ARCHITECTURE+(PUBLIC)SPACES EDITORIAL TEAM EDITOR: PARSHAV SHETH. LAYOUT AND GRAPHICS: SHREYA CHHEDA, SALONI AGARWAL. ARTICLES AND WRITE-UPS: NAKSHI SHAH, URMI NANDU, AMMAR RASSAI, NISHIKI VERMA, RAEKA TAMBAWALA, PARSHAV SHETH, VISHAL ROHIRA, TAVISH LAKHWARA, AHAN DASGUPTA, VARUN VASHI, AAYUSHMAN ANAND. UPDATE PAGE (EVENTS): MEET THACKER.
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ELEMENTS THAT DEFINE A PUBLIC SPACE
EVOLUTION OF PUBLICSPACES
SPREAD: THE FESTIVAL
BRINGING EQUALITY TO THE ROADS OF MUMBAI THE IDEA OF PUBLIC SPACE: ‘SHOPS’ THE MALL: A FAILED PUBLIC SPACE IN NEED OF REINVENTION
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PUBLIC SPACES: A SPATIOTEMPORAL ORDER
THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC SPACE
COLUMN: FOOD FOR THOUGHT
IN CONVERSATION WITH AR. SHRUTI BARVE
TECHNOLOGY
OPEN STUDIO: REFLECTION
COMPETITION ENTRIES
UPDATES
A public space, in general, stands for a place where people gather and is open to everybody. However, there are many components that define a public space and make it what it is. There are many elements that characterise the nature as well as the function of a space, thereby differentiating it from other public spaces. Some general types of public spaces can be categorized into promenades, public squares, malls, restaurants etc. However, each public space although different in its nature, is created to provide an experience.
ELEMENTS THAT DEFINE A PUBLIC SPACE
The experience is formed as a collation of many different elements which bring out the need in people to visit that space. These elements are natural and manmade and amplify the experience equally: the ambience set by the place, the location, the comfort, and the number of people that are usually present,to name a few. Taking the example of Marine drive, this article will focus on the public space and its elements Marine Drive, is one of the most well-known points of public interaction in the city of Mumbai. People come to this area to experience the natural element:
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the sea. This 3.6 km long boulevard is the most trodden part of South Mumbai, and is extremely flexible to the mobility and movement of people. Whether a person wants to drive past with a view on their side, or have a walk, the purpose is fulfilled. The sea, is the most important element of this place, which draws people to it. The next element, is the people that come to this area. The type of people vary a lot as they are not from the same walks of life. There is always a great number of people in this area, as all of them want to just sit, relax and enjoy the view. Most people come with their family in order to get themselves company, some come with friends, and some people come alone as they enjoy the quiet, calm solitude that it provides. The space means something else to different people and that is one of the most unique points about it. The functionality of this space transforms throughout the day, in the morning people who are fond of exercising, feel more motivated by the circulation of the fresh air, and therefore it is not so crowded, however as the day progresses, the number of people increase, and the purpose of the space changes. Marine drive, as a public space is mainly a gathering area where a mix of manmade walkways and promenades with the view of the sea is what enhances the experience of being present in the space. The crowdedness of the area is never an issue, as the space adapts itself to accommodate the people in it. These elements are what ultimately define a public space, as well as its functionality. -Varun Vashi BALWANT SHETH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE/ NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2017/(PUBLIC)SPACES
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It is a fact that the character of a public space has gone under major transformations through the centuries. “Public space is being transformed slowly and steadily – sometimes quickly as well- but it reflects in a multidimensional way the structure of society and the way society perceives its public self.” -Tournikiotis, Architecture in contemporary era, 2006.
EVOLUTION OF PUBLIC SPACES
Public spaces in urban settings are abstruse; they are the result of central planning, through the creation of central plazas, malls, or parks. For the vast majority of their history, public spaces in urban settings are places where friends meet, books are read or deals are struck, and yet, public spaces can become the setting for political and social transformation, or other events that can alter the course of history. But how were public spaces used and how did those uses change through time? Histories of public space often begin with the Greek agora, as many regard it as the quintessential public space. It was, first, a central market, but also “a place of assembly for the town’s people and a setting in which ceremonies and spectacles were performed. The agora (and its counterpart in Rome, the forum) was also a single place where education, politics, religion, oratory, philosophy, art and athletics flourished. It is impossible to characterize the agora as either a religious, civic, or political space, as it brought together all those activities. As such, it functioned as an integrative centre for those activities that were crucial to the Greek way of life and its democracy.
