Surfaces Reporter June 2016 Preview

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EDITORIAL

The tiny seed knew that in order to grow, it needed to be dropped in dirt, covered with darkness, and struggle to reach the light.h _

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The belief of the seed to see the light of the day is the beginning of a beautiful journey called Life.

Last five years have been quite eventful. With your good wishes, Surfaces Reporter seems to have finally arrived.

Thank you so much for the congratulatory notes. Special thanks to my team, dear readers and associates for making Surfaces Reporter and WADe India what they are today.

This industry has gone through some major transformations during the last five years. It pains me to see that many of our Architects & Designers are yet to adopt the changes. We endeavor to aware you about the possible developments through continued mails, interactions, and articles. WADe India is one such initiative towards making a positive mark in the industry. Leadership is lacking at several fronts and it is time to lead and take charge of brigades, be it for Green, for protecting Indian Heritage, taking India to the world, supporting the Younger generation, for the society, or being the voice & minds to make our cities more livable.

Here are some interesting quotes from inside this issue, to give you a sneak peek at the content-

“The world is like a car going at 60 miles an hour heading towards a cliff. The initiatives taken in the Paris Climate Talks would reduce the speed to 30 miles per hour, but the drop is inevitable...”

Vertica Dvivedi

vertica@surfaces.in Twitter: @imvertica FB & Linkedin: verticad

"It is rare that a man would shed tears for someone whom he has not met or known in life. This is what happened to me when I heard that Zaha Hadid passed away."

“In a world of rich countries I come from a poor one and in a world of men I am a woman”.

"A PVC shopping bag, although it is part of the PVC family, has to match some different criteria than a lifesaving PVC blood bag; or a PVC pipe which is buried in the ground for at least 5 decades!"

"There is no need for a smart city. We need Smart people."

“In India, we have a tendency to ignore small signs of danger and just wait for a situation to get really bad."

JUNE 2016 SURFACES REPORTER 12

SURFACES REPORTER is all about Substance Be it Products, Projects OR People

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CONTENT in Visual- I 66

WADe India Exclusive Special Coverage

WADe India congratulates the awardees and is thankful to all the participants for making the launch of WADe successful, way beyond our expectations. This issue exclusively covers the happenings at the event.

Catch more at www.wadeindia.com; facebook.com/FWADeIndia; twitter.com/FWADeIndia

www.wadeindia.com

wade india

CONTENT in Visual- II 99 Metalab possibilities with

fiber cement

10 on 10

91

Rajender Singh Waterman of India

106 Why structures Collapse?

Surfaces

Rising Star

112 110 Outdoor Kitchens kitchen korner 96 App Ache 6 Myths of uPVC busted

Brand Buzz

Jay Gould, President 94 & CEO, Interface Inc

34 Surfaces Showcase...

Surfaces Reporter

Wade india

Succesful launch of India’s 1st platform for Women Architects & Designers on 14th May-2016 the Leela Ambience Gurgaon

June 2016 SURFACES REPORTER 66

www.wadeindia.com

June 2016 SURFACES REPORTER 67

Surfaces Reporter

Packed Hall and Pre-function area at WADe India Launch event 2016

June 2016 SURFACES REPORTER 68

www.wadeindia.com

WADe India

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ADe India is a dedicated platform for woman architects and designers of India – the women entrepreneurs & professionals in Design & Architecture. The platform was successfully launched on 14 May 2016 at The Leela Ambience Gurgaon with the aim to recognize the Role Models & Emerging Young designers leading the women-led development and also to connect the professionals in a common space.

The idea of WADe India, the Federation for Women Architects & Designers, was born around the last quarter of 2012 when team of partner magazine Surfaces Reporter was researching to list the works done by past women architects & interior designers of India. They couldn’t find much info; hence, the feature was cancelled. Truth is, there is no proper trajectory of work done by past women architects & designers of India. The Founder says, “So far as I remember, that was the 1st instance when my mind registered this gap, and I thought, the void needs to be filled.” Mid 2015, through a formal declaration, the initiative was started by inviting nominations for Role Models.

