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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 e-mail 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.| postthepoint@gmail.com | | http://www.pointonline.wordpress.com |
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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.
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!
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 pencil-
ends 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'.
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' d
esk...
SANDHYA RAMACHANDRAN~ Creator
ARVIND CAULAGI~ Co-Creator
1
Table of Contents
2
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
What in the world is an ezinetter?!
Wanna make your Point.?
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 cut-
paste, shall meet their end in our trash folders or worse-
spam 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:
postthepoint@gmail.com
CATCH US ONLINE AND INTERACT WITH US AT:
http://www.pointonline.wordpress.com
* 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!
2 3
Imagine the present world as a new business and you re-
interviewing 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 architects-
the ‘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….
4
AHALADINI SRIDHARANThe author is presently in her final year of architecturalstudies. She loves books, doodling and travel. Shethinks sarcasm is a highly underutilized trait in humansand is currently preaching it by practice!
Photograph: Theatre complex at Dubai, Sandhya Ramachandran
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”.
5
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VIEWPOINT
COVER STORY
RESONANT REFLECTIONS...
COVER STORY
6
Pictures around CEPT campus by Arvind
Caulagi. Other participants in the Kurula
Varkey Design Forum were Ahaladini
Sridharan, Nanditha Gopalakrishnan and
Poornima Balakrishnan.
CEPT introduced a new course called The
Masters Programme in Arts and
Communication last year. It is a practice-
based 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
Masters in Arts andCommunicationprogrammeS
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.
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 CAULAGIThe author is a final year student ofArchitecture from Hindustan College ofEngineering who loves films, photography andart and is presently impatient about making hisown movie.
7
8
KARTIK GOESGREEN
OPINION
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 occupants-
then 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
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
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.
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
GOING GREENSAVES...> Energy
> Water
> Material resources
> Occupants from
health hazards
> From environmental
hazards
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, Hyderabad-
tiles 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.
Why make a
conventional
building anymore?
Why not make all of
them green
buildings?
THINK GREEN.BUILD GREEN.
9
The Green BusinessCentre -- jointlypromoted by theConfederation of IndianIndustry, PirojshaGodrej Foundation, theAndhra Pradeshgovernment and theUSAID -- is the onlybuilding in the worldto be awarded the'platinum rating' underthe LEED rating systemof the US GreenBuilding Council,making it 'the greenestbuilding in the world.'
DID YOUKNOW?!?
KARTIK CHANDAKThe author is a final year Architecture student fromHindustan College of Engineering and loves cricket,music, movies and is currently obsessed with greenbuildings.
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-of-
its-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.
ARCHITECTURE
EMOTES
10
ANOODHA.S.KUNNATHThe author is a final year architecture student fromthe Hindustan College of Engineering. Her firstpriorities include- movies, writing and art. Food andsleep however come a close second!
11
Photographs: Various sources on the Internet
So many of them say that Architecture, is a visual art. In myterms it is definitely not…if it is a visual art…you can evenexperience Tajmahal in a photograph…. you don’t need toexperience it in person… but both have a difference… definitely…
There are 5 senses that are involved in experiencingarchitecture….
Vision… Eyes… through which the play of light isexperienced…. i.e., forms…
Light is one of the major aspects in architecture…. LikeLouis I Khan says…
“A building begins with light and ends with shadows”
Touch… the physical experience of the surfaces….
Hearing… Ears… Through which one can hear the spaces…the air hitting the surfaces… makes a constant rhythm in thebuilding…
If there’s no air hitting… you can hear silence...
Smell… Nose… Through which you can feel the aura of thespace
ANART
INVOLVINGTHE
FIVE SENSES...
stylewhackyweirdsimpleelegant
12
13
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 ordimensions in architecture only through this sense…
Virtual dimensions or forms in architecture are perceived through preconceived forms andassociated 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 createmoods… why cant architecture?!
Dance is an art form, which requires the sense called vision… it can hold yourconcentration… Why cant architecture?!
Drama is an art form, which is experienced by two senses-vision, and hearing… it can takeyou to some other world! Why cant architecture?!
Unlike other art forms, which involves the experience of one or two senses, architecture asan art form that needs so many senses to take part in experiencing it…that makesarchitecture one of the greatest and finest forms of art. So let’s all first understand theessence of architecture and practice this great form of art with the greatest passion!
TARCHITECTURE see
feel
hearabsorb
G.K.MANICKAVELThe 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.
THE BHARATA KALA
KOOTHAM
14
LAKSHETRA
AMBALAM
went to Kalakshetra in the past week. They presented a dance-
drama, '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.
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.
AUDITORIUMJIBI.J.BASCO
The author is currently in her final year of Architectural Studies in HindustanCollege of Engineering, Padur. She loves movies,dolphins, pigs and all kinds of
animals(every species possible except lizards) and anything that makes her gape andgo "wow
"...my intention was that the dance, now abolished inthe temple should create the temple atmosphere on thestage..."
- RUKMINI DEVI
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
TECHNICALSPECIFICATIONS
Photo(L): Joel Suganth's Flickr Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joellazarus/3080732839
15
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."
SANDHYA RAMACHANDRANThe author is a final year architecture student from HindustanCollege of Engineering. She writes erratically, reads when thefeeling seizes her and wishes to wander ‘where the voice of thewind’ calls her.
BAT16
"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.
Picture(L): A Courtier in Akbar's Durbar, Moghul Miniature Painting
Picture(R): Woman Lost in Thought, Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
ATTLE IN BRICKMUSINGS...
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 e-
mail 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.
| postthepoint@gmail.com | http://www.pointonline.wordpress.com |
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