The Bangalore workshop 2015

There is this very interesting workshop which is going to be held in Bangalore. Here is a brief synopsis as elucidated by Ar.Bijoy Ramachandran - 

'The Vimal Jain Foundation and the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore are organising a 5 day workshop from August 11th to 15th, 2015.

The workshop is being conducted by Richard Leplastrier and Peter Stutchbury, both accomplished teachers, practitioners and Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal recipients. Both of them have also been involved in the Glenn Murcutt MasterClass (http://www.ozetecture.org/masterclass/glenn-murcutt-master-class/) since its inception in 2000. Dr. B.V. Doshi will join the Workshop on the last two days for the final reviews and public lectures.

For the 2015 workshop, participants will be invited to study the edges of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and suggest ways in which to negotiate the chaotic urban environment on the street with the serene quality of the campus. The aim is to attempt a bridge both physically (through architectural and programmatic ideas) and metaphorically between these two contrasting conditions. Though known internationally as a premier academic institution, IIMB is isolated from its immediate context and offers no opportunity for a dialogue. It is the hope that through the workshop one begins to find a way to have the Institute engage with the city and vice versa. This also offers a real opportunity to address the challenges posed by rapid urbanization and commercialism - how these edges are treated will hopefully offer clues for how ‘quality’ and public space could find its way back into our streetscapes.

The workshop is open to students and practitioners.

Application forms and portfolios are due on the 17th of July (email to vimaljainfoundation@gmail.com)

Richard is the genuine article - a sage of our time. If not the workshop you must try and come for the lectures on the 16th.'

Preparing an architecture portfolio - Dos and don't's - by Sujith.G.S

 As a practicing architect, I come across a relatively large number of portfolios for internship in our office, as well as those applying for job opportunities. Most of these portfolios are pretty average and poorly crafted, even though the quality of design is pretty good. That either means that a) students do not pay enough attention, or b) students do not have a good idea of how to prepare a good portfolio. It is in this context that I thought I’d share some points to help students with their architecture portfolio preparation

A portfolio should reflect the architectural and aesthetic sensibilities of the student. It is a great way of communicating what you believe in, in highlighting your strengths and skills. That being said, an architectural portfolio is a professional document and one must make every effort to keep it as professional as possible, while highlighting your creative side.

Keep your portfolio neat and simple.  I can't stress that enough. Most of the designers appreciate portfolios that are clean, which can clearly communicate your design and creative works. You can always take inspiration from the simple clear design aesthetics of Apple. It was Steve Job's single minded pursuit for perfection which has thrown out all the unnecessary frills and helped evolved some of the most beautiful gadgets.  An architectural portfolio should also be similar. The idea is not to create an overloaded graphical presentation, but one which would highlight your design work and would communicate it in a clear legible manner.

Today there is a plethora of presentation and graphical softwares which can create awe inspiring images. But keep in mind that ultimately it is not the fancy graphics that will have to be the highlight of your architecture portfolio. But always keep in mind that it is always a design portfolio and that design must take precedent.

Please avoid unnecessary personal details and 'cool' personal photographs. If you must add your picture, please keep it relatively straightforward.

Most of the portfolios that I get include ‘photography’ as one of the skill sets. Today, with the plethora of good quality cameras and editing softwares, almost everyone is an amateur or semi-professional photographer. Thus unless you really are passionate about photography and have got some good photographs, it is always best to avoid adding random clicks as your photography work.

As an architect, one is expected to be able to communicate your ideas through sketches and drawings. It is a skill that most of the architects look for in students. That being said, not everyone can effectively communicate through good sketches. If sketching is not your cup of tea, I would advise that you do not forcefully include poor sketches just for the sake of adding it, but highlight other skill sets like graphic abilities. Always try to include as much hand drawn content as possible in your portfolio and while doing so, ensures that the sketches are scanned properly in good resolution (300 dpi always) and that the lines are clear.

Pay attention to your fonts and text. Today, there are plenty of fonts which can be used to create eye catching content in your portfolio. Use fonts judiciously to create an order.

Be extremely careful in all the content that you include. All the text must be checked for grammatical mistakes. Always, and I mean always, use spell-check on all your content in your portfolio. It is not at all acceptable to have basic spelling mistakes in your portfolio. It would mean that you are not professional enough in your work.