WADe objectives have broaded as the work continued: l Ensuring visibility of Women-led projects l Bridging Mentorship between Leading & Aspiring Designers

l Standing by those who want to come back to the profession l Encouraging, Sharing & Learning through Research

l Celebrating the Life, Work and Achievements of Women Architects &Designers

l Rewards & Recognition

The launch event of WADe India WADe India’s launch event 2016 witnessed presence of 60+ high profile women designers and 200+ top designers from across India among the 350+ delegates. The superb turnout and the presence of delegates across demographics clearly indicate the success of WADe India. Interesting thing is, about 85% of the attendees were female and 24% of attendees were below 30 years of age. It shows how keenly the younger generation of women has been following WADe India.

WADe Was wonderful! Took back lot of positive energy!

- Designer Nandini Bazaz

“Congratulations and thanks for such an excellent event. I look forward to attending more events like this.”

- Deben Moza Joint CEO, Knight Frank India Pvt. Ltd. attended WADe India with his neice who is studying Architecture at CEPT

“I am happy to associate myself with WADe India. I am hopeful that the present group of women architects and designers will continue to make positive strides in this profession and pave the way for future generations.”

Chief Guest Dr. Najma Heptulla, Hon’able Union Minister for Minority Affairs

At the WADe India launch event in Gurgaon, it was a wonderful sight to see the Top Women designers sharing the same space with the young emerging ones. Sussanne Khan and Zarine Khan was seen mingling with the delegates and clicking photos. Role Models were felicitated and the young designers were recognized later during the day.

WADe India event was inaugurated by none other than India’s 1st & highest ranking woman IPS officer, Dr. Kiran Bedi. Lamp lighting was done by Dr. Bedi, Ar. Divya Kush, President IIA, Prof. Krishnarao Jaisim of Jaisim Fountainhead, Ar. Prem Nath and Mr Sarosh Wadia, Vice President, IIID. Vertica Dvivedi, Founder of WADe India introduced WADe to the audience and invited Dr. Kiran Bedi for the opening speech which was apt for the audience.

The first panel discussion – Challenges for Women Designers to start own practice in India and the ways to overcome, had a strong set of panelists, Ar. Shiela Sri Prakash, Ar. Anupama Kundoo, Ar. Sonali Bhagwati, Ar. Parul Zaveri and Ar. Canna Panel, moderated by Anuradha Chatterjee.

These leading women shared their stories of starting their own practice.

Ms. Chatterjee channelized the discussion beautifully onto layers of significant questions. The leading ladies shared their inhibitions, tough times and the rise. It was most inspiring for the young women to know the points from their Role Models that emerging women should consider while starting their own firm.

Enjoyed listening to experiences of speakers in setting up Women-led practices. Dr Bedi enthused a lot of positivity and gave an insight on how bureaucratic sensitivity led to a good design of the new Tihar Jail. I look forward to more such events.

Thanks a ton for giving all of us women a platform with a purpose!

- Annkur Khosla Mumbai

- Namrata, Goa

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Surfaces Reporter

“Thank you for a Powerful event.” - Prof. Krishnarao Jaisim amount of learning points for panelists among each other and for the guests. It was moderated by interior designer Lipika Sud. A brief but stimulating session was there by Professor of Marketing, Ramendra Singh from IIM Calcutta on importance of Marketing & Promotion for Women Leaders in Architecture Design.

For special entertainment Vasu Primalni was on stage.

It was hilarious and full of laughter. Vasu is the recipient of Nari Shakti Puraskar from the Government of India. She is also one of the top 3 female stand-up comedians of India, Triathlete, and Environmentalist.

Ar. Sanjay Puri, Principal, Sanjay Puri Architects, Mumbai, paid an emotional tribute to Ar. Zaha Hadid, the Queen Architect of this world and the 1st among women to win the Pritzker Prize, known to be the Nobel Prize for Architecture.

Interior Designers, Sussanne Khan and Zarine Khan

WADe was anchored by none other than Celebrity Television Actor & Anchor, Hussain Kuwajerwala Chief Guest Dr. Najma Heptulla, Union Minister for Minority Affairs was unable to attend due to ill health. However the message that she sent for WADe India was read out, which was full of motivation for the audience.

A Perspective: Being Celeb Designers by Sussanne Khan & Zarine Khan was quite energetic, insightful, and left a great learning point for all working mothers when Zarine Khan said that life has no certainty and hence as a mother she left no stone unturned in making her daughters self-sufficient.

