Point.~the Ezinetter: Inaugural Issue


 








  


SANDHYA RAMACHANDRAN~ Creator When some freak conversations, numerous mud-slinging at the syllabus-creators, and a sudden strong urge to get down to real work surface,things like 'Point' happen. Everyday, we complain and crib about not feeling inspired to design, and why, even live happily! For once, we stopped our whiny banter and decided to DO something about it than wait and watch. Point, happened. We are not yet clear what exactly we are all about. We have begun as an architecture magazine, where interested students can contribute articles and opinions on various issues relating to the field. We have a snoop on our roll calls, so mind you- no copy pasting from the wikis and the like! So like we said, we publish your original meritorious thoughts, that we feel, should be given a little loudspeaker to prove its power.

For now, we ask you for your time- to sit and read through this ezinetter that we so painstakingly compiled and designed for you for free; and to bite those pencilends and scribble on some of those brainwaves your grey cells transmitted. Write, type, hand-it-in-person: whatever it is, take this 'Point' as your own and contribute. Well,somewhere we needed to begin this and now that we've run you through the basics, somewhere we have to end. So be it, at this 'point'.

ARVIND CAULAGI~ Co-Creator Point was born out of confusion and anxiety, but the final outcome has given us a better outlook and perspective on things other than architecture. The voices heard would be that of students, we would once in a while have 'actual' architects providing us with their learnings(hopefully). So keep them coming, that's when we'll be able to sustain something like this. We hope that, (in atleast some small way) we inspire you, provide you with tidbits of information, you know of or may not know of, widen your horizon on things architectural, so that you actually appreciate it, and not think of it as just any other article written by an amateur. So yeah..that's it, I guess. Happy reading!

From the Creators' desk...

We are ourselves a fledgling-ezinetter(ezine blended mid-way with a newsletter). So we pay not! We believe someday, when we will make it big as a source of inspiration to many students, you would be ranked as the initial few contributors. Then, this shall really mean something!

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Table of Contents

FROM THE CREATORS' DESK........1 TABLE OF CONTENTS..............2 EZINETTER......................3 VIEWPOINT......................4 COVER STORY....................6 OPINION........................8 OFFBEAT.......................10 THOUGHTS......................12 LOOKOUT!......................14 MUSINGS.......................16

Contribute articles- personal accounts of what inspired/inspires you to think! What triggers off those gray cells to function? Be original- we value that. Those that cutpaste, shall meet their end in our trash folders or worsespam cans! Mail us good writing and photographs about any form of design, art or creation. Point our mistakes, send in your suggestions. We value you! Whatever of the above you choose to do, send them to: [email protected] CATCH US ONLINE AND INTERACT WITH US AT: http://www.pointonline.wordpress.com

Wanna make your Point.?

What in the world is an ezinetter?! * WANNABE REASON An ezinetter sounds absolutely whacky, doesn't it? Well, that is why, 'Point.' is an ezinetter. * SENSIBLE REASON The word best describes what we are dishing out- an ezine cum newsletter. An ezine because it is restricted to the publishing cheapness of the online media; a newsleter because it is compact in size and deals with one basic idea for one set of people- to inspire the students of architecture. And when both the words flow in together, a beautiful chemical reaction occurs...the elements congeal...giving us the compounded form we stuck to- ezinetter!

AHALADINI SRIDHARAN The author is presently in her final year of architectural studies. She loves books, doodling and travel. She thinks sarcasm is a highly underutilized trait in humans and is currently preaching it by practice!

Imagine the present world as a new business and you reinterviewing professionals you think are necessary to start it off and keep it running smoothly. A politician is breezed through immediately without much of an interview…an actor is welcomed with garlands and statuettes….you need your engineers, your doctors, your scientists, your journalists…you wont be able to keep the lawyers out; they’ll probably sue thier way in….but a large part of the professional world still see no dire need for the architect. Many people I’ve come across think they can do our jobs for us and do it better. Everyone has an opinion when it comes to architecture because everyone is enclosed, surrounded and in daily interaction with the products of our profession. You can’t imagine a doctor being interrupted by his patient/client mid surgery, asking to take over and watching, as he confuses the bowel for the brain- yet that’s a constant threat in our line of work. I’m in my final year of architecture, about to enter the real world, and the one predominant thought in my head has expressed itself in the title of this article…what is my place in the professional world? Am I relevant? If I consider my work experience in the seventh semester as a sort of trailer, giving me an idea of things to come, I get a varied look into the different kinds of architects out there, and the different aspects to the profession. Taking just my firm for instance, there were the head architectsthe ‘god like’ figures, with the enviable pedigrees - the one’s completely in charge of the act of creating; the big thinkers-the ones who shape spaces and make an impact on society…(the people we either want to be, or despise for being disregarded by). Then there were the oblivious architects-who practiced architecture as a sort of chore they had to get over. They churned out products that have worked in previous cases without any thought to context or sensitivity, and then proceeded to give their role no further thought…. Photograph: Theatre complex at Dubai, Sandhya Ramachandran