Writing quality content is again another challenge for any architectural student. Add only that text which you feel is absolutely essential. Avoid giving too elaborate write-ups explaining your designs and ideas. Most of the architects are not going to ever read through the whole text. So, keep your writing to the minimum and let your drawings do the talking. And always ensure that only relevant and grammatically correct content is included. If on the other hand you are good at writing, let it come through in minimal sentences which would capture the essence of your design.

Finally, don't be afraid of white spaces! You do not need to crowd your whole layout, cramming tons of stuff in it. Make white spaces work in your favour by their judicious use. However, this has to be handled carefully, as too much white can lead to a blank look. So use your aesthetic sense and decide the optimum amount of content vs white space.

I've created a detailed booklet on how to go about creating your Architecture Portfolio, covering all the other areas to be given thought to.. There is detailed coverage on each aspect of your portfolio, with a lot of tips to help you create that perfect portfolio.

Order your e-copy of How to prepare an Archietcture Portfolio today at just Rs.250!!! And what's best, it will cost you  than  good meal in a restaurant. So go ahead, don't let this opportunity pass by

Write to ar.sujithgs@gmail.com NOW!

A few examples of interesting portfolios -

http://issuu.com/cheli825/docs/portfolio_lopez_a1

This is a  good example of a well crafted portfolio. Most of the points mentioned above are reflected in this one


http://issuu.com/b.a.maranda/docs/portfoli

FOR A DETAILED BOOKLET ON 'HOW TO PREPARE YOUR ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO', EMAIL ME AT ar.sujithgs@gmail.com. 

 Don't miss this wonderful opportunity!

A sample page from the booklet!

'Evolution of Hospitality spaces in an Indian context - Ar.Tony Joseph and Ar.Sujith.G.S

My article in INDIAN ARCHITECT AND BUILDER'S Anniversary Issue, along with Ar.Tony Joseph! Do check it out!

Have you ever wished that you had all the details of the best architecture firms in India to for internships? Especially today, when the competition to get into those few vacancies in those good firms is really intense?

Ever wished that you had a single source which gave you the contact details of the best architecture firms in India, as well as brief information on their style and philosophy and a summary on why you should intern in a particular firm?

Well then, look no further!

‘TOP 100 ARCHITECTURE FIRMS FOR INTERNSHIP in INDIA’ is here! 

This single resource gives you the details of the Top 100 firms in the country, as well as their contact details. This list will save you hours of doing futile research on the net and also the contact details at your fingertips! You can choose the firms in your city of choice

So say goodbye to uncertainty and hours of hard work. This list will make your life so much easier and will help you get into that coveted internship position or even that first job that you are looking for!

So wait no more.

Order your copy of ‘TOP 100 ARCHITECTURE FIRMS FOR INTERNSHIP in INDIA’.

Mail me at ar.sujithgs@gmail.com for more details.

Helipads on top of High rises in India - is there a rationale?

by Sujith.G.S

I was reading through the article regarding the Los Angeles' Mayor's announcement saying that for new buildings it wasn't mandatory to have helipads on top as per fire rescue guidelines, as they limit the city's skyline to flat topped boxes and wondered about the relevance of this rule in an Indian context. The intention behind the Mayor's move was to have a more interesting skyline for Los Angeles, giving architects the freedom to go beyond flat-tops.

Image courtesy  - www.dailynews.com

los-angeles-no-longer-requires-helipads-on-buildings-allowing-for-bolder-skyscraper-designs

The logic behind this particular guideline, which is mandatory as per the National Building Code for buildings above 60m in height, is to have an escape mechanism for helicopter evacuation in case of fires in high-rise buildings. Although altruistic in intention, the practicality of landing a helicopter on top of a burning building needs to be analysed, with several experts felling that this is extremely dangerous. What is interesting is that Los Angeles was one of the few remaining cities in the US were this rule existed. Alternate mechanisms like separate elevators for firefighters, additional staircases etc. could be more effective and practical. 

In an Indian context, as was seen during the recent fire in Mumbai, helicopter evacuation was sought as a last resort to evacuate the trapped firemen. There also, the helicopter did not touch down on top of the building but only lowered the Navy sailor to rescue the trapped firemen. This does lead to question whether such a tactic can be employed instead of having a full fledged helipad on top. There have been plenty of instances where the DGCA has refused permission to land a helicopter on top of these helipads citing safety concerns. If the helipads are seen unsafe by the aviation authorities then why bother having them in the first place?

