The Periyar Arivulagam in Coimbatore, built by the Tamil Nadu Government, has been designed to offer visitors an immersive experience of space science, modern technology and interactive scientific exhibits. Spread across 6.98 acres, the facility has a built-up area of 1,98,000 square feet, comprising a ground floor and seven upper floors.
Periyar Arivulagam Architect Ponni Concessao, who was selected through a design competition conducted by the State Government, said the building was conceptualised around the idea of an open book. The design reflects Coimbatore’s identity as an industrial city, where science and technological advancement play an important role.
Instead of developing a conventional science centre, the design focuses on space science, which is increasingly regarded as a new frontier of exploration and knowledge.
One of the major attractions is a specially designed space lift that takes visitors from the ground floor to the eighth floor. The experience has been created to simulate the sensation of travelling through space in a rocket, giving visitors an immersive impression of moving towards the cosmos.
According to Concessao, the space lift is a distinctive feature of the facility and was introduced as a first-of-its-kind attraction in an Indian library or knowledge centre.
Another major attraction is a state-of-the-art planetarium featuring a 360-degree screen. Visitors can sit back and experience visual presentations of outer space, stars and galaxies, offering an immersive introduction to the universe.
The first-floor science gallery features an augmented reality (AR) experience involving former President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam. Visitors can sit in a designated seat and watch a presentation designed to create the impression that Dr. Kalam is speaking directly to them.
An interactive weighing exhibit allows visitors to discover how their weight would differ on other planets compared with Earth. By stepping onto the platform, visitors can explore the effects of different planetary gravitational forces, including those of Mars and Jupiter.
The centre also houses robots, advanced technological exhibits, an earthquake simulation table and plant cell models. These interactive displays are intended to make scientific concepts easier to understand and encourage visitors to explore scientific principles through practical experiences.
Dedicated facilities for persons with disabilities and reading areas for children are also among the features outlined in the presentation.
Explaining the concept behind the project, Concessao said the building’s open-book design was her own idea. She added that the decision to focus on space science was driven by Coimbatore’s industrial character and the importance of science to the city’s future.
The knowledge centre is intended to provide visitors with opportunities to explore science, understand Tamil Nadu’s history and learn about the State’s past, present and future. Through its combination of architectural design, immersive attractions and interactive exhibits, Periyar Arivulagam aims to encourage scientific curiosity among children, students and the general public while making knowledge more accessible to visitors of different age
groups.
