Category: Architecture

The Imaginary Vision of architects around the world when watered the soil, unique, beautiful and robust buildings came into existence.

An imagination is a vehicle with wings,whose steering is in your hand and you can travel anywhere you wish to go. Let us control the steering of your imagination for a while and make you travel around the world in 10 minutes.

Confused? Just fasten your seat belts and witness the picturesque architecture of the world.

The journey will start from India, following the route of China, Japan, and Russia to USA. From USA we will take you to Brazil, followed by South Africa, Prague, Dubai and then back to initial destination: India.

• India–“Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves.”

HAWA MAHAL- Jaipur

The ‘Purdah System’ (A system which forbade women from appearing in public without face coverings) prevalent in ancient India laid the foundation stone of a palace named as Hawa Mahal.

It was built in 1799 by Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh to allow the royal ladies to watch the life and festivals celebrated in the city without being seen.

• China-“Chinese architecture has a completely organic structure; it contains both sensibility and purpose.”

THE FORBIDDEN CITY- Beijing

The Forbidden City is the perfect representation of the authority and culture of China’s ancient imperial families. As the name suggests, the access to the city was restricted to most of the subjects of the kingdom.

Being the most completely preserved classical architectural complex it is listed as World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO.

 

• Japan- “Recognizing the need is the primary condition for an architectural design.”

AKASHI KAIKYO BRIDGE AKA THE PEARL BRIDGE

Akashi Strait being the dangerous waterway often experienced severe storms and once killed 168 people, when two ferries in 1955 sank in the strait because of the storm.

The dangerous waterway paved the way for the construction of a suspension bridge linking city of Kobe on Japanese mainland of Honshu to Iwaya on Awaji Island.

(Image Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/45/Akashi-Strait_1.png )

 

• Russia- “Designs of purely arbitrary nature cannot be expected to last long.”

SHUKHOV TOWER- Moscow

The Russian Civil War was the phase which witnessed the construction of the Shukhov Tower, also known as the Shabolovka Tower. It is a broadcasting tower designed by Vladimir Shukhov and hence the name. It is also called as ‘Eiffel of the East.’

The dream to build a 350 metre tall tower was shattered because of the short supply of steel in Russia during its construction time; hence the height was reduced to 160 metre.

The tower was about to become a victim of real estate development, however local authorities saved the tower to get dismantle.

 

• USA- “It is not the beauty of a building you should look at; it’s the construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time.”

FLATIRON BUILDING- New York

Never one of the tallest buildings in the city but the unique triangular shape allowed the building to fill the void located at intersection of Fifth Avenue and Broadway: The Fuller Building.

The steel framed building was constructed as the headquarters of the Fuller Construction company, but this giant skyscraper was destined to be named as Flatiron Building by the locals because of its unusual shape.

• Brazil- “Good buildings come from good people and all problems are solved by good design.”

NATIONAL CONGRESS OF BRAZIL

The design of the building results in the perfect balanced emotion, with two opposing sides intersected by a symbol of equality.

National Congress of Brazil is the only building within the central greensward of the eastern arm of the MonumentalAxis and is located at the head of the abstract bird-shaped city plan.

• South Africa- “To be free is not merely to cast off ones chains but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

APARTHEID MUSEUM- Johannesburg

A law of South Africa’s National Party government in 1948 stigmatized more than 20 million people with label of second-class citizens. These people suffered the life of humiliation and abuse which lasted till 1994 when the country’s first free elections were held.

The Apartheid Museum built in 2001 sings the song of inspiring stories of the struggle towards democracy and triumph of human spirit over the misery. The seven pillars with seven befitting words describe the freedom struggle: democracy, freedom, responsibility, equality, reconciliation, diversity and tolerance.

• Czech Republic– “Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.”

DANCING HOUSE- Prague

No one ever wondered that the bombardment of America on a house of Prague during Second World War will give rise to a beauty which will gain popularity all over the world. The beauty is proudly called as Dancing House or Fred and Ginger (the nick name).

The design of the building was a talk of controversies for lot of people as it was something unique and was not laid on the basic architectural principle of Prague: Baroque, Gothic and Art Nouveau Buildings.

• UAE –“We in the UAE have no such word as ‘impossible’ it does not exist in our lexicon.” – HH Sheikh Mohammed

BURJ-AL-ARAB- Dubai

Standing on the artificial island, Burj-Al-Arab is the third tallest hotel in the world. The private curving bridge makes the connection between the mainland and the hotel.

The shape of the structure is designed to mimic the sail of the boat and symbolize the Dubai’s urban transformation. A helipad is constructed near the roof at a height of 210 metres above the ground.

• India-“It is not the beauty of a building you should look at; it’s the construction of the foundation that will stand the test of time.”

RASHTRAPATI BHAWAN– New Delhi

The President of the world’s largest democracy resides in Rashtrapati Bhawan. Its stunning architecture is symbolic of Indian democracy and its secular traditions.

