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1.1 Why Me?

The document discusses several key issues related to architecture in India: 1) Modern architecture in India struggled to develop a unique identity, initially copying international styles that were not adapted to local needs. More recently, some projects have better incorporated Indian culture and traditions. 2) "Weak architecture" as conceived by Kengo Kuma focuses on how spaces are inhabited rather than monumental forms. It emphasizes the relationship between architecture and nature. 3) There is a large surplus of architecture graduates in India each year but limited job opportunities, as the construction sector has not grown sufficiently to employ all of them. This creates challenges for the profession.

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zoya mariam
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
78 views30 pages

1.1 Why Me?

The document discusses several key issues related to architecture in India: 1) Modern architecture in India struggled to develop a unique identity, initially copying international styles that were not adapted to local needs. More recently, some projects have better incorporated Indian culture and traditions. 2) "Weak architecture" as conceived by Kengo Kuma focuses on how spaces are inhabited rather than monumental forms. It emphasizes the relationship between architecture and nature. 3) There is a large surplus of architecture graduates in India each year but limited job opportunities, as the construction sector has not grown sufficiently to employ all of them. This creates challenges for the profession.

Uploaded by

zoya mariam
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 30

1.

0 Introduction

Designing a new or renovated facility within a campus environment is a


difficult and challenging undertaking. Despite the best efforts of talented
professionals, mistakes will occur. No architect or engineer in the business can
guarantee perfection. If they did, no insurance policy would back it. The question
is who pays for these inevitable and unavoidable design errors and omissions. In
managing the design and construction efforts one of the most common challenges
we face is coaching administration and internal customers on realistic expectations
for our design consultants. The argument inevitably centers on accountability, with
our customers asking, “If the architect is not responsible for their mistakes, then
who is?” To their surprise, the answer to this question is often, “As the owner, we
are.”

1.1 Why Me?


Our customers are befuddled when they are asked to pay for change orders
resulting from mistakes made by our contracted service provider. They assume, in
the absence of any other information, that the services provided will be free of
mistakes; and if mistakes are made, those making the mistakes will pay them for
them. The tendency is to view architectural and engineering services no differently
than lawn care services with guaranteed weed-free results. This is especially true in
this age of consumer rights and protections, where “satisfaction guaranteed” rules
the day. However, before they can understand what financial recovery from errors
and omissions may be possible, they need to understand the nature of the
relationship between an owner and a designer, and the standard of care expected of
licensed professionals exercising their craft.

1|Page
1.2 The Standard of Care
There is no guarantee of a perfect plan or even satisfactory results. Instead,
architects and engineers are expected to use “reasonable and ordinary care” in the
practice of their profession. The courts know it; designers know it; contractors know
it -- But somehow this information is not always conveyed to owners. As facilities
managers charged with managing the project, our challenge is to educate our
customers and align their expectations.
But there are some things we need to keep in check. Small mistakes are
acceptable and can be adjusted with. But if these mistakes tend to make bigger
problems, they are set to be dealt with.

2|Page
2.0 Literature Review

http://ccrtindia.gov.in/modernarchitecture.php
Article by Centre for Cultural Resources and Training Ministry of Culture,
Government of India

2.1 Modernism and the search of Identity


No doubt we have a great architectural heritage of temples, mosques, palaces
and forts. So much so that whenever architecture is thought of in conjunction with
India, images of the Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri and South Indian temples are
conjured up in our minds.
The question that comes to our mind is: Do we have anything today as
representative of Modern Architecture which could be compared with our old
buildings? Or in even simpler terms - 'what represents Modern Architecture in
India'?
The question which is difficult to answer - demands more than skin deep
analysis of modern architecture in the context of India. The answer to this question
also depends on the spirit behind it. If the curiosity behind the question concerns
the quantum of construction done in post-independence years, the answer can be
one impressive list of statistical figures, a fine achievement for building science and
technology.
But, if on the other hand the questioning mind is concerned about new
architectural and planning thought generated in the same post-independence years,
which have resulted in buildings and cities suited to our socio-economic, cultural
and climatic circumstances, our achievements are not very impressive so far. But
considering the fact that formation of thoughts and ideas, in this relatively young
field, has been going for only the last quarter of century and with the limited
resources that we have, it is evident that we are on the verge of making a break-
through.
It is not out of context here to go into details how things have been happening
in the field of architecture in years preceding the following independence.

