The Nehru Science Centre in Mumbai was designed by architect Achyut Kanvinde and opened in 1985. It is located on marshy land covering 8 acres and houses various exhibition halls, workshops, and auditoriums spread across 4 blocks. Kanvinde designed the complex to accentuate the natural sloping topography using split-levels and modular units connected by staircases and corridors. The exterior features a rugged concrete finish with grooves to animate the elevations.

1. NEHRU SCIENCE
CENTRE , MUMBAI
Sandhya
1AN15AT025
VI Sem ,
B.Arch

2. • Achyut Purushottam Kanvinde (1916–28 December 2002)
was an Indian architect who worked in functionalist
approaches with elements of Brutalist architecture. He
received the Padma Shri in 1974.
• Graduated in architecture from Sir J.J. School ofArts, Mumbai
in 1942. He was then sent by the Government of India to study
at Harvard where he worked underWalter Gropius and was
influenced by his thinking and teaching.
PHILOSOPHIES
• Kanvinde played with space and forms.
• He gave great importance to natural light.
• He championed the cause of vernacular architecture. He believed that values and
historical influences contributed towards good architecture.
• He used Arthashashtra.

3. LOCATION
• The Nehru Science Centre is located off E. Moses road,Worli, Mumbai.
• The northern and western sides of the complex are surrounded be slums making it
impossible to link the structure with the planetarium on the western side.
• The entire complex spreads across a sloped marshy land covering about 8 acres.
• The general programme requires 13 acres of reclaimed land to accommodate
15,000 sq. m. of built up space, comprising of several functions related to the
museum.

4. • Nehru Science Center (NSC) is the largest interactive science
centre in India.
• The centre is named after India's first Prime
Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.
• In 1977, the centre started with the 'Light and Sight' exhibition,
and then in 1979 a Science Park was built. On 11 November
1985 it was opened to the public by Rajiv Gandhi, the
then Prime Minister of India.
• The Nehru ScienceCentre in Mumbai, is one such workshop,
which involves the visitor in a scientific experience, giving him
participative role in experiments, so that he/she no longer
remains a mere spectator.
INTRODUCTION
Activities
1. Exposition without walls – children’s science park with interactive exhibits of scientific phenomena, greenery
and aviary.
2. Exposition with walls – science for children, sound and hearing and sight, discovery and our heritage.
3. Educational extension counter – mini planetarium, camp corners, creative ability centre, teachers’ training
programmes, science fair, seminars, quiz, ‘I m a mother’ shows, film shows, popular lectures and many more.

6. CONCEPT
• The site is naturally sloping in different directions. The architect deliberately
wanted to maintain and accentuate to this natural topography of the site, in
the form of split-levels of modular units.
• The vast expanse of the metal finish with grooves gives a more definite and
dramatic character to the exterior.
• Also the use of ventilation shafts has been commendably used to enhance the
character of the building.
LAYOUT
• The entire complex has been built out with structure for functions like the reception
centre, the workshops, the museum and science park.
• The main access road to the site bifurcates near this road.
• One of the bifurcations leads to the museum building bypassing the science park and
acting also as a service road as it links the entrances to the temporary exhibition halls
and depositories to the main access road.

7. EXTERNAL FORM
• The building looks interesting when viewed from all the angles. It creates a sense of
curiosity and mystery in the minds of the visitors.
• The science museum with its immense proportions and massing does not overpower
the visitor’s senses.
• The shot-crete used gives a rugged and stark look to the structure; vertical and
horizontal grooves are introduced.
• The building has few windows minimising the elevational features and shafts have
been skilfully used to add interest to the elevation and have served in animating the
skyline.
• Its design is basically modular, but the repetition of modules does not become
predictable.The module is evolved through a stage-by-stage dissection
process.

