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FOCUS

e-Newsletter of The Indian Institute of Architects brought out by IASA, with focus
on activities and interests of students of architecture.

Contents

1. Letter from President IIA 03

2. IASA Committee and Members 04

3. Editor’s page 06

4. Urban Regeneration of Egmore - SEAD, SRMIST Chennai 07

5. An open letter to Students of Architecture – Ar. Anjan Mitra 10

6. The City of Dreams - Vinya V, RR SoA, Bengaluru 12

7. List of Affiliated Institutions - Additions 14

8. I was a student once ! – Ar. Gita Balakrishnan 16

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Letter from President IIA

Dear Students,

Greetings!

Student days are the best in one’s journey and I hope all of
you are experiencing that.

IIA organizes programmes at the National, Chapter, Centre levels for its members across the
country. Students are also given an opportunity to participate in these programmes by the
organizers. This will be beneficial for the students as they experience the developments in the
profession and academics from eminent architects who make presentations and share their
works and experiences.

I invite each one of you to become a Student member of IIA to be able to participate in these
programmes.

Improving one’s knowledge and experience is a continuous process and I hope each one of
you is striving hard to utilize your time to get best out of your academic and training period.

Writing and documenting your work, articles and expressing your skills will stand you in good
stead in the long run. You can all contribute to the Newsletter, in coordination with your faculty,
to the editor of our Newsletter. Selected items shall be published in the “Focus”, the soft copy
students newsletter of IIA, which is sent to all Instituitions affiliated to IIA.

Good Wishes to all of you.

Ar. C. R. Raju
President, IIA

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 IASA Committee and Members

Prof. (Dr.) Ranee K Vedamuthu, is the former Registrar, Anna

University and former Dean, School of Architecture and
Planning, Anna University. Currently she is Director,
Mohd.Sathak Academy of Architecture, Chennai.

She has an academic and professional career spanning 39

years and has a number of publications to her credit in peer
reviewed indexed journals and has guided several Ph D
Researches.

As an Executive Committee member of the Indian Institute of

Architects, she chairs the Affiliation of Architectural Institutions
Board.

Ar. K. Senthil Kumar has a B.Arch. (1989) from School of

Architecture and Planning, Anna University. & Masters in
Landscape Architecture (1991) from S.P.A..Delhi
He is Principal Architect of his Firm Senthilkumar & Associates,
Chennai, and has won many awards.

He is the immediate Past Chairman of IIA TN Chapter & ISOLA

TN & Pondicherry Chapter; He is now Vice Chairman of
Institutional Affiliation and Students Affairs Committee (IASA),
IIA. & President - SAPAA, School of Architecture & Planning
Alumni Association, Anna University.

Ar. Geetanjali Kapoor is Professor & Researcher at the Institute

of Architecture, Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab and also
a Practicing Architect. She has an overall experience of around
18 years in the field of Architecture, Profession and Academics.

An Associate member of Indian Institute of Architects (IIA),

Fellow of Indian Institute of Valuers (FIOV) & General Secretary
of Ludhiana Architects Association (LAA), Punjab, she has been
awarded for her contributions in integrated upliftment of the
Architecture fraternity and continuously playing an active role in
conducting meetings, events and other field related activities for
strengthening and general awareness in the field of Architecture
with the "Certificate of Appreciation 2019" - IIANATCON 2020.

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IASA Committee and Members

Prof. (Dr.) Rama R Subrahmanian is professor and Dean,

Dayananda Sagar College of Architecture, Bangalore.

With 38 years of professional and academic experience, she

has presented number of papers in Conferences, has
published number of papers in reputed journals, and has
contributed to international publications.

She has undertaken research projects for Govt. agencies

and is research guide and mentor.

Dr. Sanjib Nag is B.Arch. (1989) from Jadavpur University

(J.U.), Kolkata, & M. Arch. (1991) from S.P.A., Delhi and
Ph.D. (2012) from J.U., Kolkata.

He is Professor & former Head, Dept. of Architecture,

Jadavpur University- Kolkata

He has more than 10 years of Industrial Experience, in India

& abroad; and 21 years of Teaching Experience, in best
universities of the region. He has presented number of
papers in Conferences, has published number of papers in
reputed journals, and has contributed to a couple of books.

