World School of Planning & Architecture Newsletter Vol. 1, April 2017
2 PLANNING & ARCHITECTURE 'REMEMBERING JOSEPH ALLEN STEIN' - Film Screening and Panel Discussion Joseph Allen Stein was an American architect who practiced in India from 1952 till 2001, and who is known for his iconic buildings, primarily in Lodi Estate - the IIC, the IHS, WWF and Unicef buildings, Lalit Kala Academy, Australian high Commission, American School and many more. He was awarded Padamshri for his contribution to Indian architecture. On his 15th death anniversary, WSPA planned the event "Remembering Joseph Allen Stein" which included screening of a lm followed by a panel discussion with eminent Architects who had been his apprentices and prominent users of his buildings. The event took place at Gulmohar Hall, India Habitat Centre on 27th October 2016. Prof. Shaleen Sharma, Dean WSPA, had an opportunity to record (on lm) his conversations with Mr. Stein just before he breathed his last in October 2001. These conversations therefore became the only lm documentation of Stein's ideas on design and architecture. In the year 2001 these conversations were edited and compiled in the form of a documentary titled "Garden of the Heart". "Stein s approach through design has never been around conquest of space, but around development of the environmental and social relationship ". Ar. Shaleen Sharma is the writer and director of the lm "Garden of the Heart". He is a professor at WSPA and was the moderator of the event. "Residence of the High Commissioner sits very gently in the garden. Connection to the environment is done by providing big windows and doors ". Ms Harinder Sidhu is the current Australian High Commissioner to India and is a resident of the residence designed by JA Stein for Australian High Commission. One great thing about Mr. Stein was his willingness to learn despite being such a major force in the eld of Architecture". Dr. Prem Jain worked with Mr. Stein from 1971-80 as his Chief MEP engineer. He worked on design of IIC expansion, Ford Foundation & UNICEF (WWF) buildings on Lodhi Road, Zakir Hussain Memorial in Okhla, Escorts Factory Building in Faridabad, Expansion of Triveni Kala Sangam in New Delhi, Dr. Jain is Vice Chairman on the Board of Triveni Kala Sangam. "He always wanted to nd the lighter and light in whatever he did and this idea of gentleness is also a fundamental belief. It's a translation of himself ". Ashok B Lall studied architecture and ne arts at the University of Cambridge, UK and then undertook further study at the Architectural Association, London, including the Department of Tropical Studies. He worked in Mr. Stein's of ce as an apprentice in the late Seventies. "Mr. Stein s design is not just elegant, ef cient and economical, it is also very much a response to the geographical and Cultural context of the place ". Ar. Snehanshu Mukherjee graduated from SPA in 1982 and joined Mr. Stein's of ce soon after. He worked as an apprentice from 1982 to 1984 on Escorts Factories and Escorts Scienti c Research & Development Centre.
PLANNING & ARCHITECTURE 3 MEHRAULI - AN URBAN VILLAGE Contextual Study Trip The students visited Mehrauli to study this urban village where tradition and modernity coexists. The inferences drawn by the students brought forth various layers of the complex fabric of the place. T h e s t u d y a l s o i n c l u d e d understanding of various styles of Stone Masonry in the monuments. Mehrauli was originally known as 'Mihirawali' that means 'The Home of Mihir'. It was founded and named after King Mihir Bhoja of the Gurjara-Pratihara Dynasty and is situated in the outskirts of Delhi. Mehrauli is a neighbourhood in the South West district of Delhi in India. To its north lies Hauz Khas. Vasant K u n j l i e s t o i t s W e s t a n d Tughlakabad to its south. Mehrauli is one of the seven ancient cities that make up the present state of Delhi.
4 PLANNING & ARCHITECTURE MCLEODGANJ, Dharamsala (Himachal Pradesh) Contextual Study Trip McLeod Ganj is a suburb of Dharamshala in Kangra District of Himachal Pradesh, India. It is known as "Little Lhasa" or "Dhasa" because of its large population of Tibetans. It is just 6 kms from Dharamshala, which is recently declared as 2nd capital of Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Study of Mcleodganj was the rst exercise done under Urban Morphology. The aim was to study the spatial structure and character of the town by examining the patterns of its component parts and the process of its development. The study of physical form focused on street pattern, plot pattern and building pattern that collectively forms the urban grain of Mcleodganj. Detail study of sections was done to understand how hilly terrain organizes and shapes the urban fabric.
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6 PLANNING & ARCHITECTURE INTRODUCTION TO MATERIALS Brick Even A Brick Wants To Be Something. Louis Kahn Bricks were introduced to the students of 2nd semester. Theory and practical sessions were conducted using miniature bricks. After understanding the nature of brick and its various bonds, the students explored forms using real bricks. The results were proli c. Wood Wood is a common material used in our built structures. Wood h a s d i s t i n c t characteristics and structural qualities. Students witnessed the transformation of a w o o d e n l o g t o a nished door at DS DOORS factory in Badarpur. Importance of seasoning to the precision of joinery work was explained through this study trip.
