Archinova _ E n v i r o n s

09/09/2024

August brought ‘august company’. it’s heartening when they make time to catch-up!

Living in Goa is very stressful for many of us who chose to celebrate a life that is in-tune with nature’s cycles. Many of us have been celebrating and decoding the lessons from ‘traditional practitioners’ - who crafted this region’s landscape for humans - over millennia.

A dream to engage with cultural landscape that are the Khazans of Goa is now being realised through a joint engagement of Masters students of Conservation from SPA Delhi and the Urban Design batch from GCA. The explorations is a collaborative and all of us are excavating and evolving a process of conscious engagement with these multiple-layered ecological and land engineering systems. It’s invigorating to learn from stalwarts like first Town Planner of Goa who took charge when Goa became part of India- Prof Edgar Ribeiro- in 1962- and insights from this 93 year young professional are a precious and powerful gift. Every interaction adds another layer of knowledge and his willingness to question the limited approach of the ‘planners’ in shaping the built gives another gust of wind to our sails who continue to pursue equitable solutions that cater to all livings beings and not just one species. The learning’s continue- for us all!

The process will culminate in another two months when our joint-studio proponents will engage with wider society and stakeholders and share all their findings. Gratitude comes easy; Thankyou - SPA D and GCA, walking and crafting new pathways - essential for this era of climate induced challenges that are theoretical - no more!! Viva!!

12/05/2024

Siting a building or site development have taken on different dimensions in our present “developer“ driven habitat. More importantly- globalisation of design trend is obliterating distinctive ‘sense of place’.

Place making is intrinsically linked to climate, terraforming and materiality. Increasingly - these trifecta have been relegated and replaced with another set of formula - partially driven by so called building bye laws but also by perception driven ‘modern amenities’ as a set of boxes to be ticked : regardless of scale, typology, climate zone, earthquake zone, and most importantly the ecology. First in this series came the universal design of Airports- including the landscape around them regardless of climate zone. Example : Bangalore landscaped approach corridor is copy-pasted complete with choice of plants on water starved Jaipur!! It’s all about “looks”. Also followed closely by energy guzzling Malls, and then came the multi-dwellings-apartments, holiday villas and so called “gated communities”(oxymoron?). In the last decade alone- the copy-paste developmental attitude has taken hold of also the parks, gardens, streets and street furniture.

Amidst this senses numbing insipid living - delving into the world of Historic Gardens helped recharge the energy chakras immensely.

Painstakingly authored by Dr. Priyaleen Singh and beautifully designed publication of INTACH is unique in content presentation. It is structured on the articles of The Florence Charter for conservation of Historic Gardens which not only makes relevant the understanding of the charter - universally- but more importantly ensures that all aspects are addressed- sequentially.

While I am amongst those few fortunate professionals, that have had the opportunity to do masters in conservation in a multidisciplinary academic setting - with my fellow course mates - that were not only from different nations but also disciplines- (like landscape, archaeology, building craft guild, architectural historians, planners) ; together impacting our collective understanding on evolution of humans shaping varied resources of this amazing planet.

Thus wading through the pages of “Conserving the Spirit of a historic garden “ - that employs projects based narrative - revived an intrinsic sense of purpose that makes for revival within to posit : responding to site distinctiveness is the foundation for timelessness in design and in that lies the key for policies related to Tourism Development Projects, Urban Design and all Public Works allied. The path to an equitable future when rooted in critical analysis and understanding of the past - can ensure responsible and region sensitive sustainable development.

I urge all : architects, conservationists, urbanists, landscape professionals, administrators - to deep dive- and emerge with a foundational understanding, rigour and reverence for our centuries old ‘collective capacities’ to do so much more with less. Isn’t that what we need right now?
This book is available on Amazon.
ISBN 9788195473113

01/01/2024

26/01/2023

Happy Republic Day! Very grateful to reach this milestone of unveiling the Book Cover and launching of “Conservation and the Indian City: Bridging the Gap “ : an anthology of reflections and dialogues on future of this Nation’s rich and varied cultural legacy. Jai hind!

22/02/2020

Jan 2020 . Mumbai . Women In Design . Panelist - Speaker

A recent conference in Mumbai curated by The Hecar Foundation brought together 35 inspiring professionals from India to Iran. Here the names not to miss.