KEYSTONE 1516

1516

Nishant Pai Mentor

Kaustubh Zawar Tanvi Sawant Advisors

THE CREW

THE EDITORS K E Y S T O N E. It is an experience, it is leisure, it is exploration and a resort for me.

When I received the first copy of Keystone in my hands as a fresher, I was bewondered. I strived hard to get into the team; and here I am, writing my ‘editorial’. I joined Keystone as a part of the editing team, times later, I didnt even realize and am the ‘creative’ editor now.

This bundle of peoples’ thoughts, college culture has taught me to be patient, selfless, thoughtful and bold. The efforts we have put in this book are beyond measure so we whole heartedly hope, this magazine ignites a spark of curiosity and interest in your minds.

Anala Patwardhan III. B. Arch

Shubhankar Anwekar II.B.Arch

Ameya Kulkarni II.B.Arch

Ritu Nair II.B.Arch

Uchchita Joshi II.B.Arch

Tejal Shrotriya II.B.Arch

I can’t believe I’m already writing my editorial! The journey with Keystone started two years back, when we entered the team as the junior most counterparts. Clueless, confused and in my case a little apprehensive. Writing, graphics, editing, composing it was challenging. Initially, I felt hugely out of place, couldn’t get my heart into the magazine. And here I am, writing this editorial as the chief editor with my three other team mates. It has been a very different experience. I have grown so much, learned so much from the entire team.

From insane team discussions, hours of deliberations, to deadlines, tensed meetings and finally the release! This magazine is a special feather in my cap. Looking forward to a smile on the readers’ faces!

Keystone 1516. Editor in chief. Sounds much of a responsibility! But this journey was truly an indelible experience… Reciprocation of ideas, thinking creatively, boosting up the team spirit, etc. were some of the milestones that came along my way in this journey of learning, enriching it. Keystone has been a platform – to share our reflections – may it be through writing, poetry, painting, sketching or photography. A magazine may be just a collection of articles and pictures for some; but it’s a whole world in itself – an era that can be viewed and reviewed years later… A nostalgia to treasure…!

Starting this journey as the youngest member of the KEYSTONE team, three years passed so quickly that it is time to write the editorial myself now! I started this journey as the graphic help to the creative editor of the magazine. Extreme liking for graphic designing made me get into this passionately working team. Lifting up the standards of the magazine each year was a process of much dedication and fervour. The whole experience was more of learning while adding my little share of knowledge; and the awaited result has finally coalesced as KEYSTONE 1516! Cheers to the team!

Keystone is a small family working together to bring about a change. We want to thank ISHA CHAUDHARI and PARAG KASHYAP for their infant and honest efforts; Shri Jitendra Pitaliya, Ar. Prof. Prasanna Desai, Ar. Aarthi Chandrashekar and Ar. Shekhar Garud for their motivation and critique they always provided. Last but not the least, all the photographers and the Academic Team for each and every contribution. We present to you a UTOPIA of thoughts.

Faculty Co-Ordinator: Ar. Aarthi Chandrashekhar Front Cover Credits: Editorial Page Credits: Back

Cover

Credits:

CONTENTS

PVP Culture 1516 Outdoor Classroom

We welcome you to read and immerse yourself as the Keystone unfolds the thoughts, expressions, aspirations, creativity and imagination of the students of PvPCOA in a Utopic world!

13 39 17 19,20 14

and Khaugalli Shearforce Spine A talk with JP Sir

43,44 40 47 48

Features Show the World to Forgive Gross National Happiness Om Mitraya Namah My First Teaching Experience Ramble in the Rains Hypnagogia A Realisation Uneducation Voyage Tributes Wind

OďŹƒcial Word 1 11,12 28 6 36 35 10 21,22 23 29,30 32 41,42

Architalk

When people with start building their own Houses, Neighbourhoods, Cities!

What should be the Basis of our Learning?

By the Students 3,4

Experiment Building Technology Workshop

15,16

Hands Running Free

Reclaiming your Roots

33,34

Delhi through the eyes of PD Sir

49,50

Free Verse

Ar. Jasbeer Sawhney Ar. Akshat Bhatt Ar. Hidetoshi Sawa

9

Ar. Shabbir Unwala Ar. Bimal Patel Ar. B.V.Doshi

18

Predator’s Prey

2 8

5 7 24 27 31 37,38 45,46

Show the World How To Forgive Parth Mathkari I B.Arch paaarth.vm@gmail.com

If you prick us do we not bleed??

If you tickle us do we not laugh??

If you poison us do we not die??

And if you wrong us shall we not revenge??

–William Shakespear

When the whole world was in dismay and the thought of a fight for a fight ruled peoples’ ideologies; When words like forgiveness and reconciliation only existed in dictionaries; When, even the Mahabharata proclaimed “revenge is the purest emotion”! This was the era in which such preachings interpreted by the people, paralyzed the thinking of the masses.And then came the South African Freedom movement, as the world watched with amazement and awe - the struggle led by Nelson Mandela and his magnanimity. Nelson Mandela, a boxer once, a well built and fierce man, rebellion ran in his family, never hesitated for violent protests for the freedom struggle.

Until 1964, when he was sentenced for a

lifetime in jail. Imprisoned for 27 years just for the sake of his birthright, and fighting for it, FREEDOM. As Nelson Mandela returned from jail, most expected he would be riddled with a lust for retribution. Revenge and massacre, is what he would be seeking.

Instead he urged his people to work for reconciliation, and even invited his jailer to attend his presidential inauguration as a VIP guest. Mr. Mandela had changed, and thus began the era of forgiveness.

Just as the nation bathed in the frail rays of freedom, there were these people cursed upon the black-led government, fearing for the most fearful paradigm was crushed upon, by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). A commission, where the guilty of some of the most gruesome atrocities, were granted amnesty in exchange for a full disclosure of their offense.

The story of Mrs. Savage somewhere, describes the mood of the work of the TRC. Mrs. Savage was a white woman injured in a hand grenade attack by one of the liberation movements. She was injured so badly that her children fed her, bathed her and clothed her. She wasn't able to clear airport security, just due to the shrapnel in her arm. She told the TRC, she would like to meet the guilty, a black fellow, in the spirit of forgiveness.

She would like to forgive him the children said, and then extraordinarily she added, “And I hope he forgives me “.

Thus the only thing that can break the cycle of revenge ad reprisal is forgiveness.

As the psychologists recommend, to

forgive is good for our physical, personal, psychic health, as well as our health as a community and as a society.

As archbishop Desmond tutu, also a Nobel laureate for peace, and a forefront being in developing nobility of spirit and attitude of reconciliation, among the South Africans says, “Fundamentally we are good; we are made for love, for compassion, for caring, for sharing, for peace and reconciliation, for transcendence, for the beautiful, for the true and the good. God has chosen this unlikely lot and set up as some kind of paradigm, just as some kind of model, that just might provide the world, with a viable way of dealing with post conflict, post-repression periods. We all in here are not particularly smart-precisely. God wants to point at us as this unlikely bunch, and say to the trouble spots of the world.

“Look at them; they had a nightmare called apartheid. It has ended; your nightmare too, will end. Nowhere in the world exists a problem which is intractable”. There is hope for all of us.

Background photo by: Abhishek Ajgaonkar IB.Arch

Predator’s Prey

I am Malala Malala Yousafzai with Christina Lamb Siddhi Khirad III B.Arch siddhi_10@yahoo.co.in

Isha Chaudhari I B.Arch chaudhariisha16@gmail.com

On the busy roads, by the streetlights, A petite figure walks in the night.

Engrossed in thought, she quickens her walk.

She checks the time, it's 9'o clock.

A few shadows sense her fear.

Unknown to her, they draw near.

It's a filthy and dangerous game they play, Tonight the predators have found their prey.

When the crowd starts to dwindle, she notices something amiss, She can feel the evil behind shadow's kiss, A few roving glances catch her eye She pays no heed as she hurries by.

She adjusts her dupatta as the night grows cold, The air wails in despair at the gore that's to be told.

The shadows tap and she gazes into evil's face.

It's then she knows, she's become the chase.

Like a pack of hyenas they pounce on her.

She shouts but her desperate plea finds no savior, A few sympathetic eyes turn her way, But then frightened, they turn away.

Like cannibals they devour her with thrusts and stabs,

Until finally her body and mind begin to collapse.

With their inhumanity and guilty desire, They numb her will and consume her fire.

That day, not just a life was lost.

That day, a part of each of us died.

Everyone who refused to respect and protect.

Everyone who turned away when she cried.

What did we do? We lit a candle.

Hundreds of them ablaze at night.

The whole country mourned and made vows to change, The next day, another was raped in plain sight.

We're all victims of our fears and society.

Living by the same rules day after day.

When will we get the respect and freedom deserved, When will we stop being the predator's prey?

The story is about a young Pashtun girl - her father - a great propagator of education in Pakistan under the dreadful Taliban rule. I am Malala is as much her father s story as it is hers, for it was he who taught her to fearlessly fight for her right to education that too during the horrifying Taliban rule where nobody was safe - especially women and education. Imagine going to school, only to find heads of goats in the playground and bullet holes in walls!

Even during such circumstances, she wrote under the name Gul Makai for BBC news journal at the mere age of 13 and accompanied her father at public events and openly spoke about her will to continue studying. Today, at the age of 17, Malala has seen and experienced much more than most of us probably will in a lifetime. She has become the youngest woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for her work.

We don t realise the value of anything until it is taken away from us. Reading her story, one realises how much we have gotten used to taking things for granted be it our freedom, our education or most of all, our tomorrows.

One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world!

