Segments 01 I September 2021

AVA N I A N N UA L R E S E A R C H SYMPOSIUM 2021 Normal? Ecologies of Adaption

MONSOON SEMESTER 2021 A LT C Pedagogy of Wellness and Sustained Shared Thinking

ACHIEVEMENTS Ar. Afifa Nuzhat, Ar. Reshma Mathew, Aneez Mohammed Kooliyattayil, and Ajal Babu

A V A N I E S S AY P R I Z E 2 0 2 1 What is the role of design in the future of a pandemic inflicted world ?

AVA N I S O C I A L ENGAGEMENT About Avani Covid Task Force

EDITORIAL NOTE A

vani was born out of a genuine desire to affect change in the state of architectural education. Avani aims to inspire passion for design, by providing a creative environment and expert guidance to help individuals reach their creative potential and become responsible citizens. As an institute we are committed to pursuing practical and theoretical knowledge that enables meaningful contribution towards the advancement of local and global communities. Avani intends to become an internationally recognized Center for Excellence in Design, providing a platform to explore new horizons in education, collaborative research and creative thinking.

The Avani Newsletter is a step in this direction, which will serve as an avenue for the students and faculty of Avani to exchange ideas and share their thoughts. The newsletter will bring to light the numerous activities happening in the institution and also highlight the achievements. It will also be a medium to discuss and learn about the various advances in the field of architecture and design, and, hopefully, will inspire all of us to engage with and address the burning issues around us. I am confident that the Avani newsletter will be a vital document which will chronicle Avani’s continuing journey and extend my best wishes to this initiative.

- Tony Joseph -

AVANI ANNUAL RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 2021

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vani Annual Research Symposium is envisioned as a platform to conduct critically engaging, honest and fearless enquiries and to provide opportunities to develop original research in contemporary issues of design and built environment with the potential to be translated into a form of scholarship of global relevance.The second Avani Annual Research Symposium was held on 04 and 05th September 2021, titled “Normal? Ecologies of Adaptation” co-convened

by Ar. Meenakshi Dubey, Ar. Thushara Koraprath, Ar. Sebastian Joseph and Dr. Soumini Raja under the advisory of Ar. Bijoy Ramachandran. This year, we found a significant opportunity in situating symposium as the cornerstone of our academic practice and pedagogy for the year 2021-22, and was organised along 6 thematic expansions: Re-narrating histories, Living and working: realities of domesticity, Magnitude of displacement and inequities, Vulnerable ecosystems and Resilience, Design pedagogy and practice: bracing for ‘uncertainty’ & Collaborations for a resilient future.

To give context and strength to these themes, over the two days we hosted 5 moderated panel discussions each including 2 keynote lectures by academic and professional practitioners from across the globe.

LIVING AND WORKING: REALITIES OF DOMESTICITY

Prof. Neelkanth Chhaya and Ar. Zameer Basrai Moderated by: Dr. Soumini Raja

MAGNITUDE OF DISPLACEMENT AND INEQUITIES Dr. Saskia Sassen and Prof. Mukta Naik Moderated by: Prof. Rohit Majumdar

VULNERABLE ECOSYSTEMS AND RESILIENCE Dr.Deepta Sateesh and Dr. Himanshu Burte Moderated by Ar. Bijoy Ramachandran

DESIGN PEDAGOGY AND PRACTICE: BRACING FOR ‘UNCERTAINTY’ Prof. Shubra Raje and Prof. Rohan Shivkumar Moderated by Prof. Kiran Kumar

COLLABORATIONS FOR A RESILIENT FUTURE

Prof. Sarosh Anklesaria and Dr. Janki Phalkey Moderated by Prof. Rajshekharan Menon

written by the Symposium Committee

Apart from the lectures, the symposium also included paper contributions from 20 young researchers and scholars from India and abroad. Observing the collaborative academic practice and sustained shared thinking, the symposium was envisaged to become the starting point of a continued engagement between the paper contributors as peer reviewers.