Sussanne shared her experiences as an interior designer and the challenges of being a celebrity designer.

The third panel discussion was not only interesting but also insightful for couples working together in architecture & design business. A Retrospective: From the successes of MenWomen partnership firms & women only firms had prominent panelists Lalita Tharani & Mujib Ahmed, Krupa Zubin & Zubin Zainnudin, Santha & Kalhan Mattoo, and Annkur Khosla. The fun-filled discussion probably brought a good June 2016 SURFACES REPORTER 70

Hussain Kuwajerwala, Celebrity Television Actor & Anchor took over the stage with his warm & inviting presence. With every name of the Role Model, their vision, dream or the selected Roles they would play for WADe India was proudly announced. Vertica Dvivedi gave away the awards to the Role Models and Special Category, while Ar. Prem Nath, Ar. Divya Kush, Prof. Krishnarao Jaisim and Mr. Sarosh Wadia gave away the awards for the Emerging Category.

The list of Role Models are posted in www.wadeindia.com which include names like Namita Singh, Sheila Sri Prakash, Anupama Kundoo, Sonali Bhagwati, Abha Narain Lambah, Sonali Rastogi, Parul Zaveri, Shimul Javeri Kadri, Chitra Vishwanath, Brinda Somaya, Lalita Tharani, Revati Kamath, Krupa Zubin, Santha Mattoo, Annkur Khosla, Nina Puri, Ponni Concessao, Seema Puri, Reny Lijo and Designers Sussanne Khan, Sunita Kohli, Raseel Gujral, Shabnam Gupta, Rupana Reddy and more leading names.

Among the Emerging are Farah Ahmed Mathias, Pritika Kinra, Priyanka Khanna and B. Shweta. Madhavi Desai and Gita Balakrishnan was felicitated for their Special contribution to the industry. The special award for Innovative Young Architected was an initiative by Delta, thus aptly named WADe Delta Innovative Young Architect Award. Audio Visual presentation by partners Nolte, Amulya, and Oligo were quite stimulating.

Since WADe is walking an untrodden path, it has faced several challenges in initiating the concept. No amount of Thanking would be enough for expressing the roles that Jury members played as Guides (Ar. Sanjay Puri, Ar. Prem Nath, Ar. Divya Kush, Prof. Krishnarao Jaisim and Mr. Pratap Jadhav).

Regarding Jury members, all that team WADe could say was, “More than Jury, More than Friends for WADe and More than Dependable.” WADe’s special thanks to Mr. Sarosh Wadia, Vice President, IIID and to Ms. Sona Chatwani & group from Hyderabad for adding more charm to the event.

The event was concluded with a brief speech by Pragath Dvivedi, Director, Bigsea Marcom (I) Pvt. Ltd., appreciating the team for the successful launch of event and thanking the delegates for making WADe India feel so special.

www.wadeindia.com

Dr. Kiran Bedi’s message to Architects & Interior Designers of India

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woman of substance, Dr. Kiran Bedi was WADe’s Guest of Honour for the launch event on 14-May2016 at Leela Ambience Gurgaon. She is India’s first and highest ranking woman IPS officer who joined the Indian Police Service in 1972. Her expertise includes more than 35 years of creative and reformative policing and prison management. She worked with the United Nations in New York as the Police Advisor to the Secretary General, in the Department of Peace Keeping Operations. She represented India in International forums on crime prevention, drug abuse, police and prison reforms and women’s issues. She holds a Law, Masters, Doctorate degree. She has addressed audiences at the American, British, European, Indian Universities, Corporate and Civil Society groups.

She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award (also called the Asian Nobel Prize), and several other national and international decorations, Dr. Bedi is an author of many books, has her biography ‘I Dare’, anchors radio and television shows and is a columnist with leading newspapers and magazines. She is the founder of two NGOs, Navjyoti and India Vision Foundation, which reach out to thousands of under -served children, women and men in the areas of education, vocational skills, environment, counselling, and health care to the urban and rural poor. She played a significant role in India Against

Corruption, a movement led by Shri Anna Hazare. On 22 May 2016, Bedi was appointed as the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.

