There is something greatlylacking in our education system.People don't have enough exposure.Today students getting out of thecollege are not of the same level asof before. There are some collegeswhich are good but majority ofthem aren't. The reason could bethat there are so many collegesthat all of them can't have goodprofessors. I think we need tocondense our education, havelesser colleges so that they havegood staff. Also, the students needto be taken on trips and madeaware of the architecture that ishappening all around.

Hafeez Contractor

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CONTRACTORARCHITECTURE

speaks on

The concept of world class cities & itsimpact on urban planning (Page 4)

Architects act on Haiti Earth Quake (Page 4)

Mohatta Palace Museum & CulturalComplex Foundation laid (Page 19)

Redefining 'World City' forKarachi (Page 20)

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Vol. 26, No. 01. ISSN No. 2073-9001 JANUARY 2010

Published by the ProfessionalsFor the Professionals...

ARCHI TIM

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The world's tallest build-ing was unveiled to an esti-mated crowd of over 400,000and the world, in a crescendoof fireworks, lasers and foun-tain displays.

The official height of thetower, unveiled as 'BurjKhalifa', was announced as 828metres (2,716.5 ft).

'Burj Khalifa', developed byEmaar Properties, is the world'stallest building according to thethree criteria of the Council onTall Buildings and Urban Habitat:'Height to Architectural Top','Height To Highest OccupiedFloor', and 'Height To Tip'.

The tower is 320 metrestaller than Taiwan's Taipei 101,which had held the title ofworld's tallest building since2004, the year when the projectwas announced.

Mohamed Alabbar,Chairman of Emaar Properties,said that the tower representeda symbol of hope to the Arabworld and a shining example ofhuman achievement.

"Thousands of people frommore than 100 countries havecontributed to the realisation of'Burj Khalifa'. The towerembodies the spirit and opti-mism of global collaboration,

and shows to the world whatcan be achieved when commu-nities work in partnership."

A dramatic sound, light, fire-work and fountain displaydescribed the evolution of thetower, and ended in a breathtak-ing climax of lasers and fire-works, bathing the tower and thesurrounding area in white light.

'Burj Khalifa' comprisesluxury residences andoffices, the world's firstArmani Hotel, and theworld's highest observationdeck, 'At the Top', which islocated on the tower's 124thfloor. Around 90 per cent of

the tower's offices and apart-ments have been sold.

'At the Top' opens officiallyto the public on January 5. Thehandover of offices and apart-ments starts in February, andthe Armani Hotel Dubai will beopened by its designer, GiorgioArmani, on March 18.

More than 60 leading con-sultants including SouthKorea's Samsung Corporationand New York-based TurnerConstruction Internationalrealised the design for BurjKhalifa by Chicago-basedSkidmore, Owings andMerrill (SOM).

Geneva: The members ofthe Master Jury of the AgaKhan Award for Architecturewere announced. The Jury,which selects the recipients ofthe Award, will convene inJanuary to review the 401nominated projects and selectapproximately 25 finalists,which will then be subject toon-site reviews by independentexperts. The Jury will meet fora second time in June to selectthe Award recipients from thegroup of finalists. Recipientswill be announced at a ceremo-ny in autumn 2010.

The nine members of theMaster Jury for the 2010

Award cycle are:Professor Souleymane

Bachir DiagneProfessor, Department ofPhilosophy, ColumbiaUniversity, USAMr. Omar Abdulaziz Hallaj

Architect; Chief ExecutiveOfficer, Syria Trust forDevelopment

Professor Salah HassanArt historian and curator;

director of Africana Studiesand Research Center, CornellUniversity, USA

Ms. Faryar JavaherianArchitect and curator; co-founderof Gamma Consultants, IranMr. Anish Kapoor - Artist, UK

Professor Kongjian YuLandscape architect and

urbanist; founder and dean ofGraduate School ofLandscape Architecture,Peking University, China

Mr. Jean NouvelArchitect; founding partner,

Ateliers Jean Nouvel, FranceMs. Alice Rawsthorn

Design critic, InternationalHerald Tribune, UK

Mr. Basem Al ShihabiArchitect; Managing

Partner, Omrania &Associates, Saudi Arabia.