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Other types of public spaces are plazas and piazzas. Plazas are more associated with political significance and cultural importance, while piazzas are more associated with shops and small businesses. Yet, if you look at public spaces today, it appears that the characteristic of public space as a territory of collective political and social action has been vastly degraded. This transformation is described by Richard Sennet in his book ‘The Fall of the Public Man’, which comes to the conclusion that public space is already from the 19th century “an environment of strangers, where people more and more look alike but they do not meet each other.” A crucial point to understand the shift is the current trend towards how the city is not perceived as a public good, but as a commodity. The value of exchange of public spaces overweighs its value of use. It is sold, bought and re-sold, being destructed and rebuilt, according to the financial profit, not according to its collective use by the inhabitants.Public access to such spaces becomes restricted, with behavior controlled by surveillance and private security, with much of the space thought of as accessible to the public is permissive by law. Access is at the behest of the landowner, secured through planning agreements negotiated with public authorities.The person who has the right to the public space is becoming the one who can pay to enjoy it, creating a system that is based on the complete privatization of public space. The use of space changes over time, reflecting the changing circumstances of the city around it. Regardless of different cultures and norms, there is a common worldwide message — public spaces in cities are crucibles of democracy, rife with conflicts inherent to urban life and THAT is something to be valued. -Aayushman Anand + Raeka Tambawala BALWANT SHETH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE/ NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2017/(PUBLIC)SPACES
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THE NIGHT OF ARRIVAL
THE EARLY ARRIVAL 21/08/2017 Vileparle -20:15
20/08/2017 Link Road- 17:40 A truck loaded with silent idols and screaming humans, both waiting to be rescued from the broken lorry. The congestion caused by the metro construction was amplified multiple times by this dilapidated vehicle. While other vehicles moved away towards their respective destination, ignoring the troubled and the troubler. Is ignorance really bliss?
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We run towards the pumping music, the first uproar of the oncoming season. The multisource music becomes louder. 10ft tall idol draped in plastic, Boys smeared in red, transforming the onlookers into paparazzi while the auto rickshaw driver screams at the motorist for cutting into his lane. The real force that lead the motorist to creep into another man’s lane lay unspoken. 11 steps away - 240 seconds - drew back 40. The proximity diluted the enthusiasm in my blood, now turned pale I moved away from the scene, still tapping to the beats in distant.
23/08/2017 DN Nagar-19:45 Community pandals, temporary abodes for gargantuan clay idols, ate the streets. The street willingly succumbed without protesting or questioning the motive or relevance. The large popup leading to bottlenecks that last for long hours, we curse the traffic police for their inefficiency, since it is publically correct and accepted.
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24/08/2017 Veera Desai road, Home. Squatting on the sofa, TV switched on at volume 56, home and ear curtains shut to the outside. Ignoring the blaring music/noise* at times and grooving at other. Enjoying the clatter of the television and the drums of welcome. My efforts to dim the outside were a waste since I was okay with the leaks creeping through the window panes. State of confusion- comfortable at 100 decibel, a question rises, “how far will I or you endure?” *subjected to your place of dwelling.
A PRIVATE AFFAIR 25/08/2017 Private space Hopping through houses as the apparent ritual dictated. A private affair kept private.
26/08/2017 All across Mumbai Girl bands, boy bands, bands of families all marched towards the shore to let go of the deity. Dreading to go out as the clogged streets thronged with human, idols and carts caused ample of fuss and commotion. The arterial roads in the city were choked making it difficult for the city to breathe in the fumes of the firecrackers and vibrations of the dhol. Speakers blasting Bollywood music and dancing, both seemingly inappropriate for the occasion also filled the streets. ‘It’s okay, it’s a festival and our culture’ I said to myself. I couldn’t be anti-culture, though being anti-city was allowed and unconsciously practised by us all. Picture by Charmil Shah
27/08/2017 The shores Heads, arms and plastics splattered on the beach, a sight casual for a Mumbaikar after the immersion, a sight horrendous in nature and thought otherwise. The deity worshiped and caressed 12 hours back now lay in the sand all broken and uncared for.
