Maniar Heerav Nitinkumar

1005-I

The focus of studio was to study various architectural attitudes towards Physical Substances, Ephemeral Substances, Conceptual Devices, Organisational Devices, Making & Detailing, Program and Context; of an architect : Geoffrey Bawa. 

Books proliferated with the advent of the printing press, making book publishing an enterprise and engendering a place. Since then, bookshops have evolved to become an important place for an engagement with world of words and readers. In the age of smartphones and Amazon, the role of a ‘place’ for books has been challenged. Yet, bookshops have the potential to revisit the activity of reading and gathering, complemented by a fresh brew of coffee or sizzling kachoris. Considering the growing prominence of Udaipur as a destination for tourists, students, citizens alike, the Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation has entrusted the architect with the design of a place for books near the palace complex. The site is situated between the foothills of the City Palace and Machla Magra hills and overlooks the Pichola lake. The bookshop will support a café and an open space to facilitate various daily or monthly events such as book launches, reading sessions, music performances, learning workshops, etc.