Jana-agraha, center for democracy

Today, cities require physical platforms for people to dissent, put forward their opinions and convene together. Physical platforms that would form an integral part of the urban fabric and make public dissent a regular feature of the society.
Inspite of boosting itself as the capital of one of the biggest democracies in the world, Delhi lacks a formal space for people of the city to put forth their opinions and participate the decision making and law making process directly. Though the pressing need of the same have made people niche out their own speaker’s corner in the city. Be it the red walls of Jantar mantar, the huge dusty and open Ramlila maidan or huge lawns of India Gate, all have witnessed the new genre of people who have dared to break the tradition of silence. One after the other these spaces have been redefined as Hyde Park of Delhi.
The Center of Democracy and Development, is thus a project aimed to reinvent the public forum of the city of Delhi which is truly democratic in nature. The site for the project lies on the axis which connects the above mentions venues for public protests .The complex acts as a gateway to this protest axis, reinforcing its importance. The design of the building complex is meant to express democracy and incite feeling of empowerment in its users. The major public movement is placed above the buildings, on a gradually rising ramp. The public movement, rising gradually and intercepted with public activities at various intervals is an experiential one, where people feel a sense of empowerment and also ownership for the building complex which is visible in form of stepped terraces from the ramp.