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KLE Centenary Museum Cover
architecture institutional Belagavi

KLE Centenary Museum

Designed by Thirdspace architecture studio | Principal Designer: Praveen bavadekar & namrata betigiri

Project Narrative

In 1916, seven young men returned to Belagavi with a dream—to transform education in their hometown. With the support of three local landlords, they established a modest Anglo-Vernacular school, giving birth to the KLE Society. What began as a small initiative has since grown into a formidable network of over 250 institutions, including private universities, international schools, medical and engineering colleges, and a 3,000-bed super-specialty hospital and research centre.

To mark a century of service, the KLE Centenary Museum was envisioned not merely as a commemorative space, but as a future-facing symbol of the institution’s values. The chosen site was an 80-year-old, stone-and-timber building in the main campus—once a principal’s residence, later a nursery, and eventually a neglected storage space. Its quiet resilience made it a fitting metaphor for the Society’s evolution. Instead of erasing the old, the design embraced its character, restoring the building while respectfully transforming it into a contemporary museum.

The surrounding landscape, once a weedy garden with remnants of a go-kart track, was reimagined to extend the museum narrative. Two new pavilions were introduced, interwoven with the existing trees. The entry sequence begins at the ‘Pavilion of the Saptarishis’—a clay-tiled, L-shaped walkway wrapping around a fig tree. One side honours the seven founders, the other the three benefactors. A statue of 12th-century reformer Shri Basaveshwara sits at its heart, echoing the Society’s philosophical grounding. A lotus pond anchors the entry, encouraging a singular, reflective approach.

The museum unfolds as a linear, chronological experience. The original roof was rebuilt in light steel and timber with Mangalore tiles; clerestory windows now usher in daylight. Internal walls were removed to open the plan into a seamless exhibition space. The central load-bearing core was retained to support a new mezzanine and audio-visual room. A white, curving staircase spirals around it—an armature that choreographs both circulation and display, creating a layered spatial journey.

On exiting, visitors pass through a teak-latticed glass enclosure, softly transitioning from interior to landscape. This pavilion commemorates the many dignitaries—presidents, prime ministers, and visionaries like CV Raman—who have engaged with the KLE community. More than a museum, this is a public space rooted in memory, movement, and meaning—preserving Belagavi’s architectural heritage while celebrating the enduring legacy of the KLE Society.
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Project Specifications

Category
Architecture
Type
Institutional
Site Area
10,882 sqft.
Built Area
8,381 sqft.
Location
Belagavi
Design Firm
Thirdspace architecture studio
Principal Designer
Praveen bavadekar & namrata betigiri

About the Architect

Praveen Bavadekar blends research, context, and experimentation to shape architecture that inhabits the in between—urban and rural, old and new, landscape and structure. Educated at Bangalore University and the Architectural Association in London, he returned to Belagavi in 2003 to found Thirdspa...

About the Firm

Thirdspace Architecture Studio

Founded in 2002, Thirdspace Architecture Studio operates from Belagavi and Pune, celebrating the diversity and dynamism of contemporary India. This multidisciplinary firm span architecture, interio...

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of project is KLE Centenary Museum?

KLE Centenary Museum is a Institutional project in the Architecture category, designed by Thirdspace architecture studio.

Where is this project located?

This project is located in Belagavi.

What are the project specifications?

The project has a site area of 10,882 sqft. and a built-up area of 8,381 sqft..

Who designed this project?

This project was designed by Praveen Bavadekar & Namrata Betigiri, Principal Designers at Thirdspace architecture studio.

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