The Aga Khan Award forArchitecture, established in1977, is given every three

years to projects that set newstandards of excellence inarchitecture, urban and region-al design, conservation andlandscape architecture.Through its efforts, the Awardseeks to identify and encouragebuilding concepts that success-fully address the needs andaspirations of societies inwhich Muslims have a signifi-cant presence. The selectionprocess emphasizes architec-ture that not only provides forpeople's physical, social andeconomic needs, but thatalso stimulates and respondsto their cultural and spiritual

Continued on Page # 23

Aga Khan Award for ArchitectureAnnounces Master Jury for 2010

World's tallest building'Burj Khalifa'is Unveiled to the World

CITIESMUSEUMEARTH QUAKELECTURE

ARCHI TIMES JANUARY 2010ARCHI TIMES JANUARY 2010 1312

ICI DULUX ARCHITECT SERIES ICI DULUX ARCHITECT SERIESARCHITECT OF THE MONTH

Text: Ar. Apurva Bose DuttaPictures Courtesy:Hafeez Contractor

PROFILE

Architect HafeezContractor virtuallyneeds no introduction,nor in his mother land

India or internationally where hehas placed India on the worldmap. He has given an altogeth-er new meaning to high riseswith his designs, forms and func-tions. Architecture in India hasgone vertical majorly thanks tohis vision and propagation ofbuilding high rises. Born in1950, Hafeez Sorabe Contractorcommenced his career in 1968with T. Khareghat as anApprentice Architect and in 1977became the associate partner inthe same firm. Between 1977 and1980 Hafeez has been a visitingfaculty at the Academy ofArchitecture, Mumbai. He is amember of the Bombay HeritageCommittee and New DelhiLutyens Bungalow Zone ReviewCommittee. His own practicebegan in 1982 with a staff of twowhich has today increased to astaff of 400 employees includingsenior associates, architects,interior designers, draftsmen,civil engineering team andarchitectural support staff. Thefirm has conceptualized,designed and executed a widerange of architectural projectslike bungalows, residentialdevelopments, hospitals, hotels,corporate offices, banking andfinancial institutions, commer-cial complexes, shopping malls,educational institutions, recre-ational and sports facilities,townships, airports, railway sta-tions, urban planning and civicredevelopment projects.

He has been a recipient of alarge number of awards includ-

ing the Accommodation TimesAward for Architect of the Year(1991), Interiors Today Awardfor Excellence in Design andArchitecture (1991), J.K. CementCommendation Award for GroupHousing in Urban Context(1991), DLF Trophy by RajdhaniEstate Promoters $ BuildersAssociation (1994), PriyadarshniAcademy Award for `The Field ofArchitecture' (1998), The CNBCAsian Property Awards for 'Thebest architecture in 2006' for hisproject 23 Marina Dubai, TopArchitect of the year byConstruction World (2007), Thebest commercial property at the'CNBC Awaaz - Crisil RealEstate Awards 2007' for theHiranandani bg house, Mumbai.He has also had exhibitions -One Man shows at the JJ Collegeof Architecture and Jehangir ArtGallery at Mumbai.

Apurva Bose Dutta (ABD):Please apprise us of your pro-fessional education and back-ground.

Hafeez Contractor (HC): Idid my Undergraduation from theAcademy of Architecture,Mumbai. I further went on topursue my Post Graduation inUrban Design and Architecturefrom the Columbian University.

ABD: What does architec-ture mean to you? What hasbeen the reason why you tookup this field as opposed to yourdesire of joining the army?

HC: My father who diedbefore I was born was a busi-nessman - my father and grand-father had power houses inRatlam. I was a very mischie-vous boy hence I was put in aboarding school at Nasik at anearly age. Also, my mother wasvery young so she went back tocollege where she studied andlater on became a teacher. Ishould admit that I was not a

