Project Description

Pattachitra, Bengal's thousand year old folk art tradition, emerged as a moving form of storytelling, where various stories are hand-painted on long scrolls. The Patua narrates them in the classic Bengali folk performance style. For centuries, they traveled from village to village, carrying painted scrolls and unrolling them while singing stories of mythology, folklore and local memory. The scroll moved, the narrative unfolded whether it's a courtyard, a roadside, or a marketplace, suddenly became an incidental stage. Though integral to Bengali culture for over 2,500 years, this tradition is now nearly extinct.

Our Golpo-poter Roth reinterprets the essence of Pattachitra’s wandering tradition within a contemporary architectural form. The core intention is not merely to house an artist, but to re-activate pattachitra as a mobile, experiential form of storytelling within today’s context. Pattachitra was never static; it was performative, portable, and deeply communal. Similarly, the caravan is conceived as a compact, mobile atelier and stage contained within a strict 10-cubic-meter volume. It can be towed anywhere for travel and performances. The Compactness reinforces mobility, and mobility restores the wandering identity of the patua. 

The selected lens for the project is “architecture as story.” Rather than treating the caravan as a static object, it is conceived as a narrative device. Emotionally, the design aims to recreate the intimacy of village storytelling. While The curved roof subtly imitates the bengal hut, The threshold between inside and outside dissolves during performance, reinforcing community engagement.

When closed, the trailer resembles a vibrant painted artifact on wheels.  When opened, the rear transforms into a performance stage. The interior is zoned with deliberate efficiency. A motorized roller replaces the traditional hand-cranked scroll system, allowing automatic unrolling of painted scrolls. The act remains ceremonial, but is technologically supported. One side hosts an operable painting desk with integrated storage, while the other holds a scroll rack. A foldable resting platform doubles as temporary dwelling, with storage beneath to keep the space organized. Two Windows and a sun roof ensures the ventilation and natural light for the interior. Twin doors unfold as display panels for selling artworks. Every surface performs multiple roles. Walls become galleries, doors- stage wings, and curtains- backdrop.

The caravan employs a lightweight steel frame to ensure structural stability within minimal volume. Interior panels use thin plywood with integrated storage to maximize efficiency. Jute or cork insulation within the curved roof improves thermal and acoustic comfort during performances. Stainless steel hinges ensure durability in humid climates. The overall palette balances mobility, resilience, and craft—transforming the structure into a portable, living artifact rather than a conventional vehicle. 

Ultimately, the caravan is more than a vehicle. It is a story machine, where architecture becomes performance, movement becomes memory, while the spirit of Pattachitra continues to live on.