2

When People will Design their own Houses, Neighboorhoods, and Cities Ar. Hrishikesh Ashtekar Faculty PVPCOA ashtekar.pvpcoa10@gmail.com

Thus he cannot make an illegal hut, nor can house in Nigeria even if both arose in he build his own bungalow. Hence, when desert plains. he wants his own house, he goes to the What is the ‘Big’ issue about stan Towards a Participatory ‘User defined ‘Developer’ who makes buildings with approach’ for designing housing : dardized housing? several standardized design units. The so People in Traditional cultures since ancient Compare this with the modern day called ‘Ready possession’ apartment gives times always knew, how to make their house building activity in large cities. If we the middle class families almost no option buildings & homes as per their needs. The consider the people residing in cities as to exercise their ‘right’ to define their own knowledge of construction always got roughly divided into 3 types of economic living space except spending lavishly on transferred through generations as oral classes – Poor, Middle class and the exclusive furniture items & false ceilings procedures or sometimes as in places like Rich, we find a typical process being with infinite light! When everything from a Kerala or Rajasthan, where the house followed by each class of people. The rigid layout to location of toilets, plumbing & making evolved in form of sophisticated art Poor seldom have a choice of owner electrical layouts are predefined by the form in cities, there were guilds of tradition - ship. The poor man makes his hut or a developer, the end user has to really ‘adapt’ al craftsmen who worked in close team shelter on a pavement or even illegally in his lifestyle to live in a given situation. Thus with the owners. Making one’s own house a slum using whatever material that is the ‘Real loser’ is the Middle class which was a traditional ritual. Almost a decade available. Most of the times, the house is goes ‘Unexpressed’ & ‘Design ago, when I was living in Bhutan, I have made by his own family & friends. What is Suppressed’ in terms of defining their own seen adobe mud wall houses being built in interesting, is that even though the living spaces. the local villages, where people sang as conditions are wretched & unhealthy, still Nevertheless, the bridge between requirethey beat the mud in the wall formwork the poor man exercises the ‘Right’ to ment versus available housing stock in using large wooden logs. When people define his own living space by himself in cities needs to be taken care of & hence built their own house, they knew how less means. The Rich man has the entire mass housing projects cannot be avoided much area they require, what are the world at his service. The Rich man buys especially in large cities. Can there be a spaces in the house, where to sleep, a large plot of land, hires the best design - ‘Middle path’ where a house can still be where to cook, how much light should ers & contractors to make the House’ part of a large ecologically responsive come into their rooms, where will their exactly the way He wants. Thus, the rich system of structures & services, but yet cattle stay and so on. After building the man also exercises his ‘right’ to define his can grow as per needs, can change house, people used to decorate the inside own living space without any limitations. spaces as per requirements & aesthetically with great care using locally available The Middle class which constitutes the define itself as per the various cultures in materials & design patterns, inherent to largest class in our cities, cannot be as cities? Various experiments have been their cultures. Hence, a Banni hut in Kutch daring as the Poor man & cannot afford made by designers & philosophers in the was never the same as a Hausa mud to live like the Rich. world before.

What has the world done till now?

Notable experiment is the European movement called ‘Open Architecture’, in which an open structure in form of slabs & service cores is left for people to design their own house. Even though this move ment has evolved in Netherlands under guidance of Architect, Urban designer Prof.Ar.John Habrakan, projects have been built in far off lands in Japan based upon it. Experiments have been carried out to define Living neighborhoods by Ar. Christopher Alexander based upon his new theory in Urban Design & Pattern language. A Generative code is sought for, based upon the premise that Community housing can be created by people them selves, those who live & belong to the land instead of being based upon monetary profitable systems like housing built by the developers. On the Indian front, even the Government authorities have now realized that standardized mass housing when built for rehabilitating slums or project affected settlements gets unoccupied & rejected by most of the end users occupying the houses. In Navi Mumbai, Pune & various cities in India, experiments have been made to give people only a plinth & basic drainage water supply services (BSUP schemes) which create flexible framework where people will build for themselves an incremental house within their means.

People centric co–operative housing movement has always been there since many years in Indian cities, especially in cities like Delhi.

What could be the New approach?

"At the core... is the idea that people should design for themselves their own houses, streets and communities. This idea... comes simply from the observation that most of the wonderful places of the world were not made by architects but by the people".

—Christopher Alexander, A Pattern The answer is that, Within a flexible frameLanguage, front bookflap work of structure, building services & The obvious references in the above maybe a defined external façade, it would sentence are from the studies of medie - be definitely possible for people to define val towns in Europe & Asia, where the their own spaces according to their own design of the house was an outcome of needs & lifestyle. cultural & social patterns defined by the Even today, the people can build cities. City people, themselves. This concept of self is actually an abstract concept. A number definition of space is so historic in the of neighborhoods make a city. The neighcontext of human settlement, that almost borhoods have plots, roads & open all the traditional cities & houses have spaces. The current towns planning been built or at most defined by the - systems & acts in India have been people themselves. The traditional Japa borrowed from its colonial past. In a free nese wooden houses came up on a country even if major road structure is structural grid based upon the dimendefined by the government & also built, All sions of the ‘tatami’ mats, which were laid the plot re configuration in the growing all over the house interiors. The exterior suburbs & also for large scale redevelop walls were in form of openable screens, ment can be done by the land owners to let the nature come in a better season. coming together to form a cohesive & The interior rooms could be changed cooperative group. These communities will whenever required because they were be ‘livable’ & ‘walk able’ neighborhoods defined by movable ‘fusuma’ light weight defined between streets with broad internal partitions made out of lattice sidewalks coupled with efficient mass framed paper screens. transit systems. Interestingly the seemingly It is a common fact that, in case of impossible processes about which I am today’s mass housing schemes, people writing have happened few hundred years tend to modify their house & their ago in India. The planned city of Jaipur only surroundings over a period of time to suit defined grids of street & character of buildtheir needs. Even today, when people ings on the edges of street. All the internal get changes done in their pre-built streets & neighborhoods are organic & built houses or do ‘Interiors’, they actually by people. Even our own Pune witnessed define their own space which comes as the laying of ‘Peth’ areas during the Pesh a natural instinct to them but such an was period in the same process. We will endeavor can succeed in only a limited find straight laid out roads in the Peth areas manner. The final fact remains today, but the internal plot configurations was when we have accepted mass housing defined by the various communities who & we cannot go back to the incremental occupied the Peths. Even though seem old city houses or the farmhouses ingly congested for the Automobile to get anymore. Hence there are few things in, Look at the interesting spaces what we people will never be able to build by have got in the old cities. themselves in today’s housing. These So what New am I offering? Nothing are-The floor slab, The roof slab & the …Let all work together, people. water supply & drainage services. That’s Designers & executioners to better all is that is required.

Livable cities.

4

Experiment

Manas Chordia III B.Arch manaschordia@gmail.com

It's strange what a set of drawings can do if NOT well thought of. Wondering over the pages designed by an engineer, it was my father who asked me if I can design our house. With an experience of only three semesters in Architecture, I was not sure if I could. Being first project- designing my own house is what many dream for and of course it was exciting. This Diwali vacation, I had a real job to do…and YES! It has been built.

An accomplishment which could have never been imagined but it has knocked my door only for me to find out a pyramid of knowledge. Starting off with the basic plans which were hand draughted, I worked on the detailing and electrical layouts. It did not involve a working drawing as most of the times the decisions were taken on site, with the basic planning in mind. A real time challenge being a mason, an engineer, an architect, a laborer and everything that required to complete the house, I was guided by the contractor and the electrical consultant to bring this image into reality.

Being in a location which blocked three sides of accessibility, the entrance could be only from the west side of the busy market street which shared compound walls. The total site area computed to 500 sq. ft. The building typology of Chopda market is of mixed type.

Therefore the ground floor of the house had to be rented out. The public areas are on the first floor and the private add up a second floor. There were many last minute changes which were made either by some experience or by advice. It is all a combination of mental satisfaction and compromise. The happiness you get seeing your plant grow by daily watering it is exactly the feeling I had; an opportunity to experience. Every brick that I placed was an EXPERIMENT I performed and this is what decided the name of my house, 'EXPERIMENT'. This project has proved a major learning experience which will surely guide me in the phases of architecture to come.

I have learnt to adore the symbol of imperfection that denes me, my progress and my future: the EXERIMENT!”

Article Credits: Kiran Karachiwala III B.Arch

My First Teaching Experience

Piyusha Patwardhan III B.Arch piyushapatwardhan@gmail.com

me, to learn something fun. But after all

It was just not possible to make them sit in

perceptions are momentary! The children

a place and make them listen to me for an

came inside the class and not outside of

hour. Their teacher ushered me to

their 'recess mode'. It took a great deal of

distribute the papers and start with my

time, patience and a wooden scale for the

first object. As soon as I started

teacher to make them assimilate my

distributing papers the questions came

presence.

back again. "Didi, can I get a pink paper

After a lot of restlessness, I got the chance

like her's?", "Didi, I want one more!". We

to introduce myself and my subject. The

made a butterfly first, then a flower, a dog

children referred to me as 'Didi' and all

puppet and managed to make a hat in

kinds of naive and odd questions started

last few minutes. Every time I took a

coming up, "Didi, why are you here?",

pause to let everyone finish the earlier

Who would have thought teaching would be

"Didi who called you?", "Didi, Didi! What

object, the faster kids would start getting

maddening and exhausting!!

are you going to teach us?", And like this

all hyper and would disturb the entire

the discipline of the class again went on a

mood setting of the class. We had to

The school where I was invited to teach was,

roll. Some were throwing such questions

repeat the discipline drill now and then!

one of the "Teach for India" initiated schools.

at me, while some were talking to each

When we made the dog puppets, the

The kids were all from economically lower

other and the rest were out of their

nasty kids started playing with it and

backgrounds and knew nothing about art or

respective desks!

accompanied the act with barking noises!

craft besides papers and pencils and I was

There were hardly 25 kids in the class;

going to teach them the Japanese art of

Whereas, we are 80! Let's say we are of

paper folding - 'Origami'. The teacher there,

different backgrounds and elder too; But

had given me this chance after seeing my

still! There is a Huge difference in 25

work in this subject.

versus 80! I couldn't manage a class of

So on the D-day, I gathered my arsenal,

25 of standard 7th kids with their teacher

some papers, glue, the reference book and

by my side. How do our teachers manage

took off for the school. At the school, I met

a class of 80?!

the teacher with whose reference I was there

I thought teaching was just passing on

and she guided me to the 7th standard

ideas. But it needs a great deal of efforts

class. She ushered the peon to ring the bell,

and passion to keep you going!

and soon the class gathered in after the recess.

At first I thought there will be just a few little kids, who will be there waiting for

6

Ways of Seeing Structure

Mud Construction

by Prof. V. R. Shah, Ahmedabad

by Gramavidya, Bengaluru

Explorations in Clay

Bamboo workshop

by Smt. Vidya Dengle

by Ar. Sankalp, Ahmedabad

Compiled by: Abhinav Agarwal III B.Arch

know your architects!

Tejal Shrotriya II B.Arch tejalshrotriya@gmail.com

Credits- Manali Padwad

Ar. Anupama Kundoo

Architalk AR. Jasbeer Sawhney, New Delhi

AR. Akshat Bhatt, New Delhi

AR. Hidetoshi Sawa, Vietnam

Ar. Jasbir Sawhney, from Delhi visited PVPCOA in early July, 2015. The management philosophy of his firm is to continuously strive for innovative solutions in the mainstream of contemporar y architectural thought.

“You can design better with constraints.”

“An architect's job is between 3.75 to 2 FSI” Majorly involved in projects of Urban Design, his designs reflect the construction technology and materials used in them, which usually speak of the current level of technological progress in the immediate context.He believes that constraints that apply to design, like that of materials, context etc. help it become more meaningful and specific to the user and region.