“All for c ulture, religion or self?” Loud chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya! Pudhachya Varshi Lavkar Ya! ” Written by Uroosa Petiwala
Picture by Nakshi Shah
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Mumbai, once a small fishing town, is now the country’s most populous and incommodiously overcrowded metropolis. The utter exasperation insinuated by Mumbai’s relentless traffic scene and encroached roads has caused residents to find other means of passing time which for obvious reasons don’t include spending time outdoors. Impatient bikers riding over pedestrian pathways, drivers breaking signals and the sheer amount of vehicles have made the roads of Mumbai unsafe and inconvenient for use by the public.
BRINGING EQUALITY TO TH ROADS OF MUM
In addition to the omnipresent danger posed by motorized transport on the roads – which are in fact public spaces – Indian cities face a rising toll of air and noise pollution, traffic crashes, completely eradicated footpaths, increasing investment in roads and flyovers, and the loss of tree cover from increasing automobile infrastructure that has left Mumbai gasping for breath. When a few great minds assembled to ponder about how the roads of Mumbai can be reclaimed by the people for leisurely usage, a pioneering idea was given birth to. It’s what the locals proudly called, “Equal Streets”.
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It is ‘a citizens' movement sponsored by The Times of India, aimed at correcting the imbalance in how roads are used in Indian cities and to correct the mindsets towards sustainable transport and public spaces’. There are countless reasons why this short-lived but desirable endeavour made Mumbai a slightly more liveable city. Every Sunday morning, a long stretch of road brought together crowds of all ages who relished their freedom from vehicular traffic for three glorious hours.
HE MBAI
The roads of Mumbai became a large stage that showcased the true spirit of a happy and healthy population. A road that turned into blackboards for toddlers and dance or yoga floors for everyone from toddlers to teens to senior citizens. People of all age groups are encouraged to interact with their community and participate in activities like yoga, aerobics, cross-fit, Zumba and street dancing as well.
The police co-operated and were manning roads and diverting traffic ensuring smooth flow of the other roads nearby. Traffic constables showed that cops could be considerate as they directed an auto rickshaw to "go slow and drive carefully by the sides since there would be children on the road." However the true beauty lied in the foremost fact that a public space was created in the midst of a usually busy road where everyone, regardless of their age, class or wealth will have equal access to the open spaces of the Equal Streets loop. In every corner of Mumbai, there are conventional and non-conventional spaces that should be opened for public use. While Equal Streets undoubtedly aspires to be a fun, community-building event, at its core it is an important statement about public space and democracy in urban India. -Ammar Rassai BALWANT SHETH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE/ NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2017/(PUBLIC)SPACES
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A Public Space is any place to which the public or a substantial group of the public have access to. These include, but are not limited to highways, streets, parks, beaches and common areas of apartments, shops, office buildings, hospitals and schools. Public space also includes places where people can come if they are willing or have the ability to pay, like cafes, trains or a movie theatre.
THE IDEA OF PUBLIC SPACE: ‘SHOPS’
So a shop can be an example of what is an intermediate between two meanings: everyone can enter and look around without the obligation to buy, but activities which are not related to the shop are prohibited. Places like these can be considered as semi-public spaces. The streets in a shopping centre may be declared as a public space and may be will be open when shops are closed. Similarly sometimes a travelling ticket will be required for railway platforms, public transports or waiting rooms. Also for these semi-public spaces stricter rules may be implemented such as a dress code, trading(hawkers), skateboards or roller skates or cycling. Shopping malls have been transformed from a component of city to the prerequisite of urbanity. Malls not only serve as the iconic center of the city but also provide physical spaces for social activities and as a result has replaced every aspect of urban life. However city centres should also function as a “place”, where “everybody occupies its place.” Shopping malls have increasingly become popular destination for the public. 11
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Of course, none of these privately owned places are truly public, even if it is dedicated for public use. There is a presumption of publicness in these privately owned public spaces, but in reality they are in a public realm. The concept of public life is inseparable from the idea of “public sphere” and the notion of civil society. Hawkers are a symbol of a metropolitan space gone out of control. They are frequently described by civic activists, municipal officials and journalists as a nuisance. They are seen to cause chaos on the city streets and also are held responsible for the city’s notorious congestion. This is despite the fact that the city’s streets and footpaths are full of privately owned car parking areas which are, by far, the city’s greatest obstruction to the movement of pedestrains and encroachers of public spaces. The shop owners as well as wealthy resident associations who are engaged in similar practices justify the necessary actions to keep the city clean. Hawkers claim to dirty the public spaces by throwing unwanted garbage and depriving pedestrians of their space. The poorer sections are able to procure their basic necessities mainly through these vendors as goods sold are cheap and affordable. The plight of the urban poor would have been much worse than what it is at present if there had been no street vendors. Hence, though street vendors are viewed as a problem for urban governance and a problem for most of the public spaces, they are in fact the solution to some of the problems of the urban poor.
