• The Khalsa Heritage Complex has been conceived as a heritage museum with multimedia and state of the art communication facilities, which act as a setting for unfolding the drama of the Sikh heritage.

• This complex is the brainchild of Punjab's cheif minister Mr.Prakash Singh Badal, who was inspired by the Jewish Museum built by Moshe Safdie in Jerusalem and invited him to design the museum in Punjab.

• For the Sikhs, this complex would serve as a reaffirmation of roots. For the non-Sikh, it will be an inspiring journey into a spirited culture, providing a fascinating insight into Sikhism.

INTRODUCTION

Architect :Moshie SafdieAssociate Architect :Ashok DhawanInterior designer :Mr. Amardeep Behl +400 artistConstruction time :1998-2008Site area :75 acresBuilt-up area :20 acres Total cost :Rs 300-crore

• The design of this entire museum is rooted in the 17th century fortress architecture of the village and forms a dramatic silhouette against the surrounding cliff terrain.

• Two complexes straddle either side of a ravine and are connected by a ceremonial bridge, this seemed a grand response to the khalsa faith

• The eastern complex contains the cylindrical memorial building as well as an extensive , permanent ,interpretive exhibition space ,in addition there were galleries, a piazza, library and auditorium.

• A third complex is dining facility close to water• Architect has conceptualised the central tenets of Sikhism and its five

virtues in galleries and other spaces.

CONCEPT

CONCEPTUAL SKETCHES OF ARCHITECT

Safdie’s penchant for curves is evident in the stainless steel clad rooftops with a double curvature effectively reflect the sky, while a series of dams in the ravine create pools that reflect the entire complex at night.

Sketch of two complexes and bridge over ravine

CONCEPTUAL SKETCHES OF ARCHITECT

Open to sky for skylight

SITE LOCATION:• Situated at the foothills of the Shivalik range at Anandpur Shib in Punjab, the site is

on a plateau formed by a series of sand cliffs facing a small ravine. • It consists of well pronounced ridges and valleys with varying degrees of slopes and

existing natural water courses for draining the area.

SITE• Set in the holy town of Anandpur Sahib, this museum and cultural center celebrates

the 500 years of the Sikh faith history and the 300th anniversary of the Khalsa, the scriptures written by the tenth guru Gobind Singh. • The site is divided into two sections by a ravine, which Safdie straddles with a pedestrian bridge. • The large forms seem to rise out of the sand, directly relating to the history of the Sikh warriors, and are cladded with stone like the fortress cities of the Punjab.

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• Safdie designs upward curving roofs to contrast with the traditional domes of the Sikh sacred buildings.

• Safdie acknowledges and celebrates both the society’s culture and existing site conditions in the design of this project, which can be directly related to the Fort Ancient project.

• The project is said to be the largest contemporary heritage complex ever conceived in India and provides a delightful audio-visual experience unlike anything one has seen in Indian museums. 

1.The western complex, forming a gateway to Anandpur Sahib, houses exhibition galleries; a two-level library centred around a grand reading room overlooks water garden; a facility for storing rare archival materials and a 400-seat auditorium.2. A 540-foot bridge from the western complex crossed a seven-acre network of reflecting pools, providing access to the eastern complex which houses permanent exhibitions presenting Sikh history, religion, and culture.3. The eastern complex has the Flower Building and a wing called the Boat Building or the Heritage Section. 

• The roof of the Flower Building is shaped in the form of five petals - representing the Panj Piaras .

• Each petal l house an exhibit tracing the life history of all the Gurus from birth to attaining salvation/ martyrdom.

• The petal at the highest altitude have information and exhibits on Guru Granth Sahib.

4.At night, the entire building is illuminated with its large silhouette being reflected in the seven acres of water around it. It also illuminate the night skyline of the historical city of the birth of the Khalsa.

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SITE PLAN

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EXTERIOR VIEWINTERIOR VIEW

View at night with reflection of the complex in the water body

Detail view of gallery buildings

View of the concave stainless steel clad

roofs

View of the ramp amidst the boat-shaped building surrounded by colourful

panels depicting the story

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• The delightful experience begins at the Boat-shaped building 'Punj Paani' - the first gallery depicting the past and the present of Punjab, as seen in its villages and towns.

• The inside walls of the towering boat-shaped building have multiple colourful panels to create a three-dimensional effect, every inch hand-painted to perfection.

• The building also houses the largest hand-painted mural in the world, which uses a staggering 24,000 metres of fibre optics to illuminate it to depict Diwali. 

• As one will walk through the ramp encircling 'Punj Paani, will find that with the help of sound, music and other visual manipulations, the entire cycle of a year is recreated within a span of just eight minutes.

• The vibrant colors then give way to a subdued, star studded night with a tower of light at the centre, which symbolizes the emergence of 'Ek Onkar', illuminated, pure and eternal.

• From here begins the journey of the evolution of the Panth with the birth of Guru Nanak Dev. 

• In the 'Five Crescent Building', the tone and tenor of the colors and sound becomes more militant and depict the struggle and sacrifices made by the last five Gurus to establish the Panth. 

• The 15 galleries which are completed so far out of 25, The second phase of the complex, is expected to show the growth of Khalsa over the last 300 years, culminating in the partition of Punjab. 

• Truly unique element is that it is done in a style which revives the best of miniature painting traditions that undivided Punjab was once known for.

• What takes it one ravishing step further is when the play of light and specially sung folk tunes of Punjab give the visitor a live commentary of the parallel lives and times of the Punjab.

Outward view of the heritage complex from parking lot

• For the remaining galleries, visitors were guided by the audio-trigger

• The first five galleries depict the spiritual aspects of the Panth by making use of research material, stories and technology.

• Next the visitors are greeted with the thought-provoking concept of Ik Onkar.

• The Mool Mantar echoes all around this exhibit.• This exhibit, with special sound effects, is situated in a

drum-like building where lights creates an image of Ik Onkar and an audio message highlights the core principles of Sikhism.

View of the corridors in the inward curve of the galleries

View of the pedestrian bridge over the water body and walkway along the water body

CONCLUSION:

• Then starts a mesmerizing journey into the lives of the first Five Gurus in the five petals of the flower building.

• These five petals tell tales from Guru Nanak to Guru Arjan.

INACTIVE SPACE

ACTIVE SPACE

• The credit of design and structural plan goes to Moshe Safdie, the internationally acclaimed Boston-based Israeli architect.

• Contemporary architecture often lacks the qualities of ritual and ceremony that have historically been fundamental to civic, cultural and religious life. ...but this was not so for the Khalsa Heritage Complex.

• Safdie was able to achieve his central objective to create unique spaces and forms that introduce a sense of ceremony appropriate for theVirasat e Khalsa.

• Building where heritage is forged, memory is enshrined, and identity is created in built form.

• The introvert space was left inactive whereas the extrovert part was very active with pedestrian movement and other activities.

• Blending the inward movement and outward movement would utilize the entire building effectively without any mismanagement of spaces.

• The pedestrian bridge was exposed to scorching sun rays which create discomfort for the visitors to walk the entire span without any shading devices.

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