ITC Sankriti built by Morphogenesis Architect in Kolkata embodies Bengali art and culture in mixed land complex
With this combined residential and business project of ITC, Indian architecture firm Morphogenesis engaged a large community of artists to give final shape to this creative conception and brought back local crafts to the public realm.
The urban space has been developed as a canvas to host and celebrate the Bengali socio-cultural ethos, which is one of discourse, deliberation and communal festivity. East-west courts create a highly permeable site that channels air movement to counter the high humidity levels.
The urban frontage of the tall, soaring stone facades on the east and the west have been manifested as vertical canvases showcasing art and craft in the Bengal School tradition.
A series of residential towers, IT and commercial offices, a hotel and a convention centre that together compose the ITC Campus set up in Rajarhat, “cultural capital of India”.
The Architecture studio Morphogenesis inculcated the cultural pride and philosophical inclination of the citizens to create an identity for the 17-acre campus that is rooted in its rich culture.
The intricate Bengali script and Tagore’s writings carved on the façades inspire the crafted stone face of the lower scale convention centre in proximity.
The charming artisanal culture of Bengal has been abundantly embodied in mixed-use buildings by reflecting the region’s literary heritage, music, fine arts, drama and cinema directly on the surfaces of structures.
The urban stone frontages on the east and the west of the buildings present themselves as vertical canvases decorated with intricately carved murals of the Bengal School tradition of art and craft.
Placemaking principles have been employed in the urban space, which will host and rejoice the Bengali socio-cultural ethos of discourse, deliberation and celebration.
Evoking images of the traditional pandals (temporary pavilions) that dot the city during festivals, the public spaces have similarly been scattered along the central spine to serve as open-air museums with sculptures and art installations giving it a sense of character.