Image courtesy - www.indiatimes.com

Mumbai highrise fire

More than any aesthetic consideration, one needs to wonder whether spending such a lot of extra money for the structural design and reinforcement required for erecting a helipad on top of a high-rise building is worth the expenditure if it is not going to be of much practical value. This is especially relevant in high-rise residential developments where this cost accrued to the builder is directly transferred to the resident. We need rules and regulations which work, which are practical and which takes into consideration all the stakeholders and not merely rules which exist on paper for a feel good factor. We must also understand that the value of a life is paramount and should not be compromised at all. It is high time that we rationalize the regulations and take into confidence the building community so that they do not cut corners and come up with inventive solutions to work around ineffective rules. It is thus critical that we revisit these regulations and reframe rules which are really effective and relevant in today’s context. Parallelly, we need to strengthen and better equip our fire services to deal effectively with emergencies in high-rises. The Los Angeles announcement has come at just the right time for us to introspect on our situation and address the existing concerns.

HEAR YE RAIN GODS!

Seriously, what is happening with the monsoons in Kerala? The first week of July is coming to an end and we are still waiting for the first real signs of rain! Sure, there has been intermittent rain, sporadic and in fits and bursts. But what of the consistently heavy downpours that one associates with the monsoon in Kerala?...what of the cozy days spent indoors with a cup of hot coffee and a good read, listening to the incessant chatter of the raindrops on your roof?...what of those school re-opening days when like an accurate clockwork it would start pouring for the first school assembly?...what of those puddles of water on the roads?...alas, they all seem like distant utopian memories. Memories that look destined to be just that – beautiful vignettes stored away in the recess of our minds.

Is all of this related to the innumerable changes in the ecosystems that we human beings are bringing about? Has it got anything to do with that dreaded word – ‘climate change’? If so, how are we as architects contributing to this either directly through our actions or indirectly through our inactions? How is the built environment contributing to these?

All of these are questions that we need to ponder over as yet another day drags to an end without any sign of the rain gods making an entry anytime soon..

The Architectural scenario in Kerala by Sujith.G.S

The architectural scene in Kerala is going through a very interesting and critical phase. Following the amazingly refined traditional wooden architectural period, the architectural scene in the state meandered meaninglessly following the collapse of the princely state system under the administration of the British Empire. The architectural intervention of the Britishers resulted in an eclectic mix of public architecture which manifested most prominently in the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture. This, however, was limited only to a few sporadic public buildings and did not extend into the residential typologies. Following independence and subsequently, the formation of the new state, there was a period when the architecture was influenced by the modernist movement happening across the world. This was further augmented by the easier access to cement and concrete technology, resulting in the creation of a lot of concrete boxes. The waves of the modern architectural vocabulary of the post-independence architectural experiments of Corbusier in Chandigarh and of other practitioners in the rest of the country gradually began to wash over the shores of Kerala and resulted in their translation into the residential architecture of the state, but was limited mostly to the residences of the rich. A lot of fanciful and interesting designs evolved during this period, but soon fizzled out. Their appeal could not be transformed into a mass movement which affected the overall built environment, one in which the professional architect designed only a fraction of the building stock.

It was also a time when the nascent profession of architecture began to take its initial steps in the state, struggling to establish a meaningful presence in the local architectural scenario. This struggle continued well into the start of the new millennium, aided by a slew of factors – the lack of visionary and strong willed initial practitioners, absence of visionary clients, failure to strike a chord with the masses, absence of conceptual clarity and a unifying ideology. If in places like Ahmedabad and Chandigarh, there was a clear direction forward vis-a-vis, defining a modern architectural vocabulary for a new India, surprisingly, in Kerala, this was completely missing. The zeal for a new direction and language was missing – both among the practitioners and also among the academic circles, where the quality of discourse was average at the best. Gradually our environment started to get clogged by meaningless concrete boxes without character, which weren't suited at all to our context and climate.

It was also the time when Laurie Baker made his mark in the built environment with his unique designs. The inherent beauty and logic of his designs caught the imagination of the common man, who went in for the ‘Baker model’ homes, which were unique, sustainable and cost effective. That it took a man like Baker, a supposed foreigner, to understand and frame the issues and to work towards evolving an architecture which addressed these concerns, also tells us of the lack of local architects with genuine  empathy and understanding. Thus, Baker created a remarkable body of work which were timeless, which are relevant even today.

