DESIGN detail_June 017

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May 2017 | Vol 4 | Issue 37 | `200

Vol. 4. Issue 37. May 2017

DESIGN DETAIL IS A COMMITTED FORUM THAT INSPIRES DESIGNERS, ARCHITECTS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERS TO NURTURE OUR HERITAGE AND CULTURE TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE INDIAthe architecture magazine EDITORIAL Chief Editor

: Ar. Karan Grover

Editor & Publisher

:

Group Editor

: Dr. Rema S. Kartha

Ar. L. Gopakumar

Consulting Editor

: C. J. Punnathara

Architecture Writer

:

Sub Editor

: Renjith. T.R

Contributors

:

Ar. Soumya S Warrier

Ar. Gayathri Padmam Ar. Gayatri Mutum Ar. Gazala Amreen Ar. Himani Ahuja Ar. Kavya Bhat Ar. Nipun George

Head of Design

: Deep Das Gupta

Designer

:

Suneer E.H

STRATEGY Magazine Strategist

: Sumitra Nair

MARKETING & ADVERTISING Group General Manager Publication General Manager Senior Manager - Marketing Senior Manager Manager Asst. Manager

: : : : : :

R. Rajeev K. T. Vinayachandran K. V. Johnson Nitha Oommen Rajesh V. S. A. J. Sebastian, R. Rajesh

CIRCULATION

BEAT THE HEAT

Group General Manager Officer Executive Co-ordinator

: : : :

C. K. K. Nair Praveendas M. Pramod P. P. Rakesh N. K.

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

AN ELEGY ON THE HALL OF NATIONS AR. RAJ REWAL

Senior Manager : Balakrishnan R. Senior Accountant : Shiney John Corporate Office: Designer Publications Kerala Pvt. Ltd., 39/4722, DPK towers, R. Madhavan Nair Road, (Old Thevara Road), Kochi-16, Kerala Ph: 0484-6456290, 3296534, 2367111

editorial T

his is a sad and poignant moment: a moment when architects pause in their pursuit of building a new and magnificent India. Are we building for a new and prosperous India? Or, are we as a nation, on a building and demolition spree: breaking the symbols of our glorious past, vanquishing the symbols of our great heritage?

The Hall of Nations, at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi, which had captivated the hearts and minds of thousands of architects from around the world and millions of lay citizens from around the country, was demolished on the night of April 23, 2017. At the age of 23 I was given Champaner by my mentor Prof. R.N. Mehta who asked me for 30 years of my life and a commitment to make it a UNESCO World Heritage Site. I agreed, not realising what I was committing. I went the next morning to his home to collect his 30 years work on the site, to be shocked to find that he had passed away in the night but had left a huge black trunk with his work, with my name pasted on top of the trunk. You know the rest of the story. I gave 30 years of my life exploring, discovering, helping to restore the 115 monuments of the site convinced that our old heritage needed preservation. At my meeting at UNESCO to fight for World Heritage Site status I bumped into some fellow Indians fighting for World Heritage Site status for Chandigarh. This opened my eyes that contemporary architecture also needed protection. When I came to know that the Indian symbol of contemporary architecture to celebrate 25 years of our independence “The Hall of Nations” at Pragati Maidan was being considered to be razed to accommodate a newer architecture, I was appalled. So it is our lead story. I appeal to all the 10000 architects who read the story to help start a movement which can be tracked and promoted by Design Detail (if necessary) to stop such foolishness. If we had wanted to add value to Pragati Maidan, would it not have been better to add, supplement and enhance what we have (it only occupies 5% of the land!), and not destroy it? And that goes for all other situations – where projects in the hands of Government and developers who don’t realise that this is like cutting off our feet which has given us the strength and support to stand high competing with the best in the world. Our Heritage, Our Pride, Our Wealth is on the orange badge I made 25 years ago for the Heritage Club for children at Baroda. Membership was Rs.2/- which was the cost of the badge. I was amazed how many children vied to wear the badge. At the last count it was over 5000! This could be and should be our purpose of being for all architects. Let’s together save our common heritage, old and new – that is who we are and let us never forget it! I await hearing from all of you how we can make this our mission! Architect KARAN GROVER Chief Editor

HAPPY HOMES SPECIAL FOCUS 4

Design Detail | May 2017

Copyright : All rights reserved by Design Detail. Any part of this publication may be reproduced only with the written permission from the Editor.The Editors do their best to verify the information published but do not take responsiblity for the absolute accuracy of the information. All objections, disputes, differences, claims & proceedings are subject to Ernakulam Jurisdiction.

May 2017 | Design Detail

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