Dr. Bedi gave a powerful Opening speech for WADe India – India’s 1st platform for women architects & designers. For those who have missed it, here is Dr. Bedi’s message to Architects & Designers of India: I want to thank Vertica & Madhu because this is the first time I have got an invitation for attending an event related to Women in Architecture & Design. I loved it because I love this profession and my respect for what you stand for. The country needs you.

Everything today needs a design, a soul and a spirit.

Everything needs to come to life. While a man is a contributor, it is the Woman who is the giver of life. Every building is about life because there are people living and breathing in it. It’s not about male or female monopoly but it is human nature. Nature has designed women differently and we should celebrate our design. While we need both, sturdiness and design, softness and concrete, the role of women in design & architecture is very important in shaping the lives of people, of neighbourhoods, of the institutions, of

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Surfaces Reporter the culture, of the country in many, many ways. Therefore, I have come to WADe India out of respect for what you do and stand for. Secondly, I am so happy to see you united in a platform.

Architecture is not just linked to concrete visibility.

Architecture is also about behaviour. 10 years ago, I was invited to Switzerland to receive an award called – Joseph Beuys Prize. It was for Architecture. I was surprised because I have not built any buildings, but that award was for ‘Social Sculpting’ for my prison work. It looked at human work of socially sculpting people. So design is not just about building structures. When you combine & match the external design with the internal design, a piece of art is created.

I remember, I had just taken over as IG Prison when an architectural drawing was sent to me for approval. It was the new design of the Tihar Jail. It had to be signed and sent to PWD construction works. I was told the study was already done by my predecessors and I just have to sign. It’s too late to re-examine and recheck, they stressed. I refused to sign it unless I re-examine. I made it clear that I am not signing something which needs to last much beyond me, without even re-examining it. I was then called by the then home secretary, who was also a lady. She insisted that it was too late to re-look into things and there were no funds, yet gave me 48 hours to get back.

I didn’t wait for 48 hours. I had already started working in the prison and had noticed that the current architecture of Tihar Jail didn’t meet my needs. It had no Yoga centre, no dining hall, no activities, only dormitories. I could just lock them up, that’s all. It was built in the early 50’s post independence by the British. Prisons were nothing but holding institutions then.

Locking them up was what they did. I opened them up and told them to read. Since there was no classroom, I use to remind my prisoners of the ancient Gurukuls where students would study under the shade of trees. That’s how I started calling Tihar an ashram. Fortunately for us, we had very old rich trees, Banyan trees, Peepal trees, so I would say every tree is a classroom. But I needed a classroom when it rained or to protect from extreme heat. I used to go back to the barracks and the barracks had to be converted into classrooms. It was very important because I cannot do without education. Whichever institution I have run, education has to come in, so we used to convert it. So when I looked at it, it didn’t have a classroom, no prayer room, no compound wall where I can speak to the prisoners, because that’s my job to communicate with about what were their programs. It was not meeting my needs, nor was it meeting my changing needs. The new plan that they asked me to sign was that same as it was today.

The architects who designed the plan for Tihar Jail had surely not applied their minds. Somebody has done a fast job and thus I rejected it. I was then called by the Union Home Minister. But I stood my ground and told them to put on record that I have rejected it, because I cannot be part of something faulty which is to stay for 200-300 years beyond me. When he asked me what I want, I requested for 3 months time.

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“I have a building in the rural set up where we have a rural school. I had Ar. Lauri Baker to do it for me. That building doesn’t need an air conditioner, it’s built with local materials and a lot of air circulation. It is such an amazing place. I had no idea of this; I just told what I need.

So I think that’s the partnership we are looking at.”

I knew a gentleman architect Mr. Basu from School of Architecture & Planning and asked if he could take this up for us. We needed funds, which I promised to find, but the plan needed to be relooked and our emerging needs should be met. Good news is – I succeeded and the new plans for the prison now incorporates yoga center, play school for children, a dining hall, a proper modernised kitchen, a compound etc. This new design became a trendsetter for new prisons in India. Now many schools of architecture and design connect with me to say that they are designing prisons. I have retained those designs that we had worked on because it was a treasure for me, for being able to make a contribution.