Following a phase of gradual consolidation, the architectural profession in the state is now at a crossroad. We are presently in a confused state of existence – unable to make up our minds whether to offer continuity – off imagery, of form, of materials, of spatial planning and functionality...or, to tangentially deviate into uncharted territories and untrodden paths to define a new vocabulary, where the risk of committing errors are greater, where the chance of being proven wrong are much higher...

This presently manifests in a language which borrows heavily from both the past and the futuristic globalised forms, often creating hybrids which are as confused as the viewer is of their state of being. It has also resulted in architects following an imagery of globalisation without necessarily having the conceptual depth and understanding, often ending up as impoverished imitations.

However, out of this merging of old and new, sometimes works of real value arise, works which are grounded in the present, taking cues from the past, while looking forward to the future. Albeit rare, such spaces offers hope – hope that the architectural profession is not done and dusted yet – that there can be creative solutions for the issues we face today, that we as professionals can rise up above mere commercial considerations.

A positive offshoot has been the improvement in the quality of the academic discourse, where there is an infusion of younger blood and ideas. The stagnation and depreciation in the standards of education in the state has been gradually arrested.  Yet, only the downward spiral has been arrested as of now – there is a lot to be done to grow up and evolve. This realisation that it is high time that the standards of academic discourse has to rise has brought in a gradual change of attitudes, a change of focus, which will only benefit the young minds growing through this system. It is again a crucial period for the architectural education scenario in the state, with plenty of new private colleges being granted permission to start their intakes for the architecture course. A lot of these colleges lack the basic infrastructure and lack educators who are of good calibre, often settling for mediocrity just to get the course up and running. The fact that this situation will adversely impact the minds of the children learning there does not seem to matter for a lot of such institutions. The unforeseen fact is that in a few years, there will be an abundance of half baked professionals graduating from such institutions flooding the architectural scene - graduates who are not at all fit for practising architecture, ultimately dragging the profession even lower. This situation must be addressed urgently by all concerned so that there is a dialogue on the way forward.

Another malady plaguing the architectural scenario in the state is the lack of quality research done, both academically as well as by the professionals in the field. This aversion to research has to be overcome for meaningful solutions to emerge. In this age, research is crucial, for the professors as well as the practitioners and is one way to bridge the chasm between academics and practice.

Thus, architecture in Kerala is in a heightened state of flux, where the opportunity to shape a better built environment clearly exists and is one of the mandates that lies before the profession. This opportunity must be delicately addressed to frame the issues, to open up more meaningful exchanges and to ultimately evolve a relevant architecture vocabulary that addresses the needs and aspirations of the people and to guide them forward as stake holders in shaping up a better future environment.

GATED COMMUNITIES & URBAN GENTRIFICATION

With the opening up of the Indian economy in the 1990s and the neo-liberal economic policies followed thereafter, India has witnessed a steep rise in the fortunes of its middle class. There is increased purchasing power resulting in the middle class being more demanding & vocal. The outlook of the middleclass has changed from one of conservatism & savings to one of aggressiveness and splurging.

One of the direct results of this is that the outlook of the better-off sections of society has changed. They are no longer able to tolerate the realities of the other half, the less privileged half. The progress of technology, rise of the service sector and the changing values have made them less tolerant to sufferings and hardships of life. They want to be insulated from it, becoming more and more enmeshed in a virtual world, addicted to technology and social networks.

The effects of this are reflected in architecture & urbanism too. One of the direct outcomes of this is the rise of ‘Gated Communities’ in most of the larger cities. These are self enclosed spaces, literally separated from the rest of the neighbourhood with high walls and extra security, where along with residential spaces (read apartments) are present all kinds of other amenities like shopping spaces, recreational spaces, swimming pools, healthcare facilities, even kindergarten and schools. There is 24 hour power & water supply with backup present. An army of maids, drivers and service people take care of the maintenance needs of the residents. The result of such spaces is that the inhabitants hardly step outside the gated walls other than for work. They live a life segregated from the rest of the neighbourhood, cut off from them. They do not have to face any of the normal issues and practicalities of living in a city.

One cannot deny that there aren’t many advantages to this concept for the inhabitants. The urban dwellers prefer this sort of communities due to their increased stress on security, the comforts that they provide, the 24hour maintenance and service that are offered. These become important for the middle class family as in most cases, both the parents will be working. The hectic work schedules will leave little time to be bothered by additional responsibilities of running a family and home. So, a lot of them take the easier way out, splurging money so that others will take care of these mundane responsibilities.

