Open Daily 9:30–6:00, Monday Until 8:00
The Architecture of KMOMA
The Kolkata Museum of Modern Art is a landmark project because it envisages something more than an art museum. It has been planned as a cultural hub, free from any parochial agenda. This iconic institution to come up on the major arterial road, connecting Kolkata to the International Airport will be the point of attraction for both art lovers and tourists not only from all corners of India but also from across Asia and the rest of the world.
THE KOLKATA MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (KMOMA) has commissioned Herzog & De Meuron (HDM), Basel, Switzerland, a renowned international firm of architects, for the architectural design. This is the first time that such a significant project is happening in this part of India and it will emerge as a meeting ground for creative minds across the world.
The KMOMA complex consists of an Art Centre (G+9 storied building) and a Culture City on 10 acres of land at New Town, Rajarhat, Kolkata. Inspired by Indian temple architecture, its design is an ideal blend of the East and the West, a synthesis of tradition and modernity. The design shows large blocks stacked one upon the other. But there is a sense of openness too, as though the outdoors were tempted to quietly slip in. Its scheme of different levels allow visitors to get a glimpse of different floors from wherever they are. The building unit chosen is Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU). Its façade forms a screen recalling the stone filigree of traditional Indian architecture which will allow natural light to filter in and create an ambience of contemplative space.
The museum building itself called the Art Centre, has been designed to be a G+9 building. The Art Centre will contain 44 art galleries, spaces for storage of art works, an art restoration laboratory, an art library and art archive, and spaces for conducting art education courses, and an auditorium for symposia, seminars and art workshops. The curatorial department will have study centres for artists, students and research scholars. In addition, the building will house the administrative offices and a members’ lounge. The entire building will be covered by a state-of-the-art security system, air conditioning, humidity control system and complete fire safety system. There will be a bank of elevators, and well-designed access for the physically challenged. The facilities provided in the KMOMA museum will meet all the critical requirements in terms of safety, security, air quality, large viewing spaces, and general environment to satisfy the most stringent conditionalities of international exhibitions. The project will have in-house sewage treatment plant with adequate capacity to treat all waste and sewage generated within the project. There will be zero-waste water discharge. The Culture Hub will contain among other facilities — an amphitheatre for staging outdoor performance art, studio facilities for visiting artists, artists’ residences, an art shop, a retail area, a cafeteria and a food court, and car park.
The Kolkata Museum of Modern Art is a landmark project because it envisages something more than an art museum. It has been planned as a cultural hub, free from any parochial agenda. This iconic institution, to come up on the major arterial road connecting Kolkata to the International Airport, will be the point of attraction for both art lovers and tourists not only from all corners of India but from across Asia and the rest of the world.
THE KOLKATA MUSEUM OF MODERN ART (KMOMA) has commissioned Herzog & De Meuron (HDM), Basel, Switzerland for the for the architectural design. Not since Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru commissioned French architect Le Corbusier for the creation of Chandigarh, one of India’s leading cities in the 1950s, has a major international architecture firm come to India for such a landmark venture. This is the first time that such a significant project is happening in this region of Asia and will emerge as a meeting ground for creative minds across the world.
The KMOMA complex consists of an Art Centre (G+9 storied building) and a Culture City on 10 acres of land at New Town, Rajarhat, Kolkata. Inspired by Indian temple architecture, its design is an ideal blend of the East and the West, a synthesis of tradition and modernity. The building seems to be constructed with massive blocks stacked one upon the other. But there is a sense of openness, too, as though the outdoors were tempted to quietly slip in. Its scheme of different levels will ensure that visitors can get a glimpse of different floors from wherever he or she is. The building unit chosen is Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU). Its façade forms a screen, recalling the stone filigree of traditional Indian architecture which will allow natural light to filter in and create an ambience of contemplative space.
The museum building itself, called the Art Centre, has been designed to be a G+9 building. The Art Centre will contain 44 art galleries, spaces for storage of art works, an art restoration laboratory, an art library and art archive, and spaces for conducting art education courses, and an auditorium for symposia, seminars and art workshops. The curatorial department will have study centres for artists, students and research scholars. In addition, the building will house the administrative offices and a members’ lounge. The entire building will be covered by a state-of-the-art security system, air conditioning, humidity control system and complete fire safety system. There will be a bank of elevators, and well-designed access for the physically challenged. The facilities provided in the KMOMA museum will meet all the critical requirements in terms of safety, security, air quality, large viewing spaces, and general environment to satisfy the most stringent conditionalities of international exhibitions. The project will have in-house sewage treatment plant with adequate capacity to treat all waste and sewage generated within the project. There will be zero waste-water discharge. The Culture Hub will contain, among other facilities, an amphitheater for staging outdoor performance art, studio facilities for visiting artists, artists’ residences, an art shop, a retail area, a cafeteria and a food court, and car park.
Landscape
The entire project area will have a wide expanse of green cover, as prescribed in the Environment Clearance for the project. At least 1000 trees will be planted, and close to 50% of the project area will be covered in greenery.
About KMOMA
The Kolkata Museum of Modern Art (KMOMA) is a not-for-profit public charitable trust created by the Government of West Bengal. The principal objective of the Trust as laid down in the Trust Deed is to “set up a state-of-the-art Museum of international standard comparable and capable of being compared to the best museums of the world”.
Further, the museum and its allied infrastructure shall provide for, inter alia, an art library, art restoration, facilities for open air exhibitions and to create a forum for the promotion of art and culture, dissemination of knowledge relating to art and culture, and to carry out philanthropic activities including holding and assisting charitable exhibitions.
Chairman’s Message
The Kolkata Museum of Modern Art (KMOMA) is a Trust created and supported by the Government of West Bengal. The Trust’s objective is to build an art museum of a standard comparable to the best museums of the world. KMOMA intends to provide a platform for multidisciplinary interactions and to create a meeting ground of intellectuals and art lovers in the global context… Read more
Find Us on Instagram
STAY IN TOUCH
Join our email list and be the first to know about special events and more!
Subscribe Newsletter
Hours
Daily 9.30 am–6.00 pm
Contact Us
Address
Plot No. II-E/3, Action Area – II,
Rajarhat, New Town,
Kolkata – 700161
Hours
Daily 11.00 am–5.00 pm
© Kolkata Museum of Modern Art | All Rights Reserved | Designed by Festoon Media