Header: Vinay Panjwani
Deep in Rajasthan, India, at the base of the enormous 270-foot-tall Statue of Belief, a new kind of space invites visitors to look inward. This is the Aatma Manthan Museum, an 18,000-square-foot area designed by Sanjay Puri Architects. The museum’s goal is to create a place for self-reflection by focusing on the connection between the soul (aatma), the mind (mana), and the body (tann).
A sculptural welcome in concrete
Walking into the Aatma Manthan Museum is an experience in itself. The entrance is a large, cavernous foyer where nearly every surface is coated in a layer of grey foam concrete. The walls, ceiling, structural columns, and even the reception desk and seating benches are all covered in this single material. This approach gives the room a fluid, sculpted look, as if it were carved from a single block of stone. The concrete also serves a practical purpose by absorbing sound, creating a quiet, calm atmosphere that prepares visitors for the journey ahead.
Navigating a path of discovery
The design team had to work within a difficult, irregularly shaped floor plan dotted with numerous structural supports. Instead of trying to hide these elements, the architects created a deliberate, flowing path that guides people through the space. After the main foyer, visitors move through a narrow, undulating corridor that displays images of the museum’s construction. From there, they enter a sequence of 18 different zones, each offering a unique immersive experience through sound and visuals. By keeping the color palette neutral throughout the museum, the architectural elements recede, allowing the audiovisual displays in each room to be the main focus.
Space that shapes experience
The work by Sanjay Puri Architects shows how architecture can turn a tricky, awkward floor plan into something special. By creating a clear path and using simple materials, they’ve made a space that prepares you for introspection. It’s no surprise the project has already picked up honors, like the Interior Design of the Year prize at the BLT Built Design Awards. The Aatma Manthan Museum is a powerful example of how a building’s interior can guide not just how you walk through a room, but how you feel inside it.
Project info
Design Company: Sanjay Puri Architects
Lead Designer: Sanjay Puri
Design Team: Madhavi Belsare, Payal Raut, Subodh Amin
Architecture Firm: Sanjay Puri Architects
Interior Designer: Sanjay Puri Architects
Photo Credit: Vinay Panjwani
Project Location: Nathdwara, Rajasthan
Client: Tatpadam Upvan
Project Date: August 2024