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A P N R A O R C F H E I T S E S C T' I S O P N L A A C L E I W N O T R H E L D ”

There were also the architects perennially cast in the role of underdog or doormat. These are the architects who look up to the head architects to such an extent that they lose all sense of self to the ideal they had in their youth. They become just faithful pets reproducing their master’s work, waiting for a treat or a pat on the head…... Granted this is a gross generalization seen from the eyes of a lowly trainee. (Who features somewhere below the office boy in office hierarchy). But it still makes me feel the need to define at least on paper what kind of role I want to play in the world. I think every student of architecture should do the same before they enter the professional world- define for themselves, what kind of practice they want to have, what kind of architect they want to be, and the impact they want to make. Whether they want to practice, what Hafeez contractor once described, as a ‘2 ½” thick aesthetic’ (referring to the fact that all the variety demanded by the market today, can be achieved through generic plans, clothed in facades, which vary only in the treatment of windows) or whether they want to actualize their own genius and create spaces- unique, relevant, contextual and inspired. Only the architect who practices the latter can prove to the world again and again, the relevance and role of the architect, in this professional world and put to rest all doubts, about the need of an architect. In the end, we should ensure that our ideals and ethics are protected and guarded against hostile parties, namely, the outside world, and we never lose our enthusiasm to learn with an open mind; to ensure that we create spaces, that in the words of Prof Doshi, make people look around and say, “This place I like, because when I come here, I feel very happy and celebrate my life”.

VIEWPOINT 5

R E V O C

Y R O T S

RESONANT REFLECTIONS...

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S

o you've almost given in to the mundane ways of your life. There’s nothing that inspires you and you just think mechanically. And then life throws an opportunity at you, all unawares. In this case, it was design forum a couple of us 10th semester students (four to be precise) attended, which has broadened our perspectives on architecture, and several things, which otherwise went un-noticed. The yearly Kurula Varkey Design forum (an initiative by School of Architecture, CEPT), gives an opportunity to the students of Architecture (passed out) to display and explain their design thesis. While not making it boring, the forum is quite interestingly programmed, with discussions, talks, seminars and break-out sessions, held within the beautiful CEPT campus and other landmarks of the city like IIM, L.D Institute of Indology etc. This with a group of panelists, mostly architects, ranging from B.V Doshi to artist Kaushik Mukhopadhyay, from Sri Lankan architect Hirante Welandwe to French-Indian Architect Stephen Paumier, to the ever inspiring Rupali Gupte, provided us with so much fodder to chew upon, that it left us wanting for more. While a few of the designs were stale, like an ecoscraper, the airport, where the program was just designed to fit in the requirements, there were several interesting ones, like a bathhouse in Ahmedabad, home for the old aged (called blurring boundaries), Museum for a Graphite mine in Sri Lanka.....where we could actually see how the designs evolved taking into consideration several factors like context, the existing fabric, which we almost seem to have neglected in our designs. On a 'preachy' note, we need to start giving importance to the whole process of design, question the decisions we make, so that our solutions are at least holistic, rather than just designing a box and washing our hands off it.

