City and Performance Spaces

Surat has very diverse cultural values. The city has grown at a rapid rate in the last 10 years. The city is growing very fast but the opportunity of encountering the cultural exposures is less. The site being in the center of the city demands a place that gives the public a platform for celebrating their cultural diversity, helps sustain the culture, and gives the public a different environment as compared to urban-hood. The Rang Upvan (existing performance center) holds various kinds of performances but it demands re-development to reinforce the purpose as well as the character of that space. Imagining a performance center that will cater to the cultural diversity of Surat, a multipurpose auditorium in collaboration with the Surat performing artist's association who sustains the culture of Gujarat drama and promote beginners to start their artist's journey. This will create an opportunity for local artists to not only revive the culture of Gujarati drama but encourage the local audience to participate more. Further introducing a concept of theatre cafe/restaurant. This will nurture and promote the elements of cultural performance in the citizens. The Rang Upvan has the opportunity to connect itself from the neighborhood and river. As the survey suggested people prefer going to a certain area that is publicly more active. Facing a dense fabric around freeing the ground from the junction itself and rearranging existing functions on the site will blur the boundaries between built and context. Not only opening up towards the junction but also towards the Gandhi Bagh will make it more publicly accessible. The plaza underneath will allow the crowd to flow in under the main auditorium and Hence opening up the ground will increase the activity and activate the edges around the site. Ultimately intervening in the project in the area will not only revive the better connection with the site but it would embrace the center as a whole.