�

�

�

�

�

�

�������������

���

����� ����� ����� ���������

����������

When some freak conversations, numerous mud-slinging at the syllabus-creators,

and a sudden strong urge to get down to real work surface,things like 'Point'

happen. Everyday, we complain and crib about not feeling inspired to design, and

why, even live happily! For once, we stopped our whiny banter and decided to

DO something about it than wait and watch.

Point, happened.

We are not yet clear what exactly we are all about. We have begun as an

architecture magazine, where interested students can contribute articles and

opinions on various issues relating to the field. We have a snoop on our roll calls,

so mind you- no copy pasting from the wikis and the like! So like we said, we

publish your original meritorious thoughts, that we feel, should be given a little

loudspeaker to prove its power.

We are ourselves a fledgling-ezinetter(ezine blended mid-way with a newsletter).

So we pay not! We believe someday, when we will make it big as a source of

inspiration to many students, you would be ranked as the initial few contributors.

Then, this shall really mean something!

For now, we ask you for your time- to sit and read through this ezinetter that we

so painstakingly compiled and designed for you for free; and to bite those pencil-

ends and scribble on some of those brainwaves your grey cells transmitted.

Write, type, hand-it-in-person: whatever it is, take this 'Point' as your own and

contribute.

Well,somewhere we needed to begin this and now that we've run you through the

basics, somewhere we have to end. So be it, at this 'point'.

Point was born out of confusion and anxiety, but the final outcome has given

us a better outlook and perspective on things other than architecture. The

voices heard would be that of students, we would once in a while have

'actual' architects providing us with their learnings(hopefully). So keep them

coming, that's when we'll be able to sustain something like this.

We hope that, (in atleast some small way) we inspire you, provide you with

tidbits of information, you know of or may not know of, widen your horizon on

things architectural, so that you actually appreciate it, and not think of it as

just any other article written by an amateur. So yeah..that's it, I guess.

Happy reading!

From

the

Creators' d

esk...

SANDHYA RAMACHANDRAN~ Creator

ARVIND CAULAGI~ Co-Creator

1

Table of Contents

2

FROM THE CREATORS' DESK........1

TABLE OF CONTENTS..............2

EZINETTER......................3

VIEWPOINT......................4

COVER STORY....................6

OPINION........................8

OFFBEAT.......................10

THOUGHTS......................12

LOOKOUT!......................14

MUSINGS.......................16

What in the world is an ezinetter?!

Wanna make your Point.?

Contribute articles- personal accounts of what

inspired/inspires you to think! What triggers off those gray

cells to function? Be original- we value that. Those that cut-

paste, shall meet their end in our trash folders or worse-

spam cans!

Mail us good writing and photographs about any form of design,

art or creation. Point our mistakes, send in your suggestions.

We value you!

Whatever of the above you choose to do, send them to:

postthepoint@gmail.com

CATCH US ONLINE AND INTERACT WITH US AT:

http://www.pointonline.wordpress.com

* WANNABE REASON

An ezinetter sounds absolutely whacky, doesn't it? Well, that

is why, 'Point.' is an ezinetter.

* SENSIBLE REASON

The word best describes what we are dishing out- an ezine cum

newsletter. An ezine because it is restricted to the publishing

cheapness of the online media; a newsleter because it is

compact in size and deals with one basic idea for one set of

people- to inspire the students of architecture.

And when both the words flow in together, a beautiful chemical

reaction occurs...the elements congeal...giving us the

compounded form we stuck to- ezinetter!

2 3

Imagine the present world as a new business and you re-

interviewing professionals you think are necessary to start it off

and keep it running smoothly.

A politician is breezed through immediately without much of an

interview…an actor is welcomed with garlands and

statuettes….you need your engineers, your doctors, your scientists,

your journalists…you wont be able to keep the lawyers out; they’ll

probably sue thier way in….but a large part of the professional

world still see no dire need for the architect.

