The Fort of Diu, India

The Fort of Diu, an expansive and imposing structure is situated on the extreme coast of the Island on the eastern side. The Fort commands a magnificent view of the sea and its surrounding areas. It is hemmed in by the sea on the three sides and surrounded by a canal in the fourth. The Diu Fort is a Portuguese-built fortification built during the 16th century. The fortress, which borders on the town of Diu, was built in 1535 and was strengthened over the years, till 1546. Today it is a landmark of Diu and one of the Seven Wonders of Portuguese Origin in the World.

The intent of the project was primarily to create a continuous public realm experience for locals and tourists whilst giving importance to the existing monuments. The material palette like use of local stone, the use of size and proportions of patterns are carefully chosen to create reflection in the past experience with minimum interventions.

One of the visions for Lighting and Illumination was to create an atmosphere of harmony and to achieve a subtle balance of natural light along the coastline during sunset and the artificial lighting being used. The design theme has been created keeping in mind the integration of architecture and elements of facade as well as the landscaping. Street furniture Seatings, Signages and Illumination are carefully integrated to create a holistic day and night experience for the tourists.

“Heritage buildings and their entire premises are significant assets and they are proud possessions of the city and country. Since the time of their buildings, and the journey through its evolution patterns, they have undergone several changes in use patterns and have thus been altered to certain extents and the principal fabric would indicate such changes in various formats. And yet the assets retain their essential heritage character and display their cultural significance at various levels of integrity.”