Mumbai - the city of dreams and aspirations, is the financial capital of India. The number of businesses emerging in the island city and the migrating crowd for the same have resulted in an extremely dense population with almost no space for recreation. In this small city full of activities, the pace of life is exorbitant. The city thus, demands a place to be away from the negativities of the concrete jungle, a place to relax, a place for self-realization.

Being on the coast of Arabian sea, people often seek retreat at the coast. The city and the sea seem to form the Yin-Yang pair. Thus, the coast is where most of the public spaces are concentrated. One such well known place is the Bandra Bandstand promenade – site chosen for the project.

The Mumbai Retreat would be a pavilion nestled abutting the sea, a public garden and the Bandstand promenade along a major road. The sensory museum replicates the Yin-Yang between the city and the sea so as to make one comprehend the identical nature of one’s own emotions. Thus, the form emerges out to be a black mass - metaphor to the city and a white semi open space towards the sea as it’s figure. The museum would be a nook for citizens as well as an attraction for the tourists visiting Bandstand promenade.

The pavilion is open to entrance on both the sides, one entrance leading to the yin or the part of negative emotions while the other leading to the yang or the part of positive emotions. The side one enters depends on the direction of access and is thus, uncontrolled by the visitor. However, there exists an access between both the sides which the visitor can opt for. This way, if chosen to access from the yin part, would save one from a dark dead end. However, if chosen while at the yang part would take one away from the cozy corner and one would enter the dark corridor. This signifies the perspective of a person while in a particular phase of life that might help one be positive or negative.