A Mythical Story about the SPA Logo

Our Mystery Logo Decoded

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THIS IS A THEORY BEHIND THE MEANING OF THE S.P.A. DELHI LOGO AND MY OPINION OF IT.

NISHITA MOHTA BATCH OF 2011 ORIGINALLY WRITTEN FOR

SPACED OUT 2016 Original photographs by author

I have lost count of the number of times I’ve faced this question “What does the SPA logo mean?”

From the first years to friends from other colleges, this trippy emblem attracts attention from all around. And so many of us have ourselves asked seniors and super-seniors, in an attempt to decode its meaning.

In January 2016, I came across one possible theory behind its significance at the most unexpected of times – while interviewing a resource person for thesis.

Prof. Dr. Ashish Rege is the principle of the Goa College of Architecture and an alumnus of our very own School. Fortunately for us, he was quite enthusiastic about helping us when Anurag and I showed up outside his office requesting to interview him during our “thesis site visit in Goa”. (best site selection ever, we were insanely proud of ourselves)

After hours of discussions on local ecology, economy and culture, as we said our good-byes and thank-you’s, came that big question again. Do you know

what the SPA logo means? Taking one look at that little icon on my bona-fide certificate and giving us a half-knowing-half-questioning glance, Prof. Rege seemed to be expecting a response from us.

Of course we didn’t know. We had no idea at all.

He then went on to explain to us his interpretation of the possible meaning behind the logo. It was during a fest or event, he said, that he and his friends stumbled upon what seems to be a very likely concept behind it. From what the Professor had sketched out with great enthusiasm, I could slowly begin to make out the idea which had remained a mystery so far.

The singular black strip that twirls and folds within itself can be broken down into our beloved three letters – S, P, A. These have been written as abstract versions of the actual alphabets as we know them. While most curves have been exaggerated into a sharp angle, some have simply been omitted. Then again, there is the creative liberty to further morph each graphic component so that they conjoin neatly into the continuous linear stroke that we see. One look at these individual letters and you could imagine them to be part of a very futuristic typeface – something that large number of us would have hated from the very look of it. But elegantly put together in their current form, they form a genius piece of art.

Prof. Rege deconstructs the logo for us

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I am half sure that the triangular frame for the design comes from the idea of structural stability. How could it not! Architecture, buildings, structure, triangle, load distribution, stability, people do not die. RIGHT? Sorry Planners! Just making wild assumptions here.

If I were to read too much into it (because of my self-assigned Right to Interpretation of an otherwise unexplained piece of art), I would go ahead to say that it is a perfectly balanced graphic because these lines lend a certain lightness to an otherwise heavy shape. Are they streets indicative of an urban pattern to acknowledge the act of city planning?

I might be going a bit too far now.

I’ll stop now.

Regardless of its meaning, the outcome is something which we can proudly stamp down on everything from our submission sheets to portfolios & can truly be proud of. Not to forget the exciting inspiration it provides us with for installations and what not!

The stability of a building and the intricacy of city streets

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For many of us...

The past is often our greatest inspiration (read: “concept�) when we design.

The historical context and the heritage and the traditional culture happen to be our best friends in the initial stages of the design process and eventually influence the outcome.

And I confess to having been guilty of it throughout college. From sub-terranean architecture in First Year which hid itself almost entirely to respect the ancient palace of Orchha, all the way to my Thesis Project in the heritage district of Fontainhas in Goa... I have done it all!

A good example at this stage is the logo of SPA Bhopal, which puts these same three letters through the filter of historicity and the result is there for us to see.

The same three letters twist and turn like the traditional symbols of the Mandu.

It gives the institution an identity that is deeply rooted in the place and its

And ofcourse Delhi has no dearth for inspiration when it comes to history and built heritage.

history, which perhaps works for the best in their case. It speaks of where they come from, which perhaps influences their school of thought and eventually who they are as designers. No arguing that. But how about something that is so detached from time and so free from its place that it becomes a timeless classic.

Like ours.

There is no right or wrong way to design here, just differing perspectives.

I wish I knew where this logo came from. Don’t we all?

I marvel at the beauty of it, but am unable to credit the designer.

How did this come to be?

How are we so unaware of the creators of the symbols (built and unbuilt) that define our alma mater and our life here?

Similarly, very few from our generation know about the architects of the MB Hostel – the beauty of which is fodder for another long write-up. I’d like to give those architects as much respect as I give to the national and international master architects because I have been a direct beneficiary of good design on their behalf.

Despite not knowing for sure, having an idea of the possible meaning makes me look at this logo as more than just a funky triangle and appreciate it more than I already did.

There is always the exciting possibility of coming across some more theories about it. Any leads, anyone?

All this said and done I doubt the logo was the result of a planned design process.

There is a strong feeling at the back of my head that it is a doodle done with a free mind. and no deadlines.

And this was the mythical story behind the SPA Logo