He opined that Urban Design should be introduced as a subject early-on in architecture colleges, as most of the current issues that Indian cities face are regarding urban design. Solving these issues sensitively will require architects to have a good background and forethought .

Ar. Akshat Bhatt is a practising architect and designer from New Delhi. A person with vision for the future, the architect visited PVPCOA and interacted with the students. While conversing with the students, he remembered his childhood self and how he loved making up 'stories' for not doing his homework! “Architects are not creative. They are innovative.

Jumping streams of thought.” he says.

“Lace it. Brace it. Get your moment connections right. So let's stop thinking and working in concrete. Steel works better!” was his solution to the monotonously growing concrete jungle!

He focussed on the importance of 'communication'. “Never assume that everybody knows it all. Fundamentals need to be clear. Also, if you are not presentable, people won't take you seriously!” he warned us. “Make or break yourself. You need to be a good human at the end!” he concluded.

I was fortunate to interview Ar. Hidetoshi Sawa from Vo Trong Nghia Architects, a firm that embodies the philosophy of architecture for the earth. He talked about trying to slowly change the outlook of people towards bamboo as also other natural materials without chemical treatment. “The impact and influence of the culture, climate and behavior of the people gives a very unique flavour to the architecture.He gave an example of architecture in Japan being very ambiguous and connected. There is no difference between the interior and the exterior whereas in Europe he observed heavy stone houses with defined closed spaces. He saw Europeans being very stiff and definite when asked something whereas people in Japan are more ambiguous and are more likely to say “ maybe “ instead of a “yes “ or “no“. This unique outlook towards people inspired all of us at PVPCOA and opened up a whole new world of architecture to us.

- Ritu Nair, II YR

- Mugdha Karlekar, III YR

- Shubhankar Anwekar, II YR

A Realisation

Wanderlust - Danielle Steel The Great Railway Bazaar – Paul Theroux Trupti Gadre IV B.Arch truptigadre8@gmail.com

Ritvik Butte I B.Arch ritwikkbutte@gmail.com

A couple of days ago, when my mom and me were on a cleaning drive at home, I accidentally found two large suitcases of hers full of letters. Letters from far away friends, family and what not. There were literally hundreds of them! I was awed, and this somehow then got followed into a series of interesting stories about "her times".

Stories of how there used to be only one black and white TV set in whole mohalla; How everybody used to gather there on Sundays, for movie nights; How fun it was to rent VCR cassettes for a day, and keep on rewinding back to the favourite scenes just to make the mostof them. Recording your favourite songs on the radio. How everybody in the mohalla used to be invited when her mom had cooked something different. Just the mere thought of all this put a strange smile on my face, and also forced me to think about " my time".

If anything our generation is getting close to, its virtuality.

Sure some of the above things are done even today in some or the other ways, but the very essence of it seems to be lost.

The essence which was in the very longing

for a letter. The essence which was in the joy of your favorite song unexpectedly getting played on the radio. It was in the unison of . the joyous exclamations when India won a match. A time when community mattered and the dictionary bore no word as materialism!

So what led us to master narcissism? I think it won't be of any harm to blame the technological advances, would it? They sure had their toll on us.

And again as someone famous once said

"To be content with little is difficult; to be content with much, Impossible!

The Great Railway Bazaar is a travelogue by the American novelist Paul Theroux. It recounts Theroux s four-month journey by train in 1973 from London through Europe, the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, and his return via the Trans-Siberian Railway.

The striking similarity between these two stories is the urge of the protagonist to travel and their voyage on the Orient Express.

One was an imaginary unreal experience and the other a very real one. In one she finds the love of her life, the other causes separation.

While Wanderlust is an amazing piece of fantasy, The Great Railway Bazaar delves into the intrepid travelers mind, descr ibing a more palpable experience.

Both of these books are a must read for all those with the urge to travel and explore, wanderlust , as we may call it. Wanderlust, for its dreamy nature, where fiction lets you dream of a different world and of travels which one could not have possibly taken The Great Indian Railway Bazaar for the harshness and trueness which can be felt through Paul Theroux s words, describing his real adventures, portraying the reality of what travelling actually is, or rather what it actually was at that time.

The two writers, both from different genres, grip us with their words, creating an excellent pace which makes us travel with it.

10

Gross National Happiness

Aditya Malshe V B.Arch adimalshe@gmail.com

Travelling opens up your eyes to several things unknown. Travelling inspires you, gives you some of the most important lessons of your life, and leaves you with countless memories!

Bhutan was one such lifetime experience for me. A nine day tour of this beautiful country left me inspired beyond words.

Bhutan is a landlocked nation with India on its three sides and China to its north. This country with a meagre population and an abundance of natural wealth boasts to be the world's first carbon negative country.

The picturesque frames literally travel with you everywhere you go.

The climb begins at Phuentsholing, a town in the plains of Bhutan which shares its border with India. One amazing thing of the border here, is that it is a free border which allows an inflow and outflow of people on both sides up to a certain distance. So, one can come to Bhutan from India for a nice meal of Kewa Datschi (potato with cheese curry) and rice, shop for some Ghos or Kiras (traditional attires for men and women respectively) and get back home in a couple of hours!

Bhutan accepts Indian currency everywhere, and even Bhutanese currency is accepted in the bordering towns of India.

The road leading from Phuentsholing to

Thimphu is almost covered all the year round with fog, and that makes the drive thrilling, yet beautiful. The valleys are covered with lush green carpets and the skies are devoid of pollution. One can really feel the purity of air!

Thimphu is the largest town in the country.

Of the 24 districts in Bhutan, I saw 5. So, still a lot remains unexplored. Most of this unseen, is the countryside and the forested region. The capital city does not have an airport. The airstrip for this country is at Paro, which has very few flights coming in.

Only 9 pilots in the world are trained to land here. I was lucky to witness a landing, which has the aircraft turning all its way to descend through the peaks and land in the valley.

Each town; Thimphu, Paro, Punakha, Wangdue, etc. has a river flowing through it with crystal clear and cool waters. The rivers are relatively shallow. The towns have in fact, grown along the water bodies.

Tourism has pretty much developed in Bhutan, but one does not see the kind of commercialisation, like that at Shimla or Nainital. The human footprint is much smaller if compared with India, which leaves Nature to grow at its will.

Bhutan has a cool weather most of the times. One should of course check the season and travel there, since several parts are covered with snow during winters.

The people are employed in all sectors of work. One can see many men involved in occupations like stitching, embroidery and other arts and crafts. Women can be seen working equally. In fact, most of the hotels and restaurants have an all-women crew.

Bhutan can be called as a land of beliefs.

Nature being a very dominant factor in the lives of the people there, one can find several myths revolving around it. People respect their natural wealth and protect it.

Apart from most of the information above, which one could probably find anywhere online, I would like to speak more on the kind of character these towns have. Right from each signboard above shops to the largest of towns and streets, there is an order and discipline. The Bhutanese surely have their rules in the correct place, to control the character of their buildings, to ensure that they all lead to one holistic product. The country does not use traffic signals! People work it out on a mutual understanding. The towns are small yet

beautiful. One finds a celebration of their culture in the minds of each and every person, which invariably gets reflected in their attire, their language, their buildings, their regulations and so on.

The towns have large public places or squares where they celebrate their festivals on a community basis. They even have smaller pockets of open spaces with benches, parks, where all are welcome.

They form a cohesive community, which probably makes the country the 'happiest' country in the world. Measuring its growth not in terms of GDP, but GNP (Gross National Happiness).

The country has a bountiful of Dzongs, monasteries, stupas and temples. Each town gets identified by a Dzong (administrative headquarters with a court of justice, temple, accommodation facilities for the staff, etc.) which is brilliantly lit after sunset. It becomes the most dominant entity in the valley at night.

The architecture of sloping roofs, walls abundant with paintings and ornamentation, corbelled out horizontal bands, bright and colourful symbols on doors, framed windows, etc. is seen everywhere. The newer buildings in concrete follow this architectural style, which has emerged from the country's old timber construction. To my surprise, even the roofs of petrol pumps follow the traditional style of architecture! All this makes the country truly a visual delight, where the human intervention respects Nature and expresses a discipline. Nothing there seems out of place.

To sum it all up, I would say that although Bhutan might seem to be behind the developed world, in terms of the parameters of development which we consider, it is much ahead of us in terms of the spirit of living, and the contentment of lives being led by the people.

India has a lot to learn from this neighbour sitting up in the north-east!

Boyhood Richard Linklater Rugveda Sawant I B.Arch rugveda42@gmail.com

Boyhood is a wonderfully simple coming of age film. Made over a period of 12 years, this Richard Linklater film might be one of the most relevant 21st century films. The movie follows the experiences of Mason Evans Jr. from his childhood (age 6) to his adolescence (age 18) and the impact they have on his perceptions about relationships, art and life with endearing authenticity. Ellar Coltrane essays the role of a child growing up through multiple failed marriages and subsequent relocations with great nuance. He is at his uninhibited best during his pre high school years and a particular scene in his classroom after a certain traumatic hair-cutting incident takes the cake. Lorelei Linklater as his elder sister is a very relatable character and plays the supporting role well.

Patricia Arquette puts in a strong performance as Mason Jr.'s mother. By the end of the movie, she will make you look at the now-so-romantic idea of staying away from home from a different perspective; your mother's perspective and might help you appreciate the gravity of that for a mother. Ethan Hawke as his father plays the part commendably. The movie was not made with a fixed script and Linklater took in notes from the actors every year based on their experiences in their respective lives and incorporated that in script; making the movie very relevant to its time.The movie almost ends up being a present day film adaption of The Catcher in the Rye, but with more maturity and subtlety (J D Salinger would most certainly disapprove!).Watch it whenever you want to feel warm, reminisce and probably introspect a little!

12

Put your sneakers and sprint till college, That's what the tradition says, But 15 th august is much more than that!

It's different from any other days.

15 AUG & 26 JAN

To get the blood running, A marathon to be sporty and fit!

The first thing on this day , And that's the start of it.

In huge numbers we flock to the college, Pedaling our bicycles with speed.

Because cyclathon is what 26 thJan is, That is our very seed.

With throbbing legs we head up the staircase, Looking forward to this day .

With sharp attention we hear the chief guests, And get inspired by all they say

Everyone looks at the tri-color With their wide glistening eyes, With an ear to the songs of our fight, And our freedom from the ties. .

Forum declaration and prize distribution, Call for claps, whoots and some tease!

The program ends with a bang, With the final keystone release!

Next in line is Gol Gappe, The ultimate seniors telling their tales and stories!

Sharing incidents from their internship.

And their 6-month repositories!

At the end of the day , We are all a lot inspired...

Happy content and gala, Not to mention tired!

Soon after we've gathered on the terrace, With patriotism in our hearts, The speeches are delivered with great valour, And the flag hoisting starts! ,

Another tradition continues, That is super fun to play, The treasure hunt, undoubtedly Is the highlight of the day!

