Ram Mandir Pedi, Ayodhya | Competition entry | In collaboration with Ar. Harsha Garg
We are honoured to share that our design for the Lata Mangeshkar Chowk at Ram Mandir Pedi, Ayodhya, won second prize in the design competition organised by the Ayodhya Development Authority, Government of Uttar Pradesh. This entry was developed jointly by Ar. Deepak Khandelwal (Udaipur) and Ar. Harsha Garg (Bharatpur).
The brief
The Authority asked for a public square honouring Lata Mangeshkar, whose devotion to Lord Ram ran deep throughout her life. The aim was not a monument to look at but a place to stay in, where pilgrims, residents and passers-by could sit together and listen to her bhajans and songs.
Our approach
For us, the challenge was to design a space where music, faith and everyday public life meet. [Describe the central idea here: for example, how the layout guides movement, where people sit, how sound and shade are handled, and any symbolic element drawn from her music.]
The competition
The competition ran from 4 to 20 June and received entries from 56 architects across 13 states. Being recognised in this field for a site of such cultural and spiritual importance means a great deal to us.
Gratitude
We thank the Ayodhya Development Authority for creating an open platform that lets young practices contribute to the city’s transformation. Projects like this remind us why we do this work: architecture at its best gives people a place to gather, remember and feel something together.