3|Page
2.1.1 Traditionallity
Architecture traditionally, i.e., before the arrival of British on the Indian soil,
was from the social point of view, a creation of spectacular sculptural forms hewn
out of stone. Architectural material was stone; tools, chisel and hammer, and the
aim was glorification. In contrast, the every-day needs of a common man were
ruthlessly neglected. Then the British arrived on the scene, it was through them that
the first introduction to elementary modern building construction and planning was
introduced into India. Their aim, however, was to house their organizations, and
their people and whatever was necessary to control an empire as big as India. Apart
from self-serving military cantonments and civil lines, they also left the basic
problems well alone. It was no intention of the British to educate Indians in the art
and science of architecture. Consequently Indian minds, during the British reign,
were completely out of touch with the progressive thinking taking place in the rest
of the world. The most significant architectural phenomenon that took place during
the first half of this century in this country was building of Imperial Delhi. This was
an anachronism of the highest order, because, while at that time contemporary
Europeans were engaged in most progressive thinking in architecture, Sir Edward
Lutyen's was a masterpiece in high renaissance architecture, the result of a way of
thinking typical of the early nineteenth century in Europe. It is interesting to note
that at the same time as the construction of Delhi, Europe was having "Heroic period
of modern architecture" in such schools of thought as "Bauhaus".

2.1.2 Current Situation


Independence woke us to a changed situation. "Time had moved on. In place
of religion or royal concern with architectural immortality, this situation demanded
attention to those problems that had so far been ruthlessly neglected. The ordinary
man, his environment and needs became the center of attention. Demand for low
cost housing became urgent.
Industrialism that was to follow in India, spawned its own problems of
townships and civic amenities for workers. Fresh migration from rural areas to
existing cities also strained already, meagre housing capacities of existing cities.
The very scale of the problem was and still is unnerving.

4|Page
Need was urgent, and was to be fulfilled in short time. The option we sought
was to pursue international architecture and the same was not modified to our needs.
The style was diabolic but we needed that for the time being. But as the time
changed, we adopted that style to our very own. We are lost in the herd of sheep
among with some other countries. Most of the buildings are becoming “Faceless
Glass”

2.1.3 What do we “NEED”?


Different regions should have their modern regional architecture. If the
architect can walk on the edge of regional and modern, his/her work will not be so
modern that does not have a harmony with that region, and also not so regional that
leaves in comprehensible for other nations. This is what is exactly missing in Indian
architecture. If proper regionalism could happen in India, it should not have such
an exotic feedback for western interpreters. 8 Although this regionalism seems to
be superficial to some extent, some admirable traditional/modern projects took
place following modern works of Le Corbusier and Louis Kahn inspired by Indian
culture and tradition. But as all these were resulted without enough challenge, it
could not make a long lasting effect on Indian futurearchitecture.9The architect
should design in a way that is intelligible for diverse range of audience. Exaggerated
traditionalism is as undesirable as exaggerated modernism. The design should be
based on situation.

https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/article/meet-the-architects-kengo-kuma
Goodwin, K. , Royal Academy of Arts, UK

2.2 Weak Architecture


The concept was introduced by Japanese architect, Kengo Kuma. Spurred by the
Kobe earthquake of 1995, this is not architecture which is structurally weak, but an
architecture which is anti-monumental. Instead of focusing on the form of a
building, or its sculptural properties, he is interested in the sensations of inhabiting
space. He sees architecture as subservient to nature, which informs his use of
materials, how he locates his buildings and what sensations they evoke.

5|Page
“Weak architecture’ is also about our relationship with space, and I believe that
the human body responds to this kind of weakness. For instance, the ground is not
like concrete – there are leaves and particles of soil, details that provide diversity
and richness, which is what human beings need to find in architecture.”
How do we naturally respond to spaces? How do we feel when standing in front of
a large concrete wall as opposed to a small wooden fence?

