Reviving the Legacy: Design Factory India breathes new life into the historic Red Fort complex in Delhi

As the world commemorates World Heritage Day, a remarkable architectural project stands as a testament to India’s rich cultural heritage and the power of adaptive reuse. The Red Fort Centre, a visionary endeavor by Design Factory India (DFI), has transformed a long-neglected British military barrack within the iconic Red Fort complex into a captivating visitor experience, seamlessly blending history, design, and innovation.

Nestled within the UNESCO World Heritage site of the Red Fort, the Red Fort Centre serves as a gateway for visitors to re-experience the events and heritage-built fabric that have shaped this iconic fortress over centuries. DFI’s approach to adaptive reuse has breathed new life into one of the defunct structures of the British military barracks, which were built after the first war of Independence in 1857.

The barracks themselves hold a layered history, as the colonial government constructed them using materials from the ruins of the original Mughal buildings that once stood within the Red Fort’s premises. As DFI meticulously peeled away the layers of plaster and paint, they uncovered intricately carved stones embedded in the masonry, serving as a poignant reminder of the fort’s multifaceted past.

With this discovery, DFI’s contemporary design strategy for the visitor center aimed to honor the fortress’s multi-layered history without being ostensive or subdued. The team carefully crafted a visual language, scenography, customized lighting design, furniture design, and installations that critically preserve the remnants of the past while activating dormant spatial experiences.

DFI’s commitment to empowering local expertise and sustainable practices was evident throughout the project. The use of traditional materials like lime, surkhi (powdered bricks), jute, bail water, and Badarpur sand, combined with customized bricks and Red Agra Sandstone from the Dholpura mines, paid homage to the fort’s original construction methods. Handmade concrete pendant lights and the repurposing of existing materials further reinforced the project’s sustainable ethos.

The Red Fort Centre offers visitors a truly immersive experience, with a cafeteria, shops, a 360-degree projection theatre, and augmented reality installations on the ground floor. On the first floor, named “Afsana: The Red Fort Story,” visitors embark on an interactive journey that underpins the life and culture of the fort and its context in today’s India. Through projection mapping, holography, LED TV panels, and augmented reality rooms, the center brings history to life, showcasing significant events that shaped the country’s political order and the independence movement.

By respectfully reinterpreting the Red Fort through the visitors’ center, Design Factory India has elevated this iconic monument beyond just a frame of reference or a photogenic wonder. Engaging visitors in immersive experiences, the Red Fort Centre invites citizens to admire the ingenuity of Indian heritage and explore the cultural richness of Delhi city through aesthetically pleasing and highly functional explorations. This transformative project distinguishes the Red Fort as a universal landmark of courage, wisdom, knowledge, and hands-on innovation, cementing its legacy for generations to come.

Fact File

Area: 20,000 sq. ft.

Client: Dalmia Bharat Ltd.

Photographs by Noughts and Crosses