Gurudwara Nirmal Kutiya

The contemporary take of this Gurdwara creates its presence internationally and is visited by a good number of pilgrims having ardent faith in Sikhism from across the globe. Anciently Sikhism, as a religion did not have any particular symbol of architecture in their spiritual structures like Gurdwara. For instance, where Guru Nanak Dev. Ji (The founder of Sikhism) was born, it was originally a residence and due to lack of knowledge and resources unluckily it couldn’t be restored and halls of Gurdwara came up with elements of architecture that were prevalent at that time mostly derived from Muslim and Persian architecture.

The land, upon which this Gurudwara is built was a graveyard anciently. The same came into notice as skeleton pieces were found while digging the foundation. Today, it plays a vital role in spiritual incarnation as the religious symbol resides here and a positive ambience is spread across. The firm did not charge a penny for designing this project as it was considered as a responsibility of giving back to the society. Also, the construction activity was supported by Volunteers of nearby areas, who wanted to contribute and add value to the beginning of a new abode of God. It is the vision of the Principal Architect that- after a centenary, when visitors shall pay homage to this sacred place. The contemporary nature of the building and palatial interior design will take them down to the memory lane of the 21st-century architecture of a Gurdwara.

Contemporary elements of the building include cantilever slabs, linear block with travertine look - Vitrified Wall tiles cladding, and a large glass for transparency at the exterior façade. A skeleton Dome marks the pinnacle of the Gurdwara and solely depicts its presence from a distance. There is a splendid fountain erected outside the main entrance directly aligned with the dome above.

A water source is prevalent on both the ends of the sanctuary to witness its reflection and create a sensory vibration for the visitors. One can see the refraction of a floating ‘Nishan Sahib’ (Sacred symbol at the top of a flagpole) with onyx light at the bottom. Further, the building cantilever playfully subtracts the flagpole to cross through it and can be related to the power of God. This flagpole truly depicts the contemporary element of Sikh Architecture being a symbol of triumph and unity.

On a more holistic note, there is a provision of a free kitchen as well. It plays a vital role in Sikhism. It is a common saying that “one can worship well, when one’s stomach is full”. For consuming Langar (food) everybody sits down on the same level which somehow also hints at the ideology that 'all humans are equal in front of the almighty'. Also, there are window openings created from three sides to invite everybody irrespective of caste, creed, and color.

The interior of the building is beautifully canvased with chandeliers, blind pointed arches at the rear wall, floral-patterned carpet floors, and shades of beige at the embellishments. There is also an opulent use of the diffused sunlight from the east direction that adds spiritual ambience with the interplay of light and shadow. The arches are lifted from the old Gurdwara structures to get a reminiscence of the antique while giving a new touch. In this hall, the arches also have storage, so that the speakers and other instruments can be stored behind them.

Site area: 6160 Sq. M (1.5 acres)

Built-up area of hall: 292 Sq. M

Covered area including projections: 439 Sq. M

Materials Used:
Rajasthan Black Granite, Acrylic Mosaic, Stainless steel (for Dome), Status Carpets (Locally produced), Glocera Vitrified Wall tiles, Onyx lighting, Locally manufactured Chandeliers, MDF Boards etc.

Location: Arjun Nagar, Jalandhar, Punjab

Principal Architect: Ar. Thakur Udayveer Singh

Specialist Design Team Member: Ritika Singh

Gurudwara Nirmal Kutiya by Thakur Udayveer Singh in India won the WA Award Cycle 34. Please find below the WA Award poster for this project.