Masters in Arts and Communication programme CEPT introduced a new course called The Masters Programme in Arts and Communication last year. It is a practicebased two-year course in arts, design and communication which includes social science perspectives. Studio based explorations forms the central focus of the programme and is conducted and facilitated by senior practitioners from the fields of art, design, film making, performing arts and related disciplines. Integrated with studio practice are theoretical inputs from experts in the social sciences and humanities along with field studies and internship opportunities. This course has been developed for students with a background in art and design, and for mid-career artists and designers who seek a future as professional artists, advertising and media professionals, museum and art curators, designers, photographers, film makers and animators. For more information: Check out the CEPT website: http://cept.ac.in/main.php?pageid=45&LPO =1&RPO=4&SLPO=45

There are several things I (we) could talk about, but that would just be more like spoon feeding. Here’s hoping that we've triggered off something in your minds to think about. Oh, and if you still haven’t visited the school of architecture at CEPT, please do...you'll realize what a 'school' of architecture is and what a design studio actually looks like!!! Link: http://kvdforum.blogspot.com/ ARVIND CAULAGI The author is a final year student of Architecture from Hindustan College of Engineering who loves films, photography and art and is presently impatient about making his own movie.

Pictures around CEPT campus by Arvind Caulagi. Other participants in the Kurula Varkey Design Forum were Ahaladini Sridharan, Nanditha Gopalakrishnan and Poornima Balakrishnan. 7

OPINION

KARTIK GOES GREEN

The GREEN BUILDING MOVEMENT has gradually gained ground in me. When there are no differences in the external appearances and functions of both the conventional and the green buildings, when they are environmental friendly, they have lower operational costs; they increase worker performance, productivity and comfort level of the occupantsthen why not make them green? Green is just not a color and not about planting trees alone; it’s also about how well a building

GOING GREEN SAVES... > Energy > Water > Material resources > Occupants from health hazards > From environmental hazards

utilisation of natural air and sunlight, we can make them green, minimising the electricity consumption. Thus a green building will reduce the load on our water reservoirs and electricity sub stations. uses its resources, reducing the impact on the environment, using maximum daylight and ventilation with proper material efficiency. When the Indian infrastructure industry is growing at a rate which is twice the world’s average, we should all think and build green buildings so that we save and utilise our energy and water resources properly today, for a better India tomorrow. Buildings account for nearly 30% of energy consumption in India. By orienting and designing buildings in such a way, ensuring maximum

With optimal designing and without compromising on performance, by making buildings green we can increase the efficiency with which buildings use energy , water and material resources simultaneously reducing the impact on environment and human health. Climate responsive architectural design, modern technology and certain green features can be effectively used to achieve, what is called a green building. Thus any building starting from houses to commercial or industrial should be made green

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causing less harm to the environment, good occupant health and safety, increase in worker productivity and minimising the load on our resources. On a personal note I find green buildings appealing because there is very less wastage of everything. Even materials treated as waste by some companies are recycled and reused to reduce (the three important R’s in a green building) the impact on the

environment. Take for example the Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre, Hyderabadtiles used for aesthetic purposes in the columns are actually from the waste-lot of a tile company. Even the furniture used in the cafeteria of the building is recycled and reused. I find green buildings more appealing, as irrespective of type of the building and its shape-small or

big, it can be made green; thus doing good to the environment and in turn saving our resources. Hence I feel when green buildings have all goods and added advantages over the standard buildings.

DID YOU KNOW?!?

The Green Business Centre -- jointly promoted by the Confederation of Indian Industry, Pirojsha Godrej Foundation, the Andhra Pradesh government and the USAID -- is the only building in the world Why make a to be awarded the conventional 'platinum rating' under building anymore? the LEED rating system Why not make all of of the US Green them green Building Council, buildings? making it 'the greenest THINK GREEN. building in the world.'

BUILD GREEN.

KARTIK CHANDAK The author is a final year Architecture student from Hindustan College of Engineering and loves cricket, music, movies and is currently obsessed with green buildings.

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A R C HE I M TO ET CE TS U R E

The long arcaded corridors stretched like life and led the plot along with it. The waiting, the leaving, the twist, the realization….it all happened there. Parallel cinema. The huge mansion sulked as she left. It stood stubborn with pride to equal hers and did not call back. Even though she took a long last glance. Drama.

It gave him the creeps, just to look at it. With its ancient pillars, foreboding massiveness. Its appearance smirked the fact that it did not hide the existence of the paranormal. Horror. It helped the story skip years and thrives in its ahead-ofits-time montage. Sleek, un-interrupting, ultramodern…it propels the protagonists providing its imaginative backdrop. Futuristic. It gave shadows to lurk. It gave mazes to chase. It gave lairs to rule. Thriller/noire.