A lot of people who come from other cities often are attracted to these communities, as their hardships in coping with an alien city and language are somewhat reduced in these anonymous communities. This along with the fact that there will be people all around of similar background and class provides a certain element of security. For the individual working women too these communities provide a sense of security. Also, most of these communities have societies which take care of the running of the communities. The societies often arrange get togethers where the families can come together for a Sunday getogether or for a fun filled evening. Yet, other than these, the actual interactions among the residents are often very little, and in a lot of cases, the people wouldn’t know even the names of the family living in the next apartment. Yet, people prefer this false sense of community and anonymity. Lifes' are being compartmentalised. Rigidity is becoming the norm.

This aloofness is resulting in the perhaps unknowing creation of gentrification in societies. The communities are literally cut off from the rest of the society surrounding them. They are individual pockets in the urban grain, standing alone. They live in an aloof almost separate world, without having to be exposed to the challenges and cruelties of life.  This often leads to the increase in the class divisions present in society, the inequalities are further aggravated. The impact of this on the thought process and outlook of the people are often subconscious, but very real. Thought processes become rigid, plurality is lost and often empathy is totally unknown, leading to further gentrification of society.

One of the overlooked impacts this has is on the growth and development of children. The kids who grow up in such spaces lead a much protected life, almost in a cocoon. They are shielded away from normal interactions with people from different backgrounds, not exposed to the sights, smells, sounds and narratives of the rest of the society. Often, their major exposure to the outside world is through the television and internet, where the make believe world portrayed is taken by the children to represent real life.  In growing up in such a context, they often are unprepared to face the challenges that life throws up at them, often at a loss even to interact with other sections and accept divergent viewpoints.

Also, these gated communities create unrest and resentment in the people living outside due to the inequalties. The open spaces and parks for children in urban areas may only be found inside these communities, which is inaccessible for the outside people. In some cases, the promoters and developers of such gated communities arm twist public administration officials and even bribe them to getting water connections and power lines. This, while the surrounding areas may not be fortunate enough to have even such facilities, creates feelings of injustice and resentment among the outside people.

Another unwanted offshoot of the gated community phenomenon is that there are different types of gated communities present in urban areas depending upon the earning power and class of people. Right from the ultra high class societies to the average middle class to the wannabes or pretenders... There are gated communities to cater to all the different sections. The net result is that our societies are being more and more fragmented into separate pockets, separate groups, mutually insulated from one another and the rest of the surroundings. One can only view with increasing trepidation this class mentality and stratification. Soon, the days of altercations between different gated communities for resources like power and water supply may not be far off...

'CITY IS GOING TO VILLAGE' - A horrendous hypothesis masquerading as a socially equitable solution

Dear Mr.Gautam Bhatia,

Your article in the Sunday Times of India, dated 2/10/11, looked like one against the unorganised growth and the pathetic state of affairs of our present day cities in India. Your dissection of the anomalies at the heart of the modern city, the lack of infrastructure, the lack of sanitation, the ‘daily wars for water, space in schools & roads’...they all paint a true picture of the ground realities in our cities.

Your analysis on the huge influx of migrants into the cities and the resultant impact on cities being relegated to ‘a modern day trading outpost’ is spot on. As you say, there are no innovative solutions yet as to how to integrate this urban migration into the fabric of our cities. True, there are administrative failures, a ‘lack of will to investigate new solutions. This attitude has left Indian cities imprisoned behind the stranglehold of conventional planning’. These are indeed the present state of affairs in our urban areas, further burdened by the demand and expectations of an ever growing affluent consumerist middle class.

Now, what is the solution to this? How do we overcome this state of affairs? How can we reclaim back our lost space? It is indeed worth examining if there are alternate solutions which can be implemented.

So far, the analysis of causes and ground realities stated are right on in the article. But now comes the confusing part, and I quote: “Today, the need to accommodate the rising numbers is extending the city into multiple corridors between the metros; a new way to include the many villages and small towns along the path. It is the government’s way of taking the city to the village.

Cities designed explicitly for the rural areas is not just a good idea for the poor, but can act as a game changer for the self centered ugliness created in the metros by the middle class”.

Mr.Bhatia, this hypothesis of yours, of taking the cities to the villages is pretty absurd. How will unleashing the unbridled forces of real estate development onto a village landscape help in the betterment of the villages, which in turn will help in reducing migration to the existing cities? It will be architectural & urban genocide. How will developing cities on agricultural land bring about a better state of affairs? How will this bring about a better life for the city dweller or for the farmer?

