Celebrating Rain

- Ramanathan Ramasamy, Anna University

Quoting inspiration from Roger Miller: ‘Some people feel the rain — others just get
wet.’ Ramanathan emphasizes the need to rejoice in the spirit of rain, far beyond its
imaginative perceptions, and to dilute the current myopic view of rain through his
project.

What is it?
An eagerly approach of rain towards an inviting built destination. A building sculpted
with rain as an integral part of the space

What does it do?

Facilitates a conversation between rain and the structure, in turn creating a synergy.
Ramanathan proposes architecture to be utilized to accentuate the perspective beauty
of the context and to mould our subjective reality, thereby bringing harmony between
man and rain. He defines 'Rain' as the protagonist and people as performers,
choreographed by architecture.
To heighten the sense of rain as an occurrence, a fusion of fluidity and sharp edges
allows the structure to vanish with the clouds, and strengthens the perception of
distinct lines to demonstrate prominence.

‘Rain and Man, in unison, compose the craft of the

building, while architecture disappears into the
context. As time advances, architecture becomes
the subtle backdrop, while solely rain, man and
space hold the stage.’

4. Athenaeum, Architecture for Architecture

- Piyush Prajapati, Gautam Buddh Technical University, Lucknow
What is it?
A hub and centre for architects to create and ideate, and of course, work in. Designed
by an architect, for the architects.

What does it do?

This visual learning institute focuses upon the attainment of the architecture, through
architects and by the architects.
The Athenaeum proposed will consist of three areas - The Main Institute (where
research shall take place), The Museum, and Hostel Accommodation. With the help of
Grasshopper and Rhinoceros, Piyush, sculpts out a magical piece of architecture based
on logical reasoning and computational methods.

This project was one of the winners of the NIASA Awards 2014. Piyush's
unconventional work has caught the attention of various notable names in the field of
architecture across the country.

5. The Zoo
- Yatin Fulari, Goa College Of Architecture
What is it?
An architectural interpretation of the play ‘the zoo story’. The zoo story by Edward
Albee details what happens when one character enters the life of another and quickly
changes it forever. A bench is the central ‘physical’ theme in the play.

What does it do?

Yatin explores the dynamics of time and space, where space is designed unfold in a
sequence regulated by time.

He describes the communication that happens between the architecture and the
perceiver as“communication takes place at three levels -sensorial, experiential and
associational."
'Sensorial perception' refers to the physiological comforts accrued from physical
resolution, essentially in response to environmental control. This bodily perception is
humanly universal. The experiential aspect of communication is also universal, but
the perception through this experience differs vastly as this aspect deals critically with
the mental and emotional status of the perceiver. The process is reactionary to the
nuances of space configuration and its dictates. The associational communication is
locale specific perception requiring preconditioning and familiarity with the context or
the acquired information base. Yatin’s project primarily deals majorly with the second
type of communication.

.
 6. Museum of Light
- Srikanth Varma, NIT Calicut

What is it?
Not your typical museum, the 'Museum of Light' contains of galleries that do not
contain any exhibits. Instead, the building exhibits different properties of light over a
day.
‘Beauty of light is felt in darkness, therefore the
challenge lies in the design of negative spaces
which is 'darkness'.
What does it do?
The intention of the project is to give public awareness about different lighting
techniques and show the possibilities with lighting by teaching them subconsciously
just by observation, as it is known that what is studied from books can be forgotten
but the experiences are forever. The design has been evolved from both artistic and
technical parameters i.e. angle of sun etc, after a long term research in lighting
principles and experimentation.

The dynamic nature of the building and the change in light, creates variable
experiences for the visitor. The design evolves with a higher ambition of creating an
icon for the city of Vizag. An icon that is culturally rooted and analogical to the
contextual cultural imagery.

The internal space adjacencies and proximities of the building were solved by
considering the building as narrative plot. To add to the complexity the building is
conceptualized through a non linear narrative with the ‘history of light’ gallery as a
central plot line and the other adjacent galleries branching out of the main plot line
and reconnecting back to it. With its winding labyrinths and natural lit ‘coves’ and
‘caves’, accompanied by elements of surprise, audiences are in for the time of their
lives in this wonder of light.
7. City on a Bridge: A Conflation of Urban Fabric
across River Banks
- Mohammed Mansoor,University Of Mysore (School Of Design)

What is it?
A city on a bridge. Yes, you read it right.
What does it do?
An attempt to stitch west and east Ahmedabad, this project underlines the shift in
focus from automobile centric cities to pedestrian centric sustainable cities, in modern
times, which is clearly manifested in projects like New York High line, Promenade
Plantee in Paris.

