October-December 2024
Digitised Museum Gallery Design Proposal
Shimla, India
As part of E Factor Experiences Ltd
Digitised Museum Gallery
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Bantony Castle
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Shimla
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Digitised Museum Gallery * Bantony Castle * Shimla *
This design proposal for a Digitised Museum Gallery at the restored Bantony Castle in Shimla was conceived as a layered educational experience — one that invites visitors to engage critically and emotionally with the history of Shimla and the broader cultural landscape of Himachal Pradesh.
The narrative is structured across two levels. The ground floor traces the colonial imprint on Shimla: its emergence as the British summer capital, its infrastructural and social transformations, its role in the independence movement, post-independence policymaking, and the everyday lives of its residents. It also includes a gallery on the restoration of the Castle and an immersive room designed to host periodically updated content for repeat audiences.
The first floor shifts focus to Himachal’s indigenous lifeworlds — highlighting traditional practices, ecological knowledge, biodiversity, cultural identities, and regional leaders, including a gallery dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi’s time in Shimla. A modular, flexible gallery on the second floor was also proposed to host cross-institutional collaborations with NGOs, students, and community stakeholders.
Developed through multiple site visits and visitor interviews, the proposal responds to feedback about current limitations: static, text-heavy displays with minimal sensory engagement. The resulting approach prioritises accessible, participatory, and historically grounded storytelling — using digital and physical media to create a more meaningful public encounter with the past.
Image Credit & Copyright: E Factor Experiences Ltd
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To reinterpret Bantony Castle as an immersive cultural space that fuses digital storytelling with heritage preservation.
To democratize access to Himachal’s layered history — from colonialism to ecological and cultural revival.
To shift museum-going from text-heavy learning to sensory yet educating experience.
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Site visit
Interviews with local residents and visiting tourists
Archival retrieval from national and local repositories
Visual mapping of on-site colonial architecture and indigenous objects
Photographic documentation and site-specific videography
Accessibility audits to ensure inclusive storytelling
Preparation of a comprehensive design proposal, along with implementation strategy
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British Raj governance and social life in Shimla
Indigenous traditions and artistic practices of Himachal
Political movements and visits by Gandhi in the hills
Biodiversity and environmental narratives of the region
Post-independence personalities and public memory
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Research writing to identify chronological and thematic organisation to assess spatial flow
Concise scriptwriting for short-format design proposal video
Proposal Writing
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Comprehensive design proposal, along with implementation strategy
Structured narrative across two levels aligned with the architectural layout
Multi-zonal exhibition plan reflecting historical and cultural themes
Visitor-led content planning informed by primary feedback
Ground floor: narratives of British colonialism, independence, post-independence governance, and daily life in Shimla
First floor: indigenous lifeworlds of Himachal, including biodiversity, cultural practices, and regional leaders
Proposed modular gallery for rotating exhibitions and cross-institutional collaborations on each floor
Spatial Planning & Access Strategy
To preserve the integrity of the restored heritage and accommodate access limitations to the upper floor, the narrative of Shimla’s history was concentrated on the ground level. Themes related to state-wide culture, ecology, and identity were placed on the first floor to balance spatial distribution. This ensured that visitors with limited mobility could still experience a complete and meaningful capsule of Shimla’s layered past, even without accessing the upper level.
Exhibition Flexibility & Audience Engagement
The proposal balances permanent thematic galleries with modular exhibition zones on both floors. This dual approach allows for rotating content tailored to local festivals, academic partnerships, or current events — keeping the museum relevant for Shimla residents while offering fresh experiences to repeat tourists. The strategy was shaped by insights from demographic research and visitor interviews.
Shimla
Video Copyright: E Factor Experiences Ltd