architecture In India people will spend on the interiors of their houses, but spend all their productive working hours in a shabby space. In contrast, in Amsterdam, the work space is beautiful and well organized - a source of pride. I have traveled a fair bit, and on my return, am always glad I chose Amsterdam! How different is the design language in The Netherlands from that in India? RG: Apart from the distinct contexts of climate and culture, design and practice of architecture are also vastly different. Professionalism, quality of work and the role of the architect are in complete contrast in the two worlds. The Netherlands is a design conscious society with a strong tradition of design and art. The rigorous impulse for innovation and experimentation has made it a design hub. Designer/architect selections are merit based, and even young talented architects in the past have been awarded large and prestigious projects. Dutch life has a remarkably flat hierarchy and transparency. This is reflected in Dutch design and space making: open plans, strong concepts, fenestration, and natural light. The language that the designer uses has immense clarity. The layman is quite design conscious, as a consumer as well as a critic. India, like many Eastern cultures, tends to be largely hierarchical, and this is reflected in Indian systems of space making and construction. Site and the larger context are usually not addressed. Construction technology and quality has still not reached much of mainstream India. The language of frugality of the 1960s, using low cost materials, is often not perceived as ‘design’ by the layman. Often, a pasted on style or bling is design. Do you have a design philosophy? RG: I do not have an ‘ism’ or a specific philosophy per se. However most of our work tends to be characterized by simplicity, elegance, naturalness, and serenity. Simplicity is not just ‘trimming the fat’, but also ensuring purity and legibility of the central idea. The language of making allows the natural elegance of materials/materiality to be expressed. When this is made with rigor and www.poolmagazine.in 47
March POOL 2013
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