating. Instead, it prioritizes accessibility, affordability, and openness—welcoming people from all social and economic backgrounds.

By dissolving formal thresholds and encouraging informal use, the architecture fosters a sense of belonging. Visitors are free to engage with art, landscape, or each other without obligation or hierarchy, reinforcing the idea that culture thrives when it is shared.

Beneath, Beyond and Unbound redefines cultural architecture as a living, breathing civic framework—one that is fluid rather than fixed, inclusive rather than exclusive, and experiential rather than monumental. As a Runner-Up entry for Bharat Bhavan 2020, the project stands as a thoughtful response to how cultural institutions can evolve in the 21st century.

By positioning Bharat Bhavan as a third space deeply embedded within the urban and social fabric of Kochi, the project offers a compelling vision of architecture that is not only built for people, but built with them in mind.

Project Credits

Project Title: Beneath, Beyond and Unbound

Location: Fort Kochi, Kerala, India

Architect: Chandana Rao

Competition: Bharat Bhavan 2020

Recognition: Runner-Up Entry