November 2015

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VOL 29 (3)

NOVEMBER 2015

INDIAN ARCHITECT & BUILDER

IN CONVERSATION Sheila Sri Prakash ARCHITECTURE Shoolini Library: Studio Archohm INTERNATIONAL San Telmo Museum: Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos CONSTRUCTION BRIEF Lali Gurans, Kathmandu

Architecture | Interior Design Product/Industrial Design | Urban Intervention Landscape Presenter by:

Deadline: 25th Dec, 2015

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VOL 29 (3) | NOVEMBER 2015 | www.iabforum.com RNI REGISTRATION NO. 46976/87, ISSN 0971-5509 INDIAN ARCHITECT AND BUILDER

Chairman: Jasu Shah Printer, Publisher & Editor: Maulik Jasubhai Shah Chief Executive Officer: Hemant Shetty

44 CURRENT

The latest news, events and competitions in architecture and design from India and abroad.

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POST EVENT

Sir Peter Cook exhibition of his iconic architectural drawings and sketches.

51 PRODUCT

Information of state-of-art products, from across the globe, which are

slick, contemporary and innovation.

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IN CONVERSATION

Lyricism between dance and architecture In Conversation with IA&B, Architect Sheila Sri Prakash discusses about her journey as an architect and an artist towards becoming an accomplished global architect.

Editorial: Meghna Mehta, Saylee Soundalgekar Email: iabedt@jasubhai.com Design Team: Mansi Chikani, Prasenjit Bhowmick, Kenneth Menezes Subscription: Dilip Parab, Prakash Powar Production Team: V Raj Misquitta (Head), Prakash Nerkar, Arun Madye Head Office: JMPL, Taj Building, 3rd Floor, 210, Dr D N Road, Fort, Mumbai - 400 001.

Tel: + 91-22-4037 3636, Fax: +91-22-4037 3635 SALES Brand Manager: Sudhanshu Nagar Email: sudhanshu_nagar@jasubhai.com MARKETING TEAM & OFFICES Mumbai Parvez Memon Taj Building, 3rd Floor, 210, Dr D N Road, Fort, Mumbai 400 001.

Tel: + 91-22-4037 3636, Fax: +91-22-4037 3635 Email: parvez_memon@jasubhai.com

52 ARCHITECTURE

A step ahead towards improved homes

The Promont, a residential development by TATA housing in Hosakerehalli, Bengaluru provides a bold concept for urban living.

Delhi: Suman Kumar 803, Chiranjeev Tower, No 43, Nehru Place, New Delhi – 110 019 Tel: +91 11 2623 5332, Fax: 011 2642 7404 Email: suman_kumar@jasubhai.com

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Imparting Knowledge through pacifying spatial experiences Studio Archohm designs the Yogananda Library in Solan, Himachal Pradesh on a contoured terrain and create a unique spatial experience for reading and imbibing knowledge.

Bengaluru / Hyderabad / Gujarat: Sudhanshu Nagar Mobile: +91 9833104834, Email: sudhanshu_nagar@jasubhai.com

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Introversion derives poise

The Bridge House, Hyderabad is an introversive residence designed

by Spacefiction studio that inoculates surprising pauses into the

normalcies of daily life.

72 INTERNATIONAL

Natural and Urban Boundary Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos define the new urban image through the design of the extension of the San Telmo Museum alongside a historic edifice.

Chennai / Coimbatore: Princebel M Mobile: +91 9444728035, +91 9823410712, Email: princebel_m@jasubhai.com Kolkata: Sudhanshu Nagar Mobile: +91 9833104834, Email: sudhanshu_nagar@jasubhai.com Pune: Parvez Memon Mobile: +91 9769758712, Email: parvez_memon@jasubhai.com

80 INSTALLATION

Seizing nature’s bounty Vaibhav Kaley and his firm Wonder Grass bring about a strong connection between the environment and man; and the role of artisans in the modern construction world.

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CONSTRUCTION BRIEF

A benevolent modern-day ziggurat Lali Gurans at Kathmandu, Nepal aspires to be a monument built with a balance between local and advanced construction techniques.

