aatma manthan museum unfolds as series of cavernous rooms in rajasthan

inside the cavernous aatma manthan museum in rajasthan

Within the base of the 82-meter high statue of belief in Nathdwara, Rajasthan, India, the Aatma Manthan Museum emerges as a 1,672 square-meter complex, embracing a holistic combination of the soul (aatma), mind (mana), and body (tann) to evoke self-analysis. Designed by local practice Sanjay Puri Architects, the newly-opened museum is divided into a series of immersive rooms, each offering a different experience through the depiction of natural elements and sweeping shapes, especially with the use of concrete.

all images © Vinay Panjwani

Sanjay Puri Architects creates a sequential flow of volumes

The Aatma Manthan Museum by Sanjay Puri Architects is entered through a large foyer, purposely designed by the studio as a fluid volume. The walls, ceiling, structural columns, reception desk, and seating benches are homogeneously finished with a thin layer of foam concrete that fluidly encapsulates all of these elements while simultaneously absorbing sound. This sculptural volume, enveloped in a concrete grey, calms visitors, transporting them to a tranquil state before entering the 18 sequential zones that have been created.

creating cavernous volumes using a thin layer of concrete

Visitors are led from this cavernous entrance to a narrow undulating corridor with images portraying the making of the museum. Next, each room is entered one by one, with different themes conveyed through audiovisuals and immersive experiences. The design of this museum overcomes the challenge of working with a floor plan that is irregular in shape, with multiple structural elements, creating a sequential flow of volumes and circulation paths with a neutral palette throughout to enhance the audio-visual and immersive experiences within the Aatma Manthan Museum.

reception area of the Aatma Manthan Museum

exhibition view

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project info:

name: Aatma Manthan Museum
location: Nathdwara, Rajasthan.
client: Tatpadam Upvan
location: 120 Feet Rd, Nathdwara, Rajasthan 313301, India

architecture and interiors: Sanjay Puri Architects | @sanjay_puri_architects
lead architect: Sanjay Puri
design team: Madhavi Belsare, Payal Raut, Subodh Amin
MEP consultants: Resonance Mep consultants
lighting consultant: Ashish Thakkar
AV consultant: Mr. Avijit Samajdar, Axis Three Dee Studios Pvt.
acoustic consultant: Sonosphere Acoustic design consulting
photographer: Vinay Panjwani | @panjwani.vinay
flooring and paint: Flexstone