-Ahan Dasgupta BALWANT SHETH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE/ NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2017/(PUBLIC)SPACES
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A dark, dimly lit eerie space, wherein, the lavatories have become a hub for narcotic activities, escalators have now become stairs, and the food court accommodates more stray dogs than it does patrons:Thane’s Eternity Mall is a classic example of what many of Mumbai’s failed malls look like. This is the reality affecting a staggering 52% of Mumbai’s 40 malls. With an ever increasing lack of space in urban centers, it is essential to take into account the reason behind the failure of these mammoth structures as well as the means by which the situation can be ameliorated.
THE MALL:
A FAILED PUBLIC SPACE IN NEED OF REINVENTION
William H Whyte once said, “It is difficult to design a space that will not attract people” – however it is remarkable to see how often spaces designed for the very purpose of attracting large footfalls keep their audience at bay. For most malls, it is the very flaw in the design in terms of the architect’s lack of understanding of the functioning of the mall, customer base of the mall and the general context and demographics of the area around the mall. This is not just the case with small-scale malls such as Eternity Mall, but with high-end large scale developments designed by world renowned architects as well. One such example is the Galaxy Soho in Beijing, designed by the illustrious Zaha Hadid. Since its grand opening on the 27th of October in 2012, the mixed used public space stands largely empty. Designed to create a calm, peaceful outdoor retail environment, the numerous artificial water bodies on site were not enough to create the required atmosphere due to the structure’s positioning just off one of Beijing’s busiest motorways. The chaotic noise and pollution of the 2nd Ring Road overwhelm the structure in a city whose popu13
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lation is willing to go to any lengths to get respite from the pollution. Moreover, the context and surroundings in which the space has been built proves to be another hindrance to its success. Surrounded by heritage Hutongs and Soviet-era low rises, the sheer volume of the structure along with its extra terrestrial like contrast, makes it exceedingly intimidating for the average Beijinger to enter. Additionally, in the 21st century with the advent of technology and with it the prosperity of online retail, the pressure on malls that were already struggling has only multiplied. In the US, a third of all malls are either dying or are dead. The same is the case in developing nations such as India wherein more malls were withdrawn from operational stock than new ones that were added to it in the year 2016. What is alarming for the civic bodies is that with the fall of these gargantuan structures, there is a deterioration in the quality of life in the neighborhood. Thus the question arises: What is to be done of these enormous, defunct spaces? The answer lies in the question itself. Simply by being enormous in size, malls today are being taken over by expanding industries looking for larger spaces in the midst of the urban landscape. Once defunct and aban- these Nishiki Varma doned, spaces are now at the forefront of job creation and are starting to give their communities a newfound voice. For instance, an ailing mall in Jackson, Mississippi has now been converted into a medical complex for low-income residents with its own nursing school and research laboratories. Thus, taking into account the changing requirements and expectations of our public spaces, it is important to learn from the shortcomings of the designs of the past and constantly reinvent our structures. Similar to most prospective public spaces, retail arrangements such as malls will also have to be built to be flexible in terms of their purpose in order to keep up with changing consumer preferences and the advent of technology. -Tavish Lakhwara BALWANT SHETH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE/ NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2017/(PUBLIC)SPACES
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" Cities have the capabilities of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when , they are created by everybody." - The Life and death of Great American Cities, Jane Jacobs. Cities are about people, where they go and where they meet are the centre of what makes a city work. It is not the gated communities but it is the public spaces where the most transformative changes in cities are happening, that somehow makes them even more important than buildings.
PUBLIC SPACES: A SPATIOTEMPORAL ORD
Since Greece (Fig.1), public space has been essential to people and cities. It’s where citizens discussed everything, from current events to work to the nature of the universe. It’s where engaged in making decisions for civic matters – all the ideas that stimulate a democracy. The Architecture of these dedicated physical spaces- Stoa, Curia , Comitium and Rostra(Fig.2) all opened up a dynamic nature and the potential of a public space to a great extent. Is today's public space democratic in nature? Does it welcome everyone and encourage dialogue?