It's a funny sight to watch, With people scampering every place.

Playing games and finding clues, With a curious look on their face!

As we start to leave, One question plays the trick, What would've been the scenario, If we weren't autarkic?

Compiled by: Uchchita Joshi II B.Arch

,

TRIVI-ARCH 2015, VIT’S PVPCOA

ARCHITECTURAL QUOTIENT,

ROOKIES 2015, VIT’S PVPCOA

VIT’S PVPCOA

Begun as a reborn brainchild of Ar. Prof.

Prasanna Desai, 'Triviarch' is an annual intra-college quiz competition held at VIT'S PVP COA, Pune.

It is a competition where in students from 2nd, 3rd and 4th year participate in teams of two. It begins with a preliminary round in which all the participating teams must answer a questionnaire, prepared by the students' team that organizes Trivi-arch, within a specified period of time.

The top 6 teams then advance to the final round, which takes place in the presence of a live audience consisting of all the college students and the faculty. It consists of a live quiz based on various subcategories pertaining to architecture.

Thoroughly enjoyed by students and faculty alike, trivi-arch has now become an integral part of the rich culture of PVP COA. Winners: Aniket Raskar III yr Manas Kulkarni II yr 1st runner up: Reetwik Malpani IV yr Shweta Dhodge II yr 2nd runner up: Kaustubh Zawar IVyr Yashashree Patil II yr

Architectural quotient is an inter-college quiz competition organized by VIT’S PVP COA. This competition is organized every year, and receives a huge enthusiastic response from all over the city. This competition is like a preparation for the national level quiz competition ‘Archumen.’

The objectives of the Asian Contest Of The Architectural Rookies Award is to review, judge and evaluate architectural works and ideas created by students studying Architectural Design in universities in Asian countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Japan and India.

The vision of AQ is to elevate quizzing standards of architectural quotient. This vision was initiated in 2008 and it took form in 2011.

The executive committee chairman is Dr.Youngil Lee, a practicing architect from Osaka, Japan.

This competition is organized in the S.M.Joshi auditorium, and was a full house. The competition has a structure of various rounds, with few heads being Classroom, around the world, History; covering varied aspects related to architecture.

The Qualifying round sends six teams on the stage. The quiz progresses on, with the audience involvement at certain instances.

The audience and the participants leaving the auditorium are charged up and wellenlightened with respect to architecture!

Winners: Karishma Joshi BKPS Manasi Saraswate BKPS

This contest is held in different Asian countries every year in order to contribute to the Architectural Education and establish rich and networking associated with modern Architecture. This year the host college being VIT'S PVP COA, Pune; entries from over 30 colleges from all over India were here to present to the 16member jury team consisting of eminent architects from all over the country and Dr.Youngil Lee from Japan.

14

What should be the Basis of our Learning?

Ar. Niranjan Garde Faculty PVPCOA niranjangarde@gmail.com

One of the most important questions indeed! The answer itself took around two years form. I will be answering this question through the process of my research.

My first topic, during my post graduate program in the University of British Columbia, was related to finding the connection between architectural spaces and emotions; Or the ability of architectural spaces to impact human emotions. This topic roughly fell into the domain of phenomenology of architecture and since the nature of this topic was intuitive, it could not be rationally proved. I realized that, it would have taken a substantial amount of time to complete the research, and so I decided to change the topic to something I was comfortable with, alone. That was an important decision to be made. This is so, because no one tells you how to do research. You need to make all the sense of the infrastructural support that you get from the university, and it is a matter of luck if your guide is interested in your topic. If he/ she isn't, then the journey is entirely by yourself!

And in this scenario, your interest in your research topic is the only thing that will sustain your research journey for two years!

My research topic was to understand the meaning of the Hindu temple, for the north Indian community in Vancouver.

Essentially, at the end of the research, I came to realize that it is the 'people' who create or define a meaning in architecture and NOT just the architects. An architect has lesser control to define how should people behave in his arrangement of spaces, or whether his anticipated spatial arrangement will have a predictably uniform social and psychological effect on people. Human behaviour is a complex thing and architectural decisions have a limited role to play in shaping and defining human actions. Conversely, any given piece of architecture will be subjected to some kind of 'meaning creation' by the people who are using it (and that meaning will most of the times, be different from the architect's perception). In other words, each individual interprets architectural spaces according to his identity – which depends on his age, gender, class, context, environment, social, cultural and other factors. Therefore, the most important point to be noted is that, there is NO fixed way of looking at architecture, and neither should architects claim to control human behaviour through architectural arrangement of spaces.

Where does that leave the architect then? I think the crucial issues to be dealt with while designing are – creativity (which means finding new interpretations for problems), climate, context and people. It is no use to think in terms of politically religious forms (temples, mosques, churches). The form ought to be churned out of the thinking process, rather than hurryingly crystallizing a predefined form (although this is another matter that ANY form can fulfil ANY function, and therefore one can start thinking from the form side or the function side). There is no fixed rule that a particular function should represent a particular form and neither a particular form should denote a particular purpose. It is all in our minds!The second important lesson that I learned, is that our identities

are a social construct – identities are also subject to change and our context plays a tremendous role in shaping those identities.

Thus, everything is relative. Since identity is relative, our meanings are relative, implying that the meaning of architecture as perceived by the individual is also relative. There is no Indian architecture or Western architecture in terms of a political label. I mean, to study Indian architecture in terms of some inventory of definite forms and materials, is pointless! This is a very narrow definition of identity tied up with architecture. It is important here, to recall what Ar. Charles Correa had mentioned in his book 'A Place in the Shade', wherein it is implied that architecture seems to be rooted to aspects of climate, culture, aspirations and technology of those times. In another function co- hosted by IIID and PVPCoA last year (the next day after the grand thesis jury hosted by PVPCoA), Ar. Ashish Ganju highlighted this connection by mentioning that architecture happens at the intersection of 'geography', 'history' and 'philosophy'.

The issue, as we are trying to understand all our lives, is of context and to understand the response that people of different societies have come up to conceive their architecture. The issue is to understand how does one think? What is the nature of thought itself? And how does thought relate to architecture? Is it possible to think and conceive architecture without using labels such as 'advanced', 'primitive', 'green', 'Western', 'vernacular', 'hi-tech', 'Indian' and so on??

The answer to these questions will help us understand our very nature of being 'human'. The third important thing to realise is that knowledge has become interpretive – which means no one holds a privileged position in defining what constitutes correct information –

absolutely no one. No one is superior to anyone else, and all forms of knowledge and societies are equally relevant.

The historical distinctions between the Dominant West and the Subordinate East, are redundant and almost everything that the colonial rulers entrusted is now open to challenge.

Multiplicity and complexity is the hallmark of today's world. Important questions to ponder are:

know your architects!

1.How is my identity shaped? Who am I? 2.How is culture related to myself? How is context related to me?

3.How am I related to 'others'?

4.How are 'nations' formed? What is the colonial history and how is it related to Indian history?

5.Who defines history? How is it reconstructed and represented?

6.How is society formed? How is it the same or different from historical societies?

7.How do above factors shape the built environment?

Answers to above questions will eventually reveal the nature of knowledge, how we shape it and how it shapes us. THIS indeed, should be the basis of our learning process for a better nurtured generation of architects.

Credits- Abhinav Agarwal

Ar. Tadao Ando

First year: A Reflection Monsoon Trek Fresher’s

Monsoon Trek : Raigad Fort Like every year, the Monsoon trek was a complete hit! Not quite graced by the monsoons really, but the small pools and newly forming waterfalls added to the fun!

A long trek, with mesmerizing scenery was completed by all the enthusiastic students. On reaching the top of the fort everyone was awestruck by amazing architectural ruins. Not to forget the steaming hot and tasty “Pithla Bhakri”. The trek amongst the Sahyadris was an amazing experience, and gave a glimpse of the glorious Maratha Empire!

Welcome First year The fresher’s evening is an awaited event for the newly arrived first yearites. This year the theme for the fresher’s evening was “Wanderers”. An interesting theme, and also a tough one to put up. The second yearites put up a well designed set comprising of various components like sand dunes and rainforests and mountains.... The entire journey took the junior wanderers to the main area and the dance floor. The fresher’s evening was thoroughly enjoyed and was a hit! Kudos!

Compiled by: Shreya Kembhavi III B.Arch

Architalk AR. Shabbir Unwala, Lonavala.

AR. B.V.Doshi, Ahmedabad.

AR. Bimal Patel, Ahmedabad

Shabbir Unwala, a practising architect from Lonavala paid a visit to the college.

He threw light on his work and experience by presenting his projects to the students.

He strongly believes that architecture is the connecting bridge between man and nature. He used a combination of natural material like wood, stone, brick and steel with aplomb. Taking a look at the building which are designed by him, one is wonderstruck at the sheer amount of technology used by him. He believed that the best way to build the building is to have a minimum footprint on the mountain side and treat the building as an artifact planted on the site. He uses diet architecture as the main motive of his design. His designs mostly contain minimal form, contained spaces, dynamic, peripheral landscaping which are used as holiday homes. The most awe taking is the visual release on all sides of his structure to an open lake. It was a great learning and an interactive session.

Pioneering architect BV Doshi graced his presence in the college.He threw light on how he focuses on the ability to combine functionality and aesthetics to traditional and modern techniques. He discussed with student his master pieces . He strongly believes that architecture and habitat primarily encompass open spaces, and so he compares building to human beings.

He spoke about how he has created architecture that relies on a sensitive adoption and refinement of modern architecture within an Indian context.

The relevancy of his environmental and urban concerns and thus make him unique as both a thinker and teacher.

Architectural scale and massing, as well as a clear sense of space and community mark most of his work. BV Doshi believes that life and within it architecture is a consequence of instinct and fate along with the diligence a n d f r u g a l i t y o f a n architect.Nevertheless, the mark he has left on South Asian architecture in undeniable. He is an architect anchored by experiences ,and perspectives,is diverse ranging from modernist and urbanist to cultural and mythical.

President of CEPT University, Ar. Prof.

Bimal Patel also leads HCP Design Planning and Management Pvt. Ltd. Ar. Patel graced us with his presence at VIT's PVCOA for an interactive session with the students regarding some of his works and his philosophies.

During this session, he discussed his work on the Sabarmati river-front development as an example of the spaces that integrate environmental, social and urban aspects.

He compared the social character that it lacked, to what it should ideally be like and the case studies and existing socially vibrant projects that he found related to the social hub should be like. This project had 6 main goals or steps, as follows: 1.Make the river-front accessible to everyone.

2.Stop the flow of sewage and garbage into the river and recharge the ground water.

3.Providing housing for the slum dwellers who reside in the slums that run alongside the river.

