01. The rather large-scale animal cage with the Maratha Durbar Hall [MDH] trapped inside, seen from the open unprotected museum. The heritage hand-made clay tiled roof is a fitting crowning for so morose a facade.
01. The rather large-scale animal cage with the Maratha Durbar Hall [MDH] trapped inside, seen from the open unprotected museum. The heritage hand-made clay tiled roof is a fitting crowning for so morose a facade. © Nirmal Kulkarni
02. Seen from the elegant timber interiors of the MDH, one can see the open museum to the left and the rear of the Nayaka palace with part of the Armory tower in the background
02. Seen from the elegant timber interiors of the MDH, one can see the open museum to the left and the rear of the Nayaka palace with part of the Armory tower in the background: It arouses a whole mixed bag of feelings to see so many diverse types of architecture in one single vista. © Nirmal Kulkarni
03. Foregrounded by the exquisitely designed timber construction supporting the lean-to roof above, we can see three distinctly different arches
03. Foregrounded by the exquisitely designed timber construction supporting the lean-to roof above, we can see three distinctly different arches: To the extreme left, is a semicircular arch with Indian motifs and Hindu religious motifs in the inset murals. As you move to the right, immediately next to it is an Islamic arch with an Ogee pointed crest. Further on the right is a stylized, almost corrupted, Rajasthani arch. The colorful interiors of the lime plastered building forms a stunning backdrop. © Nirmal Kulkarni
04. Detail of a primary circular wooden column with an octagonal capital, supports a four-pronged bracket system holding up horizontal timber beams in all four directions.
04. Detail of a primary circular wooden column with an octagonal capital, supports a four-pronged bracket system holding up horizontal timber beams in all four directions. © Nirmal Kulkarni
05. The background at the extreme end carries a damaged fresco of the Maratha emperor, just framed by a chhatri
05. The background at the extreme end carries a damaged fresco of the Maratha emperor, just framed by a chhatri: Octagonal (presumably brick) columns with each side painted in different primary colors, support Rajasthani arches and intricately decorative colorful motifs. Roofed with (presumably Madras roofing brick construction) vaults and domes, all elements together, complete a sense of wonder. © Nirmal Kulkarni
06. A life-size statue of HH Serfoji II, a renaissance man himself, stands atop a wooden platform with its vertical sides engraved with dancing yakshaganas.
06. A life-size statue of HH Serfoji II, a renaissance man himself, stands atop a wooden platform with its vertical sides engraved with dancing yakshaganas: In the background is a plain red colored wall above which is a mural from the Ramayana, depicting the entire assembly including the Vanarsena. © Nirmal Kulkarni
07. As one enters, the first bay displays Islamic Ogee arches, with the second bay carrying Rajasthani arches
07. As one enters, the first bay displays Islamic Ogee arches, with the second bay carrying Rajasthani arches: This purposeful alternating of design paradigms must have been a conscious hierarchy of types for the effect of balance. It shows up all over the place making it a design principle. © Nirmal Kulkarni
08. Look carefully and you will see on each side of the Ogee arches, the mysterious twin-headed bird from ancient Tamil literature, possibly the Divine Gandaberunda, often seen as one of Lord Vishnu’s many incarnations in Hindu mythology.
08. Look carefully and you will see on each side of the Ogee arches, the mysterious twin-headed bird from ancient Tamil literature, possibly the Divine Gandaberunda, often seen as one of Lord Vishnu’s many incarnations in Hindu mythology. © Nirmal Kulkarni
09. Almost like ancient edicts, this contemporary engraved graffiti tries to immortalize personas from a crass society hungry for attention
09. Almost like ancient edicts, this contemporary engraved graffiti tries to immortalize personas from a crass society hungry for attention: Completely valueless, they represent a social psychosis tearing away at valuable heritage. It also expresses the powerless (or callous?) position of the authorities entrusted to protect ancient legacies. © Nirmal Kulkarni
10. Detail of the capital of the octagonal column provides for a variety of design elements starting from the top with a torana, with leaves in the middle and a ring of lotus petal motifs at the lowest rung.
10. Detail of the capital of the octagonal column provides for a variety of design elements starting from the top with a torana, with leaves in the middle and a ring of lotus petal motifs at the lowest rung. Between two opposite sides the capital is designed with serrated right angles. © Nirmal Kulkarni

Photographs by Nirmal Kulkarni: @aum_architects and @nirmal_kulkarni_ (Instagram), Aum Architects India and Investigating Design (Facebook), Investigating Design  (LinkedIn) + Aum Architects blog

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