Ar. Vibha Shrivastava has a B.Arch. (1993) from NIT Raipur

& M. UP (1995) from S.P.A., Delhi. She is Principal Architect
of Vibha Shrivastava & Associates, Bhopal since the year
2000.

She is Vice Chairperson of IIA M.P Chapter; and has been

Executive Member (2015-2017) & Treasurer (2011-2013)
too. She has also been Treasurer (2013-15) of IIA Bhopal
Chapter. She was awarded the Best Dream Home Award by
Ultra Tech Cement in 2014, and the IIA Recognition Award
for services rendered to the fraternity

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Editor’s note

The second step of the journey cements the path ….

We are privileged to share the second Issue of FOCUS, the Students e-Newsletter of IIA,
featuring stalwarts and activities!
This bimonthly committee e-newsletter is brought out by IASA-IIA, the Affiliation of Institutions
and Student Affairs wing of the Indian Institute of Architects, and is meant to connect academia
and profession through communication of news and information of mutual interest.

The committee for IASA was formed in 2021 with the following as members:
Chairperson - Ar. Ranee Vedamuthu
Vice Chairman - Ar. Senthilkumar K.
Members - Ar. Vibha Saxena
- Ar. Rama R. Subrahmanian
- Prof. Sanjib Nag
- Ar. Gitanjali Kapoor

This committee was instituted in 2021 to expand the activities of IIA to students and Schools
of Architecture and integrate Education & Profession, while making the IIA more visible to the
architectural Institutions and its students.

It’s heartening to note that the number of Schools of Architecture affiliated to IIA has increased
to 104, with more applications to affiliate in the pipeline.

This e-Newsletter features student centric write ups on activities in Schools of Architecture,
talks, outstanding students and alumni, etc. We look forward to disseminating news from
affiliated Institutions, and hope to connect the two Universes.

Sharing the words of motivational speaker Jim Rohn here

‘Whatever good things we build end up building us’!

Rama R Subrahmanian

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URBAN REGENERATION OF EGMORE
THE URBAN CONTINUUM OF EGMORE: MAPPED AND REGENERATED

The IV year B. Arch students of School of

Environment Architecture and Design (SEAD),
SRMIST Ramapuram, conducted an Urban Study of
Egmore, Chennai under the supervision of Prof. P.
Venkatesh Babu, Prof. M. Shanthini, Prof. Sankeerani
Shrinivasan, Prof. S. Pongomathi, and Prof. S.
Sanchana.

Towns, cities, streets, and public areas are all part of

urban design. The art of making places is the
collaborative, multidisciplinary process of sculpting
the natural environment for life.
Figure 1 NODES AND LINKAGES -EGMORE

The creation of frameworks and procedures that will enable successful development by
various people over time, as well as the design of structures, groups of buildings, spaces, and
landscapes, are all part of urban design. Urban Design Studio is one of the most interesting
and intriguing programmes of architecture where students learn the aspects of livability and
planning on a practical ground.

INTRODUCTION TO URBAN REGENERATION

The thematic focus of the studio was Urban

Regeneration. Urban regeneration is a tool to
transform and repair the physical, environmental
socio-economic and cultural aspects of the
neighborhood into a sustainable community for the
future. The theme's significance was explained to
the students through case studies, lectures,
discussions, and brainstorming sessions.

Egmore is a fully formed neighborhood on the

verge of transformation as a result of new
development agendas and regulations. It is a
diverse collection of businesses, residences,
Figure 2 CURRENT LANDUSE-2022 EGMORE schools, entertainment venues, heritage
neighborhoods, and multicultural communities. It
also houses the city's largest multimodal hub. Additionally, it is also a place where heritage
meets modernity. The aim of the studio was to conduct a detailed analysis of the way these
two factors relate to one another and how they affect the growth and development of this
multimodal hub.