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SPACE FRAMES

Maheshwar – The Serene Legacy Samruddha Mogal attempts to portray the heritage of a town in Madhya Pradesh, attempting to showcase the elements of the past.

Cover Image: © Fernando Alda

Printed & Published by Maulik Jasubhai Shah on behalf of Jasubhai Media Pvt Ltd (JMPL), 26, Maker Chamber VI, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021.

Printed at The Great Art Printers, 25, S A Brelvi Road, Fort, Mumbai 400 001 and Published from Mumbai - 3rd Floor, Taj Building, 210, Dr D N Road, Fort, Mumbai 400 001.

Editor: Maulik Jasubhai Shah, 26, Maker Chamber VI, Nariman Point, Mumbai 400 021.

Indian Architect & Builder: (ISSN 0971-5509), RNI No 46976/87, is a JMPL monthly publication. Reproduction in any manner, in whole or part, in English or any other language is strictly prohibited. We welcome articles, but do not accept responsibility for contributions lost in the mail.

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LYRICISM BETWEEN DANCE AND ARCHITECTURE In Conversation with IA&B, Architect Sheila Sri Prakash discusses about her journey as an architect and an artist towards becoming an accomplished global architect.

Text and Images: courtesy Shilpa Architects Planners Designers Pvt Ltd

Sheila Sri Prakash is a globally celebrated Architect and Designer. She founded Shilpa Architects in 1979 as a solo practitioner and was recently named one of the “Top 100” architects in the world by the prestigious Italian Journal of Architecture- Il Giornale dell’ Architettura. She is renowned as a breakthrough thinker for her pioneering work on the “Reciprocal Design Index” that she developed on the World Economic Forum. It prescribes parameters and metrics surrounding sustainable design by extending the environmental framework of sustainability to factor socio-economics.

She delivered the keynote address at the Milan Design Summit and the Kuala Lampur Design Forum. Ms Sheila has been a prolific artist, musician and sculptor.

Indian Architect & Builder - November 2015

in conversation

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Nursing College in Tamil Nadu.

IA&B: Your firm Shilpa Architects was the first practice started by a woman, how would you explain your journey, from the establishment of the firm till today; its progression, hurdles and achievements?

SSP: Women are the forces of creation with uniquely innate abilities to nurture life. It is up to each to differentiate and realise their full potential.

Architecture as a profession is in its infancy. Only in 1972 was The Architects Act passed by the Indian Parliament, when architecture came to be recognised as a profession. Till then Civil Engineers were designers and builders. The real estate industry was only dominated by men for thinking, deciding and acting on all matters related to development and construction.

As in all fields, Indian women architects too are confronted by the challenges of a nascent profession, gender bias, bearing children, familial responsibilities and societal conventions. Women have gradually gained social acceptance because of their relevance and sensitive approach to problem solving and team building. It takes time and hard work to develop a portfolio of completed projects that speak for themselves. In April 1979, I set up my studio which continues to operate meaningfully till date.

IA&B: Your approach for many of your projects seems to be intuitive, how strongly do you think Intuition influences the design process of an Architect?

SSP: I was recently a speaker at The 361° Conference on “Discourse,

Intuition & Syntax in Architecture.” It was exhilarating to jointly explore the process of design with some of the finest international and Indian designers. Every designer has a vision for a project that is almost immediate. Building that concept into a story is intuition.

It seems deceptively simple, but will only reveal itself in layers as the process considers the context and constraints. I trained rigorously as a dancer for years with the best dancers of India, like Kumari Laxman, Dr Padma Subramanyam and Hema Malini. As a dancer it is elementary to conjure settings in mind space. The architectural journey as in dance, springs from deep contemplation and immersion into what is possible. It is magical when the abstract manifests. The development of form and space is sublime. Forms exude energy and their subtle forces can be coalesced into spaces that permeate into its inhabitants forever. Architects shape destinies.

IA&B: Having built more than 1200 projects, if you were to choose one of your projects that would be the most significant, which one would it be?

SSP: Every project is close to my heart. We nurture our designs and are passionate about it. So it is hard to choose any one. Of course, some projects come with intrinsic constraints and we spend a lot of thought working around them.