Many people I’ve come across think they can do our jobs for us

and do it better. Everyone has an opinion when it comes to

architecture because everyone is enclosed, surrounded and in daily

interaction with the products of our profession.

You can’t imagine a doctor being interrupted by his patient/client

mid surgery, asking to take over and watching, as he confuses the

bowel for the brain- yet that’s a constant threat in our line of work.

I’m in my final year of architecture, about to enter the real world,

and the one predominant thought in my head has expressed itself

in the title of this article…what is my place in the professional

world? Am I relevant?

If I consider my work experience in the seventh semester as a sort

of trailer, giving me an idea of things to come, I get a varied look

into the different kinds of architects out there, and the different

aspects to the profession.

Taking just my firm for instance, there were the head architects-

the ‘god like’ figures, with the enviable pedigrees - the one’s

completely in charge of the act of creating; the big thinkers-the

ones who shape spaces and make an impact on society…(the

people we either want to be, or despise for being disregarded by).

Then there were the oblivious architects-who practiced

architecture as a sort of chore they had to get over. They churned

out products that have worked in previous cases without any

thought to context or sensitivity, and then proceeded to give their

role no further thought….

4

AHALADINI SRIDHARANThe author is presently in her final year of architecturalstudies. She loves books, doodling and travel. Shethinks sarcasm is a highly underutilized trait in humansand is currently preaching it by practice!

Photograph: Theatre complex at Dubai, Sandhya Ramachandran

There were also the architects perennially cast in the

role of underdog or doormat. These are the architects

who look up to the head architects to such an extent

that they lose all sense of self to the ideal they had in

their youth. They become just faithful pets

reproducing their master’s work, waiting for a treat or

a pat on the head…...

Granted this is a gross generalization seen from the

eyes of a lowly trainee. (Who features somewhere

below the office boy in office hierarchy). But it still

makes me feel the need to define at least on paper

what kind of role I want to play in the world.

I think every student of architecture should do the

same before they enter the professional world- define

for themselves, what kind of practice they want to

have, what kind of architect they want to be, and the

impact they want to make.

Whether they want to practice, what Hafeez

contractor once described, as a ‘2 ½” thick aesthetic’

(referring to the fact that all the variety demanded by

the market today, can be achieved through generic

plans, clothed in facades, which vary only in the

treatment of windows) or whether they want to

actualize their own genius and create spaces- unique,

relevant, contextual and inspired.

Only the architect who practices the latter can prove

to the world again and again, the relevance and role

of the architect, in this professional world and put to

rest all doubts, about the need of an architect.

In the end, we should ensure that our ideals and ethics

are protected and guarded against hostile parties,

namely, the outside world, and we never lose our

enthusiasm to learn with an open mind; to ensure that

we create spaces, that in the words of Prof Doshi,

make people look around and say, “This place I like,

because when I come here, I feel very happy and

celebrate my life”.

5

A

N

A

R

C

H

I

T

E

C

T'

S

P

L

A

C

E

I

N

T

H

E

P

R

O

F

E

S

S

I

O

N

A

L

W

O

R

L

D”

VIEWPOINT

COVER STORY

RESONANT REFLECTIONS...

COVER STORY

6

Pictures around CEPT campus by Arvind

Caulagi. Other participants in the Kurula

Varkey Design Forum were Ahaladini

Sridharan, Nanditha Gopalakrishnan and

Poornima Balakrishnan.

CEPT introduced a new course called The

Masters Programme in Arts and

Communication last year. It is a practice-

based two-year course in arts, design and

communication which includes social

science perspectives. Studio based

explorations forms the central focus of the

programme and is conducted and facilitated

by senior practitioners from the fields of art,

design, film making, performing arts and

related disciplines. Integrated with studio

practice are theoretical inputs from experts

in the social sciences and humanities along

with field studies and internship

opportunities. This course has been

developed for students with a background

in art and design, and for mid-career artists

and designers who seek a future as

professional artists, advertising and media

professionals, museum and art curators,

designers, photographers, film makers and

animators.