A selected set of papers will be published as part of the symposium: The Book of abstracts in January 2022 and Research Symposium proceedings edited volume in April 2022. Participation of more than a hundred registered architects, students, researchers and scholars from different parts of the world brought together the myriad perspectives on the themes. The symposium themes will run into the Monsoon 2021 and Winter 2022 studios adding depth and meanings to the interdisciplinary investigations. This rigorous engagement asserts that “ Design is an agent of power that plays a significant role in changing the way we look at disasters as temporary and permanent pauses in ecological lives; Design can determine how we adapt to these changes. Design is also scholarship developed through rigorous engagement in critical discourse through, and contributing to, pedagogical progress.

Whilst disasters disrupt, they also pave opportunities for subversion through adaptive restructuring and designing of human ecologies, thus (re)calibrating the idea of the practice and the discipline.”

A LT C

w r i tt e n b y D r. S o u m i n i Ra j a

MONSOON SEMESTER 2021 The Avani Learning and Teaching Colloquium (ALTC) is a bi-annual forum for the Avani faculty cohort, Avani Advisors, Governing Council, and Students to come together to reflect on our academic practices, pedagogies, and scholarship towards strengthening our academic pursuits for the overall growth and collective development of our community. It was created to give greater agency, visibility, and voice to the teaching cohort. Through sharing of experiences, engaging in debates, course iterations, and integrations, continuous peer learning, and by sharing roles and responsibilities, all members participate in building depth and coherence to learning goals and objectives across the five years of architectural education at Avani. ALTC is also a space for mentoring and professional development. ALTC was initiated in 2019 by the then Dean Academics, Dr. Anuradha Chatterjee who led the first two ALTCs in June 2019 and January 2020. The following year, ALTC was moved online and was held in a hybrid mode due to the Pandemic. It was conducted without losing rigor and yet offering care and compassion to fellow community members by Dr. Kush Patel, Associate Dean Academics.

The two ALTCs (August 2020 and February 2021)

the theme of Pedagogy of Wellness which was the core adopted

intellectual framework for the Monsoon 2020 Semester. It raised questions pertaining to “what are it’s [Wellness] critical manifestations in studios and classrooms; what has an unprecedented semester of completely remote and online engagement taught us; and what happens to our notions of pedagogy if we view wellness not as a means to achieve greater academic productivity among students, but rather as a call to structurally improve an individual’s access to all matters of learning: space, language, content, technology, and care.”(Patel, 2020) The Pandemic ALTC design also reflected on the care-centered dimension of the pedagogy.

The

Winter

ALTC

2021

discussions on the values of

brought

in

Sustained

Shared Thinking. The winter semester posed several challenges, the transition from home back to campus and continued domestic and societal responsibilities.

The definition of Sustained Shared Thinking states that it occurs when two or more individuals work together in an intellectual way to solve a problem, clarify a concept, evaluate an activity, extend a narrative, etc. This thread of Sustained Shared Thinking is continued into the Monsoon 2021 to mutually support and collaboratively engage in rigorous and collective learning, as well as institution building.

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ACHIEVEMENTS

r. Afifa Nuzhat was elected unanimously as the coconvenor of INTACH Calicut chapter during the Annual general meeting of the chapter held on 24th July 2021 for the year 2021-24. The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is a nonprofit charitable organisation with a mission to conserve heritagebased on the belief that living in harmony with heritage enhances the quality of life, and it is the duty of every citizen of India as laid down in the Constitution of India. The Convenor, Co-Convenor of the chapter have a special role to play in the execution of the responsibility of increasing INTACH’S membership base. Few other responsibilities of the convenor and co-convenor include Listing of cultural heritage of the area and its publication, creating awareness about the cultural heritage of the local area and its significance, selecting a Project and implementing it and fighting for a public cause example against encroachment and destruction of heritage assets.

