AliGunjanBlue Sky Thinking and Research

‒ distinctly different

An Initiative by

Aligunjan Image - Embossing

Science is seenPhilosophy is felt

Art is lived An interplay of the three sets our minds free

Beyond the “Blue-Sky”Amidst space and time lies a place where;

Knowledge has no boundaries Information flows freely

Wisdom is shared and Imagination makes our world better!

- Suril Desai

The Imaginarium at AliGunjan is an apolitical platform to cultivate and stimulate imagination.

AliGunjan will foster multi-disciplinary interactions; be it philosophy, be it science, or be it arts.

A modern day pantheon of sorts where world leaders,

thinkers and creators converge to design a better future.

RECEPTION

Step into a ‘virtual reception’ experience where sensor based telepresence screens are activated when a guest enters the reception and virtual receptionist greets you, and you are guided in. Enabled by Creston sensors and FST cameras, a profile driven setup which is integrated with Face recognition cameras populate an individual’s profile to authenticate and grant access to the different areas inside Imaginarium. The profile which gets activated through the FST sensors uploads the preferences of an individual which are stored in the BMS repository such as lighting, AC cooling, pantry requirements etc. Feel welcomed?

BANQUET HALL

The 250-300 seater with sprung floor is apt for staging performances and conferences. Designed to morph into round or square table affairs, it has Audio-video & power facility for each guest. The D&B audiotechnik, integrated processor-based sound reinforcement system for clear sound, simply lifts the aura.

BOARD ROOM

A grand 25-seater with Italian leather table. Crafted from a 140-year old tree – courtesy Bahnwood from Pennsylvania – the room’s acoustics are impressive. Accentuated with unified communication, a 90” screen with touch facility that can act as an electronic whiteboard, and integrated D&B audio system, you may run apex meetings, apex-style.

AUDITORIUM

This imposing 98-seater is structured for conferences, performances and movie screenings.

Set for a conference? The ‘Breathing Seat’, ergonomically designed with ‘breathing holes’, and made from Italian leather, allows a person to sit in comfort for 6-7 hours. Every seat has a microphone and a camera positioned to capture the guest as s/he speaks.

Need a performance? The Lindner acoustic panels, D&B AV system, stage monitors, monitor speakers for artists, separate lighting and audio consoles – all add up to an amazing experience. What’s more, the processor based AV system with facility to play encrypted movie discs makes private screenings sublime!

LAWN AREA

LIBRARY

The sparkling e-Library invites you with plush individual lounge seats specially designed by Steelcase. For solo silent readers, the Brody lounge seats have acoustic walls which makes for a quiet and cozy browse online. Group discussions too are a breeze with the ‘Hoody’, acoustic walls and glass writing tables.

LIBRARY

Book readers may sit up, curl in or recline on the utter comfort of a ‘Hosu’. The Eye2Eye chairs with a fixed base and a swivel capability makes for a fetching ‘B-Free’ lounge. And you can’t miss those exotic colours!

WAITING AREA

This Mediascape lounge also flexes to a catch-up discussion spot for a dozen-odd folks.

10-SEATER CONFERENCE ROOM & OFFICES

Cisco SPARK collaborative board with HD Video-conference system, 4K touch and writable screen, and a unified communication set up makes meetings easy, seamless and productive.

CHAMBERS

L to R:

Mr. Jayant Sinha - Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Government of India, Mr. Gautam Singhania - Chairman & Managing Director, Raymond Group &

Mr. Nishith Desai - Founder, Nishith Desai Associates

L to R: Mr. Nishith Desai, Lord Meghnad Desai, Prof. Muhammad Yunus, Mr. Deepak Parekh, Mr. Kabir bedi, Mrs. Swati Nishith Desai & Mr. Paresh Ghelani in panel discussion at Imaginarium Aligunjan inauguration.

Exhibit at Imaginarium AliGunjan inaugurationMr. Rahul Narayan from Team Indus

MOON LANDER

Exhibit at Imaginarium AliGunjan inauguration

MOON LANDER

LUSH GREEN LANDSCAPE WITH AMPHITHEATRE

The open-air auditorium with 200 KV sound capability creates the atmosphere for memorable performances. The stylish seating area, made from thermal condensed wood, anti-moisture, anti-termite and will remain unspoiled in all weather conditions. The wooden seats provide option for backrest to ensure ease and support while sitting for longer durations. Perfect setting for resplendent experiences!

IMAGINARIUM ALIGUNJAN at night

IMAGINARIUM ALIGUNJAN

The Founder’s View

What’s in a dream? Everything. Here, potential has no limits.

The stupendous and disruptive nature of scientific advancement is hurtling our world towards unforeseen existential questions.

How will man withstand – and drive to advantage - the remarkable prowess of, for example, Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, Robotics, Drones or Human Genomes? The risks and choices before us in the next decade far surpass anything we may have seen or understood in over a century and more.

So, how do we shape a future that’s good for us?

The answer perhaps lies at the cross-streams of several inter-connected fields.

That’s why our Imaginarium AliGunjan is first and foremost a platform for creative thinking: an apolitical eco-system that connects multi-disciplinary threads of ideas, innovation and imagination. It is designed to inspire ‘blue sky’ thinking, research, exploration and synthesis, reflection and communication. It aims to bring in wholeness – that leads to answers to the biggest challenges of our time and beyond.

We built this Imaginarium – a first of its kind anywhere in the world - with an aspiration to co-create solutions to the diverse and complex problems confounding the world today. AliGunjan will be a private place for public good – an instrument of change for a better world.

Further, we wanted a truly tranquil space that is so advanced in technology intelligence that it makes the Imaginarium a sanctuary for inspired work. It almost takes away the need for people to hover around and administer, while the thinker thinks and the creator creates. A researcher at AliGunjan is geared for a self-sufficient, tech-enabled but intricately supported existence.

As our firm takes this bold – though not unnatural - leap in our firm’s trajectory, we wish to thank every well-wisher, client, colleague, family member and friend. If we have the desire to fly, your constant support has given us wings. In today’s hyper-connected world, no geographic location has a lock on innovation. World changing ideas can come from anywhere. Why not India? Why not here? Why not now?

With this Imaginarium at AliGunjan, a dream coalesces to a reality. Let’s come together and shape a future that takes us higher than our wildest imagination.

With my warmest greetings,

Nishith M. Desai

NEW YORK, USA

M & A INTERNATIONAL LTD.ARCHITECTURE PLANNING DESIGN MANAGEMENT

© Nishith Desai Associates, 2018ndaconnect@nishithdesai.comTo know more visit our knowledge site www.nishithdesai.com