Taxila Visitor Center: Inducing A Sense of Arrival in the City

Abstract

Taxila is a world heritage city that holds immense cultural and architectural significance. It has a large number of Buddhist monuments, monasteries, ancient remains and landmarks that make the city an important area for local as well as international tourists. This thesis deals with the introduction of a Visitor Center that aims on rejuvenating the ancient city as well as on enhancing the current urban fabric coexisting with it. It will capture the essence of the city, encapsulating both the past and present. It offers an exuberant experience of the dual attributes of the old and new city that run parallel to one another. Being called the 'City of Stones', Taxila is the hub of rich culture and crafts. It provides an opportunity to signify the eminent stone craft of the city as well as enhance its primitive architectural features established by ancient civilizations. It will provide a platform to local artists and craftsmen to showcase their work and to amalgamate the dead and live characteristics of the city. It will offer a hierarchical experience to the users, incorporating the contextual elements in the design proposal. It will reincarnate the memory of the city and manifest its gradual development over the centuries. The architectural intervention incorporates the contextual programs and features brought together on one platform in order to signify their characteristics. The spatial configuration of the programs denotes the overall experience of the city. The design induces a sense of arrival in the city and provide a learning experience for the users regarding the city's eminent features.