very good student - Infact lastnight only I was reading someletters that I had written to mymother as a child. One of themsaid that I was sorry about thepresent report card and that Iwould give her a better reportthe next time. When I passed outof SSC I had 50% marks- I hadbeen a good NCC student for alot of years hence I thought thatarmy would be the apt career forme. When I was in the thirdstandard I used to draw anddesign guns, bikes, tanks and Iremember my teacher at thatmoment telling me to become anarchitect when I grow up. WhenI graduated from SSC there weretwo things. My mother was ateacher and her monthly incomewas less as compared to howexpensive architectural educa-tion was at that time. Since I gota second class I couldn't managea form for architecture admis-sions too since at that time stu-dents with only 80% could man-age that. I knew just one collegeof architecture then - Sir JJCollege of Architecture inMumbai. Hence, in the requiredcircumstances I considered armyas the best option. I got my letterof joining too for it, but alas myaunt who never wanted me tojoin it tore the letter withoutinforming me. My mother feltthat after SSC I should do grad-uation and then join the policeforce as I wanted. So I joined anArts College. We had to learnFrench there which was beingtaught by a lady who was thewife of my cousin who hap-pened to be an architect. I usedto go to her office to learnFrench; once when my cousinwas not there one of the archi-tects drew a window detail(which is quite an advanceddrawing); since it interested meso much I peeped into his work

HAFEEZ CONTRACTOR

and told him that the windowwouldn't open. That architectlaughed it off since he was sur-prised at how I would know this,but when I showed it to mycousin he was stunned since itwas right. He asked me to drawa window detail which I did intwo minutes. He then asked meto design a house and I made anaxonometric view of it in fiveminutes flat. Looking at mywork, he advised me to stopeverything and get into architec-ture. With the influence ofanother cousin in Bombay I gota form. I obtained a A+ in myentrance exams and all throughcollege I was first class first. Iscored very high marks indesign which no one had scoredpreviously. After graduation Iwent to the Columbian universi-ty. Throughout my career as astudent I was working. I wouldgo for Morning College, workfrom 5 in the evening till 11.30-12 at night. Even today I telleveryone that for nearly 30 yearsI never saw sunlight. I workedfor 365 days - with no holidays.So, that was the amount of hardwork that went in.

ABD: You are known foryour penchant for buildinghigh rises. Is there any specificreason for the same? Howwould you like to define yourarchitecture?

HC: If you ask me, I wouldalso like to stay in a bungalow,have a garden of my own, havetea in the veranda and see birdschirping and butterflies danc-ing. But I am propagating highrises since when you look at ourcore population; to accommo-date them what we are doing isspreading our cities far off anddestroying forests. The onlygood solution to house such abig population is by going highso that the mass transit is clear.

I have been talking about thisfor the past 20 years, but itstoday that you see everyonetalking about green buildings.We had done a proposal for asmall building some eight yearsback when no one was talkingabout green buildings. I am notagainst development but it isalso important to keep ourforests and greenery intact. Mywebsite has articles on highrise, and there is a specific arti-cle under the title 'Its time togive it back'- which outlineswhat a city should be. Oneneeds to express one's self in avery intense manner.

I design for a cause - myarchitecture is for the people -what they want. I don't do it asan artist and make it a tool toexpress myself. An artist makesa painting where he expresseshimself and a customer wholikes it buys it. In architecturewe first look at people's per-spective, time, and construc-tion. There is so much to archi-tecture than just art whichunfortunately people don'tbelieve. We had a school proj-ect for a village by the govern-ment of Maharashtra in whichwe had given our proposal inmud which was approved bythe IS officer in charge then,but then he got transferred andthe next officer didn't like it.She said that they had a budgetof Rs 1 lakh only, so if I madea small room for her she wouldbe very happy. I suggested thatwe could incorporate fourclassrooms in the same budgettoo. Since these schools wereto be in villages, a one acre plotwith 2-3 trees could beobtained very easily in a vil-lage. With rubble stones (thatwas lying around) and mud wemade a 6' high and 4' wide

God's Choicest Blessing to ArchitectureInfosys Progeon, Bengaluru

Infosys Progeon, Bengaluru

I design for a cause - myarchitecture is for the people -what they want. I don't do it as anartist and make it a tool to expressmyself. An artist makes a paintingwhere he expresses himself anda customer who likes it buys it.In architecture we first look atpeople's perspective, time, andconstruction. There is so much toarchitecture than just art whichunfortunately people don'tbelieve.