PLANNING & ARCHITECTURE 7 SEMINARS AT WSPA PROF. A.G.K. MENON Prof. Menon is a Member of the Advisory Board of World School of Planning and Architecture. He undertook the orientation program for students on 4th August 2016. H e g a v e a l e c t u r e o n "Introduction to Architecture and Urbanism" and discussed architectural scenario worldwide. He introduced the problems in the eld of architecture like emerging slums and an architect's duty towards such issues. MR. DEEPAK ARORA Mr. Arora is CEO of Timber Corporation. He visited college on 15th September 2016 and introduced wood as a building material to the students. He discussed the changing commercial & design requirements of today. H e t a l k e d o n t h e manufacturing process & application of a few wooden products in detail. PROF. TAPAN CHAKRABORTY Prof. Tapan is former Dean of Sushant School of Art & Architecture. He visited the college on 15th November 2 0 1 6. H e g a v e a n introduction to Architecture a n d t a l k e d a b o u t h i s experiences in the eld. He talked about Mehrauli in terms of its emergence and changing facets. Students shared their view of Mehrauli and discussed the issues related to Heritage. DR. ANVITA ARORA Dr. Arora is the CEO and MD of Innovative Transport Solutions. She visited the college on 29th November 2 0 1 6 f o r a l e c t u r e o n "Designing a Better Future". She talked about the failure of urbanization- environmental, economic & social impacts. Lecture explained how bad systems design was responsible for the failures and what is our responsibility as designers to make our cities better.
8 PLANNING & ARCHITECTURE ABOUT US The eld of Architecture is ever evolving and so is Architectural education. W i t h e v e r - g r o w i n g demand for buildings for commercial, institutional or educational purpose, Architecture is playing a very important role in s h a p i n g a n d t r a n s - forming society. With the boundaries of urbanism expanding, the role of an architect stands to be m o r e a n d m o r e important. WSPA started in August 2016, is dedicated to imparting architectural education that is rooted in understanding the CONTEXT. We believe that quality of life cannot be solely equated with infrastructure but must consider the culture and environment. From the outset, it has been a central aim of WSPA to derive design s o l u t i o n / s t h a t a r e contextual to the place we are designing in. H e n c e a l l d e s i g n exercises begin with a thorough analysis of the context. OUR FACULTY PROF. AMITABH TYAGI (PRINCIPAL) Amitabh Tyagi has been associated with reputed institutions like Amity School of Architecture & Planning, Apeejay School of Architecture & Planning for over 12 years. His has a Bachelors in Architecture from Govt. College of Architecture Lucknow & Masters in Architecture in Building Services from Jamia Millia Islamia. He has participated in National Level Competition related to River Front Development & won the competition organized by National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources. He has handled many projects during his professional experience with renowned firms. PROF. SHALEEN SHARMA Shaleen Sharma has been a practicing Architect for over 18 years and has been actively involved in academics on visiting basis with reputed institutions like University School of Architecture and Planning (USAP) Delhi and Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies, Juhu, Mumbai. His has a Bachelors in Architecture from TVB School of Habitat Studies & Masters in Architecture from De Montfort University, Leicester, UK. Shaleen is also known for exploring the medium of film in the context of Architecture. He has made several documentaries for UGC on the subject of Architecture. RUCHI JAIN Ruchi Jain has a B.Arch degree from GGSIP University and is an alumni of Vastukala Academy School of Architecture and a member of COA. She has field experience of 6 years as a project architect and coordinator with expertise in Group Housing and Institutional Design. Besides this, she was also heading a design team of architects in her previous assignment. ANKITA CHOUDHARY Ankita Choudhary is a B.Arch graduate from DCRUST, Murthal and has a Masters in Urban & Rural Planning from IIT Roorkee. She was a gold medallist during B. Arch and has 3 National and 1 International Publication. MOHIT VERMA Mohit Verma is a research oriented professional, exploring a sustainable & ecological design approach in his practice for the last 15 years. His has a Bachelors in Architecture from the TVB School of Habitat Studies and Masters in Ekistics from Jamia Millia Islamia. He is the founder Director of ARCHADE Foundation - an NGO - which is dedicated to architectural research, conservation, habitat design & architectural education. Mohit is a visiting faculty with WSPA. PROF. BINOD KUMAR SINGH Binod Kumar Singh is the Professor & Head, Department of Civil Engineering, FET, MRIU. His academic degrees include B.E.(Civil), M.E.(Civil, Major: Prestressed Concrete) from Bangalore University, Proficiency Certificates in Alternative Building Technology, New Materials in Concrete, Design of Concrete Structure from Indian Institute of Science Bangalore and PhD in Structural Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. Prof. Singh is a visiting faculty with WSPA. World School of Planning & Architecture Plot No.1, Rajiv Gandhi Education City, NH-1, Sonepat -131029. T: 7056770060 (Delhi Office); 7056770058/61/65 (Campus); E: rimtwsd@gmail.com; W: www.worldschoolofdesign.in