Competition launched for war museum in New Delhi

India’s government has launched a global architecture competition for a new Indian National War Museum in New Delhi.

The new museum will be located on a 4.3 hectare site in Princess Park in the Lutyens Zone near to India Gate. It will need to house an underground tunnel connecting the new museum to the planned National War Memorial close by.

The museum will be a tribute to Indian soldiers and showcase the nation’s military culture, customs, traditions and history.

Design specifications request that the new building should have a maximum ground coverage of 35% of the total site and rise a maximum of 26 metres.

It is to be an “imposing edifice” in the park to match the surrounding grandeur and style of other landmark buildings such as Baroda House, have a minimal carbon footprint and be earthquake resistant.

The deadline for submissions is October 15 and entries will be whittled down to a shortlist of nine by November 15. Those nine will be eligible for a prize each of $3,000 and will then be asked to submit detailed designs, including 3D models, and a give a presentation within the next month. The winner and runners up will be announced on New Year’s Eve.

The winner will be awarded $75,000 prize and the two runners up $50,000 and $25,000 respectively.

New Delhi was conceived by Edwin Lutyens and built between 1912 and 1930 covering 29 sq km in the Delhi region. The architect also designed India Gate and the Indian president’s official residence formerly the Viceroy’s House and now known as the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The new war museum will sit facing it at the other end of Vijay Path.

To enter go to the competition website.