Mumbai: Climb up a ladder, read a book, under the sky

Its an unusually muggy day in August but the rainkissed grass at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Vastu Sangrahalaya CSMVS remind us that the rains havent bid us goodbye Its the perfect setting nods architect Nuru Karim widening his gaze to the Indo Saracenic museum faccedilade in the backdrop His assistants meanwhile place a miniature model of a matrixlike installation on the lawns I am seeing the model for the first time says an excited Priyasri Patodia galleristThe duo has been planning a popup books pavilion for the city and is happy that their project will fructify in a little over a months time Karim breaks it down The bookworm popup is a 120ft x 40ft linear temporary installation its a House of Books constructed out of a modular prefabricated ladder system to house titles and spaces for reading Patodia says the project focuses primarily on the 018 age groupDesigns on booksWeve been talking about this for years but there was no money she smiles However in February when the third edition of Karims show NUDES was up at her Worli gallery the two decided it was time Public art projects connect to thematic areas that involves overall human development whether water health or sanitation But the idea of this pavilion is to foster a love for reading Everyone is obsessed with gadgets today the tactile experience of reading a book is fading says KarimAn artists impression of how the pavilion can be experienced inside out to offer shaded reading and browsing zones Pic courtesyNuru KarimInterestingly both drew from their past to fuel the idea Karim recalls his student days in London when hed be with a sandwich an apple and a book on campus For Patodia it was her time in Baroda when multiplexes didnt exist So the family would head to museums she recalls If we dont start working with this generation and the next India will lose its history and ancient texts If they are made aware of it and able to connect it with the present its our victoryA moving ideaKarim was clear that the structure had to be modular with a low carbon footprint We couldnt put a nail in the lawns and it cannot take a heavy load plus it had to be deployable because after these two months wed like to move it to a new place For example if this were to become a permanent idea in a village somwhere in India we could fashion the structure out of bamboo or terracota he shares This pop up pavilion will be made from recycled plywood and assembled with nuts and bolts Ninety percent of the fabrication will be predone and minor finishes will take place on siteThe project took close to nine months of design and research The larger idea was to decentralise the thought that reading should be an indoor activity and bring it outside into a public space We wanted it the pavilion to be a magnet where people could pick a book in any Indian language and enjoy the experience And not just reading we hope it becomes a space for other activities too says Bilwa KulkarniPoddar education officer at CSMVS The popups duration coincides with a busy itinerary due to the holiday seasonNuru Karim and Priyasri Patodia PicsPradeep DhivarIn fact it would be great if Karim does a modelmaking workshop right here she suggests pointing to the recently opened childrens museum within the campusKarim and Patodia hope to travel with the pavilion and spread the message of empowerment through education and learning I am keener for it to reach semiurban and rural India because people there are closer to their roots reasons PatodiaWe will put it out there hopefully corporates or the government will take it to the next level says Karim Its never a fiscal issue We believe that if there is intent and if it is a good concept people will fund it Often its about timing he reminds us Weve had the full support from Sabyasachi Mukherjee he says of the CSMVS director And wed love to do a version two or three elsewhere If we scale this up the template can be used for a permanent school library even The books pavilion will be up at CSMVS Fort from October 1 to November 30Also ReadThe Zoya Factor From book to the big screenCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates