The foundation stone for David Chipperfield’s Mughal museum building in Agra, India, has been laid near the eastern gate of the Taj Mahal.

The museum – which will be dedicated to the history and culture of Northern India's Mughal dynasty – will accommodate 5,200sq m (55,972sq ft) permanent and temporary exhibition space, according to Chipperfield’s studio.

The first rendering for the museum suggests it will be formed by a series of cuboid volumes of differing heights, supported by thin columns. The opening of the museum is scheduled for the end of 2017.

The project is part of a larger masterplan led by Indian architects Archohm for the Taj Mahal area, which also includes the Taj Orientation Centre and the Agra Heritage Centre. The scheme is being developed to promote tourism, art, culture and education in the area around the Taj Mahal – a UNESCO World Heritage site

According to local reports, construction work has also begun on the three projects and a new two-storey building which will have eight food stalls, a public pavilion and two restaurants.