KALAKENDRA - The center of performing Arts

Raikhad is a region located in the central zone of Ahmedabad which is considered as a cultural hub of the city. Lying between the two opposite parts of the city, the area experiences a constant hustle bustle. The region is composed of mixed caste communities including some of the backward classes. Among varied scale of buildings are a large number of commercial shops which invites a lot of local crowd around.

The project strives to cause an urban renewal becoming a cultural center serving to the community of the area. The existing abandoned building ‘Jayshankar Sundari Natyagarh’ was a drama theater inviting people from the city. To revive the site, the mixed community and cultures of the site can be considered and by encouraging the involvement of the residents around, population of area can be retained. The theater responds to the loss of social life in the zone and re-activates the region culturally thus reducing the number of residents shifting to urban areas.
The program aims to create strong centers on the site generating lively activities for the people around. These public spaces can also be used to conduct certain health camps or cultural camps during the year. The project engages the nearby residents and adjacent areas to participate, while becoming one of the major landmarks of performing arts in the city.