profile
Sangeet Sharma
A Zest for Life
Carrying forward a lineage is
always a daunting task, considering
the expectations that have to be fulfilled.
However, creating an altogether
different lineage with one’s own identity
stamped upon it is something that
not many are able to do successfully.
Architect Sangeet Sharma, partner, SD
Sharma & Associates, Chandigarh, and
son of renowned architect Shiv Dutt
Sharma (who has worked with legendary
architects such as Le Corbusier) has
carved a niche for himself in the
profession with his ingenious approach
and skills of multi-tasking and handling
different genres adroitly.
September 2009 saw his project
KMG Towers at Mohali being awarded
the Outstanding Concrete Structure for
2009 by the Indian Concrete Institute. A
commendation award for excellence in
built environment has been conferred on
his project Timex Factory at Baddi, HP,
by the Indian Building Congress. Having
practised for the past 16 years, Sharma
has built up a distinct philosophy of his
own. Looking through his projects, you
will notice the imagery carved out of voids,
and not necessarily forms. “A balanced
composition is what I believe in,” he
declares. “I like to play with the sun, by
not blocking it but by its penetration – its
modes and moods. For me, the play of
light and shade are cultivated in the design
and need to appear as a work of art.”
The Niper Boy’s Hostel at Mohali,
another of his award-winning projects,
is an example of the curvilinear and
regular play of light that he talks about.
His love for asymmetry is evident from
the triangulations in this building.
The sciography achieved converts the
elevation into an art form. Powered
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Sangeet Sharma’s passion for
life and its many splendours is
reflected in his award-winning
architecture – which is a fine
balance of modes and moods,
says Apurva Bose Dutta
by an element of sustainability,
the juxtaposition of forms is eye-
catching. Sharma steers away from
regular geometry and concentrates on
harmonious geometry. He adds: “Every
small image in a building should make
for a great composition. Even a section
should represent some composition. The
elevation should be a painting.”
The lines and curves in the Timex
factory are evocative of the architect’s
sensibilities. For him, a building
“is a living organism” and art forms
like shade, light and geometry are
predominant in it. Colours add volume
to his creations, and sustainable
architecture is what he thrives on.
Chandigarh might well have been his
inspiration for the purity in materials
he opts for. His buildings are all about
exposed concrete and brickwork, less
about paints – a trait he has imbibed
from his father. A witness to the changes
that the City Beautiful has gone through,
Sharma stays appreciative of the growth
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pattern and terms every deviation as not
a ‘mistake’ as such – but something for
the people to identify and live with.
A renowned writer, his mastery over
words is commendable – as can be
seen in the four books on architecture
he has written. Sharma’s books are not
the run-of-the-mill ones imparting only
architectural knowledge. They look at
architecture from different perspectives
that are less explored. Architecture, Life
and Me, launched in 2008, recounts
Sharma’s journey through architecture
and life. Carefully-chosen words and
phrases to evoke the right amount of
curiosity and excitement in the reader
are the hallmark of this book. He even
admits that his architecture is ambivert
in nature, much like him. With his recent
publication, Corb’s Capitol, Corbusier’s
masterpiece - the Capitol Complex
of Chandigarh is seen in a new light
through different perspectives. Sharma’s
inclination for poetry is also revealed in
his books on poetry.
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Photographs: Sangeet Sharma
If you glance at his building for the
Department of Genetics at Jammu
University, you cannot help assessing
the relevance of the predominant slanted
ribbed porch. It is this deviation from
normal thoughts that gives identity to this
artiste. Citing the importance of light in
the Lotus Temple in Delhi, he points out,
“It is not the light that streams through...
but the light merged with darkness that
elevates you inside the temple.”
The ongoing project of the Mega Boys
Hostel at NIT, Jalandhar, is among
Sharma’s favourites. A 1,000-room
hostel, the highlight is the open-air
theatre that substitutes for a flat roof.
It is evident that the performer in him
compels the architect to create such
performing spaces in his buildings. In
his words, “It’s a den which provokes
people to come, a space that evolves a
feeling of creativity in them.” Not one
who would like to waste space, he adds,
“The freedom of space doesn’t mean you
waste the space.” The long columns are
reminiscent of Acropolis, while the brick
jaalis – besides forming an impressive
part of the elevations – have their own
function. There is a visual linkage and
breakage. The circulation areas create
vistas, and the natural light received
is abundant. As he writes in his book,
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“Architecture becomes a craft when we
think of walls alone, becomes an art
when we think of beautifying the walls,
and becomes a passion when we think of
the space between the walls.”
For someone with an affinity for
designing corporate and institutional
buildings, textures play an important
role in his work - an inspiration derived
from Corbusier’s saying that “all
architecture should be palpable”. From
conceiving a project to its planning,
designing, construction, isn’t the wait
too long? The multi-tasker replies,
“Architecture gives a sense of gratuity.
Fine arts like music and poetry give
instant satisfaction. That is why I revert
to music for creative satisfaction.” His
perseverance in maintaining his weekly
riyaz proclaims Sharma’s love for music
and passion for life. He already has one
music album to his credit, and is working
on the next. Photography is his other
love, and he maintains that there is a
distinct link between all these arts.
Having not yet crossed the 50 mark,
it’s surprising that he feels that it’s
already payback time to society and
family – a time when one should do less
for personal gain. Founder chairperson
of the A3 foundation, an organisation
that promotes sustainable architecture in
www.itp.com | 11.09 | ARCHITECT & INTERIORS INDIA
profile
Sangeet Sharma
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Photograph: Mrigank Sharma
India and the vicinity, Sharma has taken 1. Department of
a step to escalate the multidimensional Genetics at Jammu
growth of the profession. Through his University, Jammu.
blog www.sangeetsharma.com, he
keeps in touch with the professional 2. Mega Boys
community worldwide. Hostel at NIT
Besides the number of articles to his Jalandhar.
credit in known architectural journals,
Sharma is on the visiting faculty and 3. KMG IT Towers
juries of various institutions. His time at Mohali.
management skills are commendable,
and you cannot but appreciate his 4. Lyrical imagery
confidence when he says, “I’m happy if I at the Timex factory
can be the medium to express any kind at Baddi, HP.
of art. I work in mental shifts and my
brain has a biological alarm, a definite 5. Hospital for
MCB which switches on and off.” Ordinance Factory
A staunch believer in miracles, Sharma at Rajgir-Bihar.
likes to think that every second is a miracle
taking shape. One can follow ideologies,
but as he emphasizes “its statements
should be different”. This architect makes
a statement not only through his works
– but through an ever-smiling face and an
unparalleled zeal for life. A&I
Bangalore-based architect Apurva Bose
Dutta is an architectural journalist.
She writes for various national and
international architectural and interior
publications. She can be contacted at
apurvabose@yahoo.com
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