The Art Gallery Tokaroun, situated in Santiniketan, West Bengal, embodies  a specific design philosophy that intertwines with the overarching  architectural ethos of Santiniketan itself. This ethos, heavily influenced by  Rabindranath Tagore’s vision, emphasizes a harmonious blend of nature,  culture, and a unique approach to modernism rooted in both pan-Asian and  local traditions.  

 Sculptor K.S. Radhakrishnan’s project in Santiniketan required the  design a personal art galleries and sculpture court for exhibit along with a  residential unit for him, which included a master bedroom, living, dining,  kitchen, and toilet. Another requirement was a high-ceiling foundry with  staff quarters. 

The site already has a pond and plenty of trees, and one of the primary  challenges in the architectural plan is to accommodate and conserve these  existing trees. Before beginning the concept design, a site plan was  created which listed all existing trees on the site. For greater  transparency, the building was divided into three units. 

Architectural Philosophy  

Rabindranath Tagore envisioned Santiniketan as a place where the “whole  world can find a nest”, integrating diverse cultural influences within a  natural, ashram-like environment. This led to an architectural style that: 

∙ The designs lean towards modernism, emphasizing clean lines, geometric  forms, and functional spaces. Minimalism is also a common theme, with a  focus on simplicity and eliminating unnecessary elements. 

∙ The architectural concept resembled a storyteller’s journey with emerging  sights. 

∙ The projects aim to seamlessly integrate with their natural surroundings  like exiting trees, courtyards, and water features to create harmonious and  sustainable environments. 

∙ Local materials are incorporated, reflecting a connection to the  surrounding traditional architecture with natural ventilation, lighting, and  rainwater harvesting system.

Special architectural features  

∙ Focus on natural lighting: Art galleries benefit significantly from natural  light to showcase artwork effectively. Tokaroun is specifically designed to  interact with sunlight, employing tall windows to capture varying light and  create different moods within the exhibition spaces throughout the day. 

∙ Harmony with the environment: In line with Santiniketan’s ethos,  Tokaroun’s design likely prioritizes a seamless integration with its  surroundings, which are characterized by open spaces and trees. 

∙ Modern and sustainable design: User reviews describe Tokaroun as a  “lovely, modern, sustainable building”. This suggests an emphasis on  modern materials and techniques while also aligning with the ecological  consciousness often associated with Santiniketan’s philosophy. 

∙ Fluid and flexible spaces: Tokaroun is described as a “fluid art space”,  implying a design that allows for diverse artistic expressions and events,  from exhibitions to film screenings. 

∙ Tokaroun’s architecture, though perhaps modern in its execution, likely  resonates with the core values of Santiniketan: a celebration of art, culture,  and nature, brought together in a spirit of intellectual freedom and  internationalism. 

∙ Wabi-sabi, a Japanese philosophy, embraces the beauty of  imperfection, impermanence, and asymmetry. In architecture, this  translates to appreciating natural materials, textures, and the marks  of time, rather than striving for flawless surfaces or manufactured  perfection. Here unplaster ceilings, exposed brick wall with uneven humble grey textures, raw wood and aged trees, with their gnarled  branches and weathered bark, embody wabi-sabi principles by  showcasing the natural aging process and the beauty of organic  forms. 

∙ The Japanese idea of “Ma” (間) is a philosophical concept that literally  means gap, space, or pause. There are two bridges built between  exhibition spaces which function as “Ma” and offer spectators to  connect with tranquil greenery after visiting each gallery.