KRVIA MASTERS: SEM:I- KOLHAPUR CITY

MASTERS STUDIO:I

The studio project of mapping and representation began with the understanding of city through the lens of various pattern. The pattern were generated through the initial survey and various past experiences of the city. The generic patterns were: occupation, tourism, administration, neighborhood  natural resources etc. The groups were organized based on the generic pattern and precinct between Mahalaxmi Temple to edge of Rankala lake was taken under the study. The initial idea of esqee design prior to study on site was perhaps not considered on site however students engagement to site was very evident in the drawings. 

The analytical drawings perhaps needs some more imagination and abstraction in delineation  however the by an large drawings output clearly demonstrated well orchestrated team work. The design intervention always has strange sense of vacuum in terms of ideas however conservation students showed keen interest in their concern towards the values and historical assets of the city. The cluster formation through topological urban spaces as an abstract idea was something that studio I should sought out for. 

 Its perhaps the time where we know the time format versus output that we sought for, to seek for change in the studio format.

KRVIA MASTERS: SEM III- STUDIO: DENSITIES & AMENITIES: FIRST SESSION ENGAGED BY CHARLES CORREA

KRVIA MASTERS: SHIMLA HOUSING PROJECT: FINAL JURY 2013-Photographs: Credit: Krvia Masters

CONSTITUTIONAL TO INSTITUTIONAL TERRORISM

The beginning of new parliamentary session usually bring the unseasonal shower from all directions. It was expected that prior to monsoon session the retail/FDI/Food related regulation shall be strategically pushed into the parliament and announce the election during the month of January or February. But political adjustments moves much faster than the institutional adjustments and now it’s time the ruling associations are realizing the hard fact. The territorialized geography & ideology is to be negotiated with terms that perhaps was never reckon with. The administrative mismanagement & unconstitutional/unethical operational motives can not be undone. It has been a debate in public domain clearly stating that the  strategy “if you cant erase than efface” which has been the mantras to retain hegemony.

It is perhaps the weakness of our democratic psych to not to remember and be subservient to strategically announced pre-cautionary measure. How bizarre the imagination that compels the rightist thinking left way or leftist thinking right way. The democratic behaves in disguised autocrat.  The ruling hegemony is the most controversial paradigm in its constitutional frame and is able to sail through without question is an eye opener. It solely means that constitutional incorrectness has democratic means for institutional correctness.

The internal issues are given global understanding and global issues are networked for hegemonic destination. This is the democratic framework for the majority of us who are not willing to comprehend the democratic traits in democratic manner. It’s an extreme surprise to note that every issue that crops up is deeper than the predecessor. Is it the inability to sustain democratic virtues or is it the inability to produce able leadership or is it that political wisdom lays in marginal moving away from democratic framework? These are the issues that shall dominate the strategic thinking. The political affiliations are less ideological and more about convenience of institutional terrotorialization. As ideological necessities are deeper where institutions and constitutions are paramount but this is replaced by hegemonic aspiration than the central conditions that perhaps begin to oscillate for undesirable ends.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING: WHOSE TERRITORY?

The urbanity has given new definition to  triad relationship of food, shelter & habitat and has become far more complex process. The recent private/public band wagon of affordable housing agencies are yet another attempt to generate land ownership pattern. The attempt is to prove the affordability by numbers that are acceptable by scheme definition and develop its own market strategy to promote. Hence the affordable housing is a marketing strategy for unforeseen pattern of capital building. 

The recent launch of several schemes and its promotion suddenly raises the question on why developers are turning into philanthropic utopias?.The share market has seen phase of slump and as a ploy it is energize the market, the investors are lure to invest in defensive market and subsequently the market manage to gain some capital mobility. Its similar attempt in the real estate where mobility is constrained the affordable becomes buzzword to create capital mobility. The affordable housing is deceptive as one gets closer to understanding of the feasibility. The land cost is the main factor while material cost is the least factor. The only factory has little value is labour cost. The planning objective perhaps have most insignificant value. Every country has clear definition of what is affordable housing, while in India, its perhaps very clearly understood and not defined is that its far from city and un-affordable to travel to work long distance. The real understanding of affordability is in economic opportunity as a social security which goes beyond the norms of price of a unit. The western countries have clear definition that "if you spend less than 30% of your income on housing it belongs to affordable range". The only reliable example in Indian context is the housing loan which is calculated based on 30 times of your monthly income. Hence it defines the affordability which is based on income and expenditure (everything). The ration defines the affordability, while low cost is completely different areas and group. However the affordable housing has become the unchecked paradise for investor.

It is glaring to note that any affordable housing scheme prices are checked in the beginning  during construction and post completion, the prices appreciation is following the similar pattern of normal housing schemes. 

It is not exaggerated to state that the affordable housing is a disguise for land acquisitions in peripheral areas. It also to create vast land bank for controlling future growth by restricting affordable housing, which in turn becomes seamless part of metros.