If you are assuming that merely by creating a city like environment will benefit the villagers, that it will make their lives better, that it will stop them from migrating to cities, then your stand is pretty weak. By exporting a city and its infrastructure into a rural setting, you would be doing more harm than good. In the name of creating infrastructure & liveable spaces, developers & other market players will take over agricultural land (and I assume that they will get land at cheaper rates due to the fact that they are doing a great ‘service’ to the villages), rape it and start erecting multi-storeyed apartments & luxury villas, which would then be marketed & sold at exorbitant prices, as they are set in a ‘pristine unpolluted rural environment’. Do you for one moment, Mr.Bhatia, think that the villagers, the original inhabitants of that place will get possession of such habitats? Will they be able to afford it? How will their social structure & support systems function in this new environment? How will their ways of life be accommodated? What will be the impact on their thoughts, their lives, their families? How will they cope when the cash doled out to them for their land is splurged on drinking by the men and finished? Where will the women and children go?

What will be the impact on the loss of livelihood be on the villagers? How will they be employed? How will agriculture & food production be affected? It will only be logical to assume that in such a scenario, more and more people will turn away from agriculture – they will find alternate employment in the ‘new city’. How will that contribute to the food shortage and malnutrition plaguing the country?

By turning our villages into miniature cities, we would be encouraging the use of more automobiles, more pollution, more eating up of resources – opening the door to all the problems found in our cities today. And my dear Mr.Bhatia, who will pay for all this development? Who will bear the cost of this Utopian proposal?....the government? The government & our public administration is so ineffective that they are unable to properly implement the existing rural welfare, education, health & social welfare schemes, which if properly implemented would have made the village a much better place to live in....So then it would have to be the private sector? As we all know, the private sector is attracted only if there is a great return on investment, lured only by the smell of profits. This then would simply end up as creating cities based upon the same template which would have been used in our present cities to create this present mess. And we would end up destroying our villages and agriculture lands to create the same pattern of monstrous urbanism.

Mr.Bhatia, this hypothesis of yours is simply playing into the hands of developers and real estate players, who have currently almost exhausted the development potential in our present cities and are now turning their greedy eyes onto the villages, so that they can make quick profits in the guise of altruistic motives. It is just like a noble sounding excuse used to fool the common man, to appeal to the moral conscience of the middle class. This article is reflective of the propaganda machine that the corporate media in India is turning into. A lot more was expected from such a senior architect & writer. It would not be asking too much, from someone like you Mr.Bhatia, to properly analyse & think through your hypothesis dispassionately, to evaluate the impact of ideas before proposing them, that too in a national daily. Or it would seem that the propaganda machine has already spread its net far and wide.

The article 'City is going to Village' can be found at -

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-10-02/special-report/30235475_1_slums-dwellers-migration

MEDIA'S ROLE IN ARCHITECTURE & URBANISM

The media is playing a very important role in how urban India perceives what architecture is. They are full of adverts and articles promoting high-rise apartments and swanky new commercial complexes. They are full of images of tall glass & ACP clad structures, innumerable housing projects that are sprouting up at each nook & corner. There is a constant bombardment of visuals in both the print & electronic media.

However, through all this, behind all this, the media is indirectly manipulating public opinion and aspiration by its constant bombardment of visuals and information. Its like, if you want to be called successful, you need to be living in an apartment, one that boasts of a swimming pool. This, regardless of the fact that there may be acute water shortage in urban areas. And to take matters further, one is further enticed that if you own one flat already, you need a second one as an investment option. The projects that are coming up today are also reflecting these unbalanced desires. There are luxury housing projects which boast of lavish golf courses inside, all totally ignoring the amount of water and power required just to maintain such facilities. By constantly bombarding people’s senses, the media is making the people believe what it wants to believe, aspire for what it wants them to aspire so as to maximise their own profits and those of their invisible masters. Gradually, the ability of people to make a choice for themselves about the kind of habitation they want is being carefully manipulated to suit the needs of the developers and real estate players, by a media which is under their payroll.

