Date of Award
Spring 5-22-2026
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Design (MDes) in Interior Studies / Exhibition + Narrative Environments
Department
Interior Architecture
First Advisor
Francesca Liuni
Abstract
Jadughar or the House of Magic is what people call a 'museum' in parts of South Asia. The practice of museum making, at its origin, is the act of collecting, preserving, interpreting and representing a culture’s tangible and intangible heritage to make it accessible to diverse audiences. Since the early 19th century such practices have been performed at various kala bhandars (art centers) in India, without the need of a formal or institutional organisation. The British introduced the model of a ‘museum’ in South Asia, with the aim of not only preserving ethnographic collections, but also showcasing their power and pride in the colony. The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum in Byculla, Mumbai, formerly known as the Victoria and Albert Museum, was the third museum established by the British in India. It was built in 1855 to house duplicate Indian artifacts from the Great Exhibition of 1851 in London (the originals are still present among the 60,000 South Asian objects at the Victoria & Albert Museum, London ). The Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum is located in one of the most ethnically diverse districts of Mumbai, and comprises archival maps, paintings, special kaarigari (handicraft) work, and models showing trade and occupation.
After multiple renovations, the decisions to ‘preserve’ and ‘conserve’ its original structure remains unanimous, though this response fails to acknowledge the institution’s colonial birth and history, nor does the museum respond to the culture of the community of Byculla, making it inaccessible and foreign to locals.
How do we confront the multilayered histories of a site through architectural, exhibition design and curatorial interventions? Thinking through a constructive rebirth of the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum, how can places like this be reimagined as transparent bodies that reflect the society and community they reside in, making kala and kaarigari (arts and crafts) accessible and responsive to their context at all times?
My thesis is a multilingual intervention on the Dr. Bhau Daji Lad Museum as an example of how contemporary, decolonial and simple design dialogue can transform the identity of a building.
Recommended Citation
Shah, Dhruvi A., "Jadughar: The House of Magic" (2026). Masters Theses. 1590.
https://digitalcommons.risd.edu/masterstheses/1590
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