6|Page
3.0 Situation of Architects

7|Page
8|Page
9|Page
Source: Council of Architecture

Students graduating from B.Arch. count up to 80,000. Now considering these


circumstances, architects practicing independently and are experienced i.e. having
at least 15 years of experience are up to 30,000. From this we can say that there
should be at least 3 newly graduates working under these architects, plus 3 of other
80,000 students for each ready for their training program.
The situation today is that most of these experienced architects don’t take the
said amount of trainee or a newbie as they prefer experienced ones for speedy work.
Thus most of the new architects lack in knowledge and later on make some grave
mistakes in their designs.

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4.0 History of Blunders

The “blunder” is not something that should be seen as negativity o taboo, but
as a source of information. They show all the aspects we ignore while designing.
Had there not been problems in our ancestral architecture, we would not have been
able to evolve our architecture with new technologies.
We have some of the heritage that were included in this part of the report,
some were rebuilt, some were repaired and few got destroyed. We will also see the
points they point out which were not taken into account due to lack of knowledge
of that time.

4.1 Indus Valley Civilization, 1300 B.C.


Indus valley civilization, a civilization that was most advanced in their time.
It is an example of a city with a systematic set of services. The whole scape was set
on grid iron pattern with an adequate system of drainage. Every building
constructed was made using baked mud bricks. But it was included in this set
because of 2 reasons:
 Being near a river, moreover the river with high amount of water flow (during
that time), people didn’t considered about floods in monsoons. The city was
reported to have many floods.
 With the use of mud bricks, they later constructed even thicker walls to
counter flood. They focused on fortification of city structure but didn’t took
invaders into account. The city was overrun by Aryans and was said to be its
demise.

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4.2 The Fidenae Amphitheater, 27 A.D.
The Fidenae, an iconic
city of Roman empire during
Etruscan era, housed an
amphitheater/stadia. It was
made of cheap wood by an
entrepreneur named Atilius.
It collapsed due to the
volume of people and by far
was the worst stadium
disaster in history. Casualty
counted from 20,000 to
50,000 who were dead or
wounded from the total
audience of 50,000. It also reinforced the need for structures to be solidly built.
Lesson learnt: Account for the weight the structure will hold.

4.3 Lighthouse of Alexandria, 1303 A.D.


The Pharos Lighthouse of
Alexandria was one of the Seven
Wonders of the Ancient World until an
earthquake destroyed it in 1303. From
its early creation (estimated around 280
B.C.), this structure showcased
extraordinary architecture with its
height (approximately 348 feet or a 42-
story building), as well as its ability to
withstand the ocean, several previous
earthquakes, and wars.
Lesson learnt: Unfortunately,
some buildings don’t last forever.
Evolving technology will help make
some structures withstand the harshest
of environmental circumstances.

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4.4 The Bell Tower of Pisa, 1173 A.D.
The “leaning” bell tower of Pisa began
construction in 1173 with the height of 60 meters. It
was built on marshy land, causing the tower to lean
and ultimately require reinforcing the foundation to
prevent it from toppling.
Lesson learnt: Making and building on a solid
foundation is vital.

4.5 St. Francis Dam, 1924 A.D.


The St. Francis Dam was
built in 1924 and collapsed in
1928 due to structural and
geological reasons. As a
result, 600 people died from
flooding caused by defective
foundations.
Lesson learnt:
Continually inspecting
industrial structures like dams,
bridges, etc. is critical to
ensuring public safety.

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4.6 Tacoma Narrows Bridge, 1940 A.D.
In 1940, the Tacoma
Narrows Bridge collapsed in a
windstorm, creating one of the
world’s largest man-made reefs
as well as one of the most
dramatic failures in bridge
engineering history. It changed
how suspension bridges were
designed from that moment on.
Lesson learnt: Always
take into account environment
factors like wind and weather.

4.7 John Hancock Tower, 1976


A.D.
The John Hancock Tower is a 60-story
skyscraper in Boston that was unveiled in 1976.
Due to repeated thermal stress to the panels on the
building, windows were falling out and crashing to
the pavement hundreds of feet below. In the end,
10,000 windows were replaced for $5 million. The
building also had a problem absorbing strong gusts
of wind allowing the building to sway too much.
This caused occupants on the upper floors to
experience motion sickness.
Lesson learnt: Little factors have big
implications on buildings as large as skyscrapers.

