A group of 10 architects under the banner of the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) came together in 2016 to build an organic, sustainable space for artistes that would serve as a thriving cultural and performance arena for the city. Ten years later, it lies abandoned, unused and ignored, with locals largely clueless about who envisioned the project and why it was built.After The Tribune highlighted the plight of the once-ambitious project, the state-of-the-art amphitheatre at Urban Estate, the architects associated with creating the space spoke to The Tribune about the passion involved in making it and the hope it still holds for the future.A testimony to the cultural legacy of Jalandhar – and a one-of-its-kind rare project – envisioned with the local climate and context in mind, the project’s makers themselves say it now causes them “hurt” to see it lie abandoned.Jaskirat Singh, a Jalandhar-based architect who was a part of the 2016 team that built the Open Air Theatre (OAT), as it was then called, said, “Most of our team members have left Jalandhar; some have moved abroad. Under senior architect JJ Singh of IIA, a team of 10 to 11 architects had envisioned the project. It was the brainchild of JJ Singh, who roped in me along with other then-junior architects, including Gurkirpal Singh, Devinder Pal Singh, Arpan Aggarwal and others, to complete the project — which, even back then, was worth crores. It was a passionate project of the IIA. A sustainable, climate-friendly venture envisioned while taking into account the local topography and fabric of the city. Back then, the PUDA Complex here was an empty space and PUDA Bhawan was also planned nearby. The government pooled in money after the group of architects floated the idea. Even today, as I grab coffee in the area, it hurts to see such a beautiful space, which we worked hard on, lying abandoned.”The project remains incomplete and was envisioned to be much more, Singh says. The OAT was supposed to include an 80-ft steel statue – an art installation called the ‘Tornado’, an art space, a recreational area for children, kiosks, seating space for the elderly, an exhibition space, a performance centre, a rainwater harvesting system, and landscaping with ample greenery.Singh adds, “The issue was taken up with PUDA and the local government under then Mayor Jattvibeil Jyoti (BJP), for which a multi-crore project was okayed by the government. The work began in full swing but got stalled after the election code of conduct was imposed and later, the PUDA official overseeing the project was transferred, key architects moved abroad, and everyone forgot about the space. Many of us architects had worked abroad and it was a community-oriented project meant for the uplift of the city. The idea came from IIA; fortunately, the government agreed to help. It is rare for such a prolific team of architects to come together to build such an organic space. We had thought it would eventually generate revenue for the government.”He further said, “A basic structure still exists. If the government undertakes restoration work on the project, it could still be a bustling public space, for which people are willing to pitch in and artists are looking forward to using the space.”Situated behind the market in Urban Estate Phase 2, the open-air theatre, constructed a decade ago, currently lies neglected, with overgrown grass, weeds, broken stairs in places, and bird droppings. The structure, which has twin stages and tiered staircases, remains in a state of disrepair but still presents a grand sight. Ironically, it is surrounded by some of the city’s newest cafes in one of its most upscale areas, known for its quaint eateries. However, the space, which could potentially support a thriving music and theatre scene, remains largely ignored despite its proximity to popular restaurants and cafes.