As you step off the freshly mowed green grass and onto the cold black stone floor within the Sabarmati Ashram, you hear your footstep echo through the building. It is almost as though the architect, Charles Correa, hoped that the user would stop for a second to realize that his simple action had a resonating impact.

 

Stepping from the scorching sun into the shade is in itself a blissful experience, but Mr. Correra enhances this atmosphere with his typical exposed brickwork and raw concrete which give an unparalleled aesthetic 'Indian-ish' appeal to the space. The exposed brick columns dig gently into the green grass below while the floor slab seems to float above it. With this, he has managed to root the building to its surroundings, looking almost as though it was naturally meant to be there. The walkways are punctuated with sleek and simple seating slabs that gracefully break the fall of the sunlight hitting the floor.

 

In summary, the simplicity of the space, its naked walls and polished concrete beams are perhaps an apt representation of the life led by Gandhiji.