IA&B: You also introduced vernacular and culturally relevant techniques into contemporary design, how do you think clients and the industry accept this amalgamation?

SSP: Holland, S Korea and Singapore are recent examples of countries that have built eco systems to nurture good design. These

To read more: http://www.magzter.com/IN/Jasubhai-Media-Pvt.-Ltd./Indian-Architect-&-Builder/Art/

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INTROVERSION DERIVES POISE THE BRIDGE HOUSE, HYDERABAD

An introversive residence designed by Spacefiction studio inoculates surprising pauses into the normalcies of daily life. Sensitivity to the climate, quality of light and vistas enhance casual experiences through an innovative use of open and closed spaces to outline contemporary design.

Text: Meghna Mehta Drawings: courtesy Spacefiction Studio Photographs: courtesy Santhosh Kandanala, Kattela Vivek, Uday Anand

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ocated in one of the prime locations of the city; a lavish extravagance in design of the house would be expected out of the client’s requirements. Contrary to this impression, the client who is an avid traveler had a simple brief. He wanted a house, which reflected his lifestyle; to be minimal yet experiential, modern yet rooted.

The ‘C’ shaped house rests on a linear piece of land whose length is almost twice the width of the road facing it marginally away from a busy city road. The form suggests a clear need for architectural introversion, the house was planned to wrap around a large north court. Privacy was created by a high neighbour wall abutting the Indian Architect & Builder - November 2015

site such that most of the house looks into the court with unique definitive framed perspectives. These spatial experiences were created either through a window while walking over a bridge, sitting in a glass box while reading a book or through the openings of a glass jaali door; the presence of the court is always sensed when moving through the house. The landscape was kept minimal such that the expanse is experienced while sitting on the wooden deck; which primarily remained shaded.

Climatologically, the house was designed to absorb ease and purge the uncomfortable. The least used rooms on the first floor facing

architecture

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Sketch of the inner courtyard.

Landscape features within the courtyard.

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NATURAL AND URBAN BOUNDARY Spanish architects define the new urban image through the design of the extension of the San Telmo Museum alongside a historic edifice.

Text and Drawings: courtesy Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos Photographs: courtesy Fernando Alda Compilation: Meghna Mehta

Indian Architect & Builder - November 2015

international

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Maheshwar – The Serene Legacy The photographer attempts to portray the heritage of a town in Madhya Pradesh, attempting to showcase the elements of the past in the light of today.

Photographs: courtesy Samruddha Mogal Text: Krushna Rathi

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ocated on the important junction of ancient trade routes, Maheshwar has a history which dates back to almost 4000 years. Mentioned in epics and contested by Marathas and Mughals, Maheshwar has been on crossroads of cultures all through its history as amply demonstrated by its serene and almost meditative Ghats, the splendid fort, busy streets, engaging weaver’s settlement and an organised work culture of REHWA society.

The city itself is a story, an allegory of its own history. As one moves from the busy bazaars selling beautiful handloom Maheshwari, to the community of Muslim weavers and from there to the Ghats, the story unfolds with its engaging chowks and colourful streets slowly giving way to quieter lanes leading to the magnificent yet extremely tranquil Ghats aligning with river Narmada fondly called Rewa here. It is as if the Ghats are an antithesis to the hustle and bustle

Indian Architect & Builder - November 2015

of the town and the fort acts as the bridge between the two. The fort with its temples and beautiful courts and ever busy workshop tells the story of its main patron Ahilyabai Holkar who ruled from the palace here till the capital was moved to Indore. Most of the fort and Ghats have been built during her reign and she had been a generous. In mornings and evenings it is the Ghats which come alive with the sacred river Rewa (Narmada) taking the centre stage and the fort with its brilliant architecture forming the background. The photographer tries to capture the mood in the evenings when the shadows are long and the sun seems to be setting in the river itself. The river calms the surroundings with its leisurely flow and the pictures capture atmosphere. The silhouettes and frames in the photographs not only highlight the grace of the place with fort, ghats and handloom forming a narration, they also convey the engagement people have with their heritage, the Ghats and the traditional handloom.

space frames

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