FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Smritivan: A Testament to Human Resilience

SIDDHARTH BATHLA, in collaboration with a team of creative minds, has unveiled Smritivan, India's largest memorial-museum, dedicated to the devastating 2001 earthquake in Bhuj, Gujarat. Spread over 9200 square meters, the museum presents a confluence of local crafts in a contemporary design language, with over 100 exhibits across 7 thematic blocks. The museum was inaugurated in August 2022 by the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, attracting an average footfall of over 100,000 visitors every quarter.

All bespoke installations and narrative elements were custom-designed and fabricated in India, following iterative experimentation and prototyping. The museum features a large-scale quake simulator, digital homage, and personal stories, creating an emotional connection for visitors. The exhibition space is divided into seven blocks, further divided into 27 galleries, each offering a unique and immersive experience.

The design and content of Smritivan are rooted in intensive research, ethnography, and archival data, with a focus on resilient stories of people and landscapes. The project was initiated in 2018, with on-site execution beginning in 2020. The museum continues to curate and engage with public programming, hosting India’s first design biennale on the “art of storytelling.”

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