The effect of this is that an artificial demand is being created, a bubble, which pushes up the prices of land and liveable space in all our urban areas. All the usable land inside our cities is presently more or less used up. The developers have thus already turned to taking over agricultural lands, as was seen in the recent farmer agitations in Greater Noida. The agitations were for obtaining the right price for the agricultural land taken up for real estate development. In the agitation and its subsequent media coverage, we seem to have missed a crucial point totally. The bare truth remains that land which was to be used for agriculture was taken over for building construction. There is not even a question raised over whether this is ecologically feasible, whether this is good for our cities in the long run, whether the modification of the landuses will not give rise to other anomalies? All these questions have been blithely ignored and covered up by the media.

And what of the disruption and displacement caused to the farmers? The issue has been oversimplified as to one over adequate compensation, when other far graver issues like the loss of livelihood of the farmers, displacement and resettlement of these farmers, impact on their lifestyle, loss of social structure etc, have been pushed to the background or worse still, haven’t even been raised at all. By paying direct compensation (which goes to the men in the family), it further puts the women folk at a huge disadvantage. The liquid cash in hand is blown up on alcohol and unwanted luxuries without thinking about the future, often leading to families ending up literally on the road....why arent the media with their experts unable to see this? Is it because they do not want to see?

Similarly, the aspiration for the concrete box is one of the media’s creations. The subsequent loss of vernacular architectural forms due to blind usage of concrete is largely as a result of the misinformation campaign in the media. Instead of turning to local resources and building materials, the media celebrates foreign imported materials which are ill suited to our climate and context. ‘Expert’ opinions are given by ill-informed experts, which are then vociferously propagated and endorsed by the media establishment, leading to the kind of non-architecture that we are witnessing in our urban spaces. The lack of urban infrastructure, the loss of personal space, the lack of sanitation etc are issues which do not interest the mainstream media today, unless there is the element of sensationalism to it.

 The media needs to play a far more proactive role to check the overexploitation of resources and to expose the mechanism of greed that has beset our real estate sector today. The media also needs to remember that in a democracy like ours, the media has a very important role in presenting a balanced picture to the citizens so that they can make an informed choice, to act as a check for unbridled greed. The kind of brainwashing and propaganda that the media is presently carrying out very subtely needs to be stopped. By reducing the people’s faculty of thought, by controlling it, by manipulating it to suit its own agenda, the media is doing a great disservice to the country.

THE UNSEEN FACE OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY IN INDIA

With a booming economy and increased purchasing power, the demand for housing, infrastructure & allied services in our urban areas has increase manifold. The real estate & construction sector is in overdrive to cater to this increased demand and consequently, opportunity. Housing & infrastructure projects are sprouting up all over our cityscapes. Multi-storeyed buildings, rising up to the skies, are being readied to meet the demand of the urban consumers, large scale road projects and flyovers are changing the face of our cities. We only see these concrete & steel structures rising up at a frenetic pace. But behind this frenzied activity, there is an army of unseen labourers, who toil away to convert these paper dreams into reality.

They are the faceless millions who form a behind the scenes economy, who no one likes to talk about or acknowledge. They are the countless numbers who have left behind their villages & agricultural backgrounds in search of a more stable and satisfying life. Yet, on reaching the cities, they are taken en mass to construction sites, where they toil away for over 12 to 14 hours per day in extremely demanding work environments, with scant regard to their safety and needs. Most of the companies engaged in the construction industry, apart from the large well established companies, do not follow basic safety norms, neither do they pay attention to the welfare of the labourers, often exploiting them to maximise profits.

These labourers are most often put up in shabbily erected labour colonies, where they are crammed into minimal spaces, often tin covered shelters, which offer scant protection to the baking heat in the summer nor against the water from the rains or the bitter cold. They are devoid of basic necessities & services, with often rudimentary unhygienic sanitary conditions present in the so called accommodations. The impacts of these demanding environments are especially felt on families. Most often, the women are also employed along with their men in construction sites, just to make ends meet. This often places them in a sticky situation, especially when it comes to taking care of their children and infants. The women are forced to take the toddlers along with them to the construction sites, where the kids grow up amongst the gravel, dust, machineries & noises. Most often, the situation becomes dangerous and accidents are not unheard off. However, the greater impact & loss is that these kids do not get the opportunity to go to a school, as theirs’ is a migrant life, moving from one construction site to another.

This migrant population affects the carrying capacity of our urban areas a lot. We are all aware of the pathetic flight of the construction labourers in places like Dubai during the construction boom. The situation in a place like India is slightly different, as the labourers coming into the cities lead to large scale urbanisation and mainly due to the fact that, unlike Dubai where the workers return to their native countries after the work, here, the workers become a permanent part of the city, often settling down in slums and other unorganised settlements. The urban areas are thus forever expanding, bursting at its seams, though not due to the influx of the workers alone. The lack of planning is highly evident as the sprawl keeps on increasing. The overall effect of this is a loss in quality of liveable spaces, more strain on resources and ultimately the quality of urban life.

