Smritivan

Earthquake Museum and Memorial for Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority

Smritivan, India's largest memorial museum is a living testament to human resilience and constant change. An experiential journey along the learnings and memories of the devastating 2001 Gujarat earthquake. Rooted in interpretation and experimentation, over 100 exhibits in 7 thematic blocks are presented as a confluence of local crafts in contemporary design language. Layered experiences from educational scientific content to sensitive personal stories create a memorable impression. Diverse exhibits, immersive environments, and archival memories engage and inspire all visitor age groups.

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Smritivan by SIDDHARTH BATHLA

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Earthquake Museum and Memorial by SIDDHARTH BATHLA

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SIDDHARTH BATHLA Smritivan

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SIDDHARTH BATHLA Earthquake Museum and Memorial

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SIDDHARTH BATHLA Design Team Photo

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Gujarat State Disaster Management AuthorityBrand Logo

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Smritivan Earthquake Museum and Memorial Press Releases

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Smritivan Earthquake Museum and Memorial Media Articles

Leverage our ready-to-publish articles on Smritivan, offered in a range of languages: Dutch, Hindi, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Indonesian, English, Italian, Korean, Arabic (Standard), Japanese, Russian, Chinese (Mandarin) and Turkish.

Unique Properties

India’s largest memorial-museum, coming alive with stories of the devastating 2001 earthquake woven into the philosophy of the space. Metaphor of resilience and constant change is presented across 7 thematic blocks. Collaboratively designed with master craftspersons, vibrant, local crafts create scenography. Large-scale quake simulator, digital homage and personal stories bring an emotional connection. To animate the visitor experience, live actors and artists bring the museum journey alive.

Tags

Earthquake memorial, earthquake museum, immersive, interactive, craft, human-centric, scenography, storytelling, resilience, Bhuj, culture centre

Production Technology

All bespoke installations and narrative elements were custom-designed and fabricated in India, following iterative experimentation and prototyping. A fresh approach to processing local resources was implemented to create contextually-rooted exhibit spaces. Local craft persons were commissioned to co-create the largest ever narrative-based artworks of their repertoire. Contextual materials such as woven textiles, in synergy with durable materials like steel, create a blend of local and global expression.

Design Challenge

The responsibility to present sensitive personal and complex stories of the earthquake and beyond, to evoke varied emotions was a creative challenge and opportunity. Moving from an incident to an overarching story based on the ideas of resilience was pivotal. The 27 similar galleries dealt with an innovative, contextual design strategy for distinct and memorable thematic experiences. Translating the big idea into a physical reality demanded a smart orchestration of various stakeholders.

Project Duration

After winning the open design competition on a proposal based on the concept of “eternal resilience” the project was initiated in 2018, in Bhuj city of Kutch district, Gujarat. Following detailed research and design, on-site execution began in 2020. The Smritivan Earthquake Museum and Memorial were inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India in August 2022. We continue to curate and engage with public programming for the museum.

Operation Flow

Since its inauguration, the museum receives an average footfall of foreign tourists and locals over 100,000 every quarter. Holistic end-to-end placemaking and local community engagement through digital marketing, and innovative public events are an extension of the design strategy. Each visitor adds a part of themselves to the museum through digital tributes for quake victims, which collect into a bright beam of light. India’s first design biennale on the “art of storytelling” was hosted here recently.

Research

Narrative and design development took shape based on intensive continuous research rooted in ethnography, literature review, and archival data. Being an earthquake museum inspired by resilient stories of people and landscapes, geological, archaeological, and seismological experts directed the entire process. Personal stories and archival data were collected, analyzed, and curated from recurring, extensive field visits undertaken across entire quake-affected areas and humanitarian organizations.

Inspiration

The unique, thriving culture of Kutch in west India, gave impetus to the museum’s content and design. The Timelessness of human resilience, absorbed from a nearby 4000-year-old civilization is carried forward in the museum’s ethos. The region’s rapid recovery post-2001 quake is embodied in Smritivan as universally relatable stories of human determination. Content design, scenography, and installations are based on and emerge from the rich local living traditions and crafts of the Kutch region.

Image Credits

Image #1: Photographer Bharat Aggarwal, Smritivan, 2022. Optional Image #1: Photographer Bharat Aggarwal, Smritivan, 2022. Optional Image #2: Photographer Bharat Aggarwal, Smritivan, 2022. Optional Image #3: Illustrator Masood Khan, Smritivan, 2022. Optional Image #4: Photographer Bharat Aggarwal, Smritivan, 2022. Video Credits: Cinematographer Sohaib Ilyas, Smritivan, 2022. Sound Credits: ANBR - Stars, Ardie Son - Come back home, Ardie Son - Tonight is Golden, Smritivan, 2022.

Project Overview

Smritivan Earthquake Museum and Memorial has been a Silver winner in the Interior Space and Exhibition Design award category in the year 2022 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.

Silver Recognition

SIDDHARTH BATHLA was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2023, a testament to excellence of their work Smritivan Earthquake Museum and Memorial.

SIDDHARTH BATHLA Press Releases

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Smritivan: India's Largest Earthquake Museum and Memorial Unveiled in Bhuj

SIDDHARTH BATHLA unveils Smritivan, an immersive earthquake museum and memorial, in Bhuj, Gujarat, inaugurated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India in August 2022.

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