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5.0 Blunders of Today
Now let’s take a look over the major blunders in architecture which made the
whole project to crumble. In addition we shall also look into their causes and check
what needs to be done to avoid similar situations.

Humans: Hyatt Regency Hotel


Walkway Collapse, 1981
The atrium of Kansas City's Hyatt
Regency, built in 1979, was sliced
through by a number of hanging
walkways—all of which were
packed to capacity with people
watching a dance contest in 1981. A
flaw in the drawings had put twice
the intended weight on a small nut
holding up the walkway's steel frame.
It collapsed onto a full walkway
below it, killing more than a hundred people. It was the deadliest structural collapse
in American history (at the time)—and it's since become a touchstone of every intro
to structural engineering course.

Design: The Stata Center,


2007
Sited on the plot of land where
the famed Building 20 once
stood, Frank Gehry's MIT
Stata Center was only open
for three years before the
lawsuits started rolling in.
Gehry and his contractor were
sued for "deficient design
services and drawings which

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caused leaks to spring, masonry to crack, mold to grow, drainage to back up, and
falling ice and debris to block emergency exits."

Sun: Vdara Hotel and


Spa, 2009
Ah, the Vdara Hotel and
Spa. Also known as the
#1 place in Las Vegas to
get your hair singed off
your body. Built in 2009
by Rafael Vinoly, the
Vdara's curved glass
facade magnified the
sun’s rays straight down
onto its pool
area, burning away
human hair and melting
plastic. The fix? A shade, of course.

Marble: Aon Center


The Aon Center is the third-
tallest building in Chicago.
It was completed in 1973
and was originally named
the Standard Oil Building.
When it was completed, the
building was a visual
wonder to behold, thanks to
the decision to sheath the
entire structure in Italian
Carrara marble. The
building looked great, but its
fetching exterior came at a
very high price. Carrara

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marble is much thinner than building materials normally used to clad buildings, and
in 1974 one of the slabs detached from the building and crashed into the roof of the
neighboring Prudential Center. An investigation revealed the completely unsuitable
marble was cracking and bowing all over the exterior.
Water: Lotus Riverside
Apartment, 2009
This 13-story apartment
building, in Shanghai, was
still under construction when
it failed in 2009. Workers had
removed a huge amount of
soil from below to create a
garage. But the excavated
earth—piled next door—
caused a riverbed to collapse
below it, and the foundations
became a pool of unstable
mud.
Location: “Ghost Mall” in China
It was supposed to be a shopper's
paradise, but instead it's a dead
zone. Noodle billionaire Alex Hu
Guirong had a vision of creating a
mall to rival The Mall of America
in his home town of Dongguan,
China. He called it the South
China Mall. As far as size and
scope, it is impressive, with 7
million square feet (more than
twice that of the MOA) and
buildings designed after famous
landmarks in Venice, Paris,
Rome, and Egypt. However, they
forgot to consider an important factor, namely location, location, location. It is not

17 | P a g e
near any major transit hub or airport; one reporter said it took 2 1/2 hours to get
there from just 6 miles away. In addition, the city itself is home to low-wage-earning
factory workers who don't have extra money for fancy shops. Speaking of fancy
shops, that's the third problem; there are none. In spite of adding a “New” to the
name in a failed relaunch in 2007 (it opened in 2005), the New South China Mall
is still 97 vacant in 2013.

Planning: Navy compound in Coronado


The Naval Amphibious base compound in Coronado, CA was built in the 1960s to
house young sailors. It consists of 4 L-shaped buildings centered around a hub. Cut
to 2007, when a diligent Google Earth surfer “discovered” that the building's
configuration resembled a giant Nazi swastika. Architect John Mock defended his
design, saying that the swastika wasn't intentional and that the building even won
an award. Because of the uproar, however, the Navy apologized and said they would
spend up to $600,000 on “landscaping and architectural modifications.”

Not a construction flaw, but a good example what our plans could lead to.

