Chronicle Of Contemporary Indian Architecture (Page 3)

By -

Soon after that I got a formal letter to be the correspondent enclosed with a copy of the slick, glossy inaugural issue. On the cover there was a project by Uttam.C.Jain in Jodhpur and inside, the other major articles included were an interview with the landscape architect Ravinder Bhan on ecological planning and another interesting one on urban design by KT Ravindran, besides much other diverse mix of topics, issues and aspects of architecture and planning. It was also the beginning of architectural cartooning/satire on the editorial page! The Objectives, intent and scope of the magazine were stated by the editor - and it looked like the dawn of serious, new exciting architectural documentation, Criticism, peer review of projects both past and present, book reviews etc.

And the inaugural issue was the beginning of an unending chain of A+DS with its first formal Volume 1 Jan.-Feb 1985 issue, Continuing robustly till date, going from strength to strength and widening its scope and reach. Today, it's visible across the globe and is respected not only as the representative face of Indian architecture; but also showcasing emerging trends across the world and connecting them to the Indian context and interests. In a way, its growth has been a parallel trajectory of the Indian economic growth and the "Globalised India' story. On the way, there have been landmarks achieved by the innovations and conceptual re-birthings by various editors and their dedicated teams. The magazine keeps getting reborn imaginatively by contemporarising its slick layout and design; keeping abreast with the emerging new trends in the profession. If I was to pin down its hallmark professional and journalistic persona, then would say:

A distinct modernity and instant contemporariness of content and slickness of style; Comprehensive and diverse content comprising recent projects (grouped each month under one particular type) documentation, research, academic and educational concerns; debate and discussions; interviews with leading experts, book reviews; art and photo features and a cartoon plus; the frequent awards, competitions and; regulars as news, feedbacks, and of course, the signed editorial. 

But the real backbone of all this content is the credibility and stature of its contributors. And let's not forget the role played by the informative value of advertisements showcasing new products and materials. The magazine packs both in meat with spice! All in all, it not only holds a mirror of the profession; but also makes it talk to itself, to students, society and fellow players of the noble profession of architecture and planning disciplines.
(Continues...)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Transient Communities: A Search for Identity through Ethnicity (page 5)

By -
Image
When disputes between Nakarattars arose due to private misunderstanding, Nakaravitutis along with temples and Saivite monastries (matams), provided venues for extraordinary meetings of the Community to resolve disputes. These meetings Were held under the jurisdiction of a respected elder or elders in the Concerned Community and were called Panchayats - on the pan (Indian model) - although disputes were typically mediated or arbitrated by a single person. Besides Nagarathars from different places get together attemple festivities making their affiliation to the temples and the bonding to their Pangalis stronger. These Nagarathar pilgrims stay in the Viduthis by paying any minimal amount feasible to them, as Mahamai. The Viduthis hold an Undiyal (Hundi- money Collection box), in which the pilgrims deposit their Mahamais which is used for the running of the Viduthi. Spatial vocabulary of Nagaraviduthis in Chettinad: In the traditional context of Chettinadu, the edifice of Vidut...
Read more

Transient Communities: A Search for Identity through Ethnicity (page 6)

By -
Image
The third zone is the service zone in the form of courtyard for cooking and Serving food. The toilets also are located here. Sometimes there are exclusive bhojana halls to serve food. The Central axis is how ever maintained and the planning is Symmetrical. Some Viduthis are divided into two, three or four divisions, paralleling each with their own central axis about which it is planned. These axes run parallel to each other starting at their respective entrance with well detailed main door flanked between the colonnaded thinnais on either side. The Illupakkudi Viduthi has two divisions, one for administrative functionalities and other for performing rituals. The soorakudi Viduthi and Pillayarpatti Karpaga Vinayagar Nagarathar Viduthi has exclusive bhojana halls. The Mathur Viduthi is the biggest of all. It has two divisions with a common wall between them. Both the halves are accessed from the main road. The western half, with more elaborate entrance is further divided into three...
Read more

Transient Communities: A Search for Identity through Ethnicity (page 7)

By -
Image
The Vituti was directed by a board of trustees and employed a manager and staff to provide services for travelling Nakarattars. These services included, in addition to provision of lodging and meals, provision of mailing facilities, making travel arrangements, Clearing baggage at local customshouses, and arranging for absentee prayers at local temples. In short, vitutis were extremely useful in the mobile world of the Nakarattar. Vitutis were normally financed primarily by large gifts or endowments (kattalais) and operating costs were also subscribed through endowment. In addition, every guest paid what amounted to a nominal rent (called makinai, like the Nakarattar religious tithe) fixed by the manager of each Vituti and subject to revision according to need. Thus, many of the redistributive functions were performed by the endowment of temples and temple festivals were performed by the endowment of the closely associated nakaravituti. This housed a shrine dedicated to Lord Dhanday...
Read more