Friday, September 20, 2019

ROLE OF JUNIOR ARCHITECT - AN INTERACTIVE SESSION FOR THE JUNIOR ARCHITECTS

What is the role of a junior architect and his struggles in the process of learning architecture?.... The discussion started with the difference in the role of Junior Architects in other firms vs the JA's in our own firm.How the Hierarchy in our office works effectively from the beginning of a project and client handling until the final output of the project.What is the reason for JA's handling entire projects and treating as their own, and being a main core to the project, which makes them very fluent about the process and execution of the design.  Is it a boon or a bane for the project/design because JA's handle the project entirely?How do JA's capture the core of a project starting from the scheme till the execution, understanding needs and space experience, how they give design inputs to the DA's instead of a fixed solution, to the project. There is no fixed concept for a residence/home, we have to understand the requirements and spaces from the clients point of view and give them an experience that will create an impact, and to represent it accordingly to the differentiating needs of a client
The Tamil Nadu style of architecture has taken a down fall, how can we reclaim its architectural style and heritage, in our current context?How do we impact lives through architecture, and also maintain a specific identity?How can we improvise the Tamil Nadu style of architecture?

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Wednesday, September 18, 2019

PROPOSED RESIDENCE FOR MR.SELVAKUMAR AT NAMAKKAL

THE BRICK HOUSE AT NAMMAKAL

Site Visit By Murali Architects Team...Sharing the Architect Deepan's site inspection and his experience through the spaces...
The warm, rustic charm of exposed brick walls convey a feeling of warmth and enveloping comfort. To me, the exposed brick reflected the traditional rich history while embracing the artsy style of a modern generation.

The Double height Family Living Spaces Fullfilled with Natural Light and Continuous Cross ventilation. Exposed Brick and Exposed Concrete play magnificent role in this Building...
Since Nammakal experiences naturally a very Hot climate...
These Exposed Bricks acts as Thermal barrier and keeps the Interior space warm and cool...
The Continuous Fresh Air Flow Movement through the building helps the escape the Hot air through Concrete Louvers in Terrace Floor - Stack Effect

Bringing Back Old Traditional Building Techniques.... 




PROPOSED RESIDENCE FOR MR.VINOD, COIMBATORE

Experimenting the Construction of Inclined brick wall .
A Brick house creating the feel of Urban Forest by bringing in the Light and landscape together through the Brick perforation, creating a visual connect between the interior and exterior.
It is designed for Mr.Vinod and Family at Coimbatore, who are blessed with a Daughter.The client wanted the house to improve the interaction amongst the family and to bring the daughter closer. The house doesn't want to isolate the Daughter being idle in the room.
Multi level floors connectivity through open courtyards and glass floor connects the people. The House creates a space within a space. The elderly parents spend their time with his family in weekends.
The Ground level plan connects the family living, Kitchen with view of a Swimming pool connected through central courtyard.
The Mezzanine floor consists of the Guest room and entertainment room ,Family lounge to spend time together.
The First floor consists of a Master bedroom with a landscape court and Private balcony and either side.
Daughters bedroom with an elongated Baywindow with Featured inclination within the bedroom connects her to be with the Nature .
The House is Wrapped with around with Landscape.





Monday, August 19, 2019

SESSION 02 | REFRESHING OUR BASICS


The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing
-Socrates
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What is brickwork drawing?
Is it conversion of scheme drawing into technical drawings?
What is a construction drawing?
What are the contents in it?
Is the drawing communication language for architects between the site persons/engineers.
What is a duct in plumbing?
How it is placed?
Arranging the pipes within duct-is it enough?
Understanding the difference between • waste water pipeline
• soil water pipelinqe • Water inlet
Can 4 1/2 " thick normal brick wall stand alone?
No,it requires slender column for support.
Does the hand drawn cross sections help us understand better?
Difference between architectural drawing and technical drawing....
Understanding the practical execution in the site....








SESSION 01 | FRESH THOUGHTFUL FRIDAY


An unexpected interesting session brushing up on basics, where we got to share and discuss perfection in representing architectural detailing and communicative understanding.

Why a steel in concrete?

What is a window?
How ? Where? Site making and fixing? What is a holdfast? Why it is there?where it is?