The studio conducted a comprehensive study of specific elements of the contemporary urban
environment in the neighborhood of Egmore, Chennai. The specific study was based the

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following urban planning parameters:

Masterplan, Standards & Legal Frameworks

 Physical Mapping
 Transport & Infrastructure
 Socio-Economic
 History & Urban Imagery
 Heritage & Conservation
 Environment & Ecology

The study focused mostly on historical, current, and potential future changes in this area. The
students transformed the data they had gathered into understandable maps, sketches, pie
charts, models, and video and photo documentation. In addition to visual observations,
surveys, interviews they were also encouraged to use equipment like data loggers to record
temperature and humidity readings as well as android applications to record noise levels.

Figure 3 EVOLUTION OF BLUE GREEN MAP- EGMORE

The study helped identify opportunities and challenges in the planning criteria previously
mentioned.
Morphological studies, walkability, connectivity, pedestrian studies, accident and crime
studies, intersection studies, cultural practices and patterns, public space behavior, economic
patterns and enterprise trajectories, physical character and imageability, environmental impact
studies, climate analysis, identification of violations of laws and ordinances, and so on were
all performed on the data collected.
These opportunities and challenges were then turned into proposals, such as the regeneration
of cotton alley using container architecture, Pedestrian bridge across Gandhi Irwin Road for
easy access from the Egmore station, WAshroom-SEating-BOoth (WA-SE-BO), which is a
compact unifying capsule for the comfort and safety of the police officers, alternate heritage
trail and an Urban Eco Park with a focus on sustainable development goals.

THE EXHIBITION
The outcome of the studio culminated into an Urban Studio Exhibition in the form of panels,

Figure 4 URBAN DESIGN PROPOSALS

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physical model and video presentation at ‘The Plaza’,
Egmore Museum Complex from 12th to 16th of May
2022 which was inaugurated by The Director of
Museums Dr. S. A. Raman, IAS along with Dr. Jaffer A
A Khan, Dean, SEAD, SRMIST, Ramapuram.

This exhibition was successful in drawing the attention of

the public and in creating a network of local and national
urban designers and experts in the built environment.
This occasion was intended to be a turning point, the
start of a future tradition of information sharing through
open displays of student work. The exhibition hosted
around 500 visitors. Honourable Tamilnadu school
education minister Thiru Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi
graciously accepted the invitation and visited the
exhibition on 14th of May 2022. He appreciated the effort Figure 5 SCHOOL EXHIBITION
and work the team of students and faculty had put into
documenting a part of the city and displaying for public understanding. This exhibition, the first
of the many more in the anvil from the institution has definitely kindled the thoughts of young
minds and future torch bearers of
the society and has also brought
positive and encouraging
feedback. The 5 day exhibition
was concluded with a valedictory
ceremony which was presided by
Ar. Sujatha Shankar, Convenor
INTACH Chennai Chapter and Dr.
N. Sethuraman, Chief Director,
SRM group of Institutions, Trichy
and Ramapuram campuses.

Figure 6 TN SCHOOL EDUCATION MINISTER'S VISIT

THE TEAM

Figure 7 Ar. SUJATHA SHANKAR AT THE Figure 8 IV YEAR B. ARCH STUDENTS & FACULTY TEAM OF SEAD,
VALEDICTORY EVENT SRM IST RAMAPURAM

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An open letter to Students of Architecture

My dear students and the future Master Builders …

“Strong minds discuss ideas, Average minds discuss events, Weak minds discuss people”
Socrates

I invoke this word of wisdom in this special letter to you all with lots of expectations and hope.
It is you, who will be shaping the future and charting out memorable paths to experience life
in its totality by shaping engaging built forms. This is a huge responsibility and a challenge,
and I can only share my experience of what to look at and to figure out how it can be .
Up until now, we, as architects, have become the conduits of development. We have let others
decide on the overall pattern, the form, and even the expression. The conventional pedagogy
and practice of architecture has become very limited. It has almost become like providing a
service - ultimately creating ecologically disturbing, environmentally unsustainable, socially
disconnected and incompatible built envelopes. For the sake of professional dignity and
effectiveness, we need to challenge this limited understanding of architecture. We need to
change the perception of the profession and reclaim our place in it - a form more similar to the
earlier role of Sthapati or the Indian Master Builder. In this role, architecture becomes a
process of engagement, an elaboration of the traditions of building - holistic, sensible, and
responsible.

