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Museum & Art Gallery Architectural Design

byRMA ArchitectsTakes projects across India; Visit office in Kala Ghoda, MumbaiStarts from₹400 per sq. ft. of Built-Up AreaView full gallery

We design museums and galleries as acts of conservation and spatial choreography, prioritizing visitor flow, light, and context-driven architecture.

The interior renovation of the Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai involved creating highly flexible exhibition spaces. These movable black partitions allow for endless configurations, accommodating a wide range of artistic installations.

The main hall of the Vismaya private museum in Alibaug features a curving interior wall and strategically placed skylights. The space is designed to house large-scale sculptures, with the architecture itself becoming a quiet, sculptural backdrop.

A view from the subterranean gallery at the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum. A large glass wall opens the underground space to a sunken courtyard, bringing in natural light and connecting the gallery to the landscape above.

The exterior of the Vismaya museum is a composition of bold, simple forms articulated in different colors and textures. This approach breaks down the building's mass and responds to the surrounding landscape and internal display requirements.

An artwork is suspended in the central atrium of the CSMVS museum's staircase extension, which we completed in 1998. We design circulation spaces in cultural institutions to double as dramatic galleries for site-specific installations.

The Children's Museum at CSMVS in Mumbai is carefully nestled under the canopy of large, existing trees. The design preserves the natural heritage of the site while creating a protected, shaded environment for the new building.

For the Jehangir Art Gallery renovation, we designed a system of modular, movable partitions. This allows the gallery to transform its spatial layout to suit the specific needs of each exhibition, ensuring maximum flexibility.

In retrofitting a heritage building for the Sakshi Art Gallery, we created a fluid circulation path through a series of interconnected rooms. The ambiguous thresholds and clean, minimalist walls provide a neutral canvas for the art.

A view of the subterranean gallery at the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum, showing the seamless transition from the interior exhibition space to the sunken courtyard. A shallow water channel at the base of the glass reflects light into the gallery.

A detail from the Heritage House at the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Gallery. Our conservation work involved carefully restoring original features like this ornate spiral staircase and patterned tile floor, preserving the residential ambiance of the historic home.

About Museums & Art Galleries: Curating Cultural Experiences

When we expand heritage sites, we often look downward. For the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum in Ahmedabad, we designed a subterranean gallery that respects the historic sightlines of the existing mansion. This approach allows us to significantly increase exhibition space while ensuring the historic landscape remains undisturbed by new, intrusive massing.

Specialists in heritage conservation and restoration. — Approved by the tribe
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RMA Architects

Takes projects across India; Visit office in Kala Ghoda, MumbaiStarts from ₹400 per sq. ft. of Built-Up Area

We have been practicing architecture since 1990 with a core belief that buildings should sit quietly but powerfully in their context. Our process is rooted in deep collaboration, where we blend traditional spatial sensibilities with contemporary needs to create environments that feel inherently alive.

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The entrance gallery at the Museum of Art & Photography (MAP) in Bangalore, featuring sculptures by Stephen Cox. The space is designed as a transitional zone, preparing the visitor for the experience within and showcasing the powerful dialogue between art and architecture.21
The "Small is beautiful - a billion stories" exhibition, designed for the London Design Biennale and later shown in India. The design uses modular display panels and focused lighting to present complex ideas in an accessible and engaging format.
A sculpture by Stephen Cox is given a place of honor at the MAP preview, set against a bed of marigolds. This installation highlights the integration of cultural traditions and contemporary art within the museum's architectural framework.

Cultural and Exhibition Architecture in Bangalore

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Soumitro GhoshDesign Studio in Koramangala; Projects across India
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The arched hallway of the Sister Nivedita Museum, where restored brickwork and new bas-relief panels coexist. Our restoration philosophy involves a careful dialogue between the old and the new, respecting the building's original character.
The arched hallway of the Sister Nivedita Museum, where restored brickwork and new bas-relief panels coexist. Our restoration philosophy involves a careful dialogue between the old and the new, respecting the building's original character.
The new public staircase we introduced at the Sister Nivedita Museum. Crafted from steel and wood, its modern form is a deliberate counterpoint to the historic brick walls, creating a clear distinction between the original structure and our intervention.

Museum Design and Heritage Restoration

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SJK ArchitectsBased in Colaba, Mumbai; Projects across India
The outdoor cafeteria at Sargakhet Handicraft Centre in Mukteshwar, set on a terrace with brick flooring. This space was created by transforming a dilapidated British-era Post Office into a hub for local artisans.17
Visitors enjoying the panoramic valley views from the Sargakhet Handicraft Centre. The design seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor spaces, creating a memorable experience that promotes sustainable tourism.
The restored Sargakhet Handicraft Centre nestled in the hilly terrain of Uttarakhand. The project involved renovating the stone structure and landscaping the surrounding area to create an accessible and inviting destination.
An aerial view of the outdoor seating area at Sargakhet, showing the concentric brick flooring and stone benches that complement the natural landscape and the restored heritage building.

Adaptive Reuse and Heritage Conservation Design

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Compartment S4Studios in Ahmedabad & Bengaluru; Public space projects across India
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The Lahori Gate Museum project is a vital example of adaptive reuse, reviving a historic structure to tell the story of Chandni Chowk's cultural heritage. Once complete, it will serve as a landmark destination for heritage tourism in Delhi.
Our work on the Lahori Gate Museum has been featured in several national newspapers. This coverage highlights our ongoing commitment to heritage conservation and the transformation of historic buildings into vibrant cultural spaces.

Cultural and Civic Architecture for Public Spaces

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Kapil Krishan AggarwalTakes projects across India; Visit studio in South Extension II, New Delhi
The restored colonial building at the KLE Centenary Museum, viewed across the lotus pond. Our intervention preserved the original stone and timber facade while integrating it into a newly designed plaza that serves the public.26
An overview of the museum's outdoor plaza, showing the dialogue between the restored heritage building and the new open-air pavilions. This landscape design creates a public gathering space that extends the museum's function beyond its walls.
The Rishi Pavilion, where busts of the institution's founders are displayed. The design uses a combination of modern architectural forms, natural materials, and serene water features to create a contemplative space for visitors.
The covered walkway of the Rishi Pavilion, where visitors are guided along a curated path. This element exemplifies our use of landscape as a performative tool to shape the visitor's experience and narrative journey.

Award-Winning Museum and Cultural Space Design

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ThirdspaceStudios in Pune & Belagavi; Heritage projects pan-India
An aerial view of the Cipla Museum and Dining Facility, a project shortlisted for the World Architecture Festival. The design features organic, flowing forms that create a unique civic space, blending the building with the surrounding landscape.29
A perspective of the Cipla Museum, showing the grand, curved staircase that leads visitors through the space. The extensive use of glass and the fluid lines of the structure are designed to create a seamless indoor-outdoor experience.
A close-up render of the Cipla Museum, highlighting the smooth, stone-like texture of the façade and the large, curved glass walls. The design is meant to feel both monumental and approachable.
Another view of the Cipla Museum, showcasing its sculptural form nestled within a lush green landscape. This project is a testament to how architecture can create powerful, experiential civic spaces.

Cultural and Community Architectural Projects

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Qutub MandviwalaTakes projects across India; Visit office in Mahalakshmi, Mumbai

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