Rainbow Field

By Marina Correa

Photography: Courtesy the architect

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A temporary temple pavilion resonates in a kaleidoscope of colour and light in an open field on the outskirts of Kolkata…

 “The constant flow of people played a major role in conceptualizing the design while a notion of continuous movement was its guiding principle,” explains Abin Chaudhuri, principal architect, Abin Design Studio, who has diligently created the pavilion out of cost-effective bamboo poles.

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Visualizing the pavilion as a rising circular volume, due emphasis is laid on the focal idol, which is placed under the vibrant bunting. Movement is directed  around the pavilion to create a journey of ever-changing views. Gliding sight-lines across a coloured spectrum succeed in creating the desired effect of movement among, between and above the elements of the pavilion.

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Bamboo being durable, bio-degradable and locally available became a strategic choice. Cut to specific lengths ranging from 2 feet to 15 feet, the poles are manually sorted, grouped and painted in 15 different bright psychedelic colours. This simple exercise aptly portrays a celebratory mood.

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Retro-reflective vinyl stickers pasted on top of each of the 1,800 bamboo poles to provide a glistening effect, make the pavilion appear like a giant cake full of lit-candles at dusk.

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Since it was a temporary project, Abin Design Studio planned for the poles to be reused after the festival and they were thus carefully re-catalogued and stored for the future.

Today, they have found use as decorative fencing for a football field of the same community — giving the word ‘temporary’ a whole new meaning.