Yes, you have guessed it right. We need to rethink architecture, and the way you all practice
is critical to this recasting. We must believe and develop concepts that go beyond the limited
conventional forms of architecture and make the best use of both creative thinking as well as
existing assets. In a way, our work is comparable to that of a master composer of an orchestra,
who tunes all the notes, harmony and varied soundscape into a soulful, beautiful, meaningful
experience. It was the role of the Sthapati, and moving forward, this must be the role you take.
Our present practice in architecture emphasises development of a physical package utilising
the maximum allowable footprint to suit a particular purpose for a predefined target group. We
are to coordinate with various service professionals (as we are increasingly dependent on the
artificial environment) for our spaces to perform and meet functional requirements. In the
process we have completely by-passed our design obligation to its larger context(s) - natural,
social, or environmental. We now concentrate on visual aesthetics, facilities, carpet area and
internal comfort. Most of all, we focus on the presentation. Moving away from a discipline that
at its core encapsulated the ethos of making livable, convivial spaces - the Architect’s task
now focuses on obtaining the necessary approval and clearances from municipalities and
competent authorities. Unfortunately, the Architect is therefore paid accordingly, varying from
05% -1.5%. of the project cost. The percentage gets reduced proportionately to the size of the
real estate projects, larger the size lesser is the percentage. This is a further detriment,
preventing us from spending time on a project, thinking through its various design agendas.
We become passive spectators, not active agents in helping the actual manifestation of this
idea.

In metropolitan cities, architects are often compelled to provide their services on square feet
of built-up area, thus ensuring maximum utilization of FAR. The contractors take up the
maximum responsibility of implementation and can generate a minimum profit of 30% of the
project cost. New intrusion in this field are the project managers, who monitor the overall
construction management. They are in-charge in most of the medium to large greenfield
projects.

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Mired in this world where multiple professions operate and share the process of shaping the
built environment, design often takes a backseat. Even interior design projects are now
primarily product driven. New concepts, such as the concept of a Green Building that has been
promoted as a model of sustainability, but in reality, it is only interested in selling certain kinds
of products, thus negating the very essence of sustainability. In all of this, the fun and value of
design loses its purpose, and architects lose their agency and role in shaping the built
environment. We must change this process of Architecture.

Most appropriate Idea always evolves out of the constraint. We must incorporate value in the
way we design and build. We must regain the dignity of architecture though a role reversal
and assume the role of Master Designer / Builder. It is our task to assume the overall
responsibility of developing a socially connected, cost optimized, environmentally conscious
and ecologically sensitive built environment. Future architects need, foremost, to be
responsible human beings - compassionate and conscious in their acts, skilful and resourceful.
We need to create our own destiny, develop our own projects and truly practice being
responsible.

Let us see how this changed perception can add value to our profession. We have inherited a
huge building stock but all we can think of is its displacement. Most of these buildings have
fulfilled a purpose and is now in need of maintenance and repair. However, we are not trained
in maintenance, or for that matter, upgrading of this old stock. With intelligent design
intervention we can make them appropriate for a suitable habitation and thereby convert
possible waste / liability to valuable assets. Conservation, Restoration, Retrofitting is thus a
new arena where sensitive architectural interventions can prove to be sustainable as well as
effective. Interior projects provide exciting opportunity to design and build. We don’t change
the buildings, but we can always change the way we engage them. Commercial interiors pose
complicated design challenges. One needs to have a good understanding of visual
communication, concepts of lifestyle, fashion trends, contemporary aspirations, and the
intangible aspects of life. It is the ambience that matters. Here we can put our design thinking
to identify appropriate solutions that work. Performance and useability should be the
benchmark of a good design. Then there are opportunities for new additions, infills within a
given context. Residential architecture is always challenging. Here, we are responsible for
improving someone's life, meeting their aspirations. Design is always an evolving process and
a collaborative one. When practiced as such, it is also sustainable. The fees may come in
many forms - trust, respect, money, and joy. All of these are valid and should be
acknowledged as such. We can share our knowledge, our consciousness towards nature and
everything natural and enjoy building a sustainable future for our clients/users.

