Issue of Furniture and Permanent Partitions at FA building

Mahek Mudgal | UAR20089

WHAT is the Issue?

1. New Furniture that is not suited for Design Students

Architecture students need drafting tables that enable clamps and strings to be installed. It also has a drawer below it for them to keep their sheets and stationary. The new tables in the FA building are plain wooden tables which has no space for attaching clamps. They are not the standard size that a student needs to keep their laptops, sketchbooks , sheets and stationary on it but lesser than that, Because of the no drawer space, it is very difficult to keep our sheets in the studio. Large common lockers have been given which take up too much floor space and are not big enough for big sheets proving inefficient to the students.

2. Installation of sliding glass doors

The glass doors on one side of the studio spaces have separated them from the rest of the studios creating a sense of alienation. The idea of anyone walking in any studio to learn is hindered by this solid glass boundary. It has also led to smaller studio spaces which pose a problem for the students.

Throwing more light on the issue of new tables

• As one can see in the Figure 1, the tables on the right are the old drafting tables. They are wider and of the correct standard size needed. On the left side, are the new tables which are too long and too narrow, hence making it difficult to set up these tables and put backing on them

• With old drafting tables, the length of the tackboard is is equal to the length of 2 tables, hence 2 students can share one tackboard. But the new drafting tables are too long and so 2 tables can’t be placed properly in front one tackboard making it difficult for students to pin up their work.

WHY do we need to tackle this issue?

These changes need to be undone. The administration was ignorant to the needs of a design student. It failed to understand that our academic needs are different from a student of any other college of a commerce/engineering background. These changes also affect the way we look at learning. It is encouraging learning in isolation rather than peer learning and Mr. BV Doshi’s concept of ‘learning without boundaries’. Additionally, the student council or faculty was never consulted before making such significant changes to our building.

On the left, is the old drafting table which has a drawer below it to keep all our sheets, stationary and notebooks. It was very convenient for students to have their own personal drawer to keep their belongings , but now huge tall common drawers have been kept which hinder the view and take up unnecessary extra space. Thus, the tall cupboards hinder the view of double volume and restrict the open layout, which are a contradiction of BV Doshi’s values for the building

Nivea had a different argument regarding this as the CFP building is much larger with more space, hence lockers are a more viable option for them.

HOW can we tackle this issue?

• The student body has requested the administration multiple times via mails and in person meetings to get these changes undone. Every time we have been made false promises to, but nothing has been done about it.

• The student council should arrange for a non violent protest that brings these issues to limelight. Each member of the FA should participate in this protest

The importance of Mr. BV Doshi’s vision

When designing FA, BV Doshi wanted to create a space for open learning- a concept of ‘learning without boundaries’, therefore the permanent partitions were made between studios to allow peer learning and interaction among students, so they can learn from each other and receive a holistic educational experience. The introduction of glass doors in the building is a contradiction of his vision and hinders peer learning and interaction for students inside those spaces New changes do not suit the students’ learning anymore

• The protest could be in the form of removing the new tables and lockers out of the building and keeping them in the sagara basement.

• Posters can be put up showing how the new tables do not have enough space to keep the necessary items while working.

• The council should keep sending mails and going to the administration office to make them aware of the issue

• The faculty should also extend their support to the students and talk to the administration to see the urgency of the matter

HOW can we tackle this issue?

• The students should talk to the council head about this important issue and if the council does not comply, a new reformed council should be made.

• There is no alternative solution to this problem than going back to the old ways of CEPT teaching of old drafting tables and open plan layouts

• Instead of glass partition, removable cloth/ thin partition can be used so they can be used to cancel noise whenever needed and removed when everyone is working.

• If this option does not prove to be feasible, then students can actively keep the glass doors open most times to allow incoming of other students and faculty should encourage the idea of ‘peer learning’ in classes so the students somehow dilute the presence of glass partitions in their minds and interact with each other.

A possible solution for locker situation

• Instead of large common lockers, a simple wooden storage box provided to each student would be much better. This could be used to keep their models and stationary.

• They are better than previous lockers as they won’t hinder the view and can be easily kept under their desks and their height is much lesser.

• This drawer under their table along with this will be enough storage for one student.

Challenges I faced

• In the beginning, I was apprehensive to share my ideas as i was talking to a new set of people I didn’t really know, but remembering Satyam Sir’s teachings about self-confidence and social interaction , I talked freely and communicated well with them.

• On a group level, there was miscommunication in the beginning, as everyone was from different batches and had different schedules. But sir suggested to talk on whatsapp, emails and calls. And So we started to hold google meets, make whatsapp group and regularly give updates about our work which solved the problem.

• We also tried to be empathetic to someone if they are not able to work at a certain time, and gave them time and helped them if they asked for it

Collaboration

• There was a group discussion among the five of us to talk about the issues in our college.

• Everyone took their issues and worked on it individually but there was communication throughout the process.

• Jay suggested me to talk about the non-violent protests that happened in our campus and Anshika helped me to think about solutions for the storage issue in FA building.

• Nivea and I collaborated on the topic of lockers and understood how, as we are in different buildings, have different opinions on the presence of lockers in our space.

• Malay also gave suggestions on my work which helped me make a better presentation.