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boundary wall on an acre or halfacre by first dumping rubble andthen putting mud on it. There arealways old doors and windows invillages so we got four old doors.Since it was a primary school wehad an entrance in the wall com-pound so that the kids wouldcome running inside the com-pound and play there. Withanother tree we made a seatingunderneath and also made a placefor toilet. We managed anotherthree classrooms like this.

I am not restricted to one partic-ular kind of project. We do projectswhere the rates range from Rs 20per sqft to Rs 35000 per sqft. Hencewhatever is appropriate to the user Iadvice in a similar manner, and atthe right price- that is what myarchitecture is all about.

ABD: Considering the factthat you have the maximumquantum of work today inIndia, how do you go about

managing it?HC: When I get a project I

develop the concept in two min-utes and then pass it on to myoffice staff who develop it furtherand bring it back to me. So,though the initial thought is mine,I have plenty of people whodevelop and work on my concept.Also, I do work that is supposedto be done by me - factors liketalking to clients, negotiating istaken care of by my staff. I amjust concerned with the architec-ture, rest of the things are handledby my staff, so I must tell you thatI am still looking for work.

ABD: Your own practice hasgrown from a staff of two to 400employees today. During thisentire journey what has beenyour biggest motivation or pas-sion to succeed like no one inthis field?

HC: To be honest, one's pas-sion changes as time goes by.

There was a time when all I want-ed to do was work - that passionstill remains. One day I heard aguy saying that I was such a foolthat I would work for free too,and that I didn't have any affini-ty for money. That day changedme and I realized that everyoneis judging me by the amount ofmoney that I have. Even today Iwill work at any cost, and I dofree work for charitable institu-tions -like we did a school inDelhi. So if today a guy comesto me for design and I know thathe is charging somewhere elsetoo, I won't let him get me towork by paying less. My ulti-mate aim is to be recognised bydoing good architecture.

ABD: You have taken a leadin the globalization process asfar as Indian architecture isconsidered. When you lookback on all that you have sacri-ficed in reaching to this peek,

what are your feelings?HC: For us to be recognized

globally, it is going to take a longtime. One gets recognised global-ly not if he/she is doing a good jobbut if the media is doing the rightwork for you. Sadly, our Indianmedia is not doing the same thing.I have some of my best buildingsin Mysore but no one has seenthem because the media doesn'tfeel it ok to publish or show them.Indian media is more concernedabout news that gives them amileage immediately and archi-tecture doesn't do that. That's whyI think for us to get globalize itwill take quite sometime, and thatholds true for all architects. I canrecall an instance when I wasdoing some work for a hotel at atime when I hadn't done any hotelpreviously in India. My client toldme that I had to work with foreignconsultants and then they wouldtake my interview; in case they

liked me I would get appointed.The Chinese guy who was takingmy interview asked me to showmy work and after seeing thesame, he was shocked as to why Ihad come for an interview when Ihad done ten times more and bet-ter work than him. I told him thathis firm was recognized but myclient didn't recognize me.Another instance involved a clientwho was doing a very tall buildingand when I submitted my designhe termed it as 'horrible'. Sixmonths down the line the clientappointed a foreigner and when Ivisited his office, the clientseemed very happy with thedesign. To my dismay, I found thatthe design was exactly like one ofthe three designs that I hadshowed him. So, I guess weare in awe of white skin. Iused to go to Dubai for work,and there are some Indianfriends who were builders and

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B.G.House, Powai

D.Y.Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai

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gave much higher percentageremuneration to the Britishers ascompared to us. Thus, I think itis very important that to beglobalized, our own people firstrecognize us, as we have bettertalent than others.

ABD: You have served as avisiting faculty at the Academyof Architecture, Mumbai. Howwould you rate the architecturaleducation of India as of todayand what changes would yousuggest in it?

HC: There is somethinggreatly lacking in our educationsystem. People don't haveenough exposure. Today studentsgetting out of the college are notof the same level as of before.There are some colleges whichare good but majority of themaren't. The reason could be thatthere are so many colleges thatall of them can't have good pro-fessors. I think we need to con-dense our education, have lesser

colleges so that they have goodstaff. Also, the students need tobe taken on trips and madeaware of the architecture that ishappening all around.

