Adaptive Reuse of Salt Golah, Howrah into an Art and Craft Centre for Bengal Crafts

TOPIC-
Revitalisation of traditional arts and crafts of Bengal using Adaptive Reuse strategies in buildings
(Designed for undergraduate thesis)

AIM
Aim of this project is to setup a permanent marketing infrastructure (for local weavers, artisans and craftsmen, who are spread across smaller districts of West Bengal) in big towns and metropolitan cities in order to eliminate middle agencies.
Such centre can provide direct marketing facilities to the craft persons and weavers.
Hence this space is to be created in urban context which will bring in the vernacular artists; help in engaging them to interact and share their skills and ideas with art students and enthusiasts and provide a larger commercial platform for the artisans. The centre will be an information and pleasure centre for both locals and tourist.

SITE
The site comprises of 58 buildings that make up the place. With 206 compartments and a combined storage capacity of 1,59,000 tonnes.
Due to the steep decline to generate revenues, the British government initiated an agency system. The agency advanced money to salt workers at different stages of production, bought their input and sold the product at establishments called GOLAH

Users- Artisans, staff members, local visitors, tourists

Activity-Work spaces for artisans, training center for artisans, demonstration of craft, sale of crafts, accommodation for artisans and staff, accommodation for visitors ,Administration

DESIGN
The entire design process has been guided by the existing layout of the site structures .
Aim was to utilise the site to its full potential by reusing the structures and creating a an engaging recreational space along with the craft activities and develop it into a public space .

The site has been redeveloped by giving it a new identity by reusing the existing abandoned salt godowns for different purposes .

SPACES
The campus includes workshops and training centre for the Artisans to train them with new techniques in crafts. It shall also cater to the visitors who wish engage in short craft courses.
The existing structures has also been reused into museum spaces and exhibition centre for the display of the state's rich cultural heritage; along with periodic display of contemporary crafts of the state of West Bengal.
The central axis of the site has been developed in a commercial haat (market place ) for the display and sale of the crafts consisting of formal air conditioned shops as well as small informal stalls.
The central garden space with colourful canopy acts as the demonstration space for various crafts .

The additions of new structures includes a 600 seater - auditorium space , dining area and food court and accommodation for the artisans and visitors .

This project aims at preserving the dying crafts of the state of West Bengal by providing a larger platform to the artisans and the craft for greater reach; along with conservation of the old dilapidated structures like the Salt Golah of Howrah that has significance in the history of the country by giving it a new identity in the contemporary context.

Site area - 89,032 sq m
Site location - Salt Golah , Howrah, West Bengal
Total Built up area - 25000 sq. m

Softwares used - Drawing and 3D Visualisation - Autocad , Sketchup, Lumion, Enscape, Photoshop
Climate study- Ecotect