RashtrapatiBhavanaka Presidential palace is the second largest in the world after the Quirinal Palace, Rome, Italy.  In terms of area, it was the largest residence of a head of state in the world.

Money cannot inject the feed of creativity in someone’s mind, it is fed by the observation and this creativity opens the door of brilliance, thereby gifting the mankind with the masterpiece of architecture.

We hope you enjoyed your journey around the world and witnessed top-notch architectures with a charm and happiness. Our experience and hard work is the ticket of the journey and your smile is the price of it.

The lush green open spaces, decorated with spring leaves singing the songs of praise in unison with uniform buildings standing as tough as Himalayas is the most delightful example of architectural intervention in natural manner.

Credits: ghumledunia.com

Any guesses which place are we talking about?

This is all about the city beautiful- CHANDIGARH!

A glimpse on how it came into existence…

Towards the midnight on 15^th August 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru came up with his speech “Tryst with Destiny” and soon his vision to build a new capital city met the expertise of Le Corbusier    ( French Architect), giving birth to Chandigarh.

Chandigarh was based on Nehru’s principle;

“Let this be a new town, symbolic of freedom of India unfettered by the traditions of the past, an expression of the nation’s faith in the future”.

The features of Chandigarh architecture were young, are young, and will always be young. Let’s have a sneak peek into the some lesser known features:

• Le Corbusier and his love for ‘nature’

The three pillars on which all the architecture of Le Corbusier stands is: Light, Space and Greenery. The study on sun and wind was always the stepping stone for all his designs in Chandigarh. As per him, the land always injects nourishment to the soul.

The dominance of open space can be well observed in the city. A hierarchy of open space was set, keeping leisure valleys at city level, parks at community level and courtyards became part of front and rear side of homes.

Gigantic Himalayas and vast fields became a source of inspiration for him. It was his love to this scenic beauty that Capitol Complex was his gift to the Himalayas. Capitol Complex is one of the UESCO World Heritage site.

His focus on these three pillars made it an environmental friendly city.

(Source:https://www.flickr.com/photos/scottnorsworthy/5070631944)

• Symmetric Design for Residence To Create Harmony

Constitution of India gifted Right to Equality as a fundamental right to all its citizens. The same equality can be seen in residences of Chandigarh. Chandigarh adopted a mechanism called ‘Frame Control’.

Under this, the symmetry in design of residences was maintained. Line and height of building and use of building materials is fixed. Certain standard in size of gates and windows are to be followed. Users are given the leverage to create the interiors of their dwellings as per their requirements. Garden for each and every residence is the biggest positive of Chandigarh architecture.

Everything in life has to have balance and to make sure that the environment looks organized and balanced; Le Corbusier hit the right note by maintaining the uniformity in design of residences.

(Source: https://image.slidesharecdn.com/presentationchandigarh-140716061925-phpapp02/95/urban-planning-in-chandigarh-a-reflection-17-638.jpg?cb=1405491741)

• Relationship between Cosmos and Man

“To introduce the sun is the new and most imperative duty of the architect.”- Le Corbusier

The buildings of Chandigarh are designed in such a way that the sunlight penetrates into it even in sunlight scarce season. The incoming sunlight and heat was to be tackled in a manner such that the day hours could be efficiently used in working. Keeping the ‘Law of sun’ as a base, in public buildings and dwellings, some much needed interventions were made.

Chajjas, Jharokahs and Verandahs are provided to fight such environmental problems. The use of perforated shading screens in buildings of Chandigarh controlled the sunlight, making it softer and providing cool daylight.

The “All time solar hours” idea lay a stepping stone for foundation of Tower of Shadows based on the study of the movement of sun.

(Source: http://www.chandigarhguide.com/tower-of-shadow/ )

• Colorful and Vibrant Chandigarh

Bright colors used on the walls of Chandigarh buildings are inspired from the landscape, clothing and paintings of ancient India. These colors used in architecture of buildings made Chandigarh always young, open to give and open to receive.

(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/cities/gallery/2017/apr/07/the-city-le-corbusier-built-inside-chandigarh-in-pictures&https://in.pinterest.com/pin/499125571184294532/)

The best part about this architecture is that nothing has affected its essence, and it promises to remain young in the coming years too. Even the present societies (which have been building or are under construction) reflect the fundamentals of this amazing architecture.

Nehru and Le Corbusier had a power to see the invisible in their vision which is still alive and can be felt in the present architecture. Their vision will be passed from generation to generation, thereby creating a never-ending virtuous cycle.

Spain has not only given ‘US DOS TRES’ to the world, but it has its footprints in other fields too. Especially, when it comes to Spanish architecture, it has always set exquisite designing and construction standards.

