Slice of Heritage and Temple Harmonics

pROJECT BRIEF

The client is a family of four residing in Prabhadevi, Mumbai, deeply immersed in Indian heritage and art. As a curator of Indian art pieces, the client seeks to infuse their residence with elements that celebrate India's rich cultural tapestry.

The primary objective of this project was to integrate traditional Indian art and heritage elements with modern design concepts to create a unique and culturally rich ambiance within the client's residence. Special focus was to be given to the design of the Temple Room Sanctum, which should serve as a serene sanctuary, incorporating elements of sacred architecture and traditional iconography to evoke a sense of divine connection and tranquility.

TIMELINE

September 2022 - Ongoing

tools

Autocad, Sketchup, Rhinoceros, Illustrator, Indesign, Photoshop, Enscape

My Contribution

Research, Empathy Building, Client and vendor co-ordiation, Ideation, Design and Technical Drawings from Pre-concept stage to GFC Drawings, Final Design

collaborators

Ishita Kohli , Utkarsh Verma & DIG Architects

Project Objectives:

Create a harmonious blend of traditional Indian aesthetics with contemporary design elements.

Showcase the client's extensive collection of Indian art pieces throughout the residence.

Design a dedicated temple room that exudes serenity and reverence, providing a tranquil space for prayer and reflection.

Ensure functionality and practicality in every aspect of the interior design to accommodate the family's daily activities and needs.

Enhance spatial flow and connectivity between different areas of the residence while maintaining privacy when required.

THE final idea

The Layout

The project consists of two bare shell sea-facing apartments connected with a bridge, totaling 6000 square feet, featuring large open spaces. As per the client's request, private spaces were situated at the ends of the main apartment and tucked away to the second apartment. What remained was a sizable living area where our goal was to uphold an air of luxury while avoiding compartmentalization. This layout was well received by the family of four.

The Sliced Partitions

The main apartment had a clear view of the sea and the Mumbai Sea Link. However, to create an element of intrigue upon entry, we opted to introduce a partition featuring a subtle cutout or 'slice', offering a tantalizing glimpse of the sea, aimed to pique curiosity in the user. Extending this concept further, we incorporated similar partitions throughout the space. These partitions served to delineate functional areas without imposing rigid boundaries, all while providing occasional glimpses of the mesmerizing Mumbai skyline.
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Given the client's role as a curator of Indian artworks, we meticulously curated spaces within the residence to showcase the art collection. Each piece was thoughtfully positioned to command attention. Notably, the partitions played a pivotal role in this display, serving as frames for the artwork. Additionally, we integrated the partitions with traditional Indian artwork, including the captivating Kerala mural paintings, further enriching the visual narrative of the space.

Materiality

The overarching theme of the house centered on Indian Heritage Fusion, seamlessly blending traditional Indian art forms and heritage elements with modern design concepts. To enhance the visual impact, we opted for a neutral light grey lime-based plaster for the shell, allowing other colors to stand out vividly. Earthy tones, including teak wood and brass and copper inlays, paid homage to traditional Indian homes and handicrafts, while black and white accents offered a contemporary touch. Vibrant colors associated with Indian art were primarily reserved for paintings and art pieces, serving as focal points throughout the residence.

The Temple

IDK WHAT TO TYPE HERE

The design of the temple room fuses science and spirituality enhancing spiritual experiences through multi-sensory engagement of visuals, audio and tactile. By incorporating cymatics —the study of how sound waves create visible patterns in different materials— it transcends conventional boundaries. Cymatics patterns generated by the sacred Om chant (revered for its peace-inducing qualities and divine connection) were used to create visible patterns that evoke a connection with the divine. These patterns were projected onto the room walls, inspiring peace and spiritual elevation.

MORE ON THIS PAGE :

Why cymatics

visualizing sounds

Important sounds in Hinduism

Generating patterns with the OM sound

Ideation

Renders

why cymatics

USER BACKGROUND

Srikanth Venkatachari

55 years
BUSINESSMAN

Srikranth is an Indian Tamilian Brahmin who deeply follows the Hindu-Vaishnavite tradition, worshipping Lord Vishnu and his avatars. Alongside his devotion, Srikranth is open-minded and sees the temple room as more than just a place of worship, but also as a spot for meditation. He pictures a simple yet uniquely designed space that captures the essence of a temple, while also offering a peaceful retreat for the mind.

ENHANCING SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES

Visual, Auditory and Tactile sense can be enhanced using architectural interventions to forge a deeper connection in order to enhance the experience and foster a more profound interaction.

can we visualize sound?

CASE STUDY #1

The Sounds of Earth by Hufft Architects

The project draws inspiration from the 1977 Golden Records of Voyager 1 and 2, capturing Earth's diversity through sounds and images. Led by a collective of architects, artists, and designers, it aimed to create meaningful spaces and objects reflecting the essence of cultures worldwide. A section of the Golden Records was transformed into an art installation for the new Reverb property in Kansas City, sculpting 21 tracks into soundwave sculptures. These waves, representing different types of sounds, varying in length and movement were carved through CNC-routing on reclaimed wood.