For more information: Check out the CEPT

website:

http://cept.ac.in/main.php?pageid=45&LPO

=1&RPO=4&SLPO=45

Masters in Arts andCommunicationprogrammeS

o you've almost given in to the mundane ways of your life.

There’s nothing that inspires you and you just think

mechanically. And then life throws an opportunity at you, all

unawares. In this case, it was design forum a couple of us 10th

semester students (four to be precise) attended, which has

broadened our perspectives on architecture, and several things,

which otherwise went un-noticed.

The yearly Kurula Varkey Design forum (an initiative by School

of Architecture, CEPT), gives an opportunity to the students of

Architecture (passed out) to display and explain their design

thesis. While not making it boring, the forum is quite

interestingly programmed, with discussions, talks, seminars and

break-out sessions, held within the beautiful CEPT campus and

other landmarks of the city like IIM, L.D Institute of Indology

etc. This with a group of panelists, mostly architects, ranging

from B.V Doshi to artist Kaushik Mukhopadhyay, from Sri

Lankan architect Hirante Welandwe to French-Indian Architect

Stephen Paumier, to the ever inspiring Rupali Gupte, provided

us with so much fodder to chew upon, that it left us wanting for

more.

While a few of the designs were stale, like an ecoscraper, the

airport, where the program was just designed to fit in the

requirements, there were several interesting ones, like a

bathhouse in Ahmedabad, home for the old aged (called blurring

boundaries), Museum for a Graphite mine in Sri Lanka.....where

we could actually see how the designs evolved taking into

consideration several factors like context, the existing fabric,

which we almost seem to have neglected in our designs.

On a 'preachy' note, we need to start giving importance to the

whole process of design, question the decisions we make, so

that our solutions are at least holistic, rather than just designing

a box and washing our hands off it.

There are several things I (we) could talk about, but that would

just be more like spoon feeding. Here’s hoping that we've

triggered off something in your minds to think about.

Oh, and if you still haven’t visited the school of architecture at

CEPT, please do...you'll realize what a 'school' of architecture is

and what a design studio actually looks like!!!

Link: http://kvdforum.blogspot.com/

ARVIND CAULAGIThe author is a final year student ofArchitecture from Hindustan College ofEngineering who loves films, photography andart and is presently impatient about making hisown movie.

7

8

KARTIK GOESGREEN

OPINION

The GREEN

BUILDING

MOVEMENT has

gradually gained

ground in me. When there are

no differences in the external

appearances and functions of

both the conventional and the

green buildings, when they are

environmental friendly, they

have lower operational costs;

they increase worker

performance, productivity and

comfort level of the occupants-

then why not make them green?

Green is just not a color and not

about planting trees alone; it’s

also about how well a building

uses its resources, reducing the

impact on the environment,

using maximum daylight and

ventilation with proper material

efficiency.

When the Indian infrastructure

industry is growing at a rate

which is twice the world’s

average, we should all think and

build green buildings so that we

save and utilise our energy and

water resources properly today,

for a better India tomorrow.

Buildings account for nearly

30% of energy consumption in

India. By orienting and

designing buildings in such a

way, ensuring maximum

utilisation of natural air and

sunlight, we can make them

green, minimising the electricity

consumption. Thus a green

building will reduce the load on

our water reservoirs and

electricity sub stations.

With optimal designing and

without compromising on

performance, by making

buildings green we can increase

the efficiency with which

buildings use energy , water

and material resources

simultaneously reducing the

impact on environment and

human health.

Climate responsive architectural

design, modern technology and

certain green features can be

effectively used to achieve,

what is called a green building.

Thus any building starting from

houses to commercial or

industrial should be made green

GOING GREENSAVES...> Energy

> Water

> Material resources

> Occupants from

health hazards

> From environmental

hazards

causing less harm to

the environment,

good occupant health

and safety, increase

in worker

productivity and

minimising the load

on our resources.