AR. AFIFA NUZHAT Faculty

AR. RESHMA MATHEW Faculty

‘

Chuttuvattam’, a project by The Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) Kottayam Centre, called for a reenvisionment of the Seematti Round in Kottayam, a landmark that sees 40,000 vehicles and 11,000 pedestrians at peak hours. The winning team, comprising Ar. Aswin Ipe Philip, Ar. Neethi Lizbeth Abraham, Ar. Albert Tom and Ar. Reshma Mathew, put forward a design that retained the existing structure of the skywalk while creating pedestrian-friendly spaces benches and in and around the bustling roundabout.

The incorporation of vegetation strives to forge a stronger connection between the city and nature, and the installation of artwork on the existing skywalk as well as the lighting ensures that the landmark is memorable to visitors and locals alike.

ANEEZ MOHAMMED

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here are these moments that come up in your student life that spike your passion towards architecture.

For me that was when I enrolled in my first design competition, Archdias’s ‘The House:Interiors’ along with my junior Ann Bridgit Jose. Throughout the span of the competition we got to explore ideas and movements that go far beyond the walls of our studios and try out designs for more conceptual briefs.

Ever since that first competition, I have had the opportunity to participate in about seven design competitions on various scales from tiny house projects to interiors to public spacemaking contests. I have had the honour of achieving the third place in Archresource’s 7 day booster: Sprint design competition called ‘Tomorrow’s House’ held in July 2020.

I have also been shortlisted in India’s top 45 for another Tiny House design competition and have been a part of the design team for our college’s Special Mention–earning entry for NASA’s 63rd MSL landscape trophy.

SPECIAL ENTRY FOR NASA COMPETITION

The main takeaway from working on these competitions has been the vast exposure that one gets from participating in them. We may not start off knowing everything but we will surely learn a great deal along the way. Competitions are also a great space to experiment with ideas and learn from fellow participants.

Student

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ike every other Malappuram kid, my dream is to play football, and very well at that. Like everyone else I started out playing with the neighbouring kids. I loved every bit of it. Staying up past bedtime and watching every game made me want to live my life out in the field.

Feeling every bit of emotion, the game calmed the storm in me. The game made me happy. Like everyone else, I felt more like myself out in the field. Each win and loss made me realise the ups and downs.

My biggest support was my family. They never said no as long as I did well in school. I did my best and it paid off. All the friendly matches and the free time games made me land the opportunity that not many have gotten. I attended almost all the football camps in my area, especially one that was arranged by Kerala Blasters and that was the milestone in my road to living my dream. I got to meet people who made a profession out of football—coaches, players, people who had the same dream as mine. It was through them I came to know about the opening spot on the Kerala team for the National Games.

Ajal Babu, from Batch 2019, was part of the runner-up team representing Kerala in the 4th National Championship Games and Sports 2021, Goa. He writes about how it all started, the hardships he faced and overcame, and how he finally realised his childhood dream.

I had to go through a series of camps to prove my worth to coaches and authorities to get the chance to play. It required huge monetary support to equip for matches, travelling, food and accommodation.

Even though I loved every minute of the camp, it affected my health and complicated my studies. I tried my best to manage my studies and game with the support of my professors. I often got injured during games. That was one factor my family was highly concerned about.

They were looking after me each time I got injured. I played while in pain because, at that moment, all I was concerned about was the game. When the camps were over, I was happy that I got to be a part of it.

And then one fine day, it happened. I got to represent Kerala in the 4th National Championship Games and Sports 2021. The games were in Goa, so I traveled with my team. We stayed at the facility. Our match was at Poriat Football Ground in Calangute. We came in second place at the championship. That made me realise that my hard work could pay off one day.

I now feel like I am one step closer to my dream, the same dream a million people have. I live the dream a million people have given up on! also a great space to experiment with ideas and learn from fellow participants.

