Hi-tech auditorium comes up near Dharwad

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Hubli/Hi-tech-auditorium-comes-up-near-Dharwad/articleshow/4214435.cms

HUBLI: Who said the Indus Valley civilization fails to inspire life in modern times Terracotta or baked earth, that provided the base material

for statues and buildings, has made its way to north Karnataka now. An imposing building of terracotta exterior is set to become a landmark between the twin-cities of Hubli and Dharwad.

Dr D Veerandra Heggade Kalakshetra near Dharwad is sure to remind one of the rare architectural marvels of the terracota temples of Rasa Manch in Bishnupur in West Bengal. The visual delight is a multi-purpose auditorium built by the Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Education Society (SDM). "This is one of the few modern buildings constructed using terracotta," says SDM Medical College director Niranjan Kumar.

The Kalakeshtra has been built using cement and concrete. The huge pillars and walls of the sprawling building has terracotta tiles on the outside. Intricately crafted terracotta pieces add a rare beauty to the building.

The 35,000 sqft hall can accommodate over 1,100 audience. The centrally air-conditioned structure has a 2,800 sqft wide stage with six green rooms. The auditorium is equipped with state-of-the-art acoustics. Padded walls make the hall sound-proof.

The red and brown cubical building has a pyramid-shaped roof. The 20,000 sqft roof has rectangular shingles embedded in metal. The 45-foot walls and huge pillars have wire-cut tiles. There are 10 arches on each side of the building.