Project
National Maritime Heritage Complex
Category
Best Architectural Design for Museum
About the project (provided by the applicant)
The National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, commemorates India’s seafaring legacy through an architecture rooted in history yet shaped for contemporary experience. Anchored within a central waterbody recalling Lothal’s ancient dockyard, the Museum forms the nucleus of the 375-acre masterplan. Fourteen galleries are arranged around a dramatic courtyard housing a relic ship over water, with pitched north-lit roofs recalling sails aloft. Inclined stone-clad walls reference Harappan warehouses, while a towering entrance lighthouse serves as a symbolic beacon.
The architectural language merges metaphors of anchors, ship decks & coastal forts, creating a fluid dialogue between maritime archetypes & civic monumentality. Inside, immersive galleries unfold as a narrative journey from Harappan times to modern oceanic research. Technology enhances architecture with 5D theatres, augmented reality exhibits & dynamic lighting, ensuring an environment that is both didactic & atmospheric.
Location
Lothal, Gujarat, India
Project design year
2023
Project website
https://inidesignstudio.com/portfolio/national-maritime-heritage-complex/
Extra visual materials
https://inidesign-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/dharmesh_panchal_inidesignstudio_com/EsbnlfwwPr1MngLdgk7SUCwB-v7JpEl5ORwLVKmdLoqmiQ?e=NBdlYN
Applicant
INI Design Studio
INI Design Studio is a multidisciplinary firm, offering comprehensive services in architecture, engineering, urban design, landscape, sustainability, interiors, research & art. With over 400 professionals, INI has completed 800+ projects across India & beyond & has been honoured with multiple awards. At the core of INI's philosophy are the 'I’s'—Inquiry, Imagination, Innovation, Inspiration & Inclusiveness—fostering an innovative, collaborative culture that advances global sustainability goals.
Author of the project
INI Design Studio
Project Team: Jayesh Hariyani, Adi Mistri, Saumil Mevada, Rakhi Rupani, Harsh Goel, Bansari Trivedi, Neha Karode, Parth Joshi
Visualization
INI Design Studio
Other participants
Collaboration: Jones Lang Lasalle (JLL)
Status of the project
Conceptual design