On a personal note I

find green buildings

appealing because

there is very less

wastage of

everything. Even

materials treated as

waste by some

companies are

recycled and reused

to reduce (the three

important R’s in a

green building) the

impact on the

environment.

Take for example the

Sohrabji Godrej

Green Business

Centre, Hyderabad-

tiles used for

aesthetic purposes in

the columns are

actually from the

waste-lot of a tile

company. Even the

furniture used in the

cafeteria of the

building is recycled

and reused.

I find green

buildings more

appealing, as

irrespective of type

of the building and

its shape-small or

big, it can be made

green; thus doing

good to the

environment and in

turn saving our

resources. Hence I

feel when green

buildings have all

goods and added

advantages over the

standard buildings.

Why make a

conventional

building anymore?

Why not make all of

them green

buildings?

THINK GREEN.BUILD GREEN.

9

The Green BusinessCentre -- jointlypromoted by theConfederation of IndianIndustry, PirojshaGodrej Foundation, theAndhra Pradeshgovernment and theUSAID -- is the onlybuilding in the worldto be awarded the'platinum rating' underthe LEED rating systemof the US GreenBuilding Council,making it 'the greenestbuilding in the world.'

DID YOUKNOW?!?

KARTIK CHANDAKThe author is a final year Architecture student fromHindustan College of Engineering and loves cricket,music, movies and is currently obsessed with greenbuildings.

The long arcaded corridors stretched like life and led the

plot along with it. The waiting, the leaving, the twist, the

realization….it all happened there. Parallel cinema.

The huge mansion sulked as she left. It stood stubborn

with pride to equal hers and did not call back. Even

though she took a long last glance. Drama.

It gave him the creeps, just to look at it. With its ancient

pillars, foreboding massiveness. Its appearance smirked

the fact that it did not hide the existence of the

paranormal. Horror.

It helped the story skip years and thrives in its ahead-of-

its-time montage. Sleek, un-interrupting,

ultramodern…it propels the protagonists providing its

imaginative backdrop. Futuristic.

It gave shadows to lurk. It gave mazes to chase. It gave

lairs to rule. Thriller/noire.

Architecture emotes. Architecture is an expression of the

creative, and cinema steps forward to prove it. It uses

architecture as a visually potent protagonist and weaves its

story through it. Be it the loud villainous lair, the happy

home or the sci-fi dueling

arenas-architecture lends you a hand in recognizing and

relating. It decides the era, makes it timeless, it sets the

mood and it tells you the state of the protagonist. At its

most self-obsessed state, it has the story told about itself.

The plot begins moves and ends in it.

Cinema and architecture have been faithful companions,

each complementing the other-enhancing, creating and

helping imagine so subtly that architecture sometimes

comes out, sits right next to the audience and steers your

mind to where the story points.

ARCHITECTURE

EMOTES

10

ANOODHA.S.KUNNATHThe author is a final year architecture student fromthe Hindustan College of Engineering. Her firstpriorities include- movies, writing and art. Food andsleep however come a close second!

11

Photographs: Various sources on the Internet

So many of them say that Architecture, is a visual art. In myterms it is definitely not…if it is a visual art…you can evenexperience Tajmahal in a photograph…. you don’t need toexperience it in person… but both have a difference… definitely…

There are 5 senses that are involved in experiencingarchitecture….

Vision… Eyes… through which the play of light isexperienced…. i.e., forms…

Light is one of the major aspects in architecture…. LikeLouis I Khan says…

“A building begins with light and ends with shadows”

Touch… the physical experience of the surfaces….

Hearing… Ears… Through which one can hear the spaces…the air hitting the surfaces… makes a constant rhythm in thebuilding…

If there’s no air hitting… you can hear silence...

