Freedom Square Designed By Deearth Architects Reminisces The Rich History and Cultural Versatility of Calicut

Located in Calicut, Freedom Square is a multifunctional space dedicated to commemorating the historic fights and other significant historic movements for India's Freedom and liberation. Unfortunately, the old beach stage, which once stood where the freedom square is now had no landmarks or built space evoking a sense of the historical significance of the place, and hence the freedom square is conceptualized and designed by the architecture firm De Earth as an integrated solution. Ar. Vivek PP and Ar. Nishan M, co-founders of De Earth along with their design team Ar. Chinnu., Ar. Avani, Ar. Anamika. Ar. Shahim and artist Yadu Pradeep designed a state-of-the-art structure. The existing stage is meticulously carved as a versatile space that revitalizes the entire stretch of beach as a nodal point from the perspective of public life as well as historical and leisure travellers and the citizens themselves. The design team has shared details about the avant-garde project with SURFACES REPORTER (SR). Read on:

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Dilapidated Old Beach Stage Gets Facelift

The old beach stage in the location used to host several historical events and personalities. It was the most prominent and largest venue for cultural programs and political conventions in the region. The stage though was just a reminiscence of the past with its structure sinking & dilapidating due to ageing.  

Therefore, IIA Calicut center commissioned the work of the conceptualisation and design of Freedom Square- a space that becomes the testimony of the city’s rich history and cultural versatility.

The project can revitalize the entire stretch of beach as a nodal point from the perspective of public life as well as historical and leisure travellers and the citizens themselves.

Carefully Carved Out Space For Multiple Activities

The existing stage is carefully carved to be a multifunctional space, diverging the performance stages with a symbolic spine into the sea creating positive spaces. The large main stage facing south is designed for political events and large functions. 

The North stage is for cultural events and the central walk radiating from the space is designed as a reminiscence of Calicut's history with a walking gallery, with historical narratives engraved on curated plates. 

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Green rooms act as an asset for the successful functioning of the performance areas. Abstract wall sculptures depicting the historic Salt Satyagraha arouses historical memories and point towards the invisible roots of our city. 

Incorporates The City’s Cultural Versatility 

The cultural versatility of Calicut has been thoughtfully incorporated into the design. Freedom square itself adults to seasons, time, function & users. The space is equally open to political and cultural events of various scales. It also acts as a meeting place, striking photo destination, an urban gym and more.

The use of locally sourced natural materials not only adds a contextual charm while it also brings in an unaffected rustic charm and withstands the harsh sea weather, ageing gracefully. 

Encourages People to Preserve and Conserve Historical Monuments

The freedom square along with the lighthouse and cultural beach welcomes heritage walks that will raise historical awareness and invites and integrates people to support the preservation and conservation of historical monuments. 

The walkway through these monoliths has possibilities of deep personal inner awakenings as well as the awakening of civic and public identity. One can only try to capture in words the ethereal feeling of walking through the monoliths inviting us to see beyond what is visible. 

As one walks glimpses of the blue-grey emerge, the saltiness of air intensifies, gentle music of waves rolling as though from one's own forgotten memory awakens the senses and then the vast, vast openness of sea envelopes your being completely. At such blissful moments, space can even act as a place on this earth offering a tiny glimpse of eternity. 

In a nutshell, Freedom Square is a space of collaboration, celebration, recollections of the glorious past and embracing the bright future. It is a space designed to increase happiness, inspire a better life filled with respect, love and pride.

Project Details

About the Firm

De earth is a design practice based at Calicut, Kerala with a young professional team of Architects, Urban Designers, Engineers & Social thinkers working towards nature-inclusive & contextually responsive designs with a vision of making a greener & better tomorrow. The key project expertise includes single-family homes, eco-responsive housing projects, specialized hospitality ventures, hospitals & urban spaces.