I Live Here

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Live HERE Narayanan Krishnaswamy

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Live HERE 2020

Author has the full right on all the photographs, designs and artworks presented here. Any part of this work covered herein may be reproduced, transmitted, stored or used in any form or by any means graphic, electronic or mechanical, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, scanning, digitizing, taping, Web distribution, information networks or information storage and retrieval systems with due intimation, credits and acknowledgment of the publisher and author. These artworks are owned by the author and has right of claim over them. This book uses French Script MT for text and Palatino Linotype for covers.

The book design is by the author.

Narayanan Krishnaswamy narayankrishnaswamy@gmail.com

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APPA Who taught me water colour painting, perspective drawing, appreciating architecture, etc., ...

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t was a long pending desire to do ‘on the spot’ free hand sketching with pen and finish it with water colour. This Covid-19 lockdowns and extreme restrictions on movements have given me time to take up that project. What better project which can be done than the place where one lives in.

The place where I am currently put up is an industrial township, has interesting Art-Deco buildings built in the nineties. They also have architectural elements native to this geography incorporated in them. Overall they are a nice piece of architecture.

On the spot free hand sketching with pen and water colouring the drawings is a long practiced method of sketching from real life, since the time sketching came into being. This has been practiced by the masters and novices alike. Availability of mobile phone cameras, IPad and applications or ‘Apps’ have brought in lots of sophistication and convenience in this endeavour.

I have used Apple IPad and Apple Pencil with Adobe Fresco in doing this freehand sketches and colouring them with water colour. It was a systematic work carried out after office hours and on holidays from July 12, 2020 to August 9, 2020. This projects have seen many midnights and wee hours resulting in huge happiness and satisfaction. Whenever, I finish one drawing, I used to post it on my ‘status’ as a time-lapse video. The snaps are also available in Instagram in this link: https://instagram.com/n.krishnaswamy? igshid=xzbtrbuicsha.

I present this booklet to anyone who appreciates art, architecture, drawing, on the spot sketching, watercolour painting and in general anything good in life. Hope this enriches the reader as it has benefitted me.

Narayanan Krishnaswamy

I used to go to this place and seat, for morning tea and to read newspapers and cozy up with more tea and reading. The IPad I carry with me at that time prompted me to sketch from where I sit and without realising I was in my next project. Though this work of on the spot sketching with pen and colouring with water colours was brooding I my mind for over a decade, I got hooked up with this one sketch and you see the results in the following pages.

A typical art-deco building for office with courtyard, lawns and parking has a cladding of dark brown polished granite and sandstone finish tiles. It is surrounded by large open spaces duly lined by trees. The facade is intersting with Nagara style arches unique to Midnapore District of West Bengal. This building is both affable and enormous at the same time.

Community hall is another art-deco architecture with three main components namely arranged on a diagonal plot - indoor theatre, outdoor theatre and a mini hall in the mezzanine floor. Like few other buildings in this place, its main entrance is at the head of a diagonal. The faรงade has a covered porch for holding formal receptions. It has a well spread lawn at the forecourt.

A massive complex with indoor shops, open shops, courtyards, cafeteria, ATM and service providers combines modern architecture with traditional arches , which is a speciality in this part of West Bengal in India. It is surrounded by well maintained gardens and lawns and a variety of trees. There are creative outdoor seating provided by the township authorities.

A well laid out building with entrance in the corner of the diagonal of the building. Its entrance and faรงade is similar to that of Community Centre and Transit Hostel. This place is well patronised by its members.

This shopping place caters to the needs of the people residing around, this too houses a variety of shops for products and services. The layout is interesting and well thought out.

This is another classical art-deco style building with a central hall with high roof, a library, badminton court and a dining hall.

This too has a diagonal orientation with entrances on both sides of the corner of the diagonal of the plot. This looks like a bird with its wings spread, ready to take off, may be symbolising the spirit of the building.

A two storey building on a plot with entrance at the corner of the diagonal and a winding staircase has interesting Nagara style arches on the both the wings of the facade. This is a transit facility for a variety of visitors to this township. It has a beautiful plot of teakwood plantation adjacent to it.

A ten bed single storey hospital with a pharmacy, clinic and speciality medical services is conspicuous for its sombre location and its green cover. It caters to the requirements of the residents of this township.

Another art-deco classic with arches spanning in T shape with two heads is a two storey building. This school is a boon to the residents of this place and its alumni are spreading its name world over.

A classical art-deco architecture meant for guests, including high level dignitaries has an impressive’U’ shaped front opening with seventies style façade. The corridors of the wings of this building have typical Mindnapore arches. It has matching lawns, garden and courtyards. Its plan is spacious, airy , elegant and simple.

A pump house for storing and pumping water for different utilities and services of this township has an interesting architecture. The high columns and arches with wide glass windows gives this building a classic look and elegance.

A residential complex needs its place of worship and this temple for Lord Shanishwar is an enterprise by the locals. It is dominated by the colour blue and is patronised and maintained by local devotees.

He is a powerful patron God of this township.

Every planned township needs a junction which gives itself an identity and tells its character. I fell this tri-junction in front of the Pump House is that one location. It was designed by the Civil Engineering Division of the township and has now become a landmark, with visitors flocking to take photographs and selfies along with.

This is an initiative by the township residents. This temple is built in Nagara Style with Shikara and Vimana. There are small sanctums for Lord Ganesha and Lord Hanuman. The main deities of this temple are Lord Jagannath, Maa Shubadra and Lord Balabadra who are omnipresent in this place. Every year Rath Yatra is organised by this temple.

This is the first temple in this locality built in typical North Indian style with single Shikahra. This temple for Lord Shiva has sanctum for Lord Hanuman. Both the Temples of Lord Jagannath and Lord Shiva has a massive open concrete yards allowing grand functions and gatherings.

Dr. N. Krishnaswamy is a design thinker and designer. He has been in the printing and graphic arts and design industry for about four decades. He has published papers on economics, design identity and design management. He is a designer, painter, teacher, sculptor, photographer and writer. He is passionate about colour, shape and walking.

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Live HERE

Narayanan Krishnaswamy