With controversies big and (mostly) small, a many decades-old concern is being addressed tomorrow.
The new Parliament building is being inaugurated to replace the 96 year old present building meant for a democracy of 360 million Indians, that now stands at more than three times in numbers at 1.2 billion people.
Lok Sabha, or the House of People, was 500 strong in 1950 and is now 543 (maximum membership capped at 552 by Constitution), with the new building allowing space for 888 members. Rajya Sabha, or the Council of States, can be maximum 250, of which 238 are elected members. The new Parliament building will provide for seating 348 Rajya Sabha members, and will be able to accommodate 1,280 members in the Lok Sabha Chamber in case of Joint sittings, even if they are are extremely rare (only thrice in the past).
The other numbers describing the new Parliament too are mind boggling for architects if compared to other buildings: With its 970 crore Rs. cost, over 65,000 sqm area, and many other functions being attached to the Chambers, most architects will have a difficulty recalling buildings with that kind of scope and budget.
This sounds meager when compared to the budget for Commonwealth Games 2010, with the budget of 1620 Crore Rs. in 2003 that soon escalated to 11500 excluding the non-sports-related infrastructure development. It also sounds much more than the yearly budget of about 3000 Crore Rs. for CPWD in 2020, the year in which the foundation stone was laid. But still seem a lot to most design firms.
There have been multiple views from the users like political parties (25 of them have agreed to join the ceremony, even when demanding that the President, and not the Prime Minister should open the building), Government officials (most of them welcome the prospect of being able to sit in one place when serving the political representatives, and refrain from commenting on the aesthetic aspect), and professional community (architects have questioned the process, the aesthetic, the backdrop, the location, and some, even the need for this building) and it has been the cause of many a bitter quarrels.
But with all that is said and built, tomorrow the nation welcomes its representatives to their new place – for negotiations, and hopefully, for fairly fighting over how to build a better tomorrow.
More at:
PM Modi to inaugurate new Parliament building on May 28, Om Birla confirms date
New Parliament building opening: 25 parties confirm their presence at ceremony
Dear Graphic Designer/ Advertising Agency/ Social Media Intern at INI Design Studio, do go a little bit in depth when you make silly posters to further your brand.
Professor B V Doshi is sure entitled to a heap of praise for his contributions to the world of Indian Architecture. But he stands in the company of other stalwarts, many of whom are not around for you to trendjack. I’m not sure he will appreciate your crude appropriation of Architecture.
Please spare me the superficiality.
CRDF has declared a competition for students and recent graduates on the theme of Preparing Cities for Resilience.
It requires you to understand the focal areas of CRDF. You are expected to produce appealing visual content. Submission deadline is June 30th.
AR April 2021: Underground
This issue of AR focuses on a romantic, contested, and yet functional territory of our existence and design thinking. Recommended.
Editors say that in ‘This issue, we peel back the skin of the earth to look at what goes on under.’
@https://www.architectural-review.com/magazines/ar-april-2021-underground
Metro in Santiago seems to be a good place to talk about, as making of new metro lines and maintenance, modification and up-gradation of existing metro lines or stations seems to be the flavor of the next decade.
And this piece also makes it clear how force of nature can achieve what no amount of architectural discourse can: “‘The architecture is in the structure’, the architects explain. In Chile, everything that is not structural is quickly modified and denatured. The permanence of any project, the stability of any architectural idea over time, has to adhere to the very same structural system necessary for buildings to resist Chile’s recurrent earthquakes.” And, the architect envisioned a memorable space.
Going underground: metro station in Santiago, Chile by Beals Lyon Arquitectos
Delhi
When comparing these ideas, the Rajiv Chowk (Connaught Place) Metro Station is difficult to remember and navigate, devoid of any connection with the historic buildings above, and, like many new airports, addresses history by dressing the insides in a 4 inch thick layer of signs, posters, graphics and digital displays.
Other underground stations in Old Cities and historic towns are also bowing out to the exigencies of time and therefore standardised designs. While these are hidden, the jarring RCC structures above ground are not really part of any discourse by architects.
