Connecting Nations through Spirituality
Connecting Nations through Spirituality
Kartarpur
Creative Group LLP | Charanjit Singh Shah & Gurpreet Singh Shah
The buildings that we create are supposed to be a reflection of the environment they are built in. With the arrival of new technology, construction techniques and a modern lifestyle, we are keen to give our buildings a modern look, often forgetting the impact it will have on the environment. What is required on our part as architects, is a consciousness of our actions and a careful reinterpretation of traditional, regional and cultural aspects, to coexist within the parameters of contemporary times.
The Landport Terminal Building, Kartarpur Corridor is one such project that brings together culture, sustainability, modernity and faith. The project which is located at the India-Pakistan border, forms a spiritual link between the two nations. The work on this corridor is a landmark in the history of both countries and is proving to be a helpful resource in creating unity. It shows that both the nations can look beyond physical boundaries and collectively work for the betterment of their citizens.
Sikhs suffered great loss during the partition of India in 1947. There was loss of not only lives and property, but, open access to more than 75% of their most historically significant Gurudwaras was lost. This also included the birthplace of Guru Nanak and the Sikh faith. The sikh community in India and abroad were finding it difficult to visit these shrines due to visa-related hassles. The Gurudwara could only be seen using binoculars from across the Indian side of the international border. Devotees on the Indian side would step onto a 10-foot platform that was built in the town of Dera Baba Nanakto gain a darshan (glimpse) of the Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur, where Guru Nanak spent the last 18 years of his life.
With the construction of the Kartarpur Corridor, the times of gazing at the Darbar Sahib, Kartarpur from a distance are nowa distant past! The 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak was a milestone in Sikh history as the global Sikh community finally gained the opportunity to visit the birthplace of their religion.
The Corridor was inaugurated on 9th November 2019, celebrating Guru Nanak’s 550th Birth Anniversary by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on the Indian side and his counterpart Mr. Imran Khan on the Pakistan side. The project was next to impossible to complete as the deadline was in a mere 6 months. The construction of the Kartarpur Corridor has helped the Darbar Sahib at Kartarpur in Pakistan gain global attention. The corridor serves as a literal ‘gateway’ for interfaith harmony.
Through the continuous efforts of Ar. Gurpreet Shah and his team at Creative Group, the project became a reality. This was a rare project where the architect was wholly responsible for everything; from designing, obtaining permissions and getting approvals to landscaping, sculptures, art works, paintings and services. Ar. Gurpreet Shah aced this mammoth task and that too in record breaking time! The project is a success because of the architect’s inception of intelligent planning, efficient zoning and sustainable building strategies.
Our impulse is to sensitize our designs towards passive strategies of green architecture. Not only do we try to derive our inspiration from nature, but also we let the building breathe with nature,” explains Ar. Gurpreet Singh Shah
The endeavor was to design a global facility which is Green, Smart and Sustainable, and at the same time resonates with the culture, heritage, topography and social fabric it belongs to. This project has been envisioned as a physical homage to the great Guru Nanak Dev ji and also to create sensitivity of Art & Architecture in symbolizing the universal message of oneness and humanity. This was achieved through various elements of visuals, dimensions, space and volume, thus establishing an environment which is spiritually empowered, emotionally bonded and soully connected which justifies the statement that:
The project was a great opportunity for Ar. Gurpreet Singh Shah as both an architect and a urban planner. The project has the power to connect both the nations spiritually, and plays on the emotional sentiments.
The Built Form and the Guru
The project aims to spread the message of Guru Nanak. The building form originates from Khanda- spiritual symbol of Sikh religion; is designed in the contemporary era. The story of Guru Nanak and historically significant sculptures are incorporated which empower the religious beliefs of the people. The gateway that is crowning the port is composed of five petals which symbolize the 5 vows of Sikhism. Guru Nanak’s universal message of oneness of God and truthful living is conceptualized by the Mool Mantra (Ek Onkar Satnam) and has been very exhaustively expressed within the Landport building and into the landscape through contemporary art & architecture.
The Key architectural interventions in the Landport building were:
Wall of fame: Guru Nanak’s philosophy and life events
The Wall of Fame showcases the journey of Guru Nanak Devi ji since his birth, episodes of his understanding, his realizations and his journey towards enlightenment. His various Udasi’s or travel covering more than 40,500km across the globe is depicted in the form of Modern Art. This helps form a connect between the devotees and their Guru.
Rapid Construction: Prefabricated Steel Structure
The frame of the building is entirely constructed out of steel, with use of trusses and various steel sections to achieve large open spans using off-site prefabricated construction. The cladding on the roof is of Aluminum Standing Seam while some areas also use zinc cladding.
The verses and teachings of other great saints such as Kabir, Permanand, Jaidev and Ravi Das have also been incorporated into the landscape to showcase universal brotherhood and ho the teachings of Guru Nanak Devji does beyond the boundaries of religion.
The design is divided into 6 zones. The movement within the Landport building is mostly unilateral. His was done to ease the passenger flow as the building caters to 10,000 users a day. This makes all the necessary checks smooth and efficient. In the evening, the passenger flow direction is reversed. Hence the same type of areas can be used. This helped in optimizing the built up area of the facility.
Gurbani in the landscapes area
The landscapes area in the site are lined with stone blocks that have the words of the Guru carved in them. This area is to help feel as though they are united with their guru as one.
3 Principals of Guru Nanak
Statues of the three principles of Guru Nanak, namely; Naam Japna (focus of God), Kirat Karni (honest living) and Vand Chakna (sharing with others)have also been embedded in the landscape.
The Passenger Terminal is Gold Rated by GRIHA and has also won the ASSOCHAM GEMS Platinum Green award. Passive design strategies have been used to make the terminal sustainable and eco-friendly.
The project is a perfect example of engineering going local and addressing all the socio-enviro aspects of construction stream. The design respects the natural topography of the site and the construction is done without disturbing the existing contours and trees located on the site. The terminal is a great example of holistic architecture. The built form is contemporary, but has its roots and essence embedded in Sikhism. The form and spaces are designed so as to pay homage to Guru Nanak Dev.
The corridor marked the possible beginning of a new era of cooperation and a symbolic movement in the shared cultural history of the Punjab.It was a proud moment for the firm to be appreciated by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, on the eve of Independence day 2020. The Passenger Terminal is a prestigious project from National as well as International view point joining the two countries on the grounds of spirituality, peace & love. It is a dynamic modern green building and the epitome of sustainable design.
The facility has been developed as an airport terminal. The spaces are designed so as to give the user a spiritual transforming effect. It is architecture that is born out the soul, and that is what makes it all the more magical and important!
FACT FILE :
Location : Kartarpur
Client : Land Port Authority of India
Design Firm : Creative Group LLP
Year : 2019
Cost : 150 Cr (1.5 billion)
Site Area : 15 Acres
Built Area : 20,000 sqm
Scope : Master plan, Comprehensive Architecture, MEP & Structure Engineering services