This is a rigorous process. To become a Good Architect – a Sthapati, one needs to first be a
sensitive human being, a keen observer. We need to exercise both our creativity and our
rational mind. After all, design is thinking rationally, it’s about making the right choice that
creatively resolves to establish an order - socially connected, environmentally inclusive and
critical in generating an immersion in the joys of life. There are architects who have travelled
this path, we can look to them for inspiration. At the end of the day, every architect has a right
to decide on their destiny, one should be passionate enough to try. After all, Design is, and
should remain, a fun process.

Good luck, happy designing. You all have a unique future; I wish that you make it bright!

Anjan Mitra / The Appropriate Alternative

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The City of Dreams
Vinya V – RR SoA Bengaluru

This work ‘The City of Dreams’ is to give a clear understanding of Utopian cities and the need
for change in city planning. It describes various Utopian Architects and their visions using few
examples. The work also describes Utopian cities and the current change required in city
planning.

“Could Utopia be a whole New World or is it the future of this World?” A lot of authors and
scientists claim to say, “Utopia is a dream.” One such author was Sir Thomas More. He was
the first person to write about utopia in 1516. The word is used to describe a perfect imaginary
world. More's book imagines a self-contained community set on an island journey, in which
people share a common culture and way of life. He coined the word 'utopia' from the Greek
Ou-topos meaning 'no place' or 'nowhere'. It was a pun - the almost identical Greek word EU-
topos means 'a good place'.

Inspired by More’s theory, Sir Ebenezer Howard was the first to publish about the Utopian
Cities. “Garden cities of to-morrow,” was the concept proposed. The proposal describes a
utopian city where people live harmoniously together with nature. He also shared his visions
of the garden village, urban design, and suburbs dealing with gardens. It is considered one of
the most influential urban planning ideas of all time. The result of this publication gave birth to
an era of utopian thinkers.

Paolo Soleri was one such extreme utopian architect who spent all his life in Arizona designing
utopian cities. He designed a city for about 900,000 inhabitants. The design had huge
structures that would house a large population at a time. The city was named Arcosanti, which
is located in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. The designs were radical and extreme in
planning. The city was incomplete, but we must agree for it to be a good start. In this evolving
system, “are the algorithms today more than mere technology?”

Well, Wright knew that only when values are put first will technology become a tool rather than
a master. Frank Lloyd Wright had a belief that structure and space could create, cultural values
that led to creating entirely new types of architecture. He designed a city called “Broad Acre
City.” The key principles remained simple and his concern was towards harmony within built
and unbuilt spaces. The design was used in a lot of suburban areas. Although the plans were
made efficient enough, the design suffered a lot of criticism. They said, “Design being made
for the machine era, had no inclusion of railroads, streetcars, major or minor roads and no
traffic movement allowed within the city?” Wright always believed that a city is not an
arrangement of roads, buildings, and spaces. It is a society in action. He believed his cities
provide the space, freedom, and beauty necessary for the growth of the individual.

In contrast to Wright's thinking, was another utopian architect who shared a vision of the rapid
movement potential of automobiles. Le Corbusier, the Swiss-French architect said, “a city built
for speed, is built for success.” Chandigarh is the first city in India designed with automobiles
in mind. Chandigarh continues the tradition of alternative cities. Le Corbusier conceived the
master plan of Chandigarh as analogous to the human body, with a clearly defined head (the
capital complex), the heart (the city center), lungs (the open spaces), the body and limbs
(housing categories), and the arteries (networks which flow through the city connecting to bring

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people into). Today Chandigarh’s population has risen to 1.2 million, more than twice the
number it was originally planned to hold. The city serves as the regional center for cultural,
economic, and social activities.