Smell… Nose… Through which you can feel the aura of thespace

ANART

INVOLVINGTHE

FIVE SENSES...

stylewhackyweirdsimpleelegant

12

13

he fifth and the most important sense…is the subconscious eye or the third eye…through which we actually absorb a building…You will be able to see the virtual forms ordimensions in architecture only through this sense…

Virtual dimensions or forms in architecture are perceived through preconceived forms andassociated images in the visual remains.

Even though your physical vision forgets to register what it sees, it’s your subconscious eye,which enrolls it in the form of patterns and it, will be saved into the registry!

Music is an experience, which uses one sense called hearing… and if music can createmoods… why cant architecture?!

Dance is an art form, which requires the sense called vision… it can hold yourconcentration… Why cant architecture?!

Drama is an art form, which is experienced by two senses-vision, and hearing… it can takeyou to some other world! Why cant architecture?!

Unlike other art forms, which involves the experience of one or two senses, architecture asan art form that needs so many senses to take part in experiencing it…that makesarchitecture one of the greatest and finest forms of art. So let’s all first understand theessence of architecture and practice this great form of art with the greatest passion!

TARCHITECTURE see

feel

hearabsorb

G.K.MANICKAVELThe author loves Tamil poetry, art and music and is a final year architecture

student from Hindustan College of Engineering. He is considered one of'The Photoshop Trinity' in the final year circuit of his college.

THE BHARATA KALA

KOOTHAM

14

LAKSHETRA

AMBALAM

went to Kalakshetra in the past week. They presented a dance-

drama, 'Andal Charithram' as a part of the 'Rukmani Devi Birthday

Celebrations', at The Bharata Kalakshetra Auditorium.

There were quite a lot of foreigners clad in silk sarees and with

bindis, bangles, malligai-poo(jasmine flowers).I didn't expect so

many people to turn up for the performance.I had got the cheapest

ticket possible and was quite happy that I got to sit right in front of

the stage, although on the floor.

The auditorium was not one of those air conditioned halls. It was

built in the traditional Kerala-style architecture, with timber, like the

Koothambalam. It was overwhelmingly beautiful and had so much

grace.

I believe architecture is a work of art that breathes. Architecture and

space influence human emotions. Even before the performance

started, I could feel the devotional ambience that existed in the

auditorium - the dim lights, Kuthu-velakku, tiraseela(curtain)

depicting girls in a garden, the high-ceiling with artful assembly of

timber frames, wooden brackets, the earthy colors, floor mats and

bamboo chairs.

I had two-and-a-half an hour of good music, dance, expressions and

the divinity of the space. I came home having felt the divine.

AUDITORIUMJIBI.J.BASCO

The author is currently in her final year of Architectural Studies in HindustanCollege of Engineering, Padur. She loves movies,dolphins, pigs and all kinds of

animals(every species possible except lizards) and anything that makes her gape andgo "wow

"...my intention was that the dance, now abolished inthe temple should create the temple atmosphere on thestage..."

- RUKMINI DEVI

Measuring 40'x40', the

auditorium can seat 750.

50 can be

accommodated on the

floor directly in front of

the stage. There are 428

chairs in the octagonal

well of the theatre, 168

chairs on the peripheral

veranda, and 104 in

galleries in the balcony.

Dressing rooms are

available for artists, on

the ground floor.

The Koothambalam -

Bharata Kalakshetra

Auditorium is equipped

with state-of-the-art

lighting and sound

systems.

Source: Kalakshetra

website:http://www.kala

kshetra.in

TECHNICALSPECIFICATIONS

Photo(L): Joel Suganth's Flickr Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joellazarus/3080732839

15

City skyline looming large,

Skyscrapers, huts, shops, garage.

The humans-Creator's wonderful creations,

Shaping the world in their own fashion.

"We make better architects," the man declares,

"Men build more, look around and stare.

How many men have stormed the fields,

Equipped with creativity and greatly skilled."

"The Falling Waters, Taj Mahal, Opera House,

Men have created all, you cannot oppose.

It is a man, who can take the pressures,

That this very demanding field offers."

