Studio Apaaar

By Editorial Staff - 3 March 2025

The Museum of Humanity in Tulapur, in Pune district, was conceived for visitors to delve into the depths of human emotions, share narratives of vulnerability and resilience, and provide a space for introspection and spiritual connection. Designed by architect Santosh Sadashiv Pisal with Kundan Namdeo Kshirsagar, the museum showcases an architectural language that is both essential and primitive. Constructed entirely in raw concrete, the building embodies a desire to return to nature what inherently belongs to it.

Waterways meander through the site, evoking India’s sacred rivers and their role as symbols of purification and spirituality, as well as invoking ancient beliefs in reincarnation of the immortal soul, the ātman. Stark surfaces, simple forms and natural light stream through the skylights, generating an atmosphere that invites visitors to engage in deep reflection. Drawing inspiration from the Indian tradition of Smashan Bhoomi (cremation ground), the museum honors the eternal cycle of life, from birth to growth, decline, and rebirth. The structure’s symmetrical layout symbolizes the interconnectedness of life’s physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions; it also resonates with the chakras in the human body. Bathed in natural light that enters through a large central skylight, the nave is the building’s beating heart. Side wings accommodate specific functions: the right wing houses spaces for work and prayer, representing the realm of spirituality; the left wing features rest areas and a kitchen, symbolizing nourishment and regeneration. The museum’s central symbolic element is a plumb line suspended from the ceiling, ideally linking heaven and earth – a detail that encapsulates the connection between matter and spirit, the finite and the infinite.