AJAL BABU Student

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or undergraduate students from across the globe, the inaugural Essay competition was initiated on the topic, ‘What is the role of design in the future of a pandemic-inflicted world?’. The idea was conceived when the Pritzker laureate Ar B V Doshi and the Chairman, Ar Tony Joseph made an inquiry on the grounds of how students of architecture perceive the world if the pandemic persists beyond the expected timeline. The prize encourages a platform to express original thinking in responsible architecture. The much respected jury panel consisted of, Ar. Kevin Mathew, Kozhikode, Ar. Madhuri Rao, Bengaluru and Ar.Thomas Oommen, Berkeley. Here are some reflections from the jury panel: ‘Crucial to the assessment of the Essay Prize was the depth and layering of an inquiry, which in turn reflected the clarity and process of assuming a position and building an argument. In today’s context, academics and schools of architecture and design have the responsibility of providing varied platforms to explore architectural ideas beyond accepted conventions. Architecture has ceased to exist only as physical manifestation. According to Peter Eisenman, what to build?, is more important than how to build? The written word provides for this deeper and wider exploration of domains that are untouched or are notionally addressed in its built manifestation.’ says Ar Madhuri Rao. Adding on, some questions were put forward by Ar Thomas Oommen, ‘what is the nature of ‘design’ that can engage with this pandemic? What are our assumptions about architecture and ‘design’ that this pandemic unsettles? Does it infact unsettle anything at all? Does it reveal anything that we didn’t already know about the world? What in fact is to be ‘solved’ and for whom? What is the history of such design solutions?’. Lastly, Ar Kevin Mathew concluded with, ‘Revolutionary and innovative strategies/techniques were not really the substance the essay was after, but rather the focus was on the attitude/ approach with which the pandemic was being addressed or responded to through design. The pandemic definitely exposed several vulnerabilities of humankind and has forced many of us to relook or even revisit the ways in which design has been done up until now, which is what could have been further investigated and even critiqued through the writing.’

Participation was manifold and the winner was selected to be Sanidhya Shah, final year student at VIT’s Paadmabhushan Dr Vasantha Patil College of Architecture, having written his essay titled ‘Paradox of Human Space Relationship’.

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written by Dr. KAM Anwar

he task force was a result of the actions taken on receipt of Government Order No.1609 dated 23/12/2020 regarding the re-opening of Higher Educational Institutions in the State of Kerala.

To regulate and analyze the situation at hand an urgent meeting of a Core Group, consisting of representatives of faculty and admin segments was convened by the Principal on 24/12/2020 to discuss the details. Following intensive deliberations, it was resolved to: Formed a Covid Task Force (CTF) with the following representative members, to handle the special situation: 1. Principal, Ar Tony Joseph – Chairman 2.Dean, Research, and Administration – Coordinator 3.HoD, Dr Soumini Raja – Academics 4.Er. Anshu A Z – Examination Cell 5.Ms. Fathima Jilna – Welfare Desk 6.Mr. Jomi Joseph – Regd. Office 7.Adv. C.N. John – Campus Admin This team was in charge of managing and understanding the various issues posed by the reopening and were executing crucial decisions in a short span to successfully handle the situation at hand. Ensuring that the residence and the campus premises were clean and safe to use, going through and understanding the various rules and mandates of the government directives, addressing concerns of both students and faculty members, and helping students and their parents navigate their way through this time were among a few of the many detatils the task force was focussed on.

A decision was then made to reopen the campus in a phased manner and to have weekly updates and meetings of the situation.

The task force did also release a campus and residence protocol and guidelines circular to ensure that the necessary steps were taken for a safe and robust transition in these trying times.

info@avani.edu.in Avani Institute of Design, Ambayathode, Koodathai Post, Thamarassery,Calicut, Kerala 673573, India Credits | Graphics team : Anan Antony Paul, Ar Athira Balakrishnan, Mufeeda K, Pournami Chandra | Content Editors : Ar Anjali Sujat, Iman Hashim, Vidya Ajith | Critic at large : Dr Soumini Raja