What I am saying is, we are in a business of ‘Living Lives’ and that, building plays a very important role. I urge you to be a voice – a voice which creates and instils life in whichever building you build, whether it’s a government building or a corporate house. Create a design out of your own creativity. Ideas come when you reflect, when you read, when you think, when you share, when you want to create something exciting, when you want to meet the higher purpose of that, it’s not just the cost but something which is original. And that’s where I feel, women architects can play a major role.

As I told you my story, I want to share my mantra. It’s a concept called DRIB. D stands for – Be Different and better. How you are different and better is what your role is. If you look at my story, I was different and better because I was concerned about what I was doing. For me, it was not a job to be done; it was a mission to be met. So as architects, you all have a mission when you create an institution. This is something which is not to be forced but to be thought over, reflected even though working within your deadlines. Mona Lisa’s painting was not done in a year; it took the artist 16years to bring that lightening smile on that face.

Second, R is – to Reinvent. When we don’t continue to reinvent our lives, it gets boring. The plan for the prison was boring because those bureaucrats, engineers or architects were just boring. They were just copying and were not re-inventing.

www.wadeindia.com

Dr. Kiran Bedi with Vertica Dvivedi, Founder, WADe India, India’s platform for Women Architects & Designers

Third I, – is to Ideate. I don’t mean have self-doubt but share your ideas and ideate. Then the ideas will become very creative.

This is the mantra of my life – Be different and better, to continue to re-invent. Coming to you today was reinventing for me. As a young student, I had read ‘The Fountain Head’ by Ayn Rand as part of my English Honours. My most favourite character is ‘Howard Roark’ who refused to change his architecture design to just anything just because a client is requesting. I fell in love with your subject. And I cannot be what you are because I cannot draw. I cannot design, but I can question, I can find faults in it if it doesn’t meet my needs.

And then my mantra also says don’t have self doubt but have ideas. And Ideas come with yoga, through breath, through meditation; ideas come through sports, travel, nature, silence. You can all find your own ways of where your ideas come. Everybody is different and everybody’s need is different. Search for yourself, what you do when you get ideas. I know myself and you know yourself. I cannot be you and you cannot be me.

And finally B is for Browsing – Constantly Browse and keep on educating. You need to be a network, a powerhouse. Men and women architects, both of you should join hands together and be a voice on retention and creation of Indian arts and culture.

doesn’t need an air conditioner, it’s built with local materials and a lot of air circulation. It is such an amazing place. I had no idea of this; I just told what I need. So I think that’s the partnership we are looking at.

I believe you are preservers of this country, of this heritage, also creators of something original and unique as Indian Architecture. May you all stand out wherever you are in Human Architecture, Mind Architecture and Hand Architecture! I Wish you all the very best!

For an elaborate coverage of the event log on to www.wadeindia.com.

“The architects who designed the plan for Tihar Jail had surely not applied their minds.

Somebody has done a fast job and thus I rejected it. I was then called by the Union Home Minister. But I stood my ground and told them to put on record that I have rejected it, because I cannot be part of something faulty which is to stay for 200300 years beyond me.”

I have a building in the rural set up where we have a rural school. I had Ar. Lauri Baker to do it for me. That building

June 2016 SURFACES REPORTER 73

Surfaces Reporter

From left Ar. Sonali Bhagwati, Ar. Shiela Sri Prakash, Ar. Anupama Kundoo Ar. Parul Zaveri, Ar. Canna Patel & Ar. Anuradha Chatterjee

FIVE leading women architectS SHARES THEIR STORIES AT WADe INDIA for Aspiring ONES

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t’s not very often you get to see the top Women Architects like Shiela Sri Prakash, Parul Zaveri, Canna Patel, Anupama Kundoo and Sonali Bhagwati sharing the dais and pouring their heart in a most candid discussion. We may not be wrong to say that this set of illustrious panelists have come together for the first time.

WADe is fortunate to have created a platform where life experiences of such women were shared while hundred of aspiring women architects and designers were listening.

The session convened beautifully by Anuradha Chatterjee was thoroughly informative with some quick wits & tips shared by these leading ladies. In this article, we are just sharing some of their advices for young women in the field of architecture & design.

Ar. Shiela Sri Prakash in her message to upcoming architects and designers stressed, “Technology is just a tool. As an architect, we should always marry technology & tradition. Never forget tradition in the awe of technology because we come from a country with strong value systems.”

