The idea for Billion Impressions began as an entry for TATA Steel’s international design competition, Notions of India. Designed by architects Jaya Nila and Namdev Talluru, the project won the competition and now stands in Ranchi, Jharkhand. Set in Ranchi’s historic Birsa Munda Jail Park, the project reimagines the park’s expansive and underutilized lawns, creating a meaningful public space.
The competition called for a design that could serve as a symbol of India’s future, a challenging task in a country defined by its diversity. Our design responded to this call with a tribute to India’s multifaceted identities, crafting a narrative around the impressions we leave behind. A thumbprint, symbolic of individual identity and collective humanity, became the central metaphor for our design.
The sculpture serves as a gateway to the park, enriching social interaction while inviting visitors to connect more deeply with the space and each other. The design of the site introduces a gently constricting pathway through the open lawn, guiding visitors towards moments of curiosity, interaction, and shared experience.
Towering above this pathway is the project’s defining feature that introduces a striking vertical element. The sculpture not only serves as a visual anchor but also prompts visitors to look upward, reconnecting with the surrounding nature.
The sculpture achieves a balanced figure-ground volume, creating a “zen” and light aesthetic, making one overlook its 16 tonnes of steel. Circular steel sections, representing fingerprint ridges, are supported by staggering radial steel sections, making them nearly invisible from a distance. This thoughtful design ensures transparency, blending seamlessly with the surrounding skyline and context.
We have played carefully between creating an architecturally sound structure and a design that is comprehensible to everyday visitors. The sculpture feels monumental yet approachable. The overall dimensions are 8.35 meters wide, 6.3 meters long, and 12.5 meters tall. Its minimal footprint ensures sustainability, reducing excavation. Although it creates ethereal shadows that extend its presence beyond its physical form.
The fabrication of Billion Impressions was a challenging task. The architectural design was transformed into 3D structural models, undergoing multiple rounds of analysis to guarantee stability and feasibility. Working closely with structural consultants, we developed clear and straightforward fabrication drawings, ensuring easy execution by manual laborers. The pre-fabrication of TATA Structura YST355 steel sections took place in Kharagpur, minimizing on-site challenges and disturbances while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and craftsmanship.
Given the sculpture’s complex form, the structure was carefully broken down into four manageable segments. This division was planned to preserve the intricate geometry while optimizing transportation and assembly. The foundation includes two curved pedestals, anchor-bolted to the sculpture.
The overall structure was designed to withstand both static and dynamic forces, meeting strict structural safety standards. On-site assembly involved cranes and scaffolding to position and weld the segments together. The team optimized logistics to limit transportation trips, reducing both costs and the project’s carbon footprint.
More than a pavilion, “Billion Impressions” is an invitation to connect. It stands as a celebration of the silent contributions and enduring hopes of a billion people. The sculpture is both an emblem of our diversity and a beacon of unity, it is a testament to the profound impressions we all leave behind.
Other Photographs:
Project Details:
Name: Billion Impressions
Location: Ranchi, Jharkhand
Area/Dimension: 8.35 meters wide, 6.3 meters long, 12.5 meters tall
Status: Completed (2024)
Typology: Installation
Designed by: Jaya Nila, Namdev Talluru
Client: TATA Steel and Government of Jharkhand.
Photographs: Ar. Shibli Afaq and Photography Society of BIT Mesra.
