What contemporary architects can learn from the Indian Museum Kolkata building - temperature control in the age of climate change

The world's ninth oldest museum, Indian Museum Kolkata holds important lessons in how to reduce the effects of outside temperature inside a contemporary building and using sustainable materials with low volatile organic compounds emissions.

The origin and growth of the Indian Museum in Kolkata are among the more remarkable events in the preservation of India's heritage and culture. Founded in 1814 at the present location in the Asiatic Society, 1 Park Street, Kolkata), Indian Museum is the earliest, the largest and the ninth oldest multipurpose museum in the Asia Pacific region.

The current museum building comprising 35 galleries was completed almost 150 years ago, in 1875. Italian architecture by Walter Granville had segregated the building into zones at the planning stage, and the structure has remained intact since.

“The museum has undergone several renovations as it has aged and was called House of Wonder, for it had been an Italianate Place around a colonnaded courtyard at that time... The building holds massive simplicity with huge stairways and symmetrical plans. It has managed to showcase and accommodate some of the best and rare collections which is a great achievement for the building like hundreds of years old,” says Amardeep Gulri, founder and principal, Deco-Arte.

How have buildings like this one stood the test of time, and are there valuable lessons that contemporary designers and architects can take away from the Indian Museum Kolkata to solve for present-day concerns from climate change to

“Contemporary designers may take their inspirations from the style itself, which is grand, simple, huge with periodic style, thick walls – managed to reduce the extreme temperatures from outside, massive stone and brick work, round arches, sturdy piers – not only supporting the structure but complementing the appearance of fenestrations, small and arched windows – keeping the straight sun light managed with enough ventilation, poured concrete, and later reinforced concrete,” says Gulri.

Indian Museum Kolkata - architectural significance

Many renowned architects of that time got international exposure of Italian architecture and how it could be modified with materials and implemented into the Indian style of architecture.

Neoclassical, Gothic Revival, and Baroque styles of Architecture and Design became prevalent across India. “The amalgamation of Indo and European styles led to a new style, known as the Indo-Saracenic style, which can be seen in public and government buildings – courtrooms, clock towers, town halls, railway stations, museums, and art galleries. The construction of the museum brought about a new wind of change and spurred the museum movement in India, which eventually led to the establishment of around 400 museums all over the country. The beginning of this movement also marks the start of the modern period after the end of the medieval era,” says Gulri.

It has become most important tourist attraction with the time - its collections depict the cultural history of India from prehistoric to Muslim times. The Museum gives us an insight about the social and freedom movements, political and socio-economic history and the domains of literature, education, performing art, music, science and technology of Kolkata. It is popular as Jadughar or Ajabghar among the tourists.

Indian Museum Kolkata is popular as Jadughar or Ajabghar (house of curiosities) among tourists.

Amardeep Gulri, founder and principal, Deco-Arte.

The design of this building is sustainable enough as it is conserving all the collections from almost two centuries. “HVAC system and lighting system are developed so, with time that it contributes the preservation of valuables from multi-disciplinary sections. Material used in design lies in the list of low volatile organic compounds emission materials which makes it more sustainable. This building holds a history of its own. We can use more of low VOC emitting materials reducing the carbon footprint and encouraging the amalgamation of different styles of design and always open to learn and try new methods, styles, and compositions,” says Gulri.

The founder curator was Nathaniel Wallich, a Danish botanist. Before it became a museum, the space was used for courtroom proceedings. The building was granted to the Asiatic Society on 15 May 1805. “The architecture of the Indian Museum resembles a simplistically designed grand white Neoclassical-style building, with three floors. The materials used in the building at the time when it was raised were very thoughtful and have proved to be sustainable, without deteriorating over time. Even after being the oldest foundation of the country the building stands tall,” says Gulri.