“Did Le Corbusier even understand the religious contexts of India? Was the city just built for
the rich?” were a few criticisms made by people. The fact that Corbusier had ignored around
56 villages around Chandigarh had hurt the emotions of the people living there. Few also
added the city was a perfect grid with chaos. Corbusier’s ideas have failed in the city’s airport
design. They said it was simply too big. The wide avenues are remarkable but the distance to
travel between places is long. Deep down the truth is that no one was ready for the change.

As mentioned earlier, utopian cities bring a new change. Most cities built over time are
concerned with the needs of humans. Urban Utopian cities are built quickly based on the
architect’s vision. Sometimes the architects get it right, but in a few cases, we get architectural
splendors although it serves no function for the people. The world needs Utopian architects
and planners. The idea of Utopia does not lie just within architecture it is seen everywhere.

There are five types of Utopia; moral or ethics, political or social, ecological, religious, and
science or technology. The Utopian city has no fear of death, any hierarchy, babies being
genetically engineered and drugs being legal to gain a euphoric feeling, were a few
conjectures made by historians. It is not considered normal at present. The journey in
accepting the Utopian beliefs is long. “Would society be ready for these changes shortly in the
future? Or would it stick on to the traditional methods? Is it Utopia or Dystopia?” Well, the New
Age of Wonderment is upon us!

REFERENCES:

https://youtu.be/MgwS0VN0NiM
https://www.bl.uk/learning/timeline/item126618.html
https://youtu.be/n20ZbRJyKPM
https://youtu.be/NJKqkvlaXeM
LE CORBUSIER Chandigarh and the Modern City -
Publisher : Mapin Publishing Gp Pty Ltd (May 16, 2010)

About the Author:

I am a student, pursuing my bachelor's degree in RR School of Architecture. Currently, I am

in my fourth year. I enjoy reading a lot of journals and novels. This was my first ever writing
experience. The context of Utopia has caught my mind, and I simply couldn't stop myself from
doing more research about it. With the help of my lecturer Sir Nikhil, I have tried sharing my
knowledge as simply as possible through the article. I hope you all enjoy reading it.

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 List of Affiliated Institutions - Additions

Department of Architecture and Planning, Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra,

Ranchi

The Department of Architecture & Planning was established at BIT Mesra in the year 1993, in
keeping with the multifarious scope of Architecture & Planning as the art and science of
designing spaces and adding value to a meaningful, built environment. It is a subject which is
a combination of faculties of engineering, science as well as arts. The programme is a
balanced combination of all these streams, yet follows a unique pedagogical methodology that
is its hallmark.

School of Planning and Architecture (SPAV), Vijayawada

School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada, (in short SPAV), was established on July 7,
2008 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MoE), Government of India, as an
autonomous institution. SPAV is a premier Centrally Funded Technical Institution (CFTI)
directly under the MoE, for excellence in the fields of Planning and Architecture. Although in
its nascent stage, with experienced faculty and guest lectures by eminent visiting faculty and
industry experts from all over the country, the quality of education imparted and its focus on
research puts SPAV in the league of leading institutes in the country.

SPA Vijayawada is one of the three institutes of national importance, under the Ministry of
Education (MoE), Government of India, offering education in the fields of Planning and
Architecture. The School has distinguished itself and has grown as a role model in the
professional education offering undergraduate, post graduate and doctoral programmes in the
fields of planning and architecture, while at the same time fostering quality research in these
domains. SPA Vijayawada is ranked one of the best technical institutes in the country by
National Survey and Ranking, India Today Group, as well as holds the 8th Position in NIRF
Ranking nationwide for Architecture. The campus is green rated and is equipped with state-
of-the-art infrastructure such as hostels, central library, ICT enabled teaching atmosphere,
high end digital surveillance systems, modern laboratories, spacious studios, classrooms,
open air theatres, auditorium, cafeteria, outdoor sports facilities, etc.

