On display: How public infra can be both good & beautiful

Kolkata: An exhibition narrating a serendipitous sequence of events over the past decade in two suburban Bengal towns that introduced the community to the power of design and demonstrated how architecture can expand its sphere of influence is underway at Hindustan Park.The architectural interventions in Bansberia and Adisaptagram — 4km apart in Hooghly — have attracted global attention with the avant-garde architecture of Adisaptagram Club, community centre, Narayantala thakurdalan and Gallery House community hall winning praise from international architects. While most of these public projects have till now been funded privately, the movement has now influenced government agencies to also join hands with the architect firm to do public-funded healthcare and tourism projects.

Abin Design Studio

(ADS) has been tasked with upgrading two ghats —

Triveni Sangam

and

Saptarshi

— and providing public amenities, including toilets and changing rooms, there. ADS founder and principal

Abin Chaudhuri

, who hails from Bansberia located around 55km from Kolkata, had hit the headlines in 2012 when, as a member of one of the community clubs there, he assisted with the design of the Kartik Puja pavilion.