B O N I T A R O Y
VR CHENNAI
WAYFINDING SYSTEM & DESIGN | PLACEMAKING & EXPERIENCE DESIGN
LOCATION: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU, INDIA | STATUS: COMPLETED IN JUNE 2018
CLIENT: VIRTUOUS RETAIL PVT. LTD.
Virtuous Retail is the largest pan-India owner of retail malls.
In prime locations across the top 10 cities; institutionally backed with $600MM equity sponsorship from The Xander Group Inc., India’s largest and most credible foreign investor in real estate.
A MILLION SQ. FT. OF MIXED USE RETAIL - THE CITY, IT'S RICH HERITAGE AND HISTORY OFFERED A WEALTH OF INSPIRATIONS & STORIES THAT WERE WEAVED IN WITHIN THE CENTRE.
The comprehensive wayfinding and placemaking program for VRC also involved creating several landmark installations that have created a unique customer experience.
Emphasising on the idea of the old and new living together in harmony and sometimes in conflict. A 2000 year-old dance tradition exists in the form of schools, festivals and performances at the same as manufacturing for some of the most sophisticated machines ever made.
The project was divided into two parts:
WAYFINDING
Branched into multiple sub-categories: External Signage | Internal Signage | Operational Signage | Destination Signs to list a few.
PLACEMAKING
Branched into three sub-categories: VR Installations | VR Destinations | The Dashavtarams
VR CHENNAI IS BUILT AROUND THE CENTRAL PREMISE OF CO-EXISTANCE OF THE OLD AND THE NEW THAT CREATES SOMETHING MAGNIFICIENT.
The culture of Chennai is distinctly different from that of any other city in India.
The centre draws its core from the city elements like the Checkered patterns, Vibrant and bright colours, Mandalas, Street art, Mythology stories and Architecture.
WAYFINDING
The outdoor signage used Madras checks whereas the indoor signage used Mandala patterns as inspiration. The centre had three zones, with signage of different colours helping visitors orient themselves with respect to the space.
THE DASHAVATARAMS
The Dashavataarams (ten avatars) of Lord Vishnu was one of the central narratives running through the space.
The representations were in multiple media and scattered across the centre encouraging the audience to explore the space in the form of a guided tour.
The form of the Matsya was represented as a 3 ft. long catfish, laser-cut out of a metal sheet.
The Narasimha was depicted in the form of a hand-painted mural in the airlock lobby. The location of the avatar was a nod to the legend of being neither inside nor outside.
The Vamana Avatar depicted the moment when Mahabali offers his head to the lord, it was represented as a hand painted mural.
The avatar of Lord Rama was interpreted as a replica of the main door of the Ramaswamy Temple.
The Krishna avatar is interpreted through carvings on the Gopuram, depicting poems and scenes from three stages of Lord Krishna’s life; his childhood, his youth and the crucial role he plays in the epic battle of Mahabharata.
THE INSTALLATIONS
All the installations aimed to reflect the traditions and culture of the city and craft a unique experience across the centre.
A colourful timeline of the region’s ancient heritage, from the beginning of the Sangam Era till the advent of the Colonial Era, a period spanning over a thousand years was etched on stone.
The extents of the kingdoms of the southern dynasties across various time periods were etched on the stone surface of the East Gate.
LOVE CHENNAI
Love Chennai installation was created following the declaration of love in every VR center so far.
VR POLE
The VR Pole installation displayed directions and distances to the various other VR centre from VR Chennai.
DIYA PORTAL
In Indian Culture, lighting an oil lamp is said to dispel darkness and welcome happiness. In many South Indian temples, a wall of oil lamps is dedicated to the goddess of prosperity, Lakshmi. The Diya Portal
was inspired by this tradition.
The sculpture is a replica of the Nandi idol at the Shiva temple in Gangakonda Cholapuram, considered to the gatekeeper and guardian of entire center of VR Chennai.
Embellished with the Dashavataram figurines, the 400 kg bell pays homage to the legendary forms of Lord Vishnu.
450 handcrafted terracotta bells were suspended from the ceiling near one of the center’s entrances.
This mural is an exquisite representation of the Samudramanthan, painted by the artists of Cholamandal Artist’s village and a blow glass installation designed by Klove Studio for one of the entrances of the center.