School of Environmental Design and Architecture (SEDA), Vadodara

The School of Environmental Design and Architecture (SEDA) is at the forefront of cutting-
edge innovative design education. Creativity and critical thinking are the bedrock around which
teaching is organized. The unique features of SEDA are the intensive use of workshop for
Studio, Construction and its History based courses.
SEDA's dynamic and challenging curriculum is led by the school's highly accomplished faculty
and guest lecturers, who are also working professionals and experts in their field of
specialization. Students' creativity and critical thinking capabilities are enriched through
extensive design investigations and explorations, to not just expand their knowledge, but also
to confront the complexities of the modern built environment.
Our students learn to respond to our natural environment and cater to spatial needs and
aspirations of individuals and the society. SEDA has some of the most talented and
passionate, internationally acclaimed faculty members, who not only teach but also practice
architecture.
The School has been established to offer broad-based education in Architecture and Design
keeping the future needs of the industry and the concerns of the society in mind.

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School of Architecture, Dayananda Sagar Academy of Tech. & Management, Bengaluru

The School of Architecture, DSATM was established in the academic year 2011-2012 and
imparts a five-year Bachelor of Architecture degree. We have a student capacity of 60
students. The course is affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belgaum,
Karnataka and also recognized by Council of Architecture, India.

The architecture course prepares students to see what architecture does for the built
environment by proposing ideas that are innovative in their aesthetic and cultural contribution
and that can inspire the social imagination. Our distinguished faculty pushes the boundaries
of knowledge in our fields and promotes innovation in the practice of architecture and planning.
Be it the classroom, the design studio or the community, the students will be immersed in new
research related to concerns of the built and social environment, and in the midst of some of
the greatest challenges of the 21st century. The faculty members, highly qualified and
experienced, are committed teachers who leverage on each other strengths to achieve the
vision and mission statement of the School. The Faculty is specialized in various domain areas
namely; Urban Planning, Habitat Design, Sustainable Architecture, Landscaping, Housing and
Interior design. Eminent practicing architects visit the school to teach studio subjects like
Architectural design, Basic design and Building construction.
The department has spacious studios and class rooms and equipped with state-of-the-art
equipment like LCD projector and computers. The department also houses a well-equipped
climatology lab, material museum and Exhibition Hall.

R V College of Architecture (RVSA), Bengaluru

Over the course of two and half decades RV College of Architecture (RVCA) has earned its
reputation as an institution firmly ingrained in pedagogy revolving around academics,
research and consultancy. At present it is globally recognized as a centre of excellence and
quality education in the field of Architecture and Urban Design. With its devotion towards the
cause of learning architecture, the institute has constantly strived towards bringing together
academicians with diverse specializations, academic rigor, self-criticism and self-evaluation
with a determined objective of shaping the attitude and work ethics of young minds.
The institute is also proud of its team of highly specialized faculties with diverse work and
academic experience who constantly contribute to research and actively participate in the
development and upgrading of teaching tools and education quality by instilling academic rigor
in the study, critique and design of urban environs.
RVCA’s uncompromising stance towards quality in architectural education sets our students
apart, and has also earned our students and faculty several accolades over the years.

Sir M. V. School of Architecture (Sir MVSA), Bengaluru

Sir M V School of Architecture is located on the reputed Sir MVIT Campus, in Bangalore, in
the state of Karnataka founded by Sri Krishnadevaraya Educational Trust. The institute offers
5-year B.Arch., Degree in Bachelor of Architecture, approved by Council of Architecture,
(CoA), Govt. of Karnataka and is affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University, Belgaum.
The Bachelor of Architecture professional degree program, aims at enabling students to
develop an analytical and sensitive approach towards design to make them responsible future
generation architects.

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I was a student once!

Ar. Gita Balakrishnan

College life is probably the most enviable as well as the most challenging phase in life. Enviable
because of the excitement it brings with it – the excitement of discovering new frontiers, exploring
yourself, walking new paths and forging new relationships. The world seems to be your oyster and
yet that is what makes it so challenging – the surfeit of information, the responsibility of making
decisions along with the distractions and uncertainty that accompany this age.

If you are a student in the first year, coping with the transition from school to college can be quite
stressful, particularly in a field like architecture that not many can prepare you for. You have
probably moved away from home for the first time and are also coping with a huge difference in
lifestyle and academic pressures. But this is also a rather crucial time when you develop your love
for the profession that you have chosen or that has chosen you. It is important for this love to be
nurtured and you could do that by reading a variety of books, articles and magazines on
architecture as well as allied fields to understand the different disciplines that architecture brings
together. Knowledge is said to be power. Knowing more certainly helps build a confident you.