While everyone agreed upon the existence of gender bias along the sharing of their respective experiences, one thing all June 2016 SURFACES REPORTER 74

“Woman must stop doing everything.

Why do we have to be Superwoman?

Instead of changing others, we have to change ourselves. Take a rest and don’t try to be the BEST in everything.” of them stressed upon is that the world is changing and there is a growing acceptance for working women all across the globe. Still the change is quite insignificant and we have to be stronger in ourselves to bring about major change in others.

Ar. Canna Patel stressed over the fact that both men and women are leaders of the society but both are completely different. “We are different and we should be accepted as being different and we should set our new goals while we work in the field.”

www.wadeindia.com

Mr. Sri Prakash not only accompanied his wife Shiela Sri Prakash and daughter Pavitra but was seen keenly observing all the panel discussions and other activities happening at WADe. The positive change in society is quite visible.

“The acceptance for working women differs from cities to rural areas. In fact, I would go on to say that it is much easier to work in rural in spite of having the conservative attitude of client, craftsmen or masons once you know how to connect with them.�

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Surfaces Reporter “I came across a lot of women who were good at their work but since they came from a background which did not require them to earn their living, they somehow lacked the drive and it actually decimated the whole professional attitude down the line. When there is a need, when you know you have to swim so that you do not sink, it actually keeps you going because you do not have an option to let go. It is a very important factor along with your own determination. All these factors are important but unless you are determined yourself, there is nobody who can help you,” commented Ar. Sonali Bhagwati.

Ar. Parul Zaveri while mentioning the change in society was quick to point out a keen observation made by her during her professional career. She urged the young architects and designers to find a way to connect with the client and people one works with in order to get the best work done. She said, “Things have changed to a certain extent and now there is an increased support for women architects who join the firms. However, the acceptance differs from cities to rural areas. In fact, I would go on to say that it is much easier to work in rural in spite of having the conservative attitude of client, craftsmen or masons once you know how to connect with them.”

Ar. Anupama Kundoo shared her insight on the changing behavior of the society and how the young ladies should strive for a balance: “Woman must stop doing EVERYTHING. Why do we have to be Superwoman? I

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don’t want to be a Superwoman. I really admire all those who are juggling all things like me but I am sorry we have to stop. I tell my husband that ‘Look we both have to share the responsibilities of taking care of our children since we both wanted to have kids. There is already a lot more that I have to do, biologically and socially but why everything has to be on me?’ Instead of changing others, we have to change ourselves. Take REST and don’t try to be the BEST in everything.”

We regret that due to space constraint, we could share just a couple of the opinions from the insightful panel discussion at WADe India. Nevertheless, soon we will update www.wadeindia.com with more information related to the discussions.

“When you know that you ‘have to’ swim so that you do not sink, it actually keeps you going. Unless you are determined, there is nobody who can help you.”

www.wadeindia.com

From Left, Ar Divya Kush, President IIA, Vertica Dvivedi, Founder WADe India, Ar. Sanjay Puri, Ar. Prem Nath & Prof. Krishnarao Jaisim

Prof Ramendra Singh from IIM Calcutta addressed audience queries on ‘How to market Design Services & Managment Skills’ which is specially important for young architects and designers. To reach out to Prof Singh in case of any further queries, write to us at hellowadeindia@gmail.com.

Some lighter moments from Stand-up comedian Vasu Primlani’s show June 2016 SURFACES REPORTER 77

Surfaces Reporter

What makes a man-woman partnership successful was discussed thoroughly during an enlightening panel discussion where the participants were none other than some of the most successful partnership firms Ar. Santha & Kalhan Mattoo, Ar. Krupa & Zubin Zainuddin and Ar. Lalita Tharani & Mujib Ahmed moderated by Ms. Lipika Sud. Ar. Annkur Khosla shared the perspective of being aWomen-only firm

Celeb designers Sussanne & Zarine Khan candidly talked about their experiences of being in a realm that is continuously challenging. As an advice to the young aspirants, they said,, “You have to love your job. The crucial part is what you conceptualize, you must have the capability to convey it to your clients and make them visualize at the same time. People say that being a celebrity is very easy but one should know that it is where people spend more money and they want the best job to be done.�

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www.wadeindia.com

Ar. Krupa Zubin & Zubin Zainuddin (U), Ar. Mujib Ahmed (B) during the Panel discussion on Successs of Man-Woman Partnership

For an elaborate coverage of the profiles of Role Models, Emerging and Special Category Awardees, log on to

www.wadeindia.com

Ar. Santha Mattoo & Kalhan Mattoo sharing their professional partnership experience during a lighter moment.