CASE STUDY #2

Shaped by Water by Google and artist Lachlan Turczan

This exhibition was an immersive multisensory installation that enabled observers to see and physically feel vibrations. It featured metal vessels containing shallow pools of water. As visitors moved around the bowls, sweeping tones vibrated each basin at different frequencies, creating unique wave patterns. The basins were designed to interact with human presence, resulting in more intense wave choreography near spectators.
Cymatics, the phenomenon behind this, works with vibrations to generate real-time wave patterns. This allows users to visualize sound and, in this case, use sound as a sculptural tool to shape water, thereby introducing a full-body sensory experience.

Important sounds in Hinduism

The sacred sound 'Om' (ॐ) holds profound significance in Hinduism, symbolizing the primal sound of the universe and embodying the essence of ultimate reality. It is deeply rooted in Hindu philosophy and spirituality, representing the state of transcendence or pure consciousness beyond the manifested universe.

'Om' is extensively used in meditation, chanting, and prayers to connect with the divine and achieve spiritual enlightenment. Believed to align the practitioner's consciousness with cosmic consciousness, Om also holds a special connection with Lord Vishnu (the client's primary deity), representing the cosmic energy that sustains all existence, aligning with Vishnu's role as the preserver and sustainer of the universe.

Generating patterns with the OM sound

As the next step, we delved into visualizing the cymatic patterns generated by this sacred sound. The intention was to incorporate these patterns into elements of the temple room. Using Rhino and Grasshopper software, we generated over 100 patterns based on the different frequencies of OM.

IDEATION

INSPIRATION FROM THE GARBHAGRIHA OF INDIAN TEMPLES

Taking inspiration from Indian temples, specific design moves were implemented to recreate the ambiance of the Garbhagriha (Sanctum Sanctorum), the innermost sanctuary of Hindu temples.

INCORPORATING THE OM CYMATIC PATTERN INTO THE DESIGN
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Engulfing the user in Cosmic Sounds

Once the basic layout of the room was finalized, we began exploring how to incorporate the cymatic pattern into the design. We started by 'unrolling' the existing walls and projecting the 'rippling' sound vibration patterns onto them. This approach aimed to create an immersive environment where users are 'engulfed' in the sounds of the universe.

Exploring Materiality

To achieve the rippling vibration effect, we explored the use of Corian as a material, drawing inspiration from the works of Mario Romano. Our aim is to employ Corian in a unique manner, crafting intricate patterns on walls through a subtractive process. By leveraging the translucent nature of Corian and illuminating it from behind, these patterns come to life, creating a captivating visual effect. Furthermore, the ripples introduce a tactile element to the project, enhancing the spatial interaction experience.

Click here to view Mario Romano's work

OPTION #01

Lord Vishnu, the client's principal deity, is revered for incarnating in various forms, known as avatars, to restore cosmic order and uphold righteousness. Among these avatars are the ten renowned incarnations, known as the Dashavatara. To honor this belief, we chose to depict these ten avatars as wall panels in the temple room. The ten most distinctive cymatic patterns were carefully selected for this purpose.

OPTION #02

To enhance the sensation of being enveloped by cosmic sound and to move closer to enlightenment, we revised the plan. The edges were 'filleted' (curved) to achieve this effect, and an amalgamated version of the OM cymatic frequencies was projected onto the walls.

OPTION #03

The design incorporates Tanjore Paintings as a focal point, dividing the walls into tiles with the paintings positioned centrally. The till size decreases and fades away towards the edges. Additionally, some of these tiles are milled to showcase various OM patterns.

OPTION #04

To emphasize the Tanjore Paintings and Cymatic patterns, a central horizontal band was introduced. Within this band, the tiles containing the patterns and Tanjore Paintings were confined, drawing greater focus to these elements.

final Idea and renders

During the ideation phase, Option #02 was favored by the client. Building upon this concept, the client requested a deeper connection with Lord Vishnu in the design. Consequently, symbols associated with Lord Vishnu, such as the ‘Vishnu tilak’, the ‘Panchajanya’ and the ‘Sudarshana Chakra’, were projected and backlit creating an ethereal experience. Additionally, the client's Tanjore Paintings were incorporated into niches on the side walls, ensuring that the primary focus area of the temple remained Lord Vishnu and the OM cymatic patterns.
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Vishnu tilak : Spiritual/Religious mark worn by devotees on their forehead depicting their affiliation with Lord Vishnu
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Panchajanya : The conch shell, held by Lord Vishnu, symbolizes strength, authority, and sovereignty. Its sound is believed to dispel evil and herald the presence of the divine.
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Sudarshana Chakra : It is believed that Lord Shiva gave Lord Vishnu the discus-like weapon known as the ‘Sudarshana Chakra’. It represents strength, knowledge, and the eradication of evil.
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all project renders