ABD: From residentialdevelopments, hospitality,recreational, institutional,aviation projects, urban plan-ning and redevelopment proj-ects, is there any specific kindof project left that you desireto create today?

HC: We haven't done manyfactories, so I would like to dofactories. I actually don't have anyregrets of not doing any particularkind of project as I have workedon all kinds - bridges, tunnels,everything. Wherever I can con-tribute to anything related tobuilt form and in whatevercapacity, I would do that. Insome projects I am the leader, inothers someone else is the leader;in those projects we respect thatsomeone and be a part of it

ABD: You have been knownfor unique concepts, which ini-tially were also debated on. Howdifficult has it been for you toexplain your concepts to theusers, builders and technicians?

HC: These concepts which areunique, sometimes work andsometimes don't. 99% of the timesthey have worked and unfortunate-ly the 1% when they have notworked has not been because ofthe design but due to the extra timetaken for the contract. But I do feelthat unless and until we don't ven-ture out into new concepts newthings won't come up. I am notafraid of creating new concepts -for everything there will be appre-ciation or criticism. If on the wholeyou are doing well and if the inten-tions are clear then there is nothingelse to worry about.

ABD: What do you thinkof the application of Vaastuin architecture? Do you everfollow it?

HC: There was a time when Iused to say that I don't followVaastu, but now I believe that if Ican use it to some extent Idon't think there is anythingwrong. Hence I follow themfor some projects while forothers I don't - to a large extentit depends upon the client.

ABD: Have Indian architectstravelled the right path fromtradition to modernity? Howimportant is the architecture ofthe past for you?

HC: Whatever is happeningtoday is due to specific reasons, thesame way why it happened earlier.Wood and stone were used inarchitecture in the beginning notonly because everyone loved thembut more because it was the avail-able material then. Hence there is acomfort attached to that materialwhich I too feel. Then an era camewhen people started building inbricks after which stone and thenconcrete followed. Now glass has

come into the perspective. Everytime a new material comes, theolder generation definitely looksat it with scepticism. But the pointis that we are changing and that'sthe most practical way of doingthings. It has not only to do witharchitecture but everything.People have also changed andtoday they want glass in theirbuildings since they want to makeit look contemporary.

The past is very important tous- it teaches you how problemswere tackled in those circum-stances regarding finance, con-struction, sociology. The pastalways is the main guiding to thefuture. We apply those principlesfrom the past because these princi-ples would always stay to guide usto create the right future.

ABD: What is the biggestchallenge that an architect facesin today's world?

HC: I feel we are posed withmany challenges some of them

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Infosys GEC , Mysore

Infosys SDB4, Mysore

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being - providing appropriatehousing to billons of people, pro-viding cities which are environ-mentally friendly, finding placefor constructing houses and work-places and do all this withoutdestroying forests, reforesting allforests which have beendestroyed, and proper channelisa-tion of alternative resources.

Our previous generation left alot for us and we should do thesame for our future generations.We shouldn't destroy and leaveour future generations in debt. Asan architect and a thinker, thiswould be my advice to all.

ABD: You have been a jurymember for a large number ofarchitectural competitions, the-sis and have also trained a lot ofpeople under you. How wouldyou commend the work ofyounger architects of today?

HC: I would say some arevery talented; some are extremelytalented so we can expect to seesome very good work in the com-ing years. But talent is one thingand perseverance is somethingelse. And I have sadly noticed thatnot many younger guys have thatkind of perseverance. Today everynew architect looks at money asthe first goal which is not the rightapproach to design.

ABD: Which other architectsfrom other countries would yousay are approaching architec-ture in the way you are doing it.

HC: I can only think of RobertStern from America who isapproaching architecture in a simi-lar manner. He designs what isappropriate for a specific project.

ABD: Architecture is todaymore about sustainability,green architecture and low

cost architecture. What is yourapproach towards these threeimportant facets?

HC: I feel that we shouldleave the world in a much betterstate than what we got it; weshould try and not leave anykind of debt for our future gener-ations. I genuinely feel that if weare not addressing factors likesustainability, global warming,how to construct cities; if wecan't find a way of housing mil-lions of people - then we aredoing the right job.