(Fig.1)
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(Fig.2)
With today’s obsession with security, public spaces are shrinking. Web access is expanding and absorbing much of the dialogue that once took place in person. The contemporary condition, described by David Harvey as a situation of “space-time compression”, has changed the way with which we produce, travel, consume and think about space, coming to the progressive break of spatial barriers. Internet and other communication technologies create a platform for citizens to participate in addressing public challenges. There’s even a term for it – e-democracy(Fig.3)– and these forums provide a thoroughfare to citizen engagement. By being able to access information, these platforms are reinforcing participation, expressing solidarity and raising awareness about global events; while being in their private space. Have people become Anti-city in this new generation of hashtag activism?(Fig.4)
DER
)
(Fig.3)
(Fig.4)
The spread of new modes of communication has transformed the standstill view of public space to a (Fig.5) more dynamic condition, the ‘Distinction’ has lost its meaning leaving space to fragments. Especially in Mumbai, the large functional voids, which originate from industrial dismantlement, should be strategically reconsidered as new shared public spaces, where the integration between different functions reactivate the social sphere of the city.Public space is split by infrastructure and crossed by cars, The cities planned by Modernism(Fig.5) deny this connection, an absolute space, motionless and excluding any relations with the outside. Cultural practices such as the arts and architecture should seek to illuminate social and historical change, providing an imagery and language for us to discuss and reflect on our fast-changing society. We must work through a scheme of reconstruction focused on a new vocabulary of contemporary public spaces; and open the direction to new urban types such as, shared spaces or relational spaces, as well as hybrids; redefining the shape of public spaces and, consequently, building up their identity- by interpreting space as a place of relationship. Nakshi Shah (Sources: http://www.publicspace.org/en/post/when-architecture-speaks-up-for-public-space https://theconversation.com/are-we-in-the-midst-of-a-public-space-crisis-56124) BALWANT SHETH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE/ NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2017/(PUBLIC)SPACES
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The meaning of public spaces today is very different from what it was in the past and it may be even more contrasting in the future. So, what are public spaces and what is its future? Every individual, from a child to a senior citizen, will have their own perspective - a different understanding of public spaces, be it now or in the future. Some may be similar while some may be starkly different. Some may demand parks, playgrounds and open spaces for self-indulgence and better interaction while some due to our rapid technological advancement, may demand any place with free Wi-Fi.
THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC SPACE
In the 21st Century we have progressed in every possible field, the most being the field of technology. This extensive amount of progress has led to our interactions and connections to be so boundless that with the click of a button we can digitally connect to a person at the other end of the world or at the other end of the couch. This has led to people interacting more with emojis than with real emotions. The future of this will be the replacement of an actual open public space with an online forum. The resulting future situation may have drastic effects, as due to our continuous interaction with people online hiding behind a digital screen, we would slowly lose the true essence and feel of interacting face-to-face with an actual human being. Even though a majority of us are going down this horrifying path there are a fair amount of people working towards the re-establishment of a public space in its true essence. People are increasingly becoming more and more health-conscious resulting in a good number of parks and playgrounds being 17
