Making a place to remember those who gave their lives for the country since independence in 1947 at the Rashtriya Sainika Smaraka at Bangalore began on our design boards sometime in late 2008 and broke ground in mid 2010.
Located on an arterial road of the city, the site gains visual prominence amidst busy thoroughfares. In addition to isolating the site from the noise and pollution, the dense vegetation becomes the foundation for the design of the National Martyr’s Memorial. The Memorial is conceived as place of quiet remembrance and homage.
The ceremonial path of commemoration begins at a series of plaques with the physical marking of 21,763 martyrs names and proceeds into a motivation hall that houses information of the selfless and brave missions undertaken by our Martyr’s and ends at a 60’ high majestic flagpole beside the august ‘Veeragallu’ (a symbolic stone that marks the heroic death of a warrior in battle). Being one of the first projects of this nature undertaken by the state Government, it aims at recognizing not only the servicemen of the state but of the entire country.
With the intent of retaining an important green space within the city, the built form of the motivational hall was designed to disappear into the ground. The structure below ground meanders between the roots of the trees to preserve a large part of the vegetation. Of the 324 trees at site, only 4 eucalyptus trees were removed to accommodate the structure while 40 trees were newly planted
The Entrance to the motivation hall through a large open court 1 with amphitheatre like steps is the first of 5 courts that serve to provide ventilation and daylight into the underground structure. In addition to the open courts, triangular skylights animate the space through the day. The hall feels almost like a concrete bunker with the raw finishes of exposed concrete.
The project is a light touch on the ground within the trees. To remember the untimely loss of precious life and in the absence of means, it can well be a lovingly patted mound of earth and a living memorial.
2008
2012
LOCATION: BANGALORE, KARNATAKA, INDIA
CLIENT: BANGALORE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
YEAR OF COMPLETION: 2012
ARCHITECTS: NISHA MATHEW GHOSH + SOUMITRO GHOSH
SITE AREA: 6.5 ACRES APPROXIMATELY
BUILT AREA: 1300 SQ MTS APPROXIMATELY
PHOTOGRAPH CREDITS: SOUMITRO GHOSH, SOLACHI R, NINA M, ARJUN J
NATIONAL MARTYR’S MEMORIAL by SOUMITRO GHOSH in India won the WA Award Cycle 14. Please find below the WA Award poster for this project.
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