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6.0 Analysis of Towns
(CHANDIGARH)

The blunders not only happen in building projects, but also in town planning.
Be it a design of a famous architect, there can be one or two major flaws. In this
section we will be looking towards one of our developed city – Chandigarh.

6.1 Introduction
Charles-Edouard Jeanneret (1887-1965) was not trained to be an architect.
But as Le Corbusier he became perhaps the most influential architect of the 20th
century. An early and forceful proponent of a new approach to architecture in the
1920s called “modernism”, the Swiss born French architect famously said, “A
house is a machine for living in.” By the mid-20th century, modernism had become
the dominant way of building worldwide, including India. Rare in his command of
a new rationality, technology and poetry in architecture, Corbusier invented a
language of the industrial age. Before modernism, architectural imagination in the
West was dominated by centuries-old Greek, Roman and other historic styles of
building. Lutyens’ New Delhi, built during the period 1911-29 (the early years of
modernism), is a good example of prevalent architectural thinking that modernism
attacked.
Chandigarh, which Corbusier planned and designed in the 1950s, epitomised
his belief that architecture and urban planning must have a rational problem-solving
approach. At the same time, he sought meaning and monumentality through the
honest expression of the construction material itself. Though modernist architecture
was not new to India when Corbusier made his first visit, his work in Chandigarh
and Ahmedabad was to greatly influence Indian architecture.

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6.2 The Intent
Corbusier’s final city plan (developed from that of the American planner
Albert Mayer) for Chandigarh epitomised the modernist idea of what a rational city
should be like — right angled street grids, straight, wide roads for increasing
automobile use, lots of (preferably continuous) open space around stand-alone
buildings, greenery, light and air for every inhabitant. This was the dream that had
emerged by the early 20th century in response to the nightmare of dirt and disease
in the crowded medieval city in Europe with its “irregular” street patterns. For a
new-born India too, Chandigarh represented a dramatic rejection of “traditional”
urban layouts that had grown without a master-plan. So Chandigarh is often the
preferred template for the modern Indian city in the middle-class imagination.

6.3 Setting an Example


Perhaps Corbusier’s architectural vision expressed in the ensemble called the
Capitol Complex (Secretariat, Legislative Assembly and High Court) has proved
more enduring than his city plan. The architecture is abstract, sculptural and
monumental. But it uses the humblest of industrial building materials (Reinforced
Cement Concrete, or RCC) without any finishing layer of plaster or paint. When it
was built (even while under construction, in fact) the Capitol Complex gave a
heartening message to young Indian architects building in an impoverished society.
It suggested that to be modern, creative and powerful, architecture did not need
expensive material or technology. Future masters of Indian architecture like Charles
Correa and Balkrishna Doshi (who assisted Corbusier on Chandigarh) internalised
that message and went on to modify modernism creatively to align it better with the
Indian context. Correa’s Portuguese Church in Mumbai, Doshi’s Institute of
Indology in Ahmedabad, and Shivnath Prasad’s ShriRam Centre, New Delhi, show
a very direct influence of Corbusier’s approach at Chandigarh. Among young
architects today, the work of Gurjeet Singh Matharoo (Ahmedabad) and of Mathew
Ghosh Architects Pvt Ltd (Bangalore) follows on Corbusier’s example.

6.4 The Problems


One simple issue is about climate. It turns out that the winding, disorderly
traditional streets were climatically sensible since they were shaded by buildings.
The wide open spaces of Chandigarh are not hospitable in the scorching summer or

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chilly winter. And, notwithstanding the Nano, sensible people and planners today
realize that public transport, not the private car, is what must be encouraged.
The Capitol Complex, in particular, while extremely powerful as a
composition, reveals the problems with architecture conceived as an isolated and
remote object. As the seat of a democratic government, it is ironic that the large
paved open spaces of the complex are so inhospitable by day. The rough concrete
surfaces also deny the simplest of visual pleasures we all seek in our environment.
For a lot of people, especially non-architects, the high-minded austerity is
dispiriting. More dispiriting is the damage caused to the concrete because of the
extremes of hot and cold that Chandigarh experiences. Most architects today
acknowledge the new pathways opened for Indian architecture by Corbusier at
Chandigarh, but have also learnt to apply his stated concern for local climate,
appropriate construction techniques and building function in a more directly
accountable manner.