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Owing to this, we will see an upsurge in the amount of space created for public recreation giving rise to extensive public interaction. Now, we see two aspects of the future: positive and negative. Both weighing almost equally with an uncertainty as to which may dominate the future. Hoping that the negative aspect doesn’t dominate the future and people start to see, use and enjoy public spaces as they did before, here are some measures we can adopt to improve the future: • Optimization of all resources available – Optimum usage of all resources: social media, print media, advertisements etc. to educate people especially the youth about the importance of public spaces, particularly the importance of having a public life. • Emphasize more on the significance of public life than digital life – We have observed that the generations before us interacted more through personal contacts and had more true friends than us. We may feel we have more friends through Facebook, Twitter etc. but if we look closer we realize that our true friends are only those with whom we meet regularly. Public spaces can be anything-from bookstores, grocery stores, coffee shops to even banks, theme parks etc. Any place can give rise to public interaction. • Expansion of the public realm – Earlier parks and playgrounds had started disappearing due to the virtual world, where the youth of today was and is still spending their maximum time. But today, people who realized the side effects of the virtual world on their health, relationship and lifestyle have started campaigning, beautifying and building parks and playgrounds on any place which were not in use and in dumps. • Resuscitate the urge of amiable interaction in the youth – Primarily, spreading awareness amongst the youth regarding the benefits of face to face interaction with others and expanding one’s horizon. We should also fathom that fact that these measures are essentially linked together in such a way that once we accomplish them the other good effects will just happen like dominos falling one after the other. -Nishiki Varma
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Fun Fact: On 15th August 1947 our ancestors paved the way for gen-
erations to come as our great nation rose to Independence. enjoyed our day off
This past month, we celebrated our 71st national Independence Day. The roads were flushed again with hawkers and beggars channeling tricolored products through their physdo entrepreneurial charm.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
pleading with persistence
Our passion towards the said products is nothing but a SEPTEMBER simple shift on 2017 the demand curve prompted by our acute (sigh) sense of patriotism. As I drove past the opportunistically overpriced polymeric materials, I sensed how disgustingly we commemorate the idea that we have fallen short of embracing: FREEDOM. ment
and conversely, encroach
Engaged amidst the corporative churnings of institutionalism, students are most susceptible to the ongoing redefining of Freedom. We have accepted Freedom as a product. similar to the molded tricolor polymers we buy
There is an inherent acceptance of our freedom’s expanse being tweaked as there is a direct understanding of our expressions being iterated. Our tryst with Independence is merely a dry acknowledgement of a certain perceptive truth. We have been so engaged in hailing our was 'Freedom Struggle', that no effort is made to exfoliate through these layers to essentially understand the true implication of being 'free'. So let's really criticize;
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We live in a degrading society that is an infrastructural mess. We have populated ourselves beyond sustainable limits. Students are promptly used as political tools even when our engagement with the political scenario of this country is nonexistent. Our whims and fancies are an irrational amalgamation of Hollywood clichĂŠs and our intense attraction towards open mindedness comes to a critical halt every time we chose to exercise our resolve to intrinsic right logically right a wrong.
even a mere hint of any kind of outlook
Our clothes are regulated, voices mulled over, emotions misunderstood, values challenged, personalities soundly compartmentalized to criticize and our worldview is readjusted to the specific nature of institutional propagandas. But we pretend that this doesn't happen as we are too focused * in living in our bubble. ed nature of our comfort loving selves *due to the reserv
Here's the interesting part that may serve to be some FOOD FOR THOUGHT, our understanding of Independence as well as the nature of our freedom is symbiotic! One promotes the understanding of other. can't even be Our sense of Independence isn't be dictated by jurisdictional laws. It comes from understanding freedom that has never been bestowed upon us. Perhaps this is the mechanism of thoughts that creates rebels; and rebels lead revolutions.
-Parshav Sheth (editor)
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IN CONVERSATION WITH AR. SHRUTI BARVE