Ar. Abha Narain Lambah receiving the wade Role Model Award from Vertica Dvivedi, Founder, WADe India June 2016 SURFACES REPORTER 79

Surfaces Reporter

tribute to Zaha Hadid by ar. sanjay puri

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“Generally, men are not known to shed tears. And it is rare that a man would shed tears for someone whom he has not met or known in life. This is what happened to me when I heard that Zaha Hadid has passed away.”

ust before the 1st Award ceremony by WADe India to recognize the Role Models and Emerging Young Women Architects & Designers, Ar. Sanjay Puri, Principal, Sanjay Puri Architects Mumbai paid an emotional tribute to Zaha Hadid, which has put the audience to pin drop silence.

Initially she shot to fame with her drawings and this is when people got to know of her abilities. Her architectural drawings were so beautiful that one could actually hang them as pieces of art. Many years ago, Zaha exhibited her paintings in London. I was deeply mesmerized to see them. Her drawings had so much life! You could actually feel energy flowing out from the canvas.

He said, “Generally, men are not known to shed tears. And it is rare that a man would shed tears for someone whom he has not met or known in life. This is what happened to me when I heard that Zaha Hadid has passed away.” After a deep pause, he continued speaking...

How could someone visualize such things? These were some of the buildings of her early career. With each building she had gone past boundaries that she had set for herself. So with each building it became more fluid, more dynamic. The spaces became more radically different than what one could perceive before.

What really can one say as a tribute to a woman architect and not just a woman, an architect who transcended all boundaries of design what has been done before. She literally broke across so many barriers in designing completely fluid spaces.

Take a look at what she left, currently950 projects in 44 countries. There are a lot of commercial firms with more projects but having 950 unique projects in 44 countries and 400 staff, is something difficult to imagine.

We all grew up studying Roman style and Byzantine style of architecture. Future generation will study Zaha Hadid style, so radically different from what anybody else has ever done before. She went way beyond all boundaries...

How many of you know that Zaha Hadid has completed her whole course in Mathematics before she actually decided to be an architect? While most of us have completed studying Architecture by the age of 22-23. She studied architecture from the age of 22-27 and her interest in architecture arose from her deep understanding and love for mathematics & science. By studying what magnetic forces can do and by mapping those magnetic forces to create something that was so fluid and so challenging, has been at the core of her architectural conceptualization.

Imagine the level of perseverance because at the age of 44 Zaha finally got her first commission at Vitra Fire Station.

It is difficult to imagine what she might had to go through(A) for being a woman and (B) having designed things that have been so radically different that people thought they were not buildable.

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Just after 10 years of her first building, she became the first woman architect to be awarded the Pritzker Prize, the Nobel Prize of Architecture. For two consecutive years, she won Stirling Prize. Her huge list of awards and recognitions were all most prestigious. Simultaneously while designing these buildings she was teaching as a lecturer at various institutes across the world. Her signature style can be seen in every single thing she has designed from Shoes to Jewelleries, Furniture pieces, Automobile to Watches etc.

I wonder how she had managed time for all these things!

An interesting thing to note is, in 1977 when she completed her schooling at AA School of Architecture, she was made an associate of Rem Koolhaas and at that time she had set up a Design Research Lab (DRL) which is still there till date. I am not qualified to give the tribute to somebody who is so... beyond what most architects are. No words can completely describe Zaha Hadid’s journey and her achievements. But the great thing is that her work is going to live on. There would be Architecture which is Pre Zaha and that which is Post Zaha. To sum it up, I would share one of her own thoughts, a one liner, “There are 360 degrees so why stick to one?”

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No words can completely describe Zaha Hadid’s journey and her achievements.