Architecture emotes. Architecture is an expression of the creative, and cinema steps forward to prove it. It uses architecture as a visually potent protagonist and weaves its story through it. Be it the loud villainous lair, the happy home or the sci-fi dueling arenas-architecture lends you a hand in recognizing and relating. It decides the era, makes it timeless, it sets the mood and it tells you the state of the protagonist. At its most self-obsessed state, it has the story told about itself. The plot begins moves and ends in it. Cinema and architecture have been faithful companions, each complementing the other-enhancing, creating and helping imagine so subtly that architecture sometimes comes out, sits right next to the audience and steers your mind to where the story points.

ANOODHA.S.KUNNATH

The author is a final year architecture student from the Hindustan College of Engineering. Her first priorities include- movies, writing and art. Food and sleep however come a close second! 10

Photographs: Various sources on the Internet

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AN ART INVOLVING THE FIVE SENSES... So many of them say that Architecture, is a visual art. In my terms it is definitely not…if it is a visual art…you can even experience Tajmahal in a photograph…. you don’t need to experience it in person… but both have a difference… definitely… There are 5 senses that are involved in experiencing architecture…. Vision… Eyes… through which the play of light is experienced…. i.e., forms… Light is one of the major aspects in architecture…. Like Louis I Khan says… “A building begins with light and ends with shadows” Touch… the physical experience of the surfaces….

style whacky weird simple elegant

Hearing… Ears… Through which one can hear the spaces… the air hitting the surfaces… makes a constant rhythm in the building… If there’s no air hitting… you can hear silence... Smell… Nose… Through which you can feel the aura of the space

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A T R C H I T E C T U R E

he fifth and the most important sense…is the subconscious eye or the third eye… through which we actually absorb a building…You will be able to see the virtual forms or dimensions in architecture only through this sense… Virtual dimensions or forms in architecture are perceived through preconceived forms and associated images in the visual remains. Even though your physical vision forgets to register what it sees, it’s your subconscious eye, which enrolls it in the form of patterns and it, will be saved into the registry! Music is an experience, which uses one sense called hearing… and if music can create moods… why cant architecture?! Dance is an art form, which requires the sense called vision… it can hold your concentration… Why cant architecture?! Drama is an art form, which is experienced by two senses-vision, and hearing… it can take you to some other world! Why cant architecture?! Unlike other art forms, which involves the experience of one or two senses, architecture as an art form that needs so many senses to take part in experiencing it…that makes architecture one of the greatest and finest forms of art. So let’s all first understand the essence of architecture and practice this great form of art with the greatest passion!

G.K.MANICKAVEL

The author loves Tamil poetry, art and music and is a final year architecture student from Hindustan College of Engineering. He is considered one of 'The Photoshop Trinity' in the final year circuit of his college.

see feel hear absorb 13

KOOTHAM THE BHARATA KALA

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Photo(L): Joel Suganth's Flickr Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joellazarus/3080732839

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS "...my intention was that the dance, now abolished in the temple should create the temple atmosphere on the stage..." - RUKMINI DEVI went to Kalakshetra in the past week. They presented a dancedrama, 'Andal Charithram' as a part of the 'Rukmani Devi Birthday Celebrations', at The Bharata Kalakshetra Auditorium. There were quite a lot of foreigners clad in silk sarees and with bindis, bangles, malligai-poo(jasmine flowers).I didn't expect so many people to turn up for the performance.I had got the cheapest ticket possible and was quite happy that I got to sit right in front of the stage, although on the floor. The auditorium was not one of those air conditioned halls. It was built in the traditional Kerala-style architecture, with timber, like the Koothambalam. It was overwhelmingly beautiful and had so much grace. I believe architecture is a work of art that breathes. Architecture and space influence human emotions. Even before the performance started, I could feel the devotional ambience that existed in the auditorium - the dim lights, Kuthu-velakku, tiraseela(curtain) depicting girls in a garden, the high-ceiling with artful assembly of timber frames, wooden brackets, the earthy colors, floor mats and bamboo chairs.

Measuring 40'x40', the auditorium can seat 750. 50 can be accommodated on the floor directly in front of the stage. There are 428 chairs in the octagonal well of the theatre, 168 chairs on the peripheral veranda, and 104 in galleries in the balcony. Dressing rooms are available for artists, on the ground floor. The Koothambalam Bharata Kalakshetra Auditorium is equipped with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. Source: Kalakshetra website:http://www.kala kshetra.in

I had two-and-a-half an hour of good music, dance, expressions and the divinity of the space. I came home having felt the divine.