4.Reduce the risk of erosion and flooding.

5 . C r e a t e r i v e r- f r o n t p a r k s a n d promenade.

6.Create cultural, trade and social amenities to revitalize the river-front neighbourhoods.

- Tejal Shrotriya, II YR

- Tejal Shrotriya, II YR

- Ritu Nair, II YR

18

Outdoor Classroom Relative Study Program

Travel and Architecture Freedom and Responsibility Experiences and Learning

I

The heart of India, the place inhabiting customs, traditions and moral values; the excitement rose to another level when we heard our RSP destination is Madhya Pradesh. And surprisingly, we went to Maheswar, a city famous for its temples, bathing ghats, mighty fort complexes, which stands in its quiet beauty and splendor, mirrored in the river Narmada and its intricate Govind Maheshwari saree, revived to its ancient position of importance by the Holkar queen Rani Ahilyabai of Indore, who transformed the landscape of Maheshwar into a land of tranquility and prosperity. What attracted us the most was the ghat, Narmada river, the view of the sunset from the ghat touching the horizon and then into the river, and architectural elements like fascia, bracket which portray the simplicity and the culture of Maheshwar. The elephant, parrot and peacock carvings on the brackets, the huge openings, the palace museum, ghat and temple exhibit sense of their early lifestyle.

- Stuti Jain I Year B. Arch

II

We travelled to the quiet eastern corner of India, Orissa for our second year RSP. The ancient history of India still lingers in the temples, Chaityas and Stupas here - a rich heritage of two thousand years, a glorious past dating back to Mauryan dynasty. Konark being the first destination we visited, here the ancient Indian architecture culminated of the construction of the wonderful Sun temple.

Followed by Lingaraj Temple,the remarkable structure gives the tint of Kalinga style of architecture. Then we visited Raghurajpur, a heritage village, where every villager is an artist and every house is a work studio. The quaint huts and palm groves shelter microcosms of unraveled artistic heritage. It is an assemblage of artwork in a single place.

Thatched and brick houses having high plinths with sit out platforms serve as an outdoor studios where artist are seen engrosses in intricate detailing. After being to Raghurajpur for about two days we moved to Chilika lake which was a blissful moment and the state museum.

- Tejal Shrotriya II Year B. arch

III

Excitement filled the classroom air as we all looked forward to the last ' RSP ' (Relative Study Program) – the official study tour for all 80 of us together! Each RSP is one memorable learning experience nowhere to miss out on the fun experiences! After studying the ghats of Mahuli and the havelis of Rajasthan, this time it was Alleppey – The Venice of the East as it is known; a small group of islands located in the backwaters of Kerala. Along with its scenic beauty and artistically crafted house boats, it had much more to offer; the unique culture along the waters was something to be explored. The lifeline of the people here were the canals; may it be the transport, trade, business or occupation.

Understanding the traditional, simplistic yet structurally sound settlements built along the waters by the people themselves with local ancestral knowledge formed a part of our study; with each door, chhajja, window having a - Mugdha Karlekar III Year B. arch

Graphic by: Harsh Pendharkar

kerala

20

Compiled by: Harsh Pendharkar and Mugdha Karlekar III B.Arch

orissa

Graphic by: Ameya Kulkarni

Graphic by: Pushkaraj Bhamre

madhya pradesh

Uneducation

Pranav Bobde III. B.Arch. pranav.bobade@gmail.com

Hi peeps! So, this article is about learning.

How often have we pointed fingers at our institutions? How many times have we wondered if THIS is the only way to learn and gain knowledge? Is the propagator is the one to be blamed (in this case, the institutions) or the student? Or is it the approach that is at fault? This an evergreen topic to debate upon, and as you know, we amateurs are none to decide. This article contains the essence of this argument, quoted by a person who is active in creativity education.

Mr. Jinan K. B. graduated from Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal and later in product design from National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad.

He is a designer, craft activist, and Uneducationist. He recently concluded a workshop in Pune called 'Awakening our Aesthetic Senses'.

Mr. Jinan jolted the audience with his opening statement. 'The modern education system is a criminal activity'. Such bold statements are seldom received from the elder generations. He went on to justify his statement with an enthralling literary trip into the brief physiology of the education system and the history of India.

The Indian way of education and the GuruShishya parampara, practiced largely until 1947, and followed in the Indian Classical Music by some music doyens and in Vedic teachings at some of the ashrams across the country, was the best model of the education system, which encouraged the mind to be creative at the base level, unaffected by other's thoughts and thus learn from the world around, creating a rich cultural base, giving true knowledge to the world. When the British encountered this system, they completely abolished the prevailing ideal and substituted it with their own narrow minded system aimed at manipulating Indians, uprooting the cultural base and natural thought system of the Indian individual. K B Jinan calls himself a victim of 'modern' and 'western' education system where he lost his cultural roots, worldview, intuitive abilities and the authentic sense of beauty.

All of today's modern people are such victims, who get enrolled in 'schools' and go through the rut of so called 'learning'.

Creativity cannot be taught since it is what we are made of. Humans grow egotistic over time due to school sanskaras, thus hampering innocence. Innocence is a crucial quality related to learning. Babies and children are an excellent example of possessing greater creative energy. They are so beautifully carefree, always smiling, ever-so-innocent. They are also the sharpest people among us all. (you might remember the brief television reality show 'Kya aap paanchvi paas se tej hain?').

This is because their creative energy is not inhibited by the authoritative 'teachings' of random people, they follow their hearts.

Delving deeper into his life, he explained the difference he saw in the 'untouched' part of India when he journeyed through small villages of Nagaland, Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. There was a striking contrast between the languages of the rural and the urban people. Rural people used more verbs in their language, whereas urban people used more nouns. This highlights the fact that the urban human lives in the realm of the 'I', such high an ego that learning is minimal.

While living and working among the potters of Aruvacode, a tiny village in Malappuram district of Kerala, Jinan explored the possibilities of pottery for the modern world, and thereby invented the Kumbham mural design style.. He had arrived at this style over years of studying the rural education system, hosting creativity workshops with children, and collaborating with potters. The beauty found in natural patterns and rhythms is far more beautiful than what the average 'illiterate' person comes up with.

The best design concepts are seen in natural structures, like the desert snail which retains internal temperature at 30 degrees even when its 48 degrees outside, and the

structure of a tree, which evolves and grows with time, and still stands at 3000 years old. This genius of design is observed only when the mind is at peace with nature. He showed the audience a number of photographs of the works which his students had created. Moving on to the more important aspect of today's youth and the education system; he explained the shortcomings they naturally faced. He explained that there was no immediate exit from the current architectural education system, which entailed completing a number of submissions on time. Enjoying work was a better option to fighting it, since enjoyment brings happiness which also leads to innocence hence creating a conductive learning environment. Jinan also highlighted how the average student's 'study' environment was antimeditative. One either plugs in his/her earphones or resorts to stimulants to help focus on work. This only disrupts the physiology and psychology. Daily meditation connects the individual with the higher self, and creation blossoms.

Ideas and creativity takes places at the level of 'doing', as it is, while executing our ideas that new ideas occur and education happens.

22

Voyage

Nishant Pai V B.Arch pai.nishant@gmail.com

When I was asked to write an article for this years' Keystone, to be honest, I kept putting it off, serial procrastinator that I am, till the very end. "Last minute Panic" answers Calvin, when Hobbes asks him what mood he's waiting for to start his project. I'm sure the current magazine team must be extremely annoyed at me by now. We've all gone through that though, the feeling of holding on to an idea till the very last minute to execute it, the boon/(bane?) of every architecture student, working best under pressure. What is it that keeps us from putting that idea to fruition? Just pure laziness, or that the ideas in our mind ferments over time, until the sweet wine that is our design is ready to be popped open and shared with the world? Optimistic designers that we are, the latter appeals to me, and all of you I'm guessing, as a more valid justification.

'Good things in life take time' Neo-nostalgia is the big thing these days, thinking about the good old days gives us that warm fuzzy feeling inside. It's happening everywhere, in our conversations, history lessons, photo albums, social media and even this article for that matter, is an ode to reminiscence.

Facebook memories recently showed me a picture from five years ago, taken during our

orientation week at college, during which we had to build a stall and sell coconut water to the seniors and faculty. Such innocent excitement gleaming through those clean shaven faces, I can't help but smile to myself looking at that picture.

Who knew that we'd still be selling that coconut water, amongst other things (Pyasa anyone?) till our fifth year. What goes around comes around I guess.

First year is full of firsts, first night out at college, first design exercise, first model and first study tour.(Getting a first class though, is a matter of debate), all of which will play a huge role in the big personality change that is coming in the next four years. First year at college is like entering a new and unknown world, exploring new ways of learning and trying to understanding how to read, draw and think in visuals, akin to learning a completely new language, all while trying to adjust to the new and gruelling lifestyle that is architecture school. It begins to change how we perceive the world as well, I started saying "Aye, woh hot facade detail dekha kya?" instead of "Aye, woh hot ladki dekhi kya?" on the street. You get exposed to people from different cultures and backgrounds, and form your own sort of relationships with them, whether good or bad ones. Over the five years some turn out to be great friends, some good group partners, some become competition, either academic or otherwise. That's what I find beautiful about architecture school, especially ours, the closeness you share with your batch mates grows over time, through thick and thin, and you come out being as close as family. First year for me personally it was a little hard fitting in. I was part of a convent boys' school and junior college, and with this new co-educational environment I'm assuming you've figured out by now why first year was extra exciting and stressful for me. I'm privileged to say though, that the people I spent my

five years with, made me feel as comfortable as home (It WAS home for the most part) and I want to thank them for that.

Study tours are a brilliant thing, and have been an excellent learning, bonding tool.

80 hormonal young adults go on a crazy trip, experiencing and studying rural settlements, construction details and urban fabrics, and come back having studied and experienced much more than that, in a positive way of course.

They bring the class together, you realise your talents and explore their potential and lose your inhibitions. On the topic of losing inhibitions, I'm sure people from my batch reading this will remember when we broke the bed in Panhala by dancing too much on it, or that awesome party De sir organised for us in Indore and stuffing our faces at Khau galli, and who can forget the serene ghats of Varanasi and last night design discussions at the hotel.

I'm really awed by how much we've changed over these five years, by how much our minds have opened to new possibilities, how much we've grown to become amazing young designers brimming with ideas to change the world.

Most of the credit for this goes to our faculty and admin, and I want to take this opportunity to thank every one of them.

The biggest lesson I've learnt in my five years at PVPCOA is that the spirit of fraternity developed here goes a long way toward what kind of a person you become in the future, and I'm terribly grateful for having had that.

Thanks for the memories.

Splashes of colour.