Sequences..of placing .. How do you  make a concrete slab? From a site perspective..
Why the steel is at a certain height in a beam? Not at the bottom.. Why concrete?
Top surfaces of any concreting..practical ways doing.. what is shuttering?? How do you finish a floor?

How do you message a client? Who messages in the night in the group? Can a junior. Architect dare to reply? If so,how?
How do you handle contractor? How do you team with the big gang in the architecture team?
If junior architect is the catalyst who facilities the faster musical movement of the architecture making, how can this be done??? Can a junior architects be the centre of the whole construction process? If so, do they have the necessary knowledge to handle it?

Or

They are just a tool, drafting arm  to make staircase drawings, toilet drawings.. or some details blow up person.. How can they be at the centre with limited practical  knowledge yet at the same time  make a soft pivot friendly role to push the whole big machinery of drawings production sequence move?

How to interact with all consultants? Structural, plumbing, electrical, security.. is it possible.. if possible , how ????? Should you be a perfectionist?
Or
A casual person... What are the angers of a client?
How do you put your best effort in helping a project move without compromising the ideals and goals that you set in the beginning?? Should you lose hope?







Friday, August 2, 2019

ANAND RESIDENCE AT MEDAVAKKAM

The residence is located at Medavakkam, Chennai. is surrounded by existing buildings with different heights and structures.
This residence’s concept is centered around ideas of revival and renewal of the disappearing elements from traditional architecture. The design portrays a great emphasis on interactions and reconnecting common areas. Architectural spaces such as a Thinnai, and Kunds provided for seating enhance social interactions. There are several open courts provided inside the building which allows for maximum sunlight and ventilation, as well as an integration of landscape connections with the enclosed spaces.
2 Entrances are provided for the residence, A Formal entrance which directs the people to the Welcome pavilion, whereas an informal entrance which are provided for the client’s elderly parents which leads them to a lounge space. The interior of the building is provided with levels which has an Open Layout plan, where the Kitchen – Dining Room – Informal Living are interconnected . There are 5 Bedrooms provided, 1 Bedroom for the client’s parents, One Master bedroom which is interconnected with their Daughter’s Bedroom, and 2 Guest Bedrooms. Each Bedroom is connected to a Balcony, which provides a visual connection from the Outside. There is a Basement Garage provided with a Ramp as the Client is an avid Car Enthusiast.
Inspite of the architectural differences, the design aims to reconnect using the backyard space which consists  of a swimming pool and Common interaction spaces with the neighborhood.









HONOURABLE FORMER CHIEF MINISTER SELVI J.JAYALALITHA'S MEMORIAL

Whatever may be the political opinions and controversies, the government wanted a structure to be erected for the late chief minister..an all India design competition was called for.. We took part in it.. We wanted architecture to help thousands of people who come to Marina every day..(approximately 50000 people during the weekends)..many of them are poor, arrive in Chennai in buses from various parts of Tamil Nadu and spend the day in hot sun, touring and site seeing.. we felt these monumental spaces can give them shade, shelter, togetherness and cheer.. A monumental prodigious structure is been erected with intriguing curves and angles blending with the waves flowing on the marina coast. The memorial is a social and collective structure that commemorates amma’s life. For a person who lived for the people we wanted to celebrate her life through this memorial by giving back to the people of Tamil Nadu. Every structure and every space is designed keeping in mind the dynamic life she lived. The cast in place exposed concrete monument is conceived as an experiential environment comprising of deep intertwining and interlaced inclined walls. The museum located in the northern aisle of the phoenix, showcases the historical journey of amma’s life and her various programs for the welfare of the people. Deep thought has been given into the play of light and shadow within the space. The light that enters through the oculus is subtly filtered through the prismatic glass bringing in diffused daylight to brighten up the enthralling interiors of the museum. The knowledge center is located on the southern aisle of the phoenix, spaces have been designed to facilitate sharing of knowledge and provides a platform for women empowerment and youth development as well as school and college students to showcase their strengths and abilities and bring out their hidden talents. The GFRC panels proposed for the clearstory opening will create a sense of texture as well as interact with light. Design Team: Murali Murugan, Raghuram, Seethapathy, Nishanth Ramesh, Thomson Siby, Vignesh Moorthy, Muthukumaran, Hikmath, Mohan Moorthy.