A famous architect says, “Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness”. So, there are three basic principles of good architecture:

• Durability – It should stand up robustly and remain in good condition.
• Utility – It should be useful and function well for the people using it.
• Beauty – It should delight people and raise their spirits.

As far as the first two points are considered, architects have always focused and achieved the same. Often they overlook the third point, leaving something ‘missing’ in the building. It is the Spanish architecture which fills this void, presenting a perfect design for any construction.

Spanish Architecture- Amalgamation of beauty and strength!

The architecture of Spain is blessed with many styles. Some of the popular styles includes, Roman Spanish architecture, Gothic Spanish architecture, Neoclassical Style, Mudéjar Style, Renaissance Spanish architecture, Pre- Romanesque architecture, Colonial Spanish architecture, Baroque Spanish architecture, and Iberian and Celtic architecture.

All these styles share some common features which give birth to stunning buildings. Below we have listed some of these;

• Curves and Arches:Curves and Arches are one of the stunning features of Spanish architecture. They are the innovation of Pre- Romanesque period.  A simple exterior gets an upper hand when an arch and curve is featured in a window, door or porch. The design delights the eyes, generating a spark of positivity in heart.When focused on, these arches and curves are not only structures but addition of style in the structure. Curved steps paving way towards heart-warming archway to the front door adds an icing on the cake.

  

(Credits- https://i.pinimg.com/736x/9a/39/f8/9a39f82103e7f1f4225f27740db0a47a–spanish-revival-spanish-colonial.jpg )

 

• Balcony- Worth the spent money
  Non-rounded balconies were introduced in Spain in the 18th century. Balconies have been given an integral spot in Spanish architecture. Considering it as a practical aspect of the architecture, spacious balconies were incorporated in the Spanish design to witness the scenic views and take a puff of surrounding air without leaving the home.

  

(Credits- https://in.pinterest.com/pin/209839663857323114/ )

• Painted Tiles
  

Decorating the basic construction with baroque ornaments gave rise to Colonial Spanish architecture. This style was followed by the Spain colonists when they first arrived in the new world. Painted tiles were used in this phase and they are beautiful characteristic of Spanish influence.

Whether as stair risers or used as kitchen back-splash, these hand painted tiles gives a beautiful touch of Spanish flavor. When different colors and patterns are combined, a priceless art is generated on the tiles.

(Credits- https://in.pinterest.com/pin/51158145742517908/ )

 

• Wrought iron and dark wood work 

  Dark wood work and wrought iron work can be commonly found in this architecture. Stair railings, gates, lanterns and window grills are beautified by finely crafted wrought iron work. The minute detailing of wood work adds a style statement to your home and society.Frames around doorways and windows are created with precise tile work and wrought iron grillwork. These designs are influenced by colonial Spanish architecture. Wrought iron is seen throughout homes in the Spanish design and this elegant metal contrasts beautifully with natural woodwork and tile.

  

(Credits- https://in.pinterest.com/pin/Ab6bk1iOfeTgsZ-c3RoUtpY-rtWCFKqkmPBt1DTRoopgZd6P-WxzqBA/ )

 

• Roof tiles of terracotta The red clay roof top is another player of Spanish architecture which gives building and home a warm, earthy and rustic look. To create the asymmetry, roof lines are kept multi-level. This asymmetry creates interest and is a treat for the eyes. Though asymmetrical, but the building remains robust.Terracotta roof tiles have its application in many places at home. They can be used in a kitchen back-splash or roofs making the home unique and cozy at same time.

  

(Credits- https://in.pinterest.com/pin/319544536052782802/ )

 

• Chimneys resembling TowersThe principle of Spanish architecture is to leave no stone unturned and a full focus is kept even on small details. The chimney is given a special treatment, standing proudly with moldings, small windows and its own tile roof. Terracotta tiling is used in many chimneys and openings can be round or rectangular.To complete the proper look, rustic decorative ledges are used to give an earthy touch.

  

(Credits- https://in.pinterest.com/pin/278026976965843276/ )

 

Impact of Spanish Architecture in India

Spain is renowned worldwide for both its architecture and its architects. In terms of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Spain is the country with the second highest amount of buildings on the list.

The classical touch, opulent structures and a space that makes you feel like king are all features of Spanish architecture. There are many beautiful and famous architectural styles available but Spanish architecture is no doubt the favorite choice for all the home buyers.

Spanish architecture has always been an inspiration for India. Viceregal Lodge (Rashtrapati Niwas) located in Shimla, built during the regime of Lord Dufferin is one of the finest examples of Spanish architecture.

(Credits: http://s3.india.com/travel/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/15-travel-viceregal-lodge-1.jpg)

The themed residences are gaining a lot of popularity in India. People want a complete package in their investment. Spanish architecture is being incorporated by many Indian celebrities at their richness personified residences. Due to its gaining popularity, even new age residential projects for masses are being available with such themes.

“Architecture is a visual art, and the buildings speak for themselves”.