Pushkaraj Bhamre I B.Arch

Pushkaraj Bhamre I B.Arch

Harshwardhan jadhav III B.Arch

24

Vedant Kale III B.Arch

Viraj Gapchoop I B.Arch

26

Composition by: Vipashyana Priyadarshi V B.Arch

Through The Lens

Siddhesh Marne(II Yr. BArch

Harsh Pendharkar(III Yr. BArch

Sumeet Joshi II Yr. BArch

Raghav Maheshwari I Yr. BArch

Shreya Kembhavi III Yr. BArch

Abhinav Agarwal III Yr. BArch

Om Mitraya Namah

Harshwardhan Hardikar IV B.Arch harshwardhan.hardikar@gmail.com

It was in February 2013 when the entire population of PVPCOA, from our director, Ar.Prof.Prasanna Desai sir; trustee, Jitendra Pitaliya sir to all the students and admin staff went into THE CULTURAL WEEK mode.

The PVP student's forum then, was at its very best , for having planned the Insight exhibition, our food fest named 'Khau Galli', our annual sports day, and the Culturals.

Our energy level was at its best to make the week an absolute hit!

Around the same time of the year, comes the day of 'Rathasapatami', as per our traditional Panchang. It falls on the seventh day of Shukla Paksha in the month of Magha; the day when Sun God was born

and started moving North in his Chariot (Ratha) pulled by seven horses. On this d a y, i n I n d i a , p e o p l e p e r f o r m Suryanamaskar in many institutions and at various other social events as Salutation to the Sun – the source of unending Energy.

This gave us an idea - starting the Cultural week by paying our respect to the rising sun and seeking energy, positivity & strength for life. It was a surreal experience when the students of various academic years came together on the terrace of PVPCOA's premises, that sits in the beauty of nature, with the cool winter morning blowing simultaneously, as the warmth of the rising sun hit us gently. And

then it began: “OM MITRAYA NAMAHA!”A total of 36 students performed 1250 Suryanamaskars and thus, our latest tradition began!

With an ever-rising number of students, alumni and faculty every year, the count of Suryanamaskars performed every year kept rising. This year, as the Cultural Week began on 13th February 2016, a total number of 60 students performed 3171 Namaskars, the highest yet.

A tradition started three years back, is the perfect start to the most enthusiastic week of college. The students, faculty and our enthusiastic alumni all come together with vigour and excitement.

Graphics by: Manali Padwad III B.Arch

28

The Missile Man

We, at PVPCOA, pay our tribute to the former President of India and Bharat Ratna Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam

Often regarded as the 'people's president' or the ‘missile man', Dr. Kalam always made an impact on the common man in India and especially the younger generation of students. That fateful day – 27 July 2015 in the campus of IIM Shillong, collapsing in the middle of what he loved doing most — talkingto students, at the age of 83; has proved to be a great loss to the whole nation of India; and most importantly to the humanity as a whole.

The life story of Dr. Kalam is what can inspire each and every young mind.Born on 15 October 1931 in Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu to humble parents – his father was a boat owner — APJ Abdul Kalam distributednewspapers at one time to support his family and his education.He graduated with physics from the Madras University, went on to study aerospaceengineering, wanted to be a fighter pilot which unfortunately he could not.But there was no stopping him. The DRDO, ISRO, chief scientific advisor to the primeminister in 1992, the Pokhran 2 nuclear tests… Abdul Kalam straddled them all, till he waselected India's 11th President in 2002.

A personality courageous, strong and bright; whose radiance had the capacity to lighten young minds; and determined enough to take inside all the odds still being positive enough to create the image of a better future of a country as large and diverse and rooted to its strong beliefs of religion and tradition – the mother nation – INDIA. We, the children of India are proud to have had this personality and will try our best to follow and accomplish his dreams, in our own small ways….

Bid Adieu

Never again will our greens be sculpted. ,Steel and concrete won't dance, anymore.

A gentle that hidnoinfinite Will gracesmile our country more.determination, They stood tall, they stood powerful.

They stood by what they believed to be true.

To the architects of our generation, Our inspirations, we bid adieu.

“THE GREEN MAN OF INDIA�

"What Ray is to films and Tagore to poetry, is Charles Correa to Architecture in India."

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"There are 360 degrees, so why stick to one?"

Compiled by: Harsh Pendharkar and Mugdha Karlekar III B.Arch

Hands Running Free Khushi Tiwari I B.Arch

Viraj Gapchoop I B.Arch Viraj Gapchoop I B.Arch

Viraj Gapchup I B.Arch

Pushkaraj Bhamre I B.Arch

Wi n d

know your architects!

Sujay Choudhary II B.Arch sujayc135@gmail.com

It starts as a whisper, a little sound that

staring at the leaf. The summers have

envelopes everything around it. I know what

started. Just as I was about to take a step

is coming, gently it touches me. It reassures

ahead, I hear it again, a whisper! I look

me of the perfection in every detail of nature.

down and the leaf is starting to move. I

It reassures me to believe in myself. It has no

close my eyes and smile, it is coming

force, yet is so powerful. It does not say

again!

anything, yet so many things are said! It touches the leaves around me and they start to move, almost as if they are alive. It suddenly makes trees sway and move in joy.

And then.. all of a sudden, everything stops and I realise that that the leaves are not moving anymore, the trees are not dancing anymore. It is gone! Realising that, I start walking around again, thinking about all the emotions it carries with itself. But it's gone and it is time to move on. I take a step ahead and I stop. There's a dry leaf lying on the road. Its golden colour reminds me of the heat. A drop of sweat rolls down my eyebrow, down my cheeks and falls on the ground, right on top of the leaf. I stand there, Background Graphics by: Avnie Pande

Credits- Akash Shin

Ar. Alejandro Aravena

Reclaiming Your Roots - An Answer To Identity Crises In Times of Globalization?

Ar. Vijaya Srinivasan Faculty PVPCOA jivirs@gmail.com

As mass communication and transport grow exponentially, societies are led to a phenomenon called "GLOBALIZATION".

Modernization is a part of globalization and it cannot be avoided. It is usually interpreted as a process of standardization. On one hand, globalization has the potential to mobilize and empower people, and on the other, it has the ability to disempower people, as further colonization leads to loss of individualism or identity. Identity is the capacity to identify oneself with somebody or something bigger, greater or more important than the individual. Globalization degrades identity, thereby calling for a balance between the two. As people melt into a monotonous existence, societies have lost their individuality and have become poor clones instead. Suddenly, the uniqueness of historical glory, heritage and culture seems to have vanished!

Globalization has brought in fast food chains, boutiques, virtual offices and so much more, which have simply replicated their success stories with little local flavour.

We eat alike, dress alike, almost live alike!

How often have you asked yourself, "Am I in Delhi or Mumbai? In Chennai or Kolkata?"

This has created a modern identity crisis!

More and more people are moving away from their roots-both figuratively and literally, the demand for an urban lifestyle creates in the mind of the modern citizen, a unique emotional pull. The desire to stay connected to one's roots has never been stronger. Design, thus, moves steadily along the functional, flowing seamlessly into the sentimental. The need to break out of a machine-like existence is so compelling, that everyone seeks from their environment a sense of 'personality'.

The consumer trend which, just decades ago, emphasized function and form, now encompasses sentimentalism and culture. These factors, then, become the renewed paradigms within which to define architecture. Neither the budgets nor the monotony that globalization brought, but connecting with and claiming from one's roots became the focus.

The sensation, but more importantly, the feeling of reconnecting with and reminiscing about one's past, or roots, is commonly termed 'nostalgia'. This is a feeling that may be tangibly or intangibly recaptured by the designer in creating a unique individual or communal identity.

Although nostalgia is sometimes associated with loss and wistfulness,

it brings with it, the pleasure of positive recollections and an 'aesthetic and emotional experience of meaning'.

It is said to occur through a retrieval of personal meaningful memories, which, filtered through time, are romanticized, softened and perceived as delightful-as something better than the present condition. The designer's bid to bring back the past, by applying an individual's sense of nostalgia or reminiscence of a time gone by to their immediate surroundings, and in doing so, taking them back into the positive memory, gives us the term 'reclamation'- a word that has suddenly has become the beacon of hope, interpreted in many different hues.

"But I don't like nostalgia unless it is mine"Lou Reed.

For designers, nostalgia is a gift, one that can be applied to an engagement of the mind with memories of the past, creating a metaphorical journey through time. It is obvious that the trends in lifestyle, supplemented in no small measure by the mindset of the new consumer to reclaim and retrieve, cannot be overlooked anymore. It involves an exploration of the client's roots,

culminating in the unique ability to recreate a piece of one's past in the present. Nostalgia helps in "being" rather than "becoming", and leads to a continuum of values which are deeply rooted and personalized. The designer's role in translating feelings into a physical space, boosts and harnesses the potential to achieve creative uniqueness.

In this recreation, the aptitude to merge the wistfulness of the past with the everchanging present is what constitutes design's newest trend. Architecture like all forms of art, derives its primary inspiration from the spirit of change-changes in perspective, changes in behaviour, and changes in mind set-each leading to changes in trends.

Exploring China Sayali Tarnekar III B.Arch sayali.tarnekar@gmail.com

Where did you go: Hong Kong, Macau and Shenzhen.

How did you get there: Flight form Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport to Hong Kong International Airport.

Accommodation: Hotel 'Courtyard Mariott', 'The Venetian Macau' and 'The Century Kingdom'.

Best time to visit: Year round (Tropical Climate).

Food: Sushi, Rice, Beef, Pork, Seafood and 'Green Tea'.

Local Language: Mandarin.

Available Transport: Public bus, Taxi, Metro, Bicycle.

What all to see: Hong Kong - Madam Tussaud's Museum, Disneyland, Ocean Park, HSBC building by Ar. Norman Foster; Macau – Casinos, Macau Tower and …

Church, Museum hub; Shenzhen – Luoho commercial city mall, Overseas China Town (OCT), Shenzhen Bay Bridge, 'Window of the World' replica park – 130 miniature replicas to the scale of 1:2 or 1:3 of world famous monuments in 118 acres of land.

Other things to observe: Disciplined streets, high standards of living but strong family values and rich cultural values.

Young Chinese people crazy about 'selfies'!

E x p e r i e n c e s : C h i n a – a h i g h ly commercialized country with industries of all leading brands set up here. A beautiful country with NOT just 'duplicity' but having its unique natural beauty!

These trends both define and provide character to design, continuing to forge their way through changing times and attitudes. Tangible or intangible, then, nostalgia- a reclamation of roots, has its existence vindicated as it looms over the horizon of design. And in it, the designer may find his or her answer to the identity crisis of a newly globalised world.

