Melange 2020 by Mariah M. & Darshit G

Mariah Mustafa & Darshit Gohel

“Culturally and socially the world is in a state of transition - a period of great architectural expression is open to us, a period of analysis and experimentation, a period of transition.”

- Jacques Carlu

Our Annual festival – Mélange has always been the heart of all the activities, that are conducted over the year. This three-day festival has its spirit, allowing IPSA family to gather along with their excitement and exuberance. Students, for months, had been planning, preparing and working for the event with all the determination, patience, enthusiasm and diligence.

In these ever-changing times, we hardly pay any attention to the changes that happen around us. However, when we look from a different perspective, we find that so much has changed and so much has grown.

Growth, that does not strike as hard in the beginning, but hints as we go through transition. All these aspects of our life go on in these distinct phases and it only catches our eye if they are devastatingly beautiful or simply devastating.

The current scenario has made us contemplate over the value of this chance we have been given towards the world and life, as we know it. Thereby, giving all of us an opportunity to thrive with rigour and zeal, in developing a more sensible and humane environment to dwell in.

Due to the pandemic, this time for all of us has really been unprecedented and it was no different for everyone else. Adapting to the “New Normal”, the idea for our Mélange also had be thought in an alternate medium. Finally it came down to gathering the IPSA family, online! With the idea that all our alumni, parents, and students sitting on their screens could attend this event. People from far and wide could come and engage with students and the faculties, through lectures, panel discussions, and talk series. The theme of the Melange ’20 was Transition, this paradigm shift that we all are still adjusting to. The keynote speaker for Melange ‘20 was Architect and Professor, Dean D’Cruz. He is a partner and principal architect in Mozaic Design Combine, a leading design firm based in Goa, involved in Urban Intervention, Architecture, Conservation, Product, and Graphic design. The presented work and discussions generated learnings on environment change, simultaneously dealing with construction material transition, from conventional to sustainable modern. An insight into Traditional regional architecture and learnings we can take from those systems for present-day practice. Also, Urban projects like smart city missions, are affecting future cities and the need for sensitivity for those projects was discussed. Further, views on architectural pedagogy, the rift developed between practice vs. academics, and how that will affect economics and dynamics of the built environment.

Continuing the legacy of the school of architecture club events, dance, music, and drama performances were presented by the students, recorded beforehand, with devotional hard work and immense participation.

Change the unchanged past_Melange.

The School of Architecture Music Club Ekya rehearsing before their show

The School of Architecture Dance club shot during their performance

Drama club Rangmanch posing for their poster shot

In conversation with Dean D'cruz of Mozaic, Goa