Author: Vanshika Kapoor
Site Location: Mathura
Institute:School of Architecture & Planning, DIT University
Advisor: Ar. Sandeep Saxena & Dr. Ekta Singh
Description
Braj Baithak reimagines civic infrastructure for Mathura, responding to a city shaped by pilgrimage while its cultural life, spaces, and memory remain fragmented. Conceived as a living cultural repository, the project brings preservation, learning, community, performance, craft, and recreation into one civic landscape.
Located at Chhatikara along the pilgrimage corridor, the 15.71-acre site is organized as an experiential journey inspired by the 84 Kos Parikrama. The Yamuna becomes a water spine, while a lotus mandala establishes the geometry of the Interpretation Centre and cultural repository. Vanas, kunds, ghats, gardens, bird trails, artisan haat, community spaces, and outdoor gathering areas extend this narrative into the landscape.
The Interpretation Centre combines archives, research facilities, libraries, galleries, immersive experiences, and shared learning spaces, allowing culture to be encountered through different depths of engagement. A community centre, kitchen, performance spaces, and artisan spaces enable residents to sustain living traditions.
Rather than designing for a visitor profile, Braj Baithak accommodates children, elders, residents, artisans, researchers, and visitors across ages, abilities, occupations, backgrounds, and beliefs creating a civic place where memory can be preserved, practiced, and renewed.
Drawings
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