Background Graphics by: Abhinav Agarwal

34

Hypnagogia

Uchchita Joshi II B.Arch uchchita@gmail.com

They say... 80% of our brain activity is wasted in creating perfect scenarios or replaying old incidents and memories. Well, sometimes, it just so happens you never realize the true worth of your existence or that incident unless after it has happened or maybe a long long time after that. You are in reality and living that scenario and its normal like taking a walk or talking to a friend something that was preplanned or decided...you go on to live that scene in normality and long after that you realize that it has now become your perfect scenario.

Sometimes perfect scenarios are not something that you picturize or dream about..they can also be some memories that are created and molded by you. and they become like something not imagined but perfect. And then you realize that even before you know it you are already remembering how it started or e n d e d Yo u n e v e r r e a l i z e t h a t subconsciously in your sense of

normality you paved a way for your perfect scene. Mostly your definition of perfect is something you've seen in a movie or read in a book or heard about. But this, this is impeccable.

Your own story and your own movie.

And these scenes turn into incidents and they turn into stories that in turn define who you are. You see, marks or money have never become the measure of a man's life, my friend. A man is recognized by his story.

Stories that become someone else's idea of perfect. Stories that make you realize your worth. Your dynamics of existence.

But sometimes...You're creating that moment consciously and knowingly you are well aware of the fact of when you're going to be forced back into realty.

And that my friend is what I call surrealism, you're living it but then you're not... and sometimes you're aware and conscious and sometimes you're not. This transition or fluctuation is something

otherworldly. And that is what I crave for.

Hypnagogia is the transition from wakefulness to sleep while hypnapompic state is the state leading out of sleep.

The hypnagogic state is the rational waking cognition trying to make sense of non-linear images and associations and hypnapompic state means emotional and credulous dreaming cognition trying to make sense of real world stolidity. What's baffling to note however is that these states of mind respond to different areas of our brains. But we can control it.

Hypnagogism. Creating memories whilst living them, knowingly or unknowingly and consciously or subconsciously Like sculpting your life, Like living it before. Like actually living...not just existing.

Hypnagogia: Something one should live for.

A Ramble in the Rains Shubhankar Anwekar II B.Arch shubhankaranwekar21101996@gmail.com

Petrichor – The way it smells after the rain.

The sweet, earthy smell is all around me. It's finally raining! I don't know what it is about the rain that makes me very introspective.

Very observant. I'm sitting outside a small tea stall, with a steaming hot glass of cutting chai in my hand. The world all around me is responding to the rains. The cool breeze is a welcome relief from the intense heat of the summers. I can feel the ground breathe a sigh of relief. My quiet residential neighbourhood is suddenly chock full of activity as everyone is trying to rush to shelter. I automatically assume these people to lead boring lives. Rain is something that we should embrace, not run away from!

Loud, happy shouting draws my attention to the children rushing out of their houses, overjoyed at the coming of the rains. They splash about and play in the mud. I am suddenly taken back to when I was 10, riding my bicycle with my friends in the heavy rains. How would I love to be a child again! The only constant, amidst this

flurry of activity is a woman. A lone figure braving the rains as she walks by. She is undeterred, as she crosses the muddy road and moves on. She is the perfect embodiment of the female spirit. Strong and unflinching. She reminds me of my mother, as a sudden wave of nostalgia and sadness sweeps over me. I had just moved out and started living on my own.

Anyone who has started living alone for the first time, can testify to how scary the settling in process can be. It is like all of a sudden, it is me against the world. Till now I had my parents watching over me all the time. Now, I have to watch over myself.

Thinking about the future usually excites me and takes me on a long train of thought but today I'm daunted, by having to face the world on my own. Maybe it's the rains.

Or the environment with its dull colors that's affecting me so.

I hear the booming sound of thunder in the distance. It snaps me out of my mood.

The children scream in delight. I feel the sense of dread slowly leaving me. The last drags of Chai burn my tongue as I curse myself and get up. I start walking back to my flat with the rain pouring over me. I have left all my insecurities back with the chai wala. I feel free. I hear a voice calling my name. My friend is laughing with the group of children as he calls out to me. I run over to them. Now is not the time to grow up. I dance in the rain with the kids. I have made new friends!

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Achieve 15 Vatsal Bharmani (V Yr) was shortlisted in the top 10 entries for COA- NIASA National Awards for Excellence in Architectural Thesis: (Zonal Jury) Zone III

Vikram Yelure (V Yr) won the 1st prize in the COA- NIASA National Awards for Excellence in Architectural Thesis: (National Jury)

Gaurav Chordia (IV Yr) won the Silver medal in Indian Domestic Contest for A.C.A.R.A 2015 (Asian Contest for Architectural Thesis Award )

Aniket Raskar (III Yr) and Akshay Marsute (IV Yr) won 1st prize in ARCHUMEN: Grand Finale

Aniket Salunkhe and Aniket Raskar (IIIYr) won the 2nd prize and Gaurav Patil and Shivraj Kanthi (III Yr) won the jury recommendation award for IGBC Green Design Competition: Green Transit Shelters for Construction Workers

Vaishnavi Paralikar, Shubbham Rathi, Sayali Tarnekar, Chaitanya Waghmare (III Yr) won the 3rd prize at INSDAG (Institute for Steel Development and Growth)

Gaurav Patil, Shivrraj Kanthi, Suchit Mutha, Akash Shingvi, Shubbham Rathi (III Yr) won the 1st prize for URBAN NOMADS: Red Square Calling

ments 16

38 Pinak Bhaplar, Ashish Dalal, Abhilash Rahane (IV Yr) and Shibani Choudhary, Reetwik Malpani (IV Yr) were the winnning teams in the top 2 of Transparence 10.0 (West Zone): Social Mass Housing for Smart Cities; while, Aditi Joshi (IV Yr) and the 2 teams of Sejal Gandhi, Apoorva Dhamdhere (IV Yr) and Payal Jhalani, Shradha Jadhav, Rutuja Kadam (IV Yr) won the Jury Recommendation for the same.

Shibani Choudhary and Reetwik Malpani (IV Yr) won the 1st prize and Pinak Bhapkar, Ashish Dalal and Abhilash Rahane won the 3rd prize at the Transparence 10.0 (Grand Finale): Social Mass Housing for Smart Cities

Aniket Raskar ( III Yr) and Akshay Marsute (IV Yr) won 2nd prize in the inter-college architectural quiz competition AQ (Architectural Quotient) organized by VIT's PVPCOA..

Gaurav Patil (III Yr) and Pinak Bhapkar (IV Yr) won the 3rd prize for the same.

Insight Exhibition 2015-16

The most talked about and awaited event in one academic year of PVPCOA has always been and will always be the insight week in our college. Although it has many genres and is interpreted by everyone in different ways, it starts unraveling a sense of belonging towards the college in everyone's mind. Especially the fresher's.Insight week is the most amazing journey. We start with scratching our minds for inexplicable ideas and work our way up with material selection and actual execution execution.

It's the most filled because each and every person is assigned a specific task and every task is just as exciting may it be painting the arrival wall, designing the aluminum panel, doing the section wall or even doing the toilet graphics!! The whole college college gets revamped and gets a new outlook in just a matter of days. This third week of February fetish is the most vibrant time in pvpcoa. The work load enormous and so is the enthusiasm.

The week ends with the cultural night when all the years compete for a final title and put up more and more impeccable shows every year.

As we tread to go back after the week to our roots, we don't need to say anything.

The sleepless eyes, the paint-stained clothes, the unwashed hair and the new as polished college décor says it all.

Compiled by: Shubhankar Anwekar and Isha Chaudhari II B.Arch I B.Arch

Shearforce 1516

Shear force an intercollege event that focuses on bridging the gap between different architectural colleges in Pune, hosted by PVP COA, on the Kataria school ground led to augmenting the spirit of agog players which lightened the environment of the ground. The main contemplate of Shear Force was to create a platform where a healthy sport culture could be accomplished between the various architectural colleges. This event took place for four days where students from different walks of life competed against each other.

The Kataria school was well lit by cheers and the team spirit, fun and enjoyment. There were two main sports, which were later sub divided into various branches such as : girls football, girls basketball, boys football and boys basketball.

Not to forget the cricket match played by our enthusiastic faculty and administration members!The cup went to BNCA for Girls basketball and Minerva college of architecture for Boys basketball. The winners of Girls football were Allana college of architecture and the Boys football cup went to DYP Akurdi.

The escalation of Shear Force was visible due to the introduction of night matches, which was supported by the enthusiastic players. This marked as a stepping stone to success and was a mile stone in the history of Shear Force, as this was attempted for the first time.

Like every year the spirit of shear force acclivates, giving rise for a social and a cultural hub between colleges. Kudos!

Compiled by: Shreya Kembhavi and Tejal Shrotriya III B.Arch II B.Arch

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Playzone

Give one word for the graphics below, which communicates an appropriate meaning

Identify the Structure, Style and Place.

Match the following

UTOPIA For this tetrahedron of paper, 4 tessellations are given. One of them is wrong, Choose the wrong one.

Doodle it!

Doodle your ‘Utopia’

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UTOPIA

Join the Dots!

Culturals 2015-16

Five contestants, two days, one title. It was the most awaited and prestigious event of college and only one class would emerge victorious. Would it be the Fifth years, the most experienced and the least numbered?

A hat trick for the fourth year, or a chance for the third year and the talented second year batch to finally prove their mettle. Or could it be us, the freshers? The time had come. As the final announcements of sports day ended, PVPCOA geared up for the final game of Insight week, the Cultural evening.

With just two days to prepare for a thirty minute performance, the college ended up in a frenzy. Students of every year holed up in their studios and brainstormed, devising strategies and defenses. For two days, the students did what the faculty could only dream of for the rest of the year, they stayed in their respective studios and worked. For this was war, and no corridor was safe. So it began, with every class pooling together their ideas and quilting a patchwork of themdrama, dance, music and fashion show.

Initially, ideas clashed, fights ensued which were then sorted out and forgotten in the spirit of the competition. Personal differences were put aside and all minds worked together. It wasn't a smooth journey, for we all know what they say about architects, and we are a college full of them.

It was everything but dull, not a single moment. Dresses, designs, music, script.

Till the last minute, the studios were a delightful mess. And then finally the night arrived. And what a night it was! Beautiful concepts and brilliant execution. Through two days of chaos rose art from every studio, choreographed and organised despite the madness and mayhem. We saw before us, five Utopian worlds, all different, all original. Five contestants, two days, one title. It was the most awaited and prestigious event of college and only one class would emerge victorious.