HONOURABLE FORMER CHIEF MINISTER SELVI J.JAYALALITHA'S MEMORIAL

நினைவுச்சின்னம் : இந்த நினைவிடத்தின் சின்னமான ஃபீனிக்ஸ் பறவை உயிர்த்தெழுதலை உருவகப்படுத்துகிறது. ஒவ்வொரு முறையும் போராடி வென்ற அவரை நினைவுபடுத்தும் சிறந்த உருவகம் ஃபீனிக்ஸ் மட்டுமே. " எத்தனை முறை வீழ்ந்தேனோ அத்தனை முறையும் எழுந்தேன் " என்கிற அவரது வைரவரிகளை நினைவுபடுத்தும் விதமாகவே வடிவமைக்கப்பட்டது இந்த ஃபீனிக்ஸ் நினைவுச்சின்னம். அருங்காட்சியகம்: இவ்வருங்காட்சியகம் செல்வி. ஜெயலலிதா அவர்களின் வரலாற்றையும் அரசியல் பயணங்களையும், மக்களுக்காக செயல்படுத்திய சீர்திருத்த திட்டங்களையும் தலைமுறை கடந்தும் மக்கள் கண்டு உணரும் வகையில் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அந்த அருங்காட்சியகம் 20 மீட்டர் குவியல் அடித்தளமும், உலகத்தரத்தில் புதிய தொழில் நுட்பமான SCC (Self Compacting concrete) கான்க்ரீட் மூலம் சாய்க்கோண சுவர்களால் கட்டப்படும் கட்டுமானமாகும். கற்றல் மையம் : செல்வி.ஜெயலலிதா அவர்கள் தங்கள் வாழ்நாள் முழுவதையும் மக்களின் நலனுக்காகவும் சமுதாய முன்னேற்றத்திற்காகவும் இளைய தலைமுறையின் எழுச்சிக்காகவும் மகளிர் மேம்பாட்டிற்காகவும் பாடுபட்டதை நினைவுறுத்தும் வகையில் இம்மையம் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. 20 மீட்டர் குவியல் அடித்தளத்துடன் கூடிய இந்த கட்டிடம் பிந்தைய நெருக்கப்பட்ட உத்திரம் (POST TENSION BEAM), பல வண்ண பட்ட படிவ அமைப்பு வேலைகளால் வார்க்கப்பட்ட கான்கிரீட் அமைப்புகளால் நிலைநிறுத்தப்பட்டு இளைஞர்கள் பயனினூம் வகையில் வடிவமைக்கப்பட்டதாகும். மேற்கூரையானது மூன்று வெவ்வேறு அடுக்கு நிலைகளால் பட்டக கண்ணாடி பதிக்கப்பட்ட இயற்கை ஒளி ஊடுறவும் வகையில் கலைநயத்துடன் அமைக்கப்பட்டது. ஃபீனிக்ஸ் பறவை : தன் பிரமாண்டசிறகுகளை விரித்து அதன்கீழ்தன்மக்களை அடைகாத்து, பறக்கதயாராகி உத்வேகத்துடன் இருக்கும் அந்தபறவையின் தோற்றம். "மக்களால்நான் ,மக்களுக்காகவே நான் " என்கிற செல்வி.ஜெயலலிதாவின் வாழ்க்கைபயணத்தை பிரதிபலிக்கிறது . நினைவிடத்தின் மையத்தில் அமைக்கப்பட்ட ஃபீனீக்ஸ் பறவையின் வடிவம் 21 மீட்டர் நெடுங்கை தூலத்துடன் பலவண்ண பட்டக (prismatic shutter) படிவ வேலை அமைப்புகளால் உருவாக்கப்பட்ட கான்கிரீட் பெருவடிவமாகும். இது முழுவதும் கான்கிரீட்டால் அமையப்பெற்றது. அதன் அடைப்பு வடிவமான பட்டக வடிவ வார்ப்பு வேலைகள் உலகத்தரத்தில் இரும்பு பட்டைகளால் வடிக்கப்பட்டு வார்க்கப்பட்டதாகும். மொத்தநினைவிடமும் அழகிய நீருற்றுகளாலும் ,பசுமையான இயற்கை சூழலாலும் நேர்த்தியுடன் வடிவமைக்கப்பட்ட கண்கவர் நடைபாதைகளும் மனம்குளிரும் நாடகங்களும் இயற்கையுடன் நம்மை ஒருங்கிணைக்கும் நல்முயற்சியாக உருவாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.