"Women are coming up, no doubt,

But how many of their works does the world shout about?

Men have physical strength, the stamina, the energy,

To work long hours, to help construct, to oversee."

"Be it classical, modern, digital,

All our works, do, immediately sell.

Men rule the world in about every lane,

Women, leave the fight, be sane!"

"Life's challenges are fast and furious,

Design problems are draining and tedious.

Your tender hands can take them not,

In this struggle, your mind shall rot."

"Hmph! Rubbish!" the woman declares,

"Women are better architects, because they care,

Not only for function and aesthetics alone,

But the soul of the building that makes it an office-home!"

"They think, they react, they create, they express,

Much better than men, to truly confess.

Their buildings have character that only a woman can lend,

You see life in every kink, every curve and bend."

"Worldly pressures are many, agreed,

But housewifely ones are worse indeed!

So better are we off, showing ability,

In buildings, giving vent to creativity."

SANDHYA RAMACHANDRANThe author is a final year architecture student from HindustanCollege of Engineering. She writes erratically, reads when thefeeling seizes her and wishes to wander ‘where the voice of thewind’ calls her.

BAT16

"Long have you men folk, suppressed, oppressed,

Left us women 'behind in time' and depressed.

Now we shall break free and show the world,

Our imagination, into our designs, we shall mould."

"Men are good, women are better,

We are the 'in-kind', the trend setter!"

I listened to them both with equal interest,

Wanted to declare 'my kind' was the best.

But truth smiled and stopped temptation,

And made me do one small confession.

That architecture is not about WHO builds but WHAT is built,

Neither toward man, nor woman, shall the favour tilt.

Be it man, be it woman,

It is just about life and creation.

Forming structures, shaping dreams,

To provide spaces to live, rest and scream.

Provide life with a platform to stage its play,

To see the see and say the say!

To laugh, to breathe, to work, to cry,

To think, to link, to fight, to deny.

You mould, inch by inch, your own 'little world',

Your world is your own, no matter who did mould,

Till life seems to flow from pillar to post,

Till comfort and shelter rule the roost,

Till you can find your peace and calm in there,

Till you can love the space and lean to care,

Till it can protect you and inspire till it stands,

It doesn't count if it had a man or woman's hands!

Architecture is an eternal quest in creation,

An attempt to help live life in a better fashion.

To make every moment treasured within walls,

Walls of your house and walls of your heart.

To inspire, to help, to make you experience,

The myriad forms of this life's performance.

And after you- to tell your tale,

To make progeny remember your fame.

No matter WHO builds, no matter if man or woman,

Architecture is all about giving a soul to creation.

Picture(L): A Courtier in Akbar's Durbar, Moghul Miniature Painting

Picture(R): Woman Lost in Thought, Painting by Raja Ravi Varma

ATTLE IN BRICKMUSINGS...

CREDITS:

Conception, Layout and Design: Sandhya Ramachandran

Cover Design and photograph: Arvind Caulagi

Point. Logo design: Arvind Caulagi

Photographs: Various sources on the internet

Additional Photographs: Sandhya Ramachandran

Creator: Sandhya Ramachandran

Co-Creator: Arvind Caulagi

Special Thanks to: Students of Final Year B.Arch, Hindustan College of Architecture(Batc 2004-2009) for their

overwhelming response, support and continuous encouragement!

Point. is a non-profit ezinetter conceived and created to bring in some inspiration to students and give them

some decibels to scream-out-loud! It is currently devised as a fortnightly ezinetter that is circulated through e-

mail to as many students of architecture as possible.

The copyright of the work published within, are held by the respective creators. The ezinetter 'Point.' is owned

by the 'Toote Pencil Incorporated' - an unregistered, non-money making, un-business 'collaboration', jointly

owned by Sandhya Ramachandran and Arvind Caulagi.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India

License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/in/ or send a

letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.

| postthepoint@gmail.com | http://www.pointonline.wordpress.com |