Visual connectivity via jaali design
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY THESIS TOPIC: HAJJ HOUSE COMPLEX, MUMBAI The concept of a Hajj House Complex is a result of the Islamic ritual of Haj, which is an annual pilgrimage to Mecca. A Hajj house complex provides accommodation to Hajj bound Muslims, while also giving space for other congregation activities. This complex includes elements from Islamic as well as Indo-Islamic architecture, and jaali as an element is extensively used as it is considered as a sacred element in Islamic religion. A perforated stone or latticed screen, comprising of ornamental patterns made with the use of calligraphy and geometry, is known as a jaali. Jaali is an effective element replacing the modern day glass for a transparent view, as well as for controlling glare, heat and allowing the wind to penetrate through it. One other feature amongst these is the ‘visual connection’, which is also maintained with the use of jaali in different spaces. “The experience of peering through a jaali adds an aesthetic element to one’s visual perception of a space.” 1.1.1 VISUAL CONNECTIVITY IN ARCHITECTURE Connectivity within spaces is an essential concept of architecture, as it gives a sense of cohesiveness between spaces. It can either be physical connectivity or visual connectivity. Visual connectivity refers to the extent to which a place can be viewed from other places; it is a tangible aspect of a space. One way to define the connectivity between spaces depends on the type of partition used in a space. Opacity, transparency and translucency are the three aspects of a partition. Tanya Kaushik |
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