Stitch together East and

West Ahmedabad
The paucity of the current growth is the lack of pedestrian pathways and spaces for
social interaction which are completely neglected in the Automobile centric
development that our cities are undergoing.
‘Where do we find spaces for recreation when the only available spaces for the pedestrian are the
traffic islands?' questions Mohammed.

In order to address this issue we need to re-look at Infrastructural development in our

cities, which ease only vehicular movement, we also need to rethink social
development along our city roads.

The dividing line between bridge and architecture has been blurred, in today’s world, where we
witness architecture melting into the city.
8. Spaceport at Ras-Ul-Khaimah, U.A.E.
- Priyank V Shah, D.C. Patel School of Architecture
Did you just say space. In UAE? NOW THIS IS WHY WE ALL LOVE TO TALK
ABOUT UAE.
What is it?
A proposed spaceport, located at Ras-Ul-Khaimah International Airport , with a Site
area of about 95,000 sq.mts, in the desert landscape of RAS-UL-KHAIMAH, one of
the Emirates of the United Arab Emirates. The proposed Spaceport would house
activities related to Space Tourism and Space Information., with an already existing
runway and supportive facilities for Space flight. Along with space flight and space-
tourism the project will also house programs like space information centre, which will
educate the International visitors everything about space and space-travel.
What does it do?
The spaceport is provided with the facilities like virtual experience zone for visitors
who cannot travel in space, supportive facilities of space Research and Development,
airplane hanger, an astronauts’ training centre supplemented with entertainment
facilities, and a planetarium for cosmic experience, consolidating in a program that
provides a totally futuristic experience to visitors.

The design was evolved drawing inspiration from organic forms of nature and is
based on a modular system derived in all three dimensions by using 3D generating
tools. The layout of the design is based on a radial pattern so as to enhance
accessiblility. The spaceport designed has a central atrium that acts as the nucleus of
the structure and all the other areas are arranged around it. Serving as a gateway to
Universe, among the primary attractions of space tourism is the uniqueness of the
experience, the thrill of looking at the space and to the earth from the space and
various advantages of weightlessness.
Take me to space already.

9. More Homes
- Isha Pundir, Amity School of Architecture

Looks like stairways to heaven. Or rather hell in my case. *Cough*

What is it?
A Group Housing flat, with the spaciousness and comfort of a bungalow.

What does it do?

Inculcates the traditional meaning of a house, that is, a private verandah for gardening,
open area for kids, natural sunlight and cross ventilation and a feeling of openness and
privacy. Also, each unit provides an unobstructed 180 degrees view.

Pass some popcorn, a 180 degree view, doesn’t come by very often!
The inspiration for the layouts to be in a triangular form came from the fact that there
is no cross ventilation in typical flats. Here every flat unit is exposed to the exterior
face from three directions which is conducive for cross ventilation throughout the
house. The arrangement of units is such that they shade each other and balconies are
specially designed to provide shading and a unique sitting space.
10. Rehabiliation Centre for Women Offenders
- Niharika Sanyal, CEPT University, Ahmedabad

What is it?
A reinterpretation of the programme and architectural typology of prisons, with a
case study done on Sabarmati Central Jail, Ahmedabad.

What does it do?

Explores the potential of the built environment in creating humanising spaces that can
catalyse positive life processes, by analysing the ‘hard architecture’ of the prison
mode, where the paradoxical relationships between punishment and rehabilitation,
freedom and control, normalisation and security, are explored.

The project lends a sensitizing physical environment where individuals may nurture a
personal will for self-development through their interpersonal relationships
in community formations, through associations with nature and through
productive/creative work.

The design’s vertical aspiration – self realisation ascending

towards transformation — signifies aspects of learning. It is juxtaposed with
its horizontal expression – reintegration – that seeks to connect with the larger
community in the prison complex and the outside world.
By creating community clusters, one fosters a domestic scale of living, creating a
place where human relationships based on sisterhood may potentially form, and where
dignity is lent to the individual.
Alright, young architects, take note. It’s about giving meaning to what you do. To the
walls you create. To the designs you make. To the words you speak. Yes, don’t speak
bogus. Yes, we all know you do. There’s no denying it.