Lord Hanuman statue in Delhi’s Karol Bagh
Better enjoy the Architectural Review Issue for now.
More later, if I get time.
I am going to do a bit of lazy work and just share the news with links to videos and interviews of architects Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal, winners of 2021 Pritzker Architecture Prize.
Will come back later and update, when I can. Till then, I trust ArchDaily and YouTube to hold the fort.
Recently, there has been a lot of conversations and discussions about a Request for Proposal (RfP) floated (and re-floated) by Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad. This request is inviting architects to design new dormitories in place of existing -and crumbling- dorms designed by architect Louis Kahn, from when he designed the IIM Campus in 1960s. IIM Old Campus, as it is called, has been in the news for structural damage to its water tower, Academic block and other parts during 2001 Earthquake, and time to time when expensive restoration works are required to maintain the old brick buildings.
In 2014 IIM-A hired Ms. Brinda Somaya of Somaya and Kalappa from Mumbai to look at the conservation of Kahn designs. In this news item from 2017, we find that ‘In a press conference IIM-A formally announced that they are raising funds from alumni and corporates for conservation and restoration of the old campus buildings.
The iconic Louis Kahn campus buildings consist of library, faculty wing, eighteen dormitories, tower lawn and Louis Kahn Plaza. The entire conservation and restoration work will cost approximately Rs 130 crore of which Rs 30 crore have been raised already. The restoration work has already begun for the library and one of the eighteen dormitories.’
More at: IIM-Ahmedabad invites funds for restoration of old campus (@https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/iim-ahmedabad-invites-funds-for-restoration-of-old-camp/articleshow/57564436.cms)
This clearly states that IIM-A has believed in the campus’ value as a heritage asset, but the question of who pays for the romanticism had not been answered. A Master Plan meant to look at the entire campus after considering all factors made it apparent that starting from infrastructure to building services to usability of the buildings needed a re-look.
What about the Dormitories?
With the latest announcement by the IIM-A, as if a hornet’s nest stirred… a heated debate ensued in some architectural circles. Louis Kahn’s three children wrote a letter to IIM-A management. Other architects exchanged their views. Some documents are posted @ https://architexturez.net/doc/az-cf-215592
Earlier, as part of Faculty of Architecture Lecture Series at CEPT, Brinda Somaya gave insights about conservation efforts at IIMA @ https://youtu.be/vnSksJc1gxI. So we are informed that work was done to conserve the buildings, and the dorms are unsafe for any use, at least with the conservation methods tried for dormitory D15. And it could be debated whether they should be left standing, waiting for a private investor or a corporate group to come save it like Gaudi’s La Padrera that recently opened after expensive restoration to a new use.
Metropolis Magazine lists projects from last year to shine a light on where the world is going. These projects show us how to look at the buildings we have but are no more supporting their present function. They need to change so much to continue to function that often it is not viable. As in the case of IIM’s Dorms – Where most people who have lived there earlier know and master planners have agreed that the cost, time and effort to suit the dorms for the function that they serve will be too much.
14 Adaptive Reuse Projects from 2020 Show Great Design Doesn’t Mean New Construction (@ https://www.metropolismag.com/architecture/adaptive-reuse-2020)
Particularly Michael Graves Portland Building, a Post Modern landmark that was becoming a ghost @ https://www.metropolismag.com/architecture/in-portland-a-renovation-saves-a-postmodern-landmark/
Surprisingly, no structural designers have proposed solutions to this problem yet. None have been asked. Faculty of Architecture, CEPT’s dean Anjali Yagnik suggested something to this effect, admitting the possible need of introducing new structural elements.
Re-design, Retrofit, Re-furnish, Reuse: That way, we can have IIM Dormitaries and use them too.
But the land where the dorms stand is needed, and a new land allocation in the small campus will invariably use up portion of free land and cross out the advantage, of more area made available because of pure chance, the BRT route passing next to the campus, and Ahmedabad’s subsequent city plan allowing taller buildings next to bus transit routes (Yet another point of debate, when 25 storey buildings were proposed to be built on the campus). Funny ways of planning this city has.