8. STRUCTURAL SYSTEM
• As the site is reclaimed, since it was a marshy land, pile foundation had to be used
• The structural system is conceived with structural supports placed at 12.0m c/c.
• These supports are made up of hollow 2.3mX2.15m L.C. concrete tube which
functions
both as structural components and conceal the air distribution system and the
services.
• Large unobstructed spans were essential for the exhibition halls of the science
centre.
Therefore ribbed or waffle slab is used.The floor slab consists of 0.9mX0.9m
fabricated or
pre-cast R.C.C. waffle units.
Materials
• The exterior surface of the structure, for low
maintenance cost, is finished with local grey stone, grit
plaster with grey cement (1:1) panels created by making
grooves on the grit plaster at certain intervals.

9. Interiors
• The number of exhibition halls, at various levels, is connected by staircase blocks
with illuminated by skylights and other fully glazed passageways.
• The use of minimum number of windows has given way to large display areas on
the walls. This effect of a large volume is brought down by hanging colourful
banners from the ceiling, though at some places it has been controlled and
regulated by stepping the roof slabs.
• The split-levels used to maintain the natural topography of the site has helped in
achieving an effect of spatial organisation and physical as well as visual division of
large spaces.
• The colour schemes of the exhibition hall interiors consists of bright primary colours
used particularly to attract children .

10. A
B
C
D

11. Circulation
• The circulation pattern broadly falls under two basic needs – the movement of
people and that of the exhibits.
• Visitors enter the main hall on the first floor level of the B block through a flight
of steps leading from the landscaped forecourt.
• From the main hall they are gradually routed through the exhibition area. The
circulation route directs the public to the second floor from where they ascend
viewing the exhibition.
• The visitor then starts to descend in this block, passing through the Hall of
Industries and Heritage Hall to reach the ground floor level to the temporary
exhibition halls. After exploring them, the visitor comes to the café lobby. One
climbs up to the entrance hall to exit from the stepped bridge.
• Material circulation is a very important aspect of museum design, which is
organised by bringing the material to be stored to the depository in the basement
by a vehicular ramp. The materials used in fabrication are sent to the workshop.
Material movement in the exhibition area is through a large freight lift in the
central zone. Supplies to the kitchen are also routed through the basement
receiving space.

12. Block A
This block houses the administrative and technical staff and the
permanent office. Block A is connected to the first floor and ground floor level
to block B.
Block B
• The main entrance of the museum is a three-storey structure consisting of
two hexagons connected by a rectangular staircase block.
• Each hexagon forms a display area of 500 sq. m.
• The first floor of this block houses the central hall and the hall of science. As
one enters the entrance hall from the open air podium one sees a massive
exhibit based on the principles of conservation of energy. Behind this exhibit is
the main staircase leading to the other exhibition halls.

13. • On the right hand side of the entrance is the reception along with the souvenir
shop and the waiting area. On the split level 1.3m higher than the entrance
hall is the ‘Fun Science’ gallery housing interesting exhibits.
• Halls on the second floor are devoted to ‘Light and Sight’ and ‘Sound and
Hearing’ exhibits. The third floor comprises of the ‘Discovery Hall’ and the
computer section.
• The Discovery hall is connected by a passage to ‘The Hall of Nature’ in block C.
these passages connecting different blocks are in the form of fully glazed
corridors.
• On the ground floor of block B is the cafeteria and temporary exhibition gallery.
The basement houses services such as the depository, kitchen and storage for
the science museum.

14. Block C
• It is similar to block B and comprises of various display areas such as ‘Hall of
Industries’ and the ‘C.V. Raman’ hall on the ground floor. ‘Evolution’ and
‘Heritage’ on the first floor, ‘Heritage’ and Activities Hall on the second floor and
the hall of Nature on the third floor.
Block D
• It houses the auditorium, library and conference hall. It has an independent
access, which leads to a common entrance for both the library and the
auditorium.
• The entrance doors are very narrow and at 45 degree angle causing great
inconvenience to the visitors.

15. • The finish, although good in appearance has certain
disadvantages, such as –
1. The grooves left between the panels are not
watertight and are a cause of heavy leakage during the
monsoon.
2. Rich mixture of cement has been used to cast large
panels which have cracked due to expansion and
contraction. Even these cracks are the cause of
monsoon leakage.
3. The grit plaster used does not hold on R.C.C.
surface therefore patches of shot-crete fallen from a
few places spoiling the elevation
DISADVANTAGES