ABD: Have you visitedPakistan? What would you sayabout the architecture there?

HC: I haven't visited Pakistanthough I have some distant rela-tives staying there. But fromwhatever little I know of it, it's anice and beautiful country, witharchitecture that is well done -

maybe that's the best part ofPakistan that has changed.

ABD: You have been abrand name in the industry whohas put India on the world mapwith your architecture. Whatchanges have you noticed whiledesigning for countries otherthan India?

HC: Architecture in othercountries is much simpler sincethe laws are simple; but eventual-ly one understands his/her countrythe best; so I find working in Indiathe easiest. I am doing some inter-national projects. I was doing abuilding in Dubai and a hotel inMauritius which sadly didn't getcompleted. Then there was theInfosys office in China which did-n't get built too. Now I am doingsome work in Kenya and amdoing a 130 storey building inDubai. Thus, though there have

been lots of international projectsfor designing, some have taken offand most of them haven't.

ABD: What would you liketo say about the architecture ofother countries - which wouldyou term as your favourite?

HC: There is diverse architec-ture happening in different partsof the world and it is not possibleto take the name of one since it ismore important to realise the cir-cumstances, era in which thebuildings were built. If you go toSt Petersburg, it's a different expe-rience, New York is different,Helsinki gets you to a differentworld altogether. I for one appre-ciate all kind of architecture andcan't pin point one which is thebest. If you look at some Africanvillages and consider the hard-ships and circumstances in whichthey were built, it's beautiful.

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Infosys, Pune

“ Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport ” - Mumbai

ARCHI TIMES JANUARY 2010

NEWS

You can appreciate Jaisalmer andat the same time you can appreci-ate a 100 storey building in NewYork. If you look at the slums ofMumbai, they are no less. Thusyou can't compare the architectureof different countries.

ABD: Amongst your vastrepertoire of projects is thereany one project which has givenyou the biggest challenge? Also,is there any unrealized project,which you regret the most?

HC: There have been lots ofsmall projects which have beenvery challenging - with no budg-et and very tight sites. If I have toname a project it would have tobe the Osho Ashram in Pune. Thechallenge in it was that the clientwould keep on telling me whathe wanted but would never meetme. And I sincerely believe thatwhen a client meets you, theproblems get solved easily. Butthe building that has come up hasbeen very interesting and nicewith a black exterior.

There have been a lot of proj-ects which have been unrealised.But I regret the unrealisation ofthe Infosys building in Shanghaithe most, which would have beena complete marvel- it was a com-plete mound. Had it got completedit would have created waves in the

world architecture.Right now I am doing a lot of

projects, and all of them are veryinteresting. I love all of them.

The ImprintAfter so many years spent on

studying about him" reading abouthim, seeing his works beingdebated on, I got to see the realHafeez Contractor and realisedwhy he is one of the biggestnames in contemporary Indianarchitecture. He comes across asone of the best examples of suc-cess following hard work, and ofpossessing\such a humbledemeanour inspite of being such aroaring success in the industry.Not quite the person he is some-times projected, Mr Contractorinspired me with his dedication todo good architecture. Some peo-ple are totally God gifted andincase of Hafeez Contractor archi-tecture comes to him through thisgift of God and his total dedica-tion and love for it. When youlook through his resume his men-tion of each of his employees in it- whether it's an architect, trainee,the peon or his driver, one can'thelp admiring him for the valuethat he attaches with everything.Such living legends are God'schoicest blessing on this earth!!!

-- Apurva Bose Dutta

17

Apurva Bose Dutta is a correspondent of ARCHI TIMES &ARCHITECTURE + INTERIORS (A+I) from India. She isan architect, pursuing architectural journalism. She writesfor various architectural /interior journals and websites.She has been in the core team of India’s leading architec-tural publications namely ‘Architecture + Design’ and‘Indian, Architect and Builder’.

I haven't visited Pakistan though Ihave some distant relatives stayingthere. But from whatever little Iknow of it, it's a nice and beautifulcountry, with architecture that iswell done - maybe that's the bestpart of Pakistan that has changed.

Infosys SDB6 , Bengaluru