Soni Tarjanee Manan

AR2013

The natural depressions of the ground take you from the busy road to a serene atmosphere of the lake edge.
Entering along the lake edge. A small temple taken care by the peepal tree which shades it. The marble floor of the temple plinth feeling cool on the hot summer afternoons. Some benches around a tree beside the temple water where old men and women talk of wisdom and Vendors having their afternoon naps under the tree. Strolling along the lake edge, watching the ripples in water, sitting under a tree watching the sun rise behind the tall buildings one comtemplates once in a while.
The space around the canteen is held together by two or three trees. The otlas under these trees are relief spaces during the hot afternoons of summer. The vaulted space becomes the main heart which is the most crowded filled with delicious smell and constant murmering of people. Here one feels like a small room over looking the busy court.
The vehicular noises of the road and the city is suddenly cut when one enters the garden as it has a thick layers of tall trees and bushes towards the road edge. Entering the garden one sees the curved brick wall of the hall around which one can sit peacefully. This is the path which takes you on a journey from road to the lake surrounded by the trees, flowers, water streams and many surprises.
One enters the aisles which is a vaulted corridor leading to the main congregation space. The brick piers here give the feeling of roughness and robustness. The main hall is a large brick barrel vault structure. The volume of the space allows it hold the crowd of people.
The aisles which bring the people inside also gives them chance to escape to the back side pavilion of the hall also known as clubhouse facing the lush green garden.
The clubhouse is a semi open space where mothers would have kitty parties and children would play indoor games like chess or carom surrounded by the trees, bushes, the chirping of birds, the gushing of the winds. Once in a while a boy sees a peacock near the flowering tree and the children run to chase it. The lawns just in front of the clubhouse where people can spend their evenings.