Padmanabhapuram Palace in the rains - Part 1 by Sujith.G.S

Padmanabhapuram palace complex is the quintessential example of the vernacular architecture of Kerala and was the abode of the Travancore Royal Family, before Maharajah Marthanda Varma shifted the capital to Trivandrum. The palace complex is a masterpiece - an intriguing play of volumes, scale, spatial planning & courtyards, all of which have a strong underlying cohesiveness. The spaces move from the public spaces on the periphery to the more private spaces as one moves towards the core, reflected through variations in scale & proportion, producing very interesting spaces

I had the good fortune of visiting the Palace complex last week and was greeted by ominous dark grey clouds in the background. I didnt want it to rain, but the skies soon opened up as we were exploring the complex.

And it turned out to be quite an unexpected spectacle. The whole space transforms in the rains. The results are most evident in the spectacular courtyards, where it is a literal waterfall. The sound and feel of the rain transforms the space, adding an additional dimension. Do check out the below pictures. Will come back with much more in Part 2 

 

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WHY AVANI 01 MATTERS?

SUJITH.G.S

Avani Institute of Design organized its first Annual exhibition, titled ‘AVANI 01’ from the 13^th to the 19^th of May at Mandalay Hall in Cochin, showcasing the works done in the first year studio. One of the primary objectives of the exhibition was to open up the activities and vision of the school to the public, thereby attempting to start a conversation on architecture and design. This is in a way necessary, as we, the architects, have managed to insulate ourselves from the general public and in the process, have placed ourselves on an pedestal, removed from the realities of the modern day. This is even more drastic in the scenario of architecture education, as in architectural practice one is forced to engage with the clients, while in architecture schools, this engagement is totally absent. One might argue that projects undertaken in an architecture school has to be hypothetical, pushing the boundaries of reality and imagination. But the drawback of this approach is all too evident in our built environments, with horrendous works which are out of sync with the ground realities.

It is in this context that Avani 01, as an exhibition of student’s works, gains relevance and is a critical step in opening up the domain of education to the public and thereby exposing students to think from a client’s perspective. A true conversation starts when there is an honest give and take between the various stakeholders shaping our built environment, of which the common man is an integral element. By establishing such a culture of interaction, openness and critique, Avani 01 will encourage students to come out of their cocooned academic ambience and think of the larger issues and varying perspectives in the society, helping them develop as sensitive well rounded professionals. This is a critical mandate which has to percolate to all our educational institutions, where even the academic faculties have to start interacting with the practical side of the profession and the realities of our built environment.

The overwhelming positive response received from people from all spectrum is an indication that public at large is curious to engage with our profession, even though they may not truly relate to all the design exercises. The fact that people interacted with the students, trying to understand the concepts behind various installations and exhibits and telling students what they thought of the designs, was a very encouraging response, especially as majority of the visitors were general public, who were not architecturally educated. The critique from the visiting architects too would have given the first year students a lot of inspiration, which would undoubtedly help them in their coming years and help them develop into better designers.

SUJITH.G.S is an architect and writer, with a passion for travelling, experiencing cultures, studying vernacular architecture as well as contemporary currents, which form the basis for his writing and blogging. You can contact him at ar.sujithgs@gmail.com

Timeless Resorts - Stapati, by Sujith.G.S

It is really an honour to present 'Timeless Resorts', a coffee table book on the resort projects done by Stapati, based in Calicut, Kerala. Founded by Ar.Tony Joseph in 1989, Stapati has grow into one of the leading architectural consultancies in the country.

Being part of this wonderful team is a really great experience. So it was an honour when I was asked to  create the content for this coffee table book, which is published by ORO Editions based in San Francisco. It was a great experience for me to visit the various resorts to photoshoot them, to experience the spaces in person. You really get to understand the importance of good design in creating a wonderful hospitality experience, right from the design of spaces to the selection of the right materials to the textures and colour schemes.

The projects are spread across India and Seychelles, but my favourites are the projects in Kerala as they are a good example of how to create good architecture in Kerala, with its unique context. One of my personal favourite is the Spice Harbour in Fort Kochi, which is an adaptive reuse of an old godown. This was done to create a very rustic yet contemporary aesthetic, which was inherently Indian, yet one which exuded an international appeal.

Timeless resorts would be a good addition to both the architect as well as the common man, with the projects captured in some stunning photographs. There are sketches and drawings to show the design  and its evolution, and there is write up about each project, which explains the design and the context it responds to. So go ahead and grab your copy now!!!

Timeless Resorts

Stapati

Author  - Sujith.G.S

Editor.  - Abraham Tharakan

Design - Sandhya Kurushingal

SUJITH.G.S is an architect and writer, with a passion for travelling, experiencing cultures, studying vernacular architecture as well as contemporary currents, which form the basis for his writing and blogging. You can contact him at ar.sujithgs@gmail.com