But the great thing is that her work is going to live on. There would be Architecture which is Pre Zaha and that which is Post Zaha.

Surfaces Reporter has presented Ar. Puri’s words as it is so that the essence is not disturbed. Also posted in www.wadeindia.com June 2016 SURFACES REPORTER 81

Surfaces Reporter

Mr. Sarosh Wadia, Vice President, IIID

Deepankar Garg, Research Adroid, Alstone, giving an insightful presentation on ‘Going Green’

Ar. Ponni & Oscar Concessao

The special award for Innovative Young Architect was an initiative by Delta, thus aptly named WADe Delta Innovative Young Architect Award.

Priyanka Khanna is the winner of this award.

Kiran Singh, Marketing Director Delta Faucet Company India

Amit Maheshwari, Sanjeev Sharma & Ankur Maheshwari from Amulya Synchro team June 2016 SURFACES REPORTER 82

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Dr. Kiran Bedi, in discussion with Prof. Krishnarao Jaisim, Mr. Sarosh Wadia and Ar. Divya Kush

Above: WADe Role Models, Ar Sonali Bhagwati, Ar. Chitra Vishwanath, Ar. Sheila Sri Prakash, Below: Ar. Anupama Kundoo & Ar. Parul Zaveri happily receiving the WADe Role Model awards

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Surfaces Reporter WADe Dignitaries from various parts of India

Ar. Srilata Ramkumar (R), GM, Delhi International Airport

Sona Chatwani along with IIID Team from Hyderabad

WADe Role Model Sussanne Khan

Deben Moza, Joint CEO, Knight Frank and Nazma Naheed

Payal Kapoor, WADe Role Model

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Ar. Jiggnesh Modi, IIID

WADe Emerging Young Architect 2016, Pritika Kinra, MOCO Design Studio, Pune, with Prof. Jaisim

Shabnam Gupta WADe Role Model

Ar. Chitra Vishwanath (R) with Ms. Sandhya

Ar. Niroop Reddy

Ar. Pavitra Sri Prakash

Ar. Mujib Ahmed & Ar. Lalita Tharani

Pragati Jain with her daughter June 2016 SURFACES REPORTER 85

Surfaces Reporter

Ar. Nina Puri WADe Role Model

An architect who has beautifully connected Architecture with Nature, The WADe Emerging Young ‘NArchitect’ 2016 – Ar. Shweta Balasubramoni, Vistaar Associates, Hyderabad

Supraja Rao WADe Role Model

Ar Poni Concessao WADe Role Model

Ar. Canna Patel WADe Role Model

Little Leah, daughter of Lijo Jose & Reny Lijo from Trissur was a serious spectator at WADe India

Rupana Reddy WADe Role Model

Zarine Khan WADe Role Model

The ETRELUXE team at WADe India: Dilip Rathi, Upasna Lall, Kamal Rathi and team June 2016 SURFACES REPORTER 86

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Ar. Krupa Zubin WADe Role Model

Ar. Seema Puri Mullan WADe Role Model

Ar. Santha Mattoo WADe Role Model

Ar.Lalita Tharani WADe Role Model

Ar. Reny Lijo WADe Role Model

Priyanka Khanna WADe Delta Innovative Young Architect receiving the Award from Ar. Divya Kush & Kiran Singh, Marketing Director, Delta Faucet Company June 2016 SURFACES REPORTER 87

Surfaces Reporter

Designer Sunita Kohli

Designer Sita Nanda

Gita Balakrishnan WADe Special Category Awardee

Raj Sharma, Bharat Bhatt and Amitesh Mishra with Vertica

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Komal Gupta & Madhurima with Sussanne Khan

Swati Mittal with Vinit Suri Neha Barua from WADe India with Avitesh Chaudhary

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What can be more encouraging than witnessing the entire industry coming together to support WADe India! Instead of saying just ‘Thank You’, we will express that through our work. Presently, WADe is expandeing and looking for Women leaders in tier-II & III cities to carry the initiative further. Please connect with WADe at hellowadeindia@gmail.com.

Pragath Dvivedi, Director, Bigsea Marcom (I) Pvt. Ltd. thanking the audience and applauding the team.

Stay updated with WADe India initiative via www.wadeindia.com June 2016 SURFACES REPORTER 89

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