So, looking at the campus as a whole, architects should be invited to design new dorms (as IIM-A was already doing), and the merits and demerits of both designs compared. In my opinion, this generation’s ability to produce master pieces should be put to test. That will be the point where fierce debate should take place, not before.
Note: I will come and add more references if and when I get a chance.
Here is the page from Metropolis:
Three years since he left us.
Hasmukh Chandulal Patel, of HCP (Now HCP-DPM) Ahmedabad, Architect and one of the founders of School of Architecture CEPT, parted ways with this world on January 20, 2018.
300 buildings, give or take a few, in 40 years, give or take a few. Starting with working at Atmaram Gajjar, a noted architect of his time in Ahmedabad, and thereafter running that office as principal architect. Then going on to founding Hasmukh C Patel Architects… Not enough about Hasmukh Patel’s beginnings is available in public memory. Probably because he didn’t do much talking and hardly wrote when it came to architecture, but primarily designed.
We can dwell a little on the Reserve Bank of India, a building worth being studied and understood well for its contribution to Ahmedabad’s Modern Architecture. (@ https://www.hcp.co.in/project/reserve-bank-of-india). As it was not open to all and so not easy to visit, the impact of this building as ‘design’ has been less compared to, say, other buildings which were accessible to all – to visit and to document. It is well proportioned, well constructed, and accepted by the client as convenient to use. Staircases in his buildings, iconic or not, were always a delight to use, even for lazy folks. In RBI, it is a prominent element, and many users remember enjoying it.
The processes and systems required to achieve standardization of details is at the foundation of the firm’s working. The foresight to offer construction management as a service, to ensure that buildings were constructed well and clients had it easy executing his designs. Simple sounding principles of harmony, order, ease of movement, and climatic considerations do not get much reverence in the heady world of glamorous new ideas. Materials which are (relatively) easy to maintain do not always find a place in architecture schools’ discourse… but gets the architect a big thanks from the owner, for sure.
Much has been discussed about the use of exposed brick in Ahmedabad, and it is associated with Ahmedabad’s image. A material that almost all leading architects explored with varying degrees of success. But not enough is talked about exposed concrete – barring the use made by Corbusier in his buildings. HCP should get more credit for making this material and technology commonplace, helping the clients and contractors with execution issues, specifying it in institutional as well as private residential buildings, all the while insisting that the higher initial cost was justified by the savings on maintenance in the long run.
So there is Architecture for Exploration, pushing the boundaries, delighting other creative souls who tend to forgive the gaps in pedestrian issues like cost, maintenance, construct-ability, timely completion, usable life of the building. And there’s life filled with architecture for clients’ delight.
Can’t finish without mentioning the building that gave Ahmedabad’s skyline a unique feature. Patang Hotel, overlooking the river Sabarmati. A revolving restaurant as a stand alone tall building. It had to be constructed using the technology available – for making overhead water tanks. While architects will have their own views about the importance of his contribution to Architecture, for an average citizen, his buildings are part of their memories of Ahmedabad.
For some more on Hasmukh Patel and his designs, see:
Note: Some details in this post are based on hear-say, and can be updated if new/ verified information is available in public domain.
Note too: Also, I know this post should be written with more sophistication, so I might come and edit it while keeping the essence intact.
PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of Parilament New Building today. One of the most ambitious and boldly envisaged architectural projects in India is on its way to get constructed. Although viciously criticized among many architectural groups, and still visible only in crappy 3D views, it is still a project whose merit needs to be noted as the prime symbol of Indian democracy.
For years, the actual users in government had complained about problems of crowding, security, high energy consumption, and, the crumbling of buildings built more than 90 years ago and left to independent India. Since then, India’s population has grown fourfold and the capacities of ageing capitol buildings are constantly stretched to accommodate new technology, new needs and additional users.
Parliament New Building Foundation today: PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone
There have been many proposals about what is the best use and re-use of the existing buildings and landscape before and after the present government’s decision -to construct a new set of buildings, to let go of some of the old structures, and to re-develop Central Vista at New Delhi- almost a century after Lutyens’ Delhi got constructed.
