JOSEPH BANH, MA Design Strategy + Research + Human-Centred Innovation + CX Program Design    
Toronto, CA   |   josephbanh@gmail.com  |  
+1.416.706.7663  |    https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephbanh/


BUDDHA


Memories of the Buddha



Project Description

Bihar holds a special and important place in the history of Buddhism. Key sites of importance include Bodh Gaya where the historic Buddha attained Enlightenment and ancient Nalanda University where Buddhist pilgrims from across Asia attended to study Buddhist scripture and thought. Lord Cultural Resources was engaged by the Department of Art Culture & Youth (DACY), State of Bihar, to provide comprehensive museum exhibition planning and design services for the Buddha Smriti Museum located at Buddha Smriti Park in Patna. 


Services

Located in Buddha Smriti Park, set back from the bustling streets of Patna is Buddha Smriti Museum (Smriti = Memory). We developed and designed this museum in tandem with our work on the larger Bihar Museum since there was subject matter overlap between the two museums. The architectural design for the new museum had already been completed with construction well underway by the time of our engagement. 

Our scope included developing a museum facility strategy, collections survey, concept development, interpretive visitor experience planning, curatorial coordination, exhibition design and assistance with fabrication procurement. A key requirement for the client was that exhibition elements needed to be easy to maintain and operate given the local context and need for economical and expedient access to materials. 

I was the lead experience planner, developed the story and narrative for the museum, and worked closely with the exhibition design team on translating the experience program into the permanent exhibition. My local Lord India colleagues worked tirelessly with the client and subject matter experts on Buddhism to refine the storyline and exhibition plan and provided project management and coordination services for procurement, fabrication and installation of the museum galleries. 


Project Credits

Joseph Banh / Concept, visitor experience program design, thematic development, story & narrative development

Batul Raaj Mehta / Client engagement lead, project co-lead

Yvonne Tang / Project co-lead 

Jacqueline Tang / Exhibition design

Lord India Team / Curatorial coordination, project management, design support, content development, stakeholder engagement, procurement support, fabrication & installation coordination


Legend 

  1. Pilgrims and tourists descending the path from Bihar’s Rajgir Hills and Vishwa Shanti Stupa (Peace Pagoda)
  2. Team site visit to historic Nalanda University
  3. Getting a feel for the Bodh Gaya - a major Buddhist holy site
  4. Concept diagram for the new museum 
  5. A lone monk walks historic Nalanda University
  6. Proposed elevations for the new museum
  7. Indicative floor plan for the permanent exhibition galleries
  8. Installation views of various exhibits at the new museum