RMA architects: visitors' centre at the prince of wales museum

‘visitors’ centre at the prince of wales museum’ by RMA architects, mumbai, india image © rajesh vora all images courtesy of RMA architects

boston and mumbai-based RMA architects have ‘visitors’ centre at the prince of wales museum’ in mumbai, india. located next to a grade I heritage structure, this building’s stainless steel-clad elliptical roof supported by columns secured with a pin joint base. the lightweight canopy extends to form a wrap around veranda. the interior offers a 200 seat auditorium as well as filling programmatic functions such as ticketing, luggage storage, museum shop and restrooms.

founding architect, rahul mehrotra, will be participating in the upcoming greenhouse talk at the venice biennale.

reflective surfaces of stainless steel cladding make for a dynamic canvas with reflections and colors from kinetic human streams that pass by the buildin image © rajesh vora

view of visitors exiting the building after checking in baggage and purchasing tickets image © rajesh vora

view of the baggage collection point and historic gate through which visitors pass to enter the campus image © rajesh vora

view of the visitors’ centre and the existing building around which the canopy was extended image © rajesh vora

(left) detail of stainless steel column that was custom made for the project.  reflective surfaces of shop windows reflect the adjacent museum, resulting in visual dissolution of the new building, while making the historic structure omnipresent (right) reflections throughout capture the vibrant surroundings—lush landscapes, handcrafted materials, and a visual fluidity created by the constant flow of visitors images © rajesh vora

view of the visitors’ centre –the building essentially consists of a pavilion for baggage storage and a verandah wrapped along an existing building which contains a multipurpose space for public use image © rajesh vora

detail of the verandah canopy, which is supported by fabricated stainless steel seamless columns, with a pin joint on a stainless steel base plate. reflections on the ceiling transform with changing light image © rajesh vora

floor plan / level 0 1. baggage kiosk 2. security check 3. ticket kiosk 4. museum shop 5. multipurpose hall 6. cafeteria 7. men’s toilet 8. women’s toilet 9. verandah

elevation

column detail A. kalzip tapered B. glass wool insulation C. tie beam D. ring beam E. bracket web plate F. SS sheet G. drip mould H. SS rectangular tube I. column cap plate J. SS seamless pipe cladding K. column base plate L. SS plate cut to profile M. column base plate N. SS plate cut to profile O. hole for SS pin P. SS plate Q. stiffner plate R. base plate S. insert plate