POLITICAL JAMBOREE

The pre-election movement to implement Jan-lokpal Bill had very clear manifesto that it should  not amount to a gateway to main stream politics. The intent had mass appeal but it could not curtail or restrained its political aspiration. Now its ruling party of Union Territory and capital city. The absence of stalwart of the movement during the oath ceremony was clear hint to those who understand main stream politics. 

The vanguard of Jan-Lokpal movement has vertical crack in terms of its ideological root. This has been very evident in various occasions and event. But unfortunately the common voters perception are embedded in heroism out of ordinary like Hindi cinema. It was also very clear in the original agenda that its not a political movement but mass awareness towards righteous paradigmatic shift. It never had any aspiration towards formation of political party and a formal political platform. The movement not only limited to the nation but world over took note of that euphoria. The most unfortunate outcome was the formation of political party on en-cashing the mass appeal. Its quite ordinary politics of mediocre minds. It went further into regional politics limited to the city and capturing the burning issues and corruption of ruling party then.

Imagine the movement was not successful originally and had not attain the media attention than would it be possible to have such acceptance of newly married political party on one fine day and also as ruling party of the union territory. Its a question that the think tank of media need to address. The pre-poll promises are also executed without slightest understanding on the operative economics. Its really hilarious that the pre-poll agenda was to fight against the corruption of ruling party and post-poll alliance are with the same party makes it very ordinary brew. Suddenly the nation wide agenda were focused into a state agenda is not politics. 

The exiting party know it well that these promises are only focused on center election and the honeymoon period is only three months. The supporting party is also stuck with the alignment because neither they can withdraw due to fear of public dissent on not support on cost reduction nor they can support as it will affect the mind set of people that there is no will to address the real issues. The issues that new party could resolve in few days. 

The tarvelling by metro & auto rikshaw to mantralay is pure gimmick and shall reveal its routing ordinary soon. But it really raises the issue that are we really competent enough to exercise the democratic right amounting to vote? or its another epic heroism.....?

KRVIA MASTER'S THESIS-2012 BATCH

The master thesis work was presented to the external jury on 3rd December 2013. The overall work appears to be slightly notch above its predecessor. Especially the research work has set the fresh standard and quality of representation has improved. The thesis work by Anuja, Shikha, Purva, Rutuja are noteworthy from the point of view of consistency, commitment and quality of research. The design position is still a weak link to the research work. The conservation work has tremendously improved and quality of graphics and legibility of drawings seems far more disciplined. 

Lets hope that the 2014 graduating batch carry forward the analytical format to imaginative plane.

MANDU: THE CONDITION OF UNLEARNING

There are some visits that being premeditated and some being left to be imagined trips. The visit to Mandu has always been of later type. The visit to Mandu has been most sought out destination after my graduation since 1990. It’s an invigorating occurrence when imagined place collapses in to quintessential time.

The usual departure happened early in the morning attempting to clock 560 km drive within the daylight. The destination was well within the planned time and got enough time to set the visit to first monument at walking distance near market sqaure. The photographing monuments either early in the morning or late noon times are ideal when sun altitude penetrates the aperture, creating long shadows, almost echoing the dead presence of living past. The Friday Mosque and the palace were kept axially, forming a central square, yielding expanse of street view & clear street façade from high plinth. These examples are perhaps the last reminder of statement of building built on high plinth. The high plinth seems to be antithesis to our understanding of contemporary architecture. The similar experience captured at Rupmati palace and Baz bahadur palace where presence of each monument is reinforced with strategic view location within the building if not by axial placement. The Jahaz Mahal complex itself dwelt on ideas of framing views either the next monument or lakes. This is another trait of architecture, either being framed or frame outside. The conceptual understanding of aperture/ window hinges on what is framed (metaphor) and what is unframed (memory). The metaphor and memory unconditions the perceptual time of viewer.

The scale of Jahaz Mahal seems exaggerated from the standard norms of building built during that time, but experientially well within the control.  The architectural manifestation of various characteristics and experiences are some of the imperative lessons that one can discover from. The visit has definitely reinforce the notion that history re-invent indispensable message back to life, where architecture needs to undo a lot to recapitulate on what it destined for.

History is suppose to encapsulate the state of mind that necessitates humility, rationality and progress, I hope that process of reassigning the acquired proficiency enlivens the condition of unlearning.

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