i t ar e t of mba erfec was ange how rv e s er e a lo Mu e p her e ld ch and h T o hat inc th If t cou it be in t s s l t a ces en’ . u uld ce e Pr s o a e a r sp . Th en s p t a s p a c a t y h wo y p n ly h tha blic ce t whic e it? o ma timal een o nd pu spa ay, hang are s d op ig gr at, a y y an ny w ou c here t use s a b oked So ma a a in uld y ht- t re no le, h be lo ace. g wo t’s ri or a xamp only c h sp u Tha pose for e It can at m l , ua pur seum sed. up th dea. q ‘E hic u cces kes d i f M o o e a e a nly t a go rd ing w in ce? spac l b a a e p o r e y s ra e h , du ys to but uld b lic is an gene v b a a a pu ests, the wo t h Indi und a h S ig of of sugg s to er n h m t n o s T r a io e th e ou Time ours a. ou Y e nit name cat s i d f i y th e in h t g ar a de the and h f d a t r o e r ta gr layin s for ou , as one ese tion e y a c h ? s t y s e i r it i ea it is ren p route s’ atiza at spac eve d e o i h s c a priv r ink c hild tive W blic to h e p t h s t n I a u s e e c cia o ere ltern og bli od a A p is op t s w u as ‘p go ou t ple ea e y r a f o l s h a r o e p t c. o eo i fp ot that a e l l o p k b i ns t t l o a e o s t s l pu ’ p y Mo o? an o ou are y. Isn all ta are hes e e r e e g s s ally, ce, y u er entr er eac y i es . o h h t T o y n a t it d pace ch ce. ple, b o ma lic Usu n sp are a i Bu paid , a r h sp am of s pub w pe you e it ve lic s ve c o e i y a l x t w b i h e? o pu e caus o c ub or e and ood k H i p e l . c h e a g e od nt. F ple, lly g , b ical n t e? spa is tru d as o t i i a g o a d e c rt t a re ce ie hys g it e oo g pa t spa s to impo any p also p Tha lassif s in a e ly c tan e t i e c m l g u e r l s b t kin stil pu por attrib treme er so dia a ea a r y g m h In x get n y im ent d a t, f e n a o f i h o o l o r l o e W I re re ute t is ce. G nerhe a rea diff at a ings t eway . b t a i h r t pla ow ey t t A: y s th br s Is is n n a e r o a c o G a ha ct f the ined c. Th s. nk re m ace that The tc s p i a s a f h i r t p ne rity o comb fabr e use ns th e a lic s pace and open s r r o e o t s u o h y i i c t a t c Th pub lic s Park onal t i a e l c c f y f w? essed nd s s fee in a ds o n-fun shing ny pub aji eati n a m ne Shiv ecr ma a fe acc ety a user kers e min r no tabli n as o r g . f r e e o s ein nam an b he sa e the e ma in th onal in es nctio able are orie h are b ic re you ce c r is t mak iabl map ncti eful d fu gniz eg e h cat es wh la the lso entif ntal re fu ry us an reco t t an p u c o e a C o ab ace. ly the e. An ces re id a me they a re ve ll vib and s. spa e a a c t i k k a po lic sp eas ortan lic sp and form ether they overa ortan mar s d p w b u pu Ho imp pub ship hel Wh al, Yo an imp lan
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BALWANT SHETH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE/ NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2017/(PUBLIC)SPACES
le ot lic no les by ve Wa cann e pub cessib d h f e c r o hic o th e a or f o s e t s w c e on oad the se spac c p u a s r t o sp f n tha nt t on nk of e o g i m ve e m e n o u t h it is akin ere o h t m e, a, here a m mov do y g s o yb y as t a lar ha t o w t u ed long ich ehic on. W t h a w d v cti ic t. As d , at ’ e a e i h s r r t t d k e te d ee oc nk i oa ain m e. Str y bl an in h r t n the cert d on he hum ou t sa l y f s o h a a c p fee do se rts has y goo u a y a o e h l y you tice DEVDUTT TRIVEDI W n p idea real e i ncr . a m ’ AR. SHRUTI BARVE s ti ing ot no you e k ert the is a y c c a r n a s e sp Ev it, m ight unles eep ere nitely ught . Interview conducted by w n e k o i e c e to u m de p re def is th u a o t o o i p Urmi Nandu - s, th h‘ d s rela ry, y t’s ins nt. Y t d i e n s u icle ’w clo ts you t libra wha prese s h e a e c n s le men see at’s sed. a rv a p h t em es ern an’t f th mis h cs n e t i l l n c v b e b on open ea e ope a go . You relie ot b pu c d ‘ i t e k and ours. o th say, ing e of cann r n a te a d ore it an by, build sens that e m ublic few h on of r m s a r s is g g a es s a p very a fusi dent ce oticin u pa y othe e is ethin c ? a a s p le i es e is a stu dife sp p n f yo an ther som s c c pa ubli amp hang There As e a dy ee f it. I like ces, it is s k u t o ook pa lic w p r ex - it c nd? that? mak lrea ly, d n b l r s a u t p d ho c h fo flux f la lect ges e a eful pa t jus pen s by f o s h ho e s, an bea te of tc h o y ref c han gy. W . Hop a g r i p t u m Wi ou fut lature Juhu a sta a pa reall these hnolo ation y . e n e th egis ed. s in ly as aps how h tec viliz o i y tim s i i , ps, l hang l. It i r on ur m nd r wit vvy c n e o l v a o c i o o a e e pin re, m ot of as w ody ut do things t to d c h-sa o b o r l u ou e fut to a space ging this, b these ve a l ery te y , in in th cted tural c han use re of so ha g a v l k a le in a je thin sub is a n it as peop e awa will a ecom b b ces it p! be w ify all , but ident nd ho hould spa eady tc h u e ce we a a ou s ese alr ht ca a tur p c e e, y e, th are ig s do e s t i m rch A So d and ectur futur d we we t l of o lan arc hi In the es an s and o s Sch u) h of ence. fi zon ogre t he Nand S t fer e wi- all pr an mi alw by Ur hav gs sh B at ted thin c sor u rve rofes cond a B P i rut ciate erview h S o t Ar. Ass (In
