Summer 2014
Humayun’s tomb interpretation center
During daily prayers, once the inside of the mosque is filled, people line up outside in courtyards and streets to join the prayer from without. This transforms what was once a public space for market places, meetings, and general activity, into a space for communal gathering and worship. Once the prayer ends, though, the public space reverts immediately to its original use. This is the power of the “courtyard”: fulfilling multiple functional needs through the passage of time, yet always serving the public through assembly, orientation and exhibition.
Humayun’s Tomb is among many historic Islamic monuments throughout Delhi: Emperor Humayun himself was a Mughal ruler. Nearby, there is the tomb of Isa Khan, a Mughal Noble. When we step back, Islamic monuments, mosques and cultural centers apear throughout Delhi and beyond. This proposal is a space of communion for locals and tourists alike, interpreting the past and present in a rapidly expanding urban context. It provides refuge from the speed and noise of the city and protection from the heat and humidity. It suggests respect for the past while inviting the future with a folly overlooking the Yamuna River and the Seven Cities of Delhi.