Would it be the Fifth years, the most experienced and the least numbered? A hat trick for the fourth year, or a chance for the third year and the talented second year batch to finally prove their mettle. Or could it be us, the freshers? The time had come. As the final announcements of sports day ended, PVPCOA geared up for

the final game of Insight week, the Cultural evening. With just two days to prepare for a thirty minute performance, the college ended up in a frenzy. Students of every year holed up in their studios and brainstormed, devising strategies and defenses. For two days, the students did what the faculty could only dream of for the rest of the year, they stayed in their respective studios and worked. For this was war, and no corridor was safe. So it began, with every class pooling together their ideas and quilting a patchwork of them- drama, dance, music and fashion show. Initially, ideas clashed, fights ensued which were then sorted out and forgotten in the spirit of the competition.

Personal differences were put aside and all minds worked together. It wasn't a smooth journey, for we all know what they say about architects, and we are a college full of them. It was everything but dull, not a single moment. Dresses, designs, music, script. Till the last minute, the studios were a delightful mess. And then finally the night arrived. And what a night it was! Beautiful concepts and brilliant execution. Through two days of chaos rose art from every studio, choreographed and organised despite the madness and mayhem. We saw

KhauGalli 2015-16

before us, five Utopian worlds, all different, all original. Five contestants, two days, one title. It was the most awaited and prestigious event of college and only one class would emerge victorious. Would it be the Fifth years, the most experienced and the least numbered? A hat trick for the fourth year, or a chance for the third year and the talented second year batch to finally prove their mettle. Or could it be us, the freshers? The time had come. As the final announcements of sports day ended, PVPCOA geared up for the final game of Insight week, the Cultural evening. With just two days to prepare for a thirty minute performance, the college ended up in a frenzy. Students of every year holed up in their studios and brainstormed, devising strategies and defenses. For two days, the students did what the faculty could only dream of for the rest of the year, they stayed in their respective studios and worked. For this was war, and no corridor was safe. So it began, with every class pooling together their ideas and quilting a patchwork of them- drama, dance, music and fashion show.Personal differences were put aside and all minds worked together. It wasn't a smooth journey, for we all know what they say about architects, and we are a college full of them.

Khaugalli is one of the most interestingly crafted events of the year. Initially started with a thought of celebrating it as a traditional day it grew overtime and now is a combined event of two intertwining aspects- Culture, Tradition and FOOD! The world has a varied palette of cuisines, as it has a palette of traditions. The idea was to merge these two aspects, and organize a program, which gives a platform to showcase both these aspects.

Thus, students dressed up in various traditional outfits put up stalls serving various cuisines.

The cuisines are not only limited to India, but the students explored cuisines from all around the world.

The winning stall, is awarded a prize, judged on the criteria of stall design, and the food served combined with the aptness of the outfit!

The event is incomplete without music which adds energy to the atmosphere.

This years’ ‘Photobocth’ was a smashing hit. Students dressed up beautifully in traditional outfits had a gala time and the event was thoroughly enjoyed!

Compiled by: Shubhankar Anwekar and Isha Chaudhari II B.Arch I B.Arch

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Students’ Forum

COMMISSIONER: Aditi Joshi Deputy: Kiran Karachiwala

EXHIBITION Advisory: Akshay Shete Rushikumar Chaudhari Secretaries: Aniket Raskar Shamika Ghate

COLLEGE TREASURER: INSIGHT: Vishal Patankar Shubhada Deputy: Gumphekar Shubbaam Rathi

ACADEMIC Advisor: Payal Jhalani Secretary: Suresh Batra Umaija Deshmukhe Prajakta Ghatge

SPORTS Advisor: Saurabh Jaygond Secretary: Shalvi Gujar

CULTURALS Advisor: Apurv Saykhedkar Secretary: Onkar Joshi Vaishnavi Paralikar

‘15- ’16

PHOTOGRAPHY Advisor: Abhilash Rahane Secretary: Sanika Nahata

FOOD Advisor: Rushi Baheti Secretary: Rachana Chudiwal

FILM Advisor: Chinmay Modi Secretary Stuti Tank:

LIBRARY Advisor: Sejal Gandhi Secretary: Akash Shingvi

ENVIRONMENT Advisor: Chaitanya Deshpande Secretary: Akshat Agarwal

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!

Compiled by: Abhinav Agarwal III B.Arch

SPINE OF PvPCOA

Compiled by: Anala Patwardhan III B.Arch Yogesh Surkutlawar II B.Arch

A talk with ‘JP Sir!’

1) How does it feel being a part of the PVPCOA Team? Being JP Sir? We took over this trust Vivekanand Institute of Technology in 2008 with a lot of liabilities when the organization was almost shutdown. When we went through it deeply, there were just two ways out- Either Run away or Participate.

Our Chairman Abhay Chhajed Ji motivated me throughout, and carried out the Vision and mission. I worked day-night initially for the trust work with unending support of Ar. Vikas Bhandari & Indra Chhajed Sir. I carried out all responsibilities on my part. I was a policy maker, decision maker, Today I feel proud when people or students talk about PVPCOA. 2) If not a part of the management team, In what way would you like to be associated with the college?

I would like to be associated with the college as a parent.

3) As a trustee of the college, How important is connecting with the students according to you?

It's important because young minds are creative, they bring out new innovations, ideas and good suggestions. These connections bring the lacunas and drawbacks from our side to my notice.

4) What would you like to say about the tremendous extra-curricular involvement of the college?

Being part of these activities with students keeps my mind fresh as well as gives me energy to do something even better for the students.

5) How has the college changed over the years?

It's a process. There are huge changes every year be it academic excellences, or sports activities, Insight Exhibition, Rookies, AQ, Exit Exhibition, Thesis jury, Workshops, etc. the list just gets longer and longer!

Infrastructure wise also a lot of things have grown, and it will keep growing.

6) How has the college changed You over the years ?

Earlier I was a short tempered person but eventually, I have become quite a calm person, a good learner. Handling young e nt re p re n e u r s a n d a l s o my t i m e management skills have improved.

7) Firstly, Congratulations for being awarded the Vovilup Top Seller Award. How good do you feel about it? How has it changed your perspective about your business life?

Thank you Dear, It is a very satisfying and cheerful experience to receive a certificate, award.

It's not only an acknowledgement, but it certainly means that you've done a whole bunch of things right. I would like to extend a thank you to all my dear colleagues & my brother.

Entrepreneurship has got dramatic changes in my focus, business results and even my personal life.

Here's how : 1- Prioritize quality vs quantity

2- Provide yourself with breathing room to think 3- I started with the goal of creating a " real business". The next goal was focusing on high growth, which revolves around sustainability & profitability.

8) How important is maintaining public relations and how have you maintained t h e m o v e r t h e y e a r s ?

Public relations teach us to work under pressure and be able to answer a variety of questions including unpleasant ones. It helps us to generate goodwill & position ourselves as a responsible citizen through a variety of programs conducted in the public interest. Due to public relations I could make a positive public image which helps in creating a strong relationship with the community and customers, in turn increasing the sales.

9) On a lighter note, how do you like to spend your leisure time?

If u want to be successful in life, you have to prioritize your personal relationshipsyour family and friends. No matter how much I want to be successful and climb the corporate ladder, I can't neglect my family and friends in my leisure time. The best productive way of utilizing leisure time is by carrying out activities like your hobbies.

Reading- Books give me a greater u n d er s t a n d i n g of t h e wo r ld , communication skills. I have my own mini library having more than 500 books.

Revisiting my favorite study materials. I keep my favorite articles and magazines clipped into one file. Also Whenever I get free time and my mind is quite relaxed, I am usually in the best mood to set my milestone & goals (Professional & Personal).

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Delhi through the

“Delhi is laboratory for experimentation of modern masterpieces. Many stalwarts have made contributions to this place, in all realms of architecture. One has a lot to learn here, an understanding that keeps growing on every visit!”

Sanskriti Kala Kendra: “ Simplicity, integrity of materials, scale and proportions. A masterpiece by Ar. Charles Correa. Certain things are not necessarily meant to be displayed!”

Morning walks in Lutyens Delhi: “ Street character, street composition, inclusion of greens. The facade details, climate responsive fins. Design is a series of decisions. A space is best experienced when on foot.”

“Buildings do gestures. The skin is important and the edge emphasizes it.

Every detail contributes to the spatial and experiential attributes of a space.”

eyes of PD Sir Our dear PD Sir, for whom studio is like a 'popcorn'! Exploring Delhi with him, has been an eye opener to a new perspective towards architecture. Delhi definitely has been an abode of modern masterpieces, by many great architects. But it takes an interest and a skill to be able to understand those. Ar Prof. Prasanna Desai has made us believe that the aesthetics of a building are never visual…the quality of space determines them. Every detail, every material, contributes to space making, and that is how a design evolves, through thought processes that are extensive leading to a successive output..

“If you pick up the pencil with dignity'’

- Ar Prof Prasanna Desai

“Architecture is a level playing field, where every individual can prove his/her potential at each stage.

Architecture is not just about the built- it’s about the perfect amalgamation of the built and unbuilt”

“Design requires patience. To listen to, understand, adapt and interpret. Design is not something hard and fast, it needs to be evolved with continuous efforts.”

50

“Design happens when you are restless, when the mind is the most active.”

Compiled by: Kiran Karachiwala and Shreya Kembhavi III B.Arch

Delhi through the

“Delhi is laboratory for experimentation of modern masterpieces. Many stalwarts have made contributions to this place, in all realms of architecture. One has a lot to learn here, an understanding that keeps growing on every visit!”

Sanskriti Kala Kendra: “ Simplicity, integrity of materials, scale and proportions. A masterpiece by Ar. Ujan and Uppal Ghosh, and landscape by Ar. Mohammad Shaheer.

Certain things are not necessarily meant to be displayed!”

Morning walks in Lutyens Delhi: “ Street character, street composition, inclusion of greens. The facade details, climate responsive fins. Design is a series of decisions. A space is best experienced when on foot.”

“Buildings do gestures. The skin is important and the edge emphasizes it.

Every detail contributes to the spatial and experiential attributes of a space.”

eyes of PD Sir Our dear PD Sir, for whom studio is like a 'popcorn'! Exploring Delhi with him, has been an eye opener to a new perspective towards architecture. Delhi definitely has been an abode of modern masterpieces, by many great architects. But it takes an interest and a skill to be able to understand those. Ar Prof. Prasanna Desai has made us believe that the aesthetics of a building are never visual…the quality of space determines them. Every detail, every material, contributes to space making, and that is how a design evolves, through thought processes that are extensive leading to a successive output..

“If you pick up the pencil with dignity'’

- Ar Prof Prasanna Desai

“Architecture is a level playing field, where every individual can prove his/her potential at each stage.

Architecture is not just about the built- it’s about the perfect amalgamation of the built and unbuilt”

“Design requires patience. To listen to, understand, adapt and interpret. Design is not something hard and fast, it needs to be evolved with continuous efforts.”

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“Design happens when you are restless, when the mind is the most active.”

Compiled by: Kiran Karachiwala and Shreya Kembhavi III B.Arch

Starring in and as...