AMBALAM

LAKSHETRA AUDITORIUM JIBI.J.BASCO

The author is currently in her final year of Architectural Studies in Hindustan College of Engineering, Padur. She loves movies,dolphins, pigs and all kinds of animals(every species possible except lizards) and anything that makes her gape and go "wow

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SANDHYA RAMACHANDRAN The author is a final year architecture student from Hindustan College of Engineering. She writes erratically, reads when the feeling seizes her and wishes to wander ‘where the voice of the wind’ calls her.

City skyline looming large, Skyscrapers, huts, shops, garage. The humans-Creator's wonderful creations, Shaping the world in their own fashion. "We make better architects," the man declares, "Men build more, look around and stare. How many men have stormed the fields, Equipped with creativity and greatly skilled." "The Falling Waters, Taj Mahal, Opera House, Men have created all, you cannot oppose. It is a man, who can take the pressures, That this very demanding field offers." "Women are coming up, no doubt, But how many of their works does the world shout about? Men have physical strength, the stamina, the energy, To work long hours, to help construct, to oversee." "Be it classical, modern, digital, All our works, do, immediately sell. Men rule the world in about every lane, Women, leave the fight, be sane!" "Life's challenges are fast and furious, Design problems are draining and tedious. Your tender hands can take them not, In this struggle, your mind shall rot." "Hmph! Rubbish!" the woman declares, "Women are better architects, because they care, Not only for function and aesthetics alone, But the soul of the building that makes it an office-home!" "They think, they react, they create, they express, Much better than men, to truly confess. Their buildings have character that only a woman can lend, You see life in every kink, every curve and bend." "Worldly pressures are many, agreed, But housewifely ones are worse indeed! So better are we off, showing ability, In buildings, giving vent to creativity."

BAT 16

"Long have you men folk, suppressed, oppressed, Left us women 'behind in time' and depressed. Now we shall break free and show the world, Our imagination, into our designs, we shall mould." "Men are good, women are better, We are the 'in-kind', the trend setter!" I listened to them both with equal interest, Wanted to declare 'my kind' was the best. But truth smiled and stopped temptation, And made me do one small confession. That architecture is not about WHO builds but WHAT is built, Neither toward man, nor woman, shall the favour tilt. Be it man, be it woman, It is just about life and creation. Forming structures, shaping dreams, To provide spaces to live, rest and scream. Provide life with a platform to stage its play, To see the see and say the say! To laugh, to breathe, to work, to cry, To think, to link, to fight, to deny. You mould, inch by inch, your own 'little world', Your world is your own, no matter who did mould, Till life seems to flow from pillar to post, Till comfort and shelter rule the roost, Till you can find your peace and calm in there, Till you can love the space and lean to care, Till it can protect you and inspire till it stands, It doesn't count if it had a man or woman's hands! Architecture is an eternal quest in creation, An attempt to help live life in a better fashion. To make every moment treasured within walls, Walls of your house and walls of your heart. To inspire, to help, to make you experience, The myriad forms of this life's performance. And after you- to tell your tale, To make progeny remember your fame. No matter WHO builds, no matter if man or woman, Architecture is all about giving a soul to creation.

TTLE IN BRICK Picture(L): A Courtier in Akbar's Durbar, Moghul Miniature Painting Picture(R): Woman Lost in Thought, Painting by Raja Ravi Varma

MUSINGS...

CREDITS: Conception, Layout and Design: Sandhya Ramachandran Cover Design and photograph: Arvind Caulagi Point. Logo design: Arvind Caulagi Photographs: Various sources on the internet Additional Photographs: Sandhya Ramachandran Creator: Sandhya Ramachandran Co-Creator: Arvind Caulagi Special Thanks to: Students of Final Year B.Arch, Hindustan College of Architecture(Batc 2004-2009) for their overwhelming response, support and continuous encouragement! Point. is a non-profit ezinetter conceived and created to bring in some inspiration to students and give them some decibels to scream-out-loud! It is currently devised as a fortnightly ezinetter that is circulated through email to as many students of architecture as possible.

The copyright of the work published within, are held by the respective creators. The ezinetter 'Point.' is owned by the 'Toote Pencil Incorporated' - an unregistered, non-money making, un-business 'collaboration', jointly owned by Sandhya Ramachandran and Arvind Caulagi.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/in/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA. |

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