Sanskar Kendra

{{Infobox museum

| name = Sanskar Kendra

| native_name = કર્ણાવતી : અતીતની ઝાંખી

| native_name_lang = gu

| image = Sanskar Kendra Museum.JPG

| imagesize =

| caption = Sanskar Kendra City Museum

| alt = Sanskar Kendra

| map_type = India Ahmedabad#India Gujarat#India

| map_caption = Location of Sanskar Kendra in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

| map_alt =

| map_size =

| coordinates = {{Coord|23|00|47|N|72|34|10|E|type:landmark_region:IN|format=dms|display=title,inline}}

| established = {{Start date|df=yes|1954|04|9}}

| dissolved =

| location = Opp. Tagore Hall, near NID, Sardar bridge corner, Paldi, Ahmedabad

| type = Local museum, history museum, art Museum, kite museum

| collection =

| visitors =

| director =

| president =

| curator =

| owner = Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation

| publictransit =

| car_park =

| network =

| website =

}}

File:Chabutaro at Sanskar Kendra.jpg, India. It is 120 years old and was originally in Kshetrapal ni Pol.]]

Sanskar Kendra is a museum at Ahmedabad, India, designed by the architect Le Corbusier. It is a city museum depicting history, art, culture and architecture of Ahmedabad. Another Patang Kite Museum is there which includes a collection of kites, photographs, and other artifacts.{{cite book | title=India 13 | publisher=Lonely Planet | author=Singh, Sarina | year=2009 | pages=732 | isbn= 9781741791518 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vK88ktao7pIC&q=sanskar+kendra+history&pg=PA732}} The campus is located at the west end of Sardar Bridge near Paldi.{{cite book | title=India Guide Gujarat | publisher=India Guide Publications | author=Desai, Anjali H. | year=2007 | pages=97 | isbn= 9780978951702 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZRLGZNZEoEC&q=sanskar+kendra+history&pg=PA97}}

History

The museum was designed in the Modernist style by the Swiss-French architect Le Corbusier.

It was named Museum of Knowledge during designing. It was originally a part of a large complex of Cultural Centre of Ahmedabad which had separate pavilions and areas for different subjects like anthropology, natural history, archaeology, monumental sculptures, workshops and depots, folklores in open air. It also included a pavilion for theatre called miracle box. But out of whole planned cultural centre, only museum was built. Its foundation stone was laid on 9 April 1954.{{cite book | title=Le Corbusier: Béton Brut and Ineffable Space, 1940-1965 : Surface Materials and Psychophysiology of Vision | publisher=EPFL Press|authorlink1=Roberto Gargiani| author=Gargiani, Roberto | year=2011 | pages=379–384 | isbn= 9780415681711 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bqwHOVYYVl0C&q=sanskar+kendra+history&pg=PA379 | author2=Rosellini, Anna | author3=Le Corbusier}}

The museum was closed in March 2020 following the COVID-19 pandemic. It was kept closed for renovation since.{{cite web | url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/sanskar-kendra-to-become-world-heritage-museum-8847527/ | title=Sanskar Kendra to become world heritage museum | date=19 July 2023 }}

Modernist architecture

File:Ellisbridge Plaque Block.JPG

It rests on his signature pilotis, that are {{convert|3.4|m|ft}} high there. The building's exterior is of plain brick with exposed elements of raw concrete (Béton brut) structure. The structural grid is {{convert|7|m|ft}}.{{cite book | title=Concise History of Modern Indian Architecture |publisher=Orient Blackswan | author=Lang, Jon T. | year=2002 | pages=65–66 | isbn= 9788178240176 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gxyGbhlKQXQC&q=sanskar+kendra+history&pg=PA65}}

The building is designed to protect against the hot climate. On the roof there are several large basins originally intended as planters.

One enters from underneath the building where there is an open court with a large pool and a ramp that leads to the exhibition spaces. The interior spaces are finished in plaster.

The museum is similar to other museum projects by Le Corbusier, such as the "Museum of unlimited extension" project, the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, and the Government Museum and Art Gallery in Chandigarh, in that the plan is based on a spiral and is designed to be expanded.

Collections

File:Kite Museum Ahmedabad.JPG

Museum have various sections related to history of city, art, photography, Mahatma Gandhi, Indian independence struggle, various religious communities of Ahmedabad.

It houses the tallest incense stick of the world of 4.5 m.

The building includes a Kite Museum, which includes a collection of kites, photographs, and other artifacts.

Foundation block of Ellis Bridge was moved to Sanskar Kendra. It reads:

:"The Ellis Bridge - So named by Government after Sir Barrow Helbert Ellis : K.G.S.I. was built in 1869 and 1870. At a cost of Rs:549,210 destroyed by the great flood of 22nd September 1875 and rebuilt in 1890 and 1895 by Government, Local Bodies and Private Subscribers. At a further cost of Rs. 407564. This the First Stone of the new bridge was laid by His Excellency Donald James eleventh Lord Reay C.C.I.E.LL.D. Governor of Bombay December 19th, 1889."

Photo gallery

Image:Inside of Sanskar Kendra.JPG|Museum on pilotis, and item displayed.

Image:Chabutra in sanskar kendra.JPG|Chabutra and brick walls.

Image:A statue in sanskar kendra.JPG|Fountain; was originally at Fuwara, Kalupur.

Image:FIRE KING.jpg| Ahmedabad Fire brigade 1907

Image:Queen victoria statue in sanskar kendra.JPG|Queen Victoria statue

Image:Info (sanskar kendra).JPG|Re-inauguration Plaque

Sanskar Kendra

History

Modernist architecture

Collections

Photo gallery

See also

References

Further reading