Bombay Bioscope | ADFF
Envisioned as a living breathing pavilion, Bombay बाइस्कोप (Bioscope) is a physical manifestation of instances and occurrences - that exist within the city of Mumbai – that push, pull and sway its inhabitants.
Taking cues from the Manhattan Transcripts, the pavilion is imagined as an interactive set, that is an agglomeration of Mumbai’s pulse. Tapping into the cities’ dynamic and ever-changing landscape – through spheres of construction & development, food, cinema and spaces for refuge – the exhibit is a direct acknowledgement of the choreographed cacophony that exists in the interstices and liminal spaces within the city.
To physically realise a harmonious composition and enable a balanced flow through the pavilion, a guiding principle was adopted, a common factor. One that finds place in both the act of filmmaking as well as in architecture & design.
Enter the Golden Ratio.
The design has a direct correlation with the same which acts as a catalyst for the form & subsequent program of the pavilion. Growing outward, along the length of the spiral, the footprint emerges from a 9”x 9” square as the point of origin. Using this as a reference, a grid is laid out so as to maintain a sense of scale and proportion which defined the zones. The 1:1.618 ratio is not only reflected on the plan but also applies to the elevational facades, thus creating the volume presented and essentially forming a golden ratio cuboid. A play of various materials highlights the evolution of the ratio and demarcates various experiences. The skeletal truss perched upon the structure draws inspiration from a form commonly seen in Mumbai, the warehouses by the docks, the mills and film studios.
With the framework in place, the structure allows for an eclectic mise-en-scène – specific interventions depicting transitional spaces and moments that involve public interaction and engagement – with Mumbai as its muse.
Scene
A Bioscope: A panel with perforations. A viewfinder.
A Frame: A pop-up screening booth. Small yet intimate. Bombay showcased through film.
A Pause: A crowd gathers around a “Chai Tapri”. Small groups breakaway to regale each other about their day.
A Study: An open-air study corner – akin to those littered across the city. A communal space offering solace. A sprinkle of surprise for onlookers.
End Scene
Extending beyond its program, the pavilion is built as a modular set with elements and materials that are acquired & re-purposed and can ultimately be re-used or re-cycled. The entire assembly is put together off site and can be transported in a knock down condition.
Repurposed metal, ply board & bamboo sections – from construction sites – form the skeleton and base within which reclaimed brick, wooden doors & windows – acquired from old residences – are slotted in. An interplay of solid & void that draws from the “Maximum City”.
Elements such as the fishing net and the Chai Tapri capture the essence of some of the prominent occupations and an integral part of the city. The pavilion is an intimate echo and study of Mumbai in material, function & form.
The pavilion thus sets out to imagine the duality of space & function – Exhibit as Performance & Performance as Exhibit. Where the built form enables visitors to interact with it, as actors from within, while those viewing from the outside – the audience – now look upon the stage, and the play that unfolds before them.
Bombay बाइस्कोप (Bioscope) aspires to create and encapsulate a microcosm which is a poetic reflection of the city of Mumbai and its diverse set of inhabitants – in a constant state of connected interaction.