The process that was kick started in 2012 has finally seen a clear step, right or wrong.
Speaker sets up panel to suggest new home for Parliament (13 July 2012 news)
@ https://www.firstpost.com/india/speaker-sets-up-panel-to-suggest-new-home-for-parliament-377345.html
(Excerpts:
Lok Sabha secretary general TK Viswanathan said that the speaker had given an “in principle” approval to set up a committee to go into questions such as the site of alternate complex to house the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and how it will be constructed.
He said there was need for an alternate complex as the existing building was heavily used and cannot take the strain. “Foofalls are increasing…Its heritage character should be preserved…. (There is need to) plan for the future,” he said.
The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) had said Thursday that the Parliament building needs renovation as there were apprehensions of loosening of small ceiling tiles.)
So it took almost a decade to finally put the wheels in motion for a project that was contemplated, debated- still being debated- and given a go ahead.
A recently updated wiki page has gives a half decent idea of what happened to the original building – inside and outside. @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_House_(India)
Architecturally and politically a significant issue, but somehow the average citizen is least bothered. Not many know and even fewer care about what is happening to Raj Path. Most end users are happy and relieved at the thought, and outside of architecture/ contemporary art/ few journalist circles, no one seems to bother with the aesthetic merit/ demerit of what is going to symbolize new India. That’s a damn shame, but also a reality.
Even as steeped in and often jingoistic about ancient culture and traditions, Indians in general are quick to jump to new technology and materials. E rickshaw has smoothly taken over from auto-rickshaws and cycle rickshaws in parts of Delhi and mid size towns in North India without any government push. Wide roads and flyovers with sleek streetlights lay close to any old city or site that can afford to have them. Aluminium Panels, Glass Facades, Steel structures and even tensile fabric of canopies symbolize progress and most citizens look at these as a sign of modernity and have no objection to their coming up in a centuries old setting.
As long as they can walk comfortably, the city is not water logged, they can afford a house, and there is a garden nearby. Preferably with a Kiosk selling Ice Cream.
More later, going to class.
CEPT Alumni (SA, SBST, SID, SP) in Americas are gathering for an online talk/ social. This should be interesting… Mark your calendar for 20 September 2020 (04:00 PM, Eastern Time – USA and CANADA)
To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkfuqqqTIuGdfEuVaXWHUvWV-ueF3yzQnK
Announcement: For those searching for more information on CEPT’s UG Admissions 2020: Change in admissions criteria/procedure for undergraduate programs
Change in admissions criteria/procedure for CEPT University’s undergraduate programs. CEPT University has changed its criteria for admissions to its undergraduate programs. The following changes are effective for admissions in 2020-21.
Bachelor of Architecture*
(50% seats through ACPC and remaining through CEPT)
Applicable test score – NATA
Bachelor of Interior Design*
(50% seats through ACPC and remaining through CEPT)
Applicable test score – NATA
Bachelor of Construction Technology*
(50% seats through ACPC and remaining through CEPT)
Applicable test score – JEE Main
Bachelor of Design
(100% seats through CEPT)
Applicable test score – UCEED (as announced earlier on 18.11.2019)
Bachelor of Urban Design
(100% seats through CEPT)
No change
*For the Bachelor of Architecture, Bachelor of Interior Design and Bachelor of Construction Technology programs, the University has made an application to the Government of Gujarat requesting the necessary changes in the admission notification. The revised notification from the Government of Gujarat is awaited. Final criteria will be as announced in the Government notification.
Further details regarding the application and due dates will be announced on the CEPT Website soon – https://admissions.cept.ac.in/
And don’t go by the dumb NIRF Rankings. Find some other method… Don’t start with search for ‘the best architecture college rankings’!!! Some thoughts about ranking:
I will come back and add a post about Ranjit Sabikhi’s article from yesterday @ https://thewire.in/article/india-architecture-coa-education
The Next Frontier For Design?
The fact that Education is being referred to as industry is enough.
