Project Spotlight: Solina Silk Factory, Srinagar
We transformed this 22-acre historic industrial site into a vibrant cultural hub, keeping its soul intact while opening it up for the community.
A central feature of our adaptive reuse plan is this lounge area, complete with a contemporary spiral staircase. It demonstrates how modern architectural interventions can create functional, inviting spaces within a historic industrial setting.
The project extends beyond the buildings to create a thriving public plaza. This outdoor space is designed to host markets and social gatherings, breathing new life into the 22-acre heritage site and supporting local artisan livelihoods.
This exhibition space showcases Kashmiri textiles and crafts. We retained the original exposed brick and roof trusses, adding modern lighting and decorative elements inspired by local motifs to create a gallery that honors both the craft and the building's history.
Another view of a communal seating area within the repurposed factory. The long, open hall, characteristic of industrial architecture, is broken into smaller, intimate zones for conversation and relaxation, making the large space feel human-scaled.
This rendering illustrates the flow through the main gallery, where visitors can experience art and fashion installations. The design prioritizes open circulation paths and natural light from the original clerestory windows, enhancing the visitor experience.
To create flexible workshop areas, we proposed using translucent partitions. This allows for the division of space when needed for classes or artisan work, without sacrificing the sense of openness and light that defines the factory's interior.
About this collection
We believe adaptive reuse isn’t about erasing the past, but giving it a second life. In the Solina project, we used translucent, movable partitions to break down the massive 22-acre factory floor. This allows the space to flex for artisan workshops or exhibitions without hiding the raw, industrial beauty of the original brickwork and steel trusses. It is about creating intimate, human-scaled zones within a grand, historic skeleton.
The Heritage Challenge
Every site carries a dastaan—a story waiting to be told. The Solina Silk Factory presented a complex challenge: how to convert a sprawling industrial complex into a contemporary cultural space while respecting its Kashmiri industrial identity. Our goal was to retain the site's rugged industrial character while introducing modern functionalities that would make it accessible to the public.
Technical Interventions
Modernizing heritage structures requires surgical precision. We focused on:
- Structural Retrofitting: Rather than replacing the original framework, we reinforced existing steel trusses and masonry to support new usage without compromising the authentic aesthetic.
- Passive Climate Design: We utilized the factory's original clerestory windows to maximize natural light and airflow, minimizing the need for artificial energy consumption.
- Modern Insertions: We carefully placed contemporary glass and steel elements to contrast with the rough brick, clearly demarcating the old versus the new without creating visual friction.
Creating a Public Realm
Architecture, for us, is about more than the building envelope; it is about the spaces between. We redesigned the outdoor 22-acre site to create a public plaza. This area serves as a breathing room for the city, intended for artisan markets, community gatherings, and social interaction. By connecting the indoor exhibition halls with this open plaza, we ensured the project serves the local community daily, not just on special occasions. This project serves as a blueprint for how we approach adaptive reuse across Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and the rest of India.
Architecture Dialogue
At Architecture Dialogue, we listen to the site and the stories it holds. My team and I do not just design buildings; we start conversations between the old and the new, ensuring your space feels right for you and the history it carries.
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