The efforts to regulate the construction industry have led to an increased awareness of Environment, Health & Safety issues regarding the workers. Yet, in spite of this, at the ground level, the situation hasn’t improved a lot. There are rules for giving Provident fund and insurance to the workers, as stipulated by the government, and also minimum wages for the labourers. However, these most often remain on paper and are not implemented. Even if they are followed by the companies, the benefits to the workers are not paid by the contractors and middlemen who employ the workers at site. The workers thus stand to lose. With regards to accidents in the construction sites, the situation is even worse. Even though insurance exists in name, in the event of any accident, the worker is left to fend for himself. He may be taken to the hospital but the costs may not be borne by the employers. The indirect effect on the worker due to loss of income during the hospitalisation and recovery periods is even more unbearable and damaging.

It is thus high time that we paid increased attention to the issues surrounding the labourers in the construction industry. As a start, a better implementation and compliance of policies & regulations which are already framed will go a long way in addressing some major concerns. Simultaneously, we need to analyse the impact on urbanisation and the effects on our urban spaces, which will help us in arriving at more wholistic solutions which are suited to our context. We need to ensure that we start gradually moving towards a more organised construction sector, which will ensure sustainable and equitable growth for everyone. Merely turning a blind eye towards the ground realities and procrastination will only further compound the problems.

THE WRONG KIND OF 'GREEN'

Today, 'Green' has become a fashion statement of sorts. People talk about green buildings without having any real idea what true sustainability is. To a large extent, the LEED green rating system for buildings is very misleading. True it has got its benefits, but the loopholes are many. What is the point of a system where almost all conventional building materials are eligible for green points, thereby ending up as a fancy tag instead of acheiving real change?

The word 'Green' is being routinely abused to such an extent that it is almost a justification. If we are to let this Green movement carry on like this, the issues related to true sustainability will be lost behind all the din.

‘Green is a fashion trend that has been carefully created – a brand image that is deliberately created to exploit & make profits. It is an eyewash – a screen which has been packaged in such a way as to deceive. Products & materials created by large MNCs & corporations have been repackaged & dressed as green, even though their net effect on the environment is negative. It is a kind of soul-balm to deceive our consciousness that what we are doing, though harmful to nature, is being professed as less harmful, which is even certified by organisations & governments.

‘You can use a heat reflective glass with a high ‘U’ value, which will earn you more points’ – we are totally missing the point that the glass will necessitate the usage of air-conditioners, leading to increase in consumption of electricity. Also, we conveniently forget about the amount of energy required to manufacture & transport these so called energy-efficient glasses.

Thus, ‘Green’ has become a marketing gimmick, with the sole aim of increasing the profits of vested interests. Every year Green Building conferences are held in 5star hotels & international convention centres, inviting participants & experts who jet down from different cities to give their ‘expert’ views. They fly, travel in air-conditioned cars, stay in 5 star hotels, drink distilled water and then profess how the environment needs saving. Yet, nobody seems to mind this hypocritical state of affairs. Everyone is happy because money is flowing into their pockets.

‘Green’ has been raped so much that almost all products, irrespective of their energy efficiency and impact on environment, are all labelled ‘Green’. What is more, ignorant clients and people are buying into this madness, trying to justify their guilt consciousness with a ‘Green’ label.

All the while, the market lobbies controlling these products are getting richer and richer, without giving scant regard to the impact of their actions.

The MNCs, due to their aggressive marketing campaigns have created a smoke screen – one which misleads the non-technical people. There are people who due to their lack of technical knowledge, believe that they are investing money so as to be really sustainable, while in effect, they are merely taken for a ride and made to spend more for technologies which are non-sustainable and those which do not contribute in a positive manner to the planet, environment, cultures or people.

Buildings are given the ‘Green’ label, even when they use enormous amounts of reinforcement to structurally hold up the fancy forms and designs, even when during the construction cycle, there is unimaginable wastage of reinforcement, even upto 30%, leading to an enormous impact on the sustainability of the project.

It is high time that we focus back from Green and realign ourselves to real sustainability. Or else, in the greed of the present, we will leave behind a heavy legacy on our future generations.