The specific role played by land, culture as a reference in design, creeping in of globalism…plenty of issues were analysed by architect B.V. Doshi and his Australian counterparts. By Nandhini Sundar
It was an evening of meeting with the masters, architects B.V. Doshi, Richard Leplastrier and Peter Stutchbury, at an event hosted by the Vimal Jain Foundation in memory of late architect Vimal Jain.
The scintillating conversation that ensued with the geniuses, peppered liberally with humour, had the audience on their toes, asking for more.
While the iconic architect Doshi hails from Ahmedabad, architects Leplastrier and Stutchbury come from Australia, bringing along with them the design sensitivities and the intense passion for sustainability right from the heart of their State.
Be it the lessons learnt from legends Corbusier, Louis Khan, or Masuda, or discussing the versatility playing out in an architect, finding your own feet even when influenced by multiple teachers, identifying the specific role played by land, using culture as reference in designs, loss of regionalism and creeping in of globalism in design to eventually finding what ultimately architecture has taught you, the diverse issues addressed by the trio left the listener spellbound.
Speaking on the lessons learnt from his masters, Leplastrier identified two. One, the landscape sans the building can become a workshop “if you have the eyes and the mind to use”, and second, in making places of well-being for people, “you let life grow by itself”. Adds Leplastrier, “Architect Masuda was intent on the idea that underpinned the structure; he wakened us to the meaning of the origin of the house.”
Averring that Corbusier and Khan had different approaches to design, Doshi suggested that Corbusier went beyond normal appearances, rediscovering things in the context, looking at things afresh. “His letter to students said, ‘break all the rules’!” added Doshi.
As for breaking away from the teachers and finding one’s feet, Doshi contended that it was hard to pinpoint, “even when I vowed not to imitate my master.” “I am still questioning if I have broken away as I don’t know.”
Agreed Leplastrier, “It is difficult to say as lessons learnt stay with you. Time and local circumstances are such a pressure in architecture. It is closely tied to the building process and when you are confronted with the physicality of making it, designs can change. Architect Tange was different, with his brilliant clarity of mind, creating order out of chaos.”
Speaking on refinement and investigation, Doshi stated that Corbusier took chances and sought to create out of the roughness that he encountered in Indian buildings, “leading to the emergence of brutal concrete”. He added, “He took chance on the way it would change, creating something else than what he started, and hence avoided putting everything on the plan. He was dynamic. Khan worked differently, put everything down.”
Pointing to IIM Bangalore which he designed, Doshi averred, “The only constant is change and only certainty is uncertainty, permitting your approach too to change. I learnt this from Corbusier.”
As for using culture as reference, Richard was acidic. “Are we talking about the culture of 350 years or the new culture that is squeezing everything into nothingness”, he stated, referring to emerging Australia. Doshi averred that culture needs rootedness but development from outside influences it. “Dependence robs you of culture,” he stated.
Stutchbury felt strongly that regionalism was losing ground, with everything becoming globalised.
Doshi concurred that imitation is wrong. “What is appropriate for the situation, sustainability, these should be addressed, like the site, the light. A work of architecture belongs to a place. The IIMB building with its corridors and green spaces permits rains to come in. The whole building was conceived with the modest feeling that you are part of nature.”
He further added, “Building is not a wrapper but one you grab, feel in your nerves, skin.”
Concurred Leplastrier, “It is a love affair, you put your soul in it.” As for lessons learnt from architecture, both felt it taught them to look at life. “Taking full responsibility, one works on it, in the process forgetting time, pain, even family.”
This article was originally published on www.thehindu.com dated August 29, 2015
Image Credit: www.thehindu.com