JSW Visitor's Centre
Culture I Hampi, Karnataka

A site that is the essence of Hampi – the Tungabhadra river in the background, boulders, coconut, and banana plantations in the foreground and the jewel in the crown – a 15th century Shiva temple – the Soumya Someshwar temple on the far corner of the site.

Our design for a visitor’s centre to orient people to the architecture of Hampi, before they encountered the temple on the site, was a thought-provoking exercise. The design uses no cement or steel – only natural stone, wood, banana fibre and coconut fronds. The plan is a series of open pavilions gently leading towards the temple. The centre is thus a journey –of acquaintance & learning, surrounded by the famous Hampi landscape, with the overhangs of the pavilions capable of shutting the pavilion down at night – safe from dusty winds & animals.