BALWANT SHETH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE/ NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2017/(PUBLIC)SPACES
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OPEN STUDIO REFLECTION MOVIE: SITA SINGS THE BLUES
“Rama will come here, and you still have one last chance, because once he comes here... You know... Your ass is grass.” -Shadow Puppet 3 (as Sita) “You love to see me cryin’. I’m left alone singing the blues and sighin’.” -Sita
“Sita Sings the Blues” truly is a breath of fresh air. Written, directed, animated and edited by Nina Paley, this work of animation is a hilarious, multilayered tale of love gone wrong. Focusing on one of the oldest epics in the world, it draws parallels with other storylines to make it a lot more relatable to today’s audience. Paley takes us through 82 minutes of laughter, music and great visuals, full of witty one-liners and great narration. The hero, though usually considered Rama, is actually Sita, who serves as an inspiration for unconditional love as well as a feminist cautionary tale. It looks at this well-known story from the Ramayana through a different lens and calls into question what has been dubbed as one of the “greatest love stories of all time”. Sita, Ram and other characters from the Ramayana are rendered in various different styles, accompanied by musical numbers sung by the early jazz singer Annette Hanshaw. Our heroine often broke out into song throughout the movie, sometimes leading to groans 23
BALWANT SHETH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE/ NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2017/(PUBLIC)SPACES
from the audience as well as cheers from those who were clearly feeling the “Betty Boop goes Bollywood” vibe. The crowd favorite were definitely the three shadow puppets whose witty narration of events and constant banter amused the audience throughout and really helped bring the film to life. Sita (voiced by Reena Shah) is married to Rama (Debargo Sanyal), the heroic prince who is exiled for 14 years by his father. Playing the role of a loyal and dutiful wife, Sita decides to accompany her husband when she is kidnapped by the many-headed King Ravana (Sanjiv Jhaveri). After Ram finally rescues her with the help of Hanuman, their relationship takes a step backwards when he says that he can’t accept a woman who has lived in another man’s house as his wife and makes her walk through flames to prove her purity. Sita's heartbreak is matched by that felt by Nina, a woman whose longtime boyfriend, Dave, takes a job in India and eventually breaks her heart. Nina’s story is based on the writer’s own experiences and is a modernized variation of what happened to Sita, whose unconditional love for Ram is met with suspicion, humiliation and eventually, banishment. There’s a sisterhood woven between these two female characters that connect them to each other as well as others who have experienced that kind of heartbreak. Though the content might feel heavy, Paley has lightened the mood with gorgeous animations, cut-outs, collages and music which makes the film exciting, engrossing and a whole lot of fun.
-Raeka Tambawala BALWANT SHETH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE/ NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2017/(PUBLIC)SPACES
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BSSA COMPETITION
Devangi Kansagra
AUG 2017
CAPTURING THE ESSENSE OF PUBLIC SPACES IN THE CITY OF MUMBAI Devangi Kansagra, Y4
Saloni Agarwal
Vishal Rohira
Saloni Agarwal, Y4
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BALWANT SHETH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE/ NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2017/(PUBLIC)SPACES
Vishal Rohira, Y4
4
Rakshita Jain
The Student Council conducted an intra-college photography competition for all the years. This was an exercise based on an Open Studio conducted by Abhijeet Karwa Y5.: wherein he explained the basic rules of capturing ‘Architecture’. The brief required a potrait photograph following the RULE OF THIRDS Juhi Mody, Y3
The competition was judged by our the host of the Open Studio: Abhijeet Karwa.
Rakshita Jain, Y4
-Rakshita Jain (Multimedia Head)
Juhi Mody, Y3
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UPDATES EVENTS
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BALWANT SHETH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE/ NEWSLETTER SEPTEMBER 2017/(PUBLIC)SPACES
SPORTS
Cover Image: Saloni Agarwal (Winner; BSSA Competition August, 2017. [Public]Spaces)