6.5 The Final Analysis


Corbusier’s concrete-heavy vision does not sit well with the current
commitment to sustainability, because steel and cement are both highly energy
intensive materials. However, the fact that Corbusier tried to develop a modern
architectural language responsive to the climate of Chandigarh poses important
questions to the big new air-conditioned glass buildings mushrooming in Indian
cities. Though there is debate about their effectiveness, he did develop new forms
like the giant porches and concrete screens in response to Chandigarh’s climate. By
contrast, with more advanced and energy-guzzling technology at their disposal,
many architects and owners are being less rational than the poet of concrete. They
avoid a thoughtful design response to climate and turn to air conditioning to solve
problems created by the desire for a modern image. Chandigarh, with all its
problems, shows this to be a false modernity, which believes in glass almost
superstitiously.

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7.0 Recommendations

 Negotiate for more time. Tight deadlines discourage quality. It’s the truth and
there’s not much to do about it. Sure, you can throw 30 new people on a job in
the last week, but that doesn’t help. No one will care in the middle of
construction nor remember if you didn’t have enough time to work on something
years ago. They will remember at the end of construction whether the set of
drawings was good or not.

 Communicate better. Don’t communicate changes and revisions by phone. We


are visual people and need to see sketches/drawings/etc. Words and things get
lost in translation. Even worse, instant messaging. Sit down together, meet face-
to-face and talk through all coordination items. Architecture is the epitome of a
collaborative profession. Don’t imagine it, show it.

 Know what to draw. Know what the intent is. Know what you are doing
whether it’s drawing a detail, modeling a component, or writing a note or spec.
Don’t draw anything unless you know what you are drawing and evolve it to
new level

 Know your role. Know your responsibilities. If you don’t know, ask. You better
know if you are the one responsible to update the wall types in the model to
match the required fire rating from the Life Safety drawing.

 Work smart. Know what to produce and what not to produce. If it’s not needed,
don’t draw it. Defer to specifications, industry standards and guidelines
whenever possible. There’s no need to draw every nail and screw in a roof detail
if the specs covered that already.

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8.0 Proposals

8.1 Traditional VS Modern


This is NOT meant to be a battle between traditional and modern forms of
architecture. Especially in India there is no such thing as ONE traditional INDIAN
Architecture. Every district has its own traditions and, by trial and error, over
thousands of years, people have learned how to use, and to cope with, all the many
factors which are involved in Architecture. – The Site, the Topography and Geology.
The climate and vegetation, the available local materials – the religious and cultural
patterns of living, and the main local occupants. Unsatisfactory items have long
since been discarded and alternatives have been tried until a satisfactory solution
has been found. It seems foolish, therefore, to abandon the tested findings of
centuries of “Science & Technology.”

8.2 Cost Cutting Techniques


7.2.1 Construction

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Foundation and wall particles should be
interlocked with each other otherwise they
would crumble and fall apart.

If a finished wall is required with regional


stone mortar, they can be converted to
bricks. Long walls tend to collapse, thus
either zigzag wall is created or internal
support is provided.

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Increase the foundation height
by 450 mm to provide a fixed
furniture.

1. Don’t build on the


outer edge of the
terrace. Need to build
a strong expensive
retaining wall is
necessary.
2. Build the house along
the middle of the
terrace and use a long
rectangular plan, not a
square one.
3. If the terraces are
narrow it is
sometimes possible to
build a “stepped
house”.

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When soil is poor and soft –
it is usual to dig a wide
trench and cover the bottom
with concrete. On this a
wide stone wall 50-60cm is
built on top of that.

When the soil is strong and hard there is


no need for either to concrete or the
layer of thick stone work.

8.2 .2 Materialistic
In some districts granite is split from
large rocks to give posts and slabs. You
can incorporate these stones as lintels,
shelves, window “grills” and child-proof
furniture. Short broken posts can
Usually be had at very low prices.