The habits and processes you build in college life will stand you in good stead as you grow into a
professional. Study the work and the philosophies of different architects. Keep a journal and note
down what appealed to you and what did not; what you agree with and what you do not; what you
believe in and what you do not. Capture what you observe when you visit a building or your
experience of a space through a verse, through sketches, with your lens. Go back to your
ruminations in your journals, your sketchbook from time to time and you will see the trajectory of
your growth. Do you like it? Are you at peace with where you are headed? No worries if you are
not, you can always pivot and change direction. Find mentors who will encourage you in this
process and those that create an environment for prolificacy.

Find yourself. You do not have to follow the herd. While the onus of good designed buildings lies
on architects, the need to work on the aesthetic sensibilities of the public at large and efforts to
make a difference to those who cannot afford design are equally important. The “power of one”
cannot be demonstrated more than in the case of Laurie Baker who single-handedly, at least in
the initial years of his life as an architect, demolished the myth that one architect cannot make a

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difference. He believed strongly in what he did and did only what he believed in and that made all
the difference.

If young professionals and to-be-professionals were to pause and reflect on the current scenario
in our architectural world you will realise that you have not inherited a treasure trove at least in
recent years and any attempt to resolve the situation will mean a lot of hard work. But there is
hope, if you make a picture of what you would like to see a couple of decades from now when you
will be at the professional prime of your lives and work with determination towards that healthy
picture. Spread messages on that picture and influence more to join the bandwagon to bring in
that change.

I was a student once and I am still a learner! Change being the only constant, I need to keep
learning to adapt and align my thinking to the change. My thirst to evolve makes me open to
receiving. Every one of us knows something that the other does not and hence we are teachers
and learners all the time. Let me give you an example – our design problem for Transparence a
few years ago was A Mother and Child Hospital and I asked Ar.Sanjay Mohe to be the curator for
the same. His response was so revealing- he said, “We have done a few research institutions in
healthcare but not a hospital ourselves and hence I would need to educate myself to be able to set
a brief.” Someone who has close to 40 years of experience and is one of the finest architects of
our country is still learning!

The stipulated practical training semester should be designed to garner an understanding of the
profession and one’s role in it better; to grasp that every line drawn, every brick laid has implications
not only for the building it defines but its surroundings, the community around it, the laborers who
are building it, the factories from where the materials would be arriving, the trends, the market, the
environment besides just the client one is designing for. We are fortunate to be in a profession
where with every action we can bring about social change. It is a privilege and a power to be used
with severe caution. Every line that you draw can mean a change in someone’s life – in the way
they are to live; every material that you specify could influence the economy. A building has the
power to influence the lifestyle of those not just using the interiors of that building but even those
who interact with it from outside. Your design does not and should not end with your site boundary.

In case, you choose to move into ancillary fields such as construction or project management –
even then you have an important role to play – in the way the site is managed, the construction
force is educated on their tasks – is it just instructive or interactive or are they not in consideration
at all? Do you think of the living conditions of the laborers? Do you think of their families? And if
you choose to get into the teaching profession – you can make the biggest change there – by
sculpting the change-makers you are training to understand the power that they wield.

We, most often do not comprehend our complete potential. It is like how I use my mobile phone.
Many of the younger generation tell me that I use it only as a phone and have not understood all
its features. And I, in turn tell them that they have not understood all their own features and are not
using themselves to their fullest. My message to you is to explore yourself today and every day
and you will find new things every time and you should use your different talents and skills not just
to your advantage but also to make that difference.

You are at a stage in life when you want to soar, fly and run. However, I advise you to walk!
Walk the city your college is in. Walk the town where your parents live. Walk the village where you
go on a study tour. Walking helps you closely observe life, lifestyles and people. After all that is
what your designs are supposed to address – better the quality of life of people after understanding
how they live. Walk with your senses and you will grow in sensitivity, in intelligence, in knowledge.
Walk and you will build the empathy you need to be a good architect.

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