SITE SELECTION + PROGRAM 

THE MANDAPESHWAR CAVES IN BORIVALI, MUMBAI, ARE ANCIENT ROCK-CUT CAVES DATING BACK TO THE 8TH CENTURY. THEY SHOWCASE A BLEND OF BUDDHIST AND HINDU ARCHITECTURAL STYLES. THE CAVES FEATURE INTRICATE CARVINGS AND SCULPTURES, INCLUDING DEPICTIONS OF HINDU DEITIES LIKE SHIVA AND GANESHA.

 THE CAVES WERE INFLUENCED, INITIALLY BUDDHIST, THEY WERE LATER INFLUENCED BY HINDUISM, AND EVEN USED AS A CHURCH BY THE PORTUGUESE IN 1544. THIS RICH HISTORY MAKES THE MANDAPESHWAR CAVES A UNIQUE SPACE FOR REFLECTION AND LEARNING ABOUT THE CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS HERITAGE OF THE REGION. 

THE SPACE DESIGNED IS, TO HOLD THE WANDERING THOUGHTS, LET THEM DWELL IN THE HISTORY OF THE ROCK AND LET THEM FIND A PLACE FOR REFUGE PERHAPS. A PROGRAM TO INTRODUCE INTERACTING WITH THE HISTORICAL EXHIBITION.