Additionally this article has certain interesting statements – almost obvious once you read them:
- “Traditional four-year colleges seem to have finally reached a tipping point as they search for a value proposition that justifies exorbitantly high tuition costs.
- Education is being forcibly broken out of its traditional time and space constraints.
- We know that learning is a lifelong endeavor, that one size does not fit all, and that a lot of learning happens outside of the classroom. Yet, most of our education delivery and assessment models do not reflect this.”
And
“Design is beginning to play a larger role in four major social institutions: government (civic), finance, healthcare, and education. These are massively complex systems where the problems to be addressed are not always clear and the opportunities for intervention are often even less clear.”
Because DESIGN CAN HELP IN DEALING WITH COMPLEXITY. In the article, the author goes on to say that:
“The education industry is poised to become the next frontier for design. Curriculum, spaces, tools, roles, professional training, infrastructures, and lifelong learning practices all offer an immense opportunity for design to create transformative experiences and make a difference in people’s lives.”
After this, there is a decent explanation of Systems Design, and a simple diagram (This is to attract your attention to the article’s core theme: ID, Chicago’s approach):
A lot of her ideas are not entirely new – in fact, many from design profession and academia will recall discussions around it or find reflection of own thoughts. But she puts them forth, and timely: Andreya Veintimilla – “The Role of Design in Education Innovation“
More @ https://medium.com/iit-institute-of-design/the-role-of-design-in-education-innovation-10a739a2f8ec
P.S.: Apologize for so much paraphrasing, but otherwise this one too would be added to the pile of those 132 posts which are pending publication, waiting for me to come back, and to edit. Will come back and write more, sometime.
Why is unbuilt architecture better? [Para-titled: A book on unbuilt architectural projects in India points to the possibilities of structural forms and the ambition of limitless imagination]
Why is unbuilt architecture better?
@ https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/art-culture-books-architecture-6297786/
This article brings us some POP questions (like the ones following), but so be it.
Why is un-built better? Clearly, most non-architects wouldn’t spare a minute on this thought. But architects will, and architects do. Both, those who can design build-able and, those who cannot. [“projects that were conceptualised but never got built, either because these were competition entries or due to issues of feasibility and logistics” is self explanatory]
Prem Chandavarkar equates the unbuilt to a photograph, and “what is revealed in this photograph will demonstrate whether architecture is captured by an ideology of arrogance or an ethic of idealistic aspiration”.
The book thus takes one away from the “hegemony of vision”, which usually plagues architectural projects and makes one think about the act of building. [I say: Vision, in fact, is missing from a majority of what passes as architectural design in today’s India, and few good examples buried among chaos are hard to locate and explain]
Rajesh Advani’s Architecture Live website has been around for a while, and some of his texts bring forth ideas which are still not discussed widely enough…. let us hope the same for the book as well.
Recently LinkedIn showed me insights on top hashtags followed by Architects/ People who are in Architecture and Planning industry:
#Motivation and #Construction far far surpass #architect or #architecturaldesign at 14.5 and 4.3 millions respectively.
A similar statistic gave me a shock when I searched for how the web categorizes professionals: Software architects outnumber architects by a huge margin in web presence and online activities. So the default result, by relevance and sheer numbers, highlights the world of software. According to GMAC (Get Me A Course) CEO, Networking, Java, Medicine, Health and Fitness, Cyber Security, Finance Management, Architecture, Web Development are the top searches currently.
But this is only in the beginning: Till the search engine figures out that you are, in fact, an AEC architect. Thereafter it covers you in an avalanche of nonsense that students get bombarded with, and come to think of as ‘Architecture’.
I can’t decide which is worse: Not finding recognition, or the bunch of greenhorn designs that are copies of ‘inspiring’ search results.
Often this blog deigns Design/ Architecture as a noir canvas, to paint with dark and darker shades. All creative professions are frustrating, but few take so long to create a product, and few rely so much on others to make it, while struggling to keep alive the art within. Therefore so many need motivation, comforting and pep talks even while going through it and creatively too.
Architecture will happen, and will not…
Architecture, indeed 