Billion Impressions Sculptural installation serves as a Gateway
Billion Impressions by designers Namdev Talluru and Jaya Nila is an art installation and public space renewal project. Selected as the winning entry in TATA Steel’s international design competition, the structure is located within Birsa Munda Jail Park in Ranchi, India. The project reconfigures an underutilized lawn into a sculptural landmark, encouraging visitor interaction and engagement with the space.
The design integrates architectural principles with a conceptual narrative, using the thumbprint as a central motif to symbolize individual identity and collective presence. Functioning as a gateway to the park, the installation introduces a constricted pathway that guides movement and fosters interaction. The vertical steel structure creates a focal point while maintaining transparency, allowing it to blend with the natural surroundings. The sculpture’s primary framework consists of circular steel sections, arranged radially to represent fingerprint ridges. This configuration establishes a balanced figure-ground relationship, creating a lightweight visual effect despite its structural mass of 16 tonnes. The installation measures 8.35 meters in width, 6.3 meters in length, and 12.5 meters in height. Its minimal footprint reduces ground excavation, while the interplay of light and shadow extends its spatial presence.
all images courtesy of Namdev Talluru, Jaya Nila
steel installation reflects India’s social and cultural landscape
Fabrication involved the transformation of architectural designs into detailed 3D structural models, followed by multiple rounds of analysis to ensure stability and feasibility. Prefabrication of TATA Structura YST355 steel sections was conducted in Kharagpur to optimize accuracy and minimize on-site challenges. Designer Namdev Talluru and architect Jaya Nila divided the sculpture into four segments for efficient transportation and assembly, preserving its geometric integrity. The foundation comprises two curved pedestals, anchor-bolted to the structure for stability. On-site installation required cranes and scaffolding to position and weld the segments, with logistics planned to minimize environmental impact and transportation costs.
Designed to reflect India’s diverse social and cultural landscape, the installation incorporates two overlapping impressions, symbolizing the connection between past and future. The project serves as both a sculptural landmark and an interactive public space, emphasizing inclusivity and collective identity within an urban setting.
Billion Impressions transforms an underutilized lawn into a sculptural landmark
the installation functions as a gateway, guiding movement through the park
white paint coats the steel ringed structure
the sculptural landmark encourages visitor interaction and engagement with the space
the thumbprint motif symbolizes individual identity and collective presence
the structure blends transparency with monumentality in its vertical design
radial steel sections form fingerprint ridges, creating a lightweight visual effect
light and shadow extend the installation’s presence beyond its physical form
the installation shapes two touching fingertips as the park’s entryway
Billion Impressions serves as both a sculptural landmark and an interactive space
the installation reflects India’s diverse cultural and social landscape
the project integrates architectural principles with a conceptual narrative
circular steel elements create a balanced figure-ground relationship
project info:
name: Billion Impressions
architects: Namdev Talluru | @namdev.d.talluru – Jaya Nila | @architect_jaya
location: Munda Jail Park, Ranchi, India
designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