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‘Jali’ - formerly pierced stone panels – is one
of India’s oldest methods of letting into a
building filtered light and ventilation but
maintaining privacy and security. Brick Jali
can function in the same way – either as panels
or as a complete load bearing wall. This is a
good alternative for glass and keeps house cool,
exact opposite of glass.

LATERITE
Laterite is found in many parts of Kerala (and in other states too). It is natural,
compressed earth and uses no energy (fuel) at all. Unfortunately, unlike soil or sand,
once ‘mined’, the quarry remains as a big hole in the ground. It is also very heavy
and lifting it up to masons working at high levels is both labor intensive and slow,
hard work. It is however far more acceptable than cement blocks.

CEMENT BLOCKS
These are currently used very extensively. This is NOT acceptable when building
for thousands and millions. Cement is highly ENERGY (Fuel) INTENSIVE item
and India is short of energy and has to IMPORT much of it. The cement used in a
Block Wall is considerably more than the comparatively small amount used in a
brick wall. Blocks are very heavy and lifting, especially above waist level – slows
down construction time and calls for more labor. Bricks are easily thrown up to any
height.

27 | P a g e
8.3 Techniques for Better Environment
From ancient times we have seen various techniques to get a cool
environment in various structures. Some of them are as mentioned:

8.3.1 Evaporative Cooling:


Mostly used in Mughal designs (e.g. Taj Mahal, Agra), this technique uses
water as its cooling agent. Water is kept in the direction from where wind blows
towards the structure. The pool is shallow and surface is quite large for easy
evaporation.

8.3.2 Earth Tunnel:


Another type of natural cooling is
Earth tunnel system. In this air is
passed through a tunnel at least 4
meters deep. As the temperature
below 4 meter is constant and
considerably low compared to
outside, it cools down air. The
length of the tunnel made to hold
air for the sufficient time for heat
exchange.

8.3.3 Wind Tower:

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Wind towers are generally used in Hot Dry climates for cooling purposes. A
pre- requisite for using wind tower is that the site should experience winds with a
fairly good and consistent velocity. A wind tower is operates in various ways,
according to the time of day, and the presence and absence of wind.
The tower area is so designed that the top part provides large heat storage
capacity, and at the same time has a large surface area for heat transfer. The tower
walls and the internal walls of the air flow passages absorb heat during the day, and
release it at night, warming the cool night air in the tower. Warm air moves up
creating and upward draft and is exhausted through the openings. The pressure
difference thus created pulls the cool night air though the doors and windows into
the building. In the absence of wind, the tower acts as a chimney. The nocturnal
radiation through the roof and the external walls brings about further cooling.

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9.0 Conclusion

Architecture is a professional field in todays’ modern society and being an


architect, it’s our soul duty to make it reach everywhere. We’re heralds of this
commission and should take responsibility of whatever result we achieve from what
we preach. Finance and time are the main factor and they should be managed and
taken as required to perform anything.

Architecture is also a field that requires interaction. The more the interaction,
the more knowledge you gather. This interaction is not limited to other fellow
architects but also includes workers, constructors, builders, client, people and even
nature itself. One can get new ideas or get the basic face of requirements that are
needed in the designing process.

After reading this project, most would say that it is against the western culture
and its glass loving character, but NO, it’s not. If we can adapt western style to our
environment, it’s not a “crime”. What this project focuses on is to evolve our own
architecture by using techniques of other styles only if they are compatible. Taking
an example of “WIPRO TECHNOLOGIES, GURGAON”, a building solely made
with the purpose to adapt with environment of India but includes glass in abundance
too. The building comes under platinum rating of LEED and is the first green
building of Gurgaon.

Materials also affect the architecture of a given area. As said previously, that
it is not a “LAW” to go against western culture, one should consider the choice of
materials if he/she is pursuing the same. It is recommended that one should choose
those materials that have high durability and are easily available in that location.

Finally the Architecture. Most of the current architects, due to their lack of
knowledge and/or pressure of clients tend to focus on the visual characteristics of
the structure rather than the purpose it serves. As said by the famous personality in
architecture Louis Sullivan (Form Follows Function), first thing necessary is
planning. After that planning is evolved to get the desired view.

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