The Gram Panchayat Library initiative explores how libraries in rural Karnataka can evolve beyond repositories of books to become vibrant civic spaces for learning, exchange, and community life.Conceived as a set of adaptable architectural prototypes, the project reimagines the village library as a contemporary public institution—one that responds to local contexts while remaining accessible, inclusive, and capable of evolving over time.

Developed for typical Gram Panchayat sites, the proposals seek to demonstrate how modest public investments can create meaningful social infrastructure in rural settlements.

The project is guided by four core principles: accessibility, adaptability, natural light, and ventilation. Rather than proposing a singular architectural solution, the study develops multiple spatial typologies that respond to varying site conditions and patterns of use. These include the Katte—drawing from the traditional village gathering space; the Podium—which liberates the ground plane to create a public plaza beneath the library; and the Amphitheatre—which integrates spaces for performance, play, and community events.

Project

Prototype for Rural Libraries, Karnataka

Year

2023

Client

Gram Panchayat

What We Did

Design prototypes

Status

Pitch Project