SANDHYA RAMACHANDRAN~ Creator
When some freak conversations, numerous mud-slinging at the syllabus-creators,
and a sudden strong urge to get down to real work surface,things like 'Point'
happen. Everyday, we complain and crib about not feeling inspired to design, and
why, even live happily! For once, we stopped our whiny banter and decided to
DO something about it than wait and watch.

Point, happened.

We are not yet clear what exactly we are all about. We have begun as an
architecture magazine, where interested students can contribute articles and
opinions on various issues relating to the field. We have a snoop on our roll calls,
so mind you- no copy pasting from the wikis and the like! So like we said, we
publish your original meritorious thoughts, that we feel, should be given a little
loudspeaker to prove its power.

We are ourselves a fledgling-ezinetter(ezine blended mid-way with a newsletter).

So we pay not! We believe someday, when we will make it big as a source of
inspiration to many students, you would be ranked as the initial few contributors.
Then, this shall really mean something!

From the Creators' desk...

For now, we ask you for your time- to sit and read through this ezinetter that we
so painstakingly compiled and designed for you for free; and to bite those pencil-
ends and scribble on some of those brainwaves your grey cells transmitted.

Write, type, hand-it-in-person: whatever it is, take this 'Point' as your own and
contribute.

Well,somewhere we needed to begin this and now that we've run you through the
basics, somewhere we have to end. So be it, at this 'point'.

ARVIND CAULAGI~ Co-Creator

Point was born out of confusion and anxiety, but the final outcome has given
us a better outlook and perspective on things other than architecture. The
voices heard would be that of students, we would once in a while have
'actual' architects providing us with their learnings(hopefully). So keep them
coming, that's when we'll be able to sustain something like this.

We hope that, (in atleast some small way) we inspire you, provide you with
tidbits of information, you know of or may not know of, widen your horizon on
things architectural, so that you actually appreciate it, and not think of it as
just any other article written by an amateur. So yeah..that's it, I guess.
Happy reading!

1
Table of Contents

FROM THE CREATORS' DESK........1

TABLE OF CONTENTS..............2

EZINETTER......................3

VIEWPOINT......................4

COVER STORY....................6

OPINION........................8

OFFBEAT.......................10

THOUGHTS......................12

LOOKOUT!......................14

MUSINGS.......................16
 Contribute articles- personal accounts of what
inspired/inspires you to think! What triggers off those gray
cells to function? Be original- we value that. Those that cut-
paste, shall meet their end in our trash folders or worse-
spam cans!

Mail us good writing and photographs about any form of design,

art or creation. Point our mistakes, send in your suggestions.
We value you!

Whatever of the above you choose to do, send them to:

postthepoint@gmail.com

CATCH US ONLINE AND INTERACT WITH US AT:

http://www.pointonline.wordpress.com

Wanna make your Point.?

What in the world is an ezinetter?!

* WANNABE REASON

An ezinetter sounds absolutely whacky, doesn't it? Well, that

is why, 'Point.' is an ezinetter.

* SENSIBLE REASON

The word best describes what we are dishing out- an ezine cum
newsletter. An ezine because it is restricted to the publishing
cheapness of the online media; a newsleter because it is
compact in size and deals with one basic idea for one set of
people- to inspire the students of architecture.

And when both the words flow in together, a beautiful chemical

reaction occurs...the elements congeal...giving us the
compounded form we stuck to- ezinetter!
 AHALADINI SRIDHARAN
The author is presently in her final year of architectural
studies. She loves books, doodling and travel. She
thinks sarcasm is a highly underutilized trait in humans
and is currently preaching it by practice!

Imagine the present world as a new business and you re-

interviewing professionals you think are necessary to start it off
and keep it running smoothly.

A politician is breezed through immediately without much of an

interview…an actor is welcomed with garlands and
statuettes….you need your engineers, your doctors, your scientists,
your journalists…you wont be able to keep the lawyers out; they’ll
probably sue thier way in….but a large part of the professional
world still see no dire need for the architect.

Many people I’ve come across think they can do our jobs for us
and do it better. Everyone has an opinion when it comes to
architecture because everyone is enclosed, surrounded and in daily
interaction with the products of our profession.
You can’t imagine a doctor being interrupted by his patient/client
mid surgery, asking to take over and watching, as he confuses the
bowel for the brain- yet that’s a constant threat in our line of work.

I’m in my final year of architecture, about to enter the real world,

and the one predominant thought in my head has expressed itself
in the title of this article…what is my place in the professional
world? Am I relevant?

If I consider my work experience in the seventh semester as a sort

of trailer, giving me an idea of things to come, I get a varied look
into the different kinds of architects out there, and the different
aspects to the profession.

Taking just my firm for instance, there were the head architects-
the ‘god like’ figures, with the enviable pedigrees - the one’s
completely in charge of the act of creating; the big thinkers-the
ones who shape spaces and make an impact on society…(the
people we either want to be, or despise for being disregarded by).

Then there were the oblivious architects-who practiced

architecture as a sort of chore they had to get over. They churned
out products that have worked in previous cases without any
thought to context or sensitivity, and then proceeded to give their
role no further thought….

Photograph: Theatre complex at Dubai, Sandhya Ramachandran

4
A P
N R There were also the architects perennially cast in the
role of underdog or doormat. These are the architects
who look up to the head architects to such an extent

A O that they lose all sense of self to the ideal they had in
their youth. They become just faithful pets

R reproducing their master’s work, waiting for a treat or

a pat on the head…...

C F Granted this is a gross generalization seen from the

H E eyes of a lowly trainee. (Who features somewhere

below the office boy in office hierarchy). But it still

I makes me feel the need to define at least on paper

what kind of role I want to play in the world.

T S I think every student of architecture should do the

E S same before they enter the professional world- define

for themselves, what kind of practice they want to

C have, what kind of architect they want to be, and the

impact they want to make.

T' I Whether they want to practice, what Hafeez

S O contractor once described, as a ‘2 ½” thick aesthetic’

(referring to the fact that all the variety demanded by
the market today, can be achieved through generic

P N plans, clothed in facades, which vary only in the

treatment of windows) or whether they want to

L actualize their own genius and create spaces- unique,

relevant, contextual and inspired.

A A Only the architect who practices the latter can prove

C L to the world again and again, the relevance and role

of the architect, in this professional world and put to

E rest all doubts, about the need of an architect.

In the end, we should ensure that our ideals and ethics

I W are protected and guarded against hostile parties,

namely, the outside world, and we never lose our

N O enthusiasm to learn with an open mind; to ensure that

we create spaces, that in the words of Prof Doshi,
make people look around and say, “This place I like,

T R because when I come here, I feel very happy and

celebrate my life”.

H
E L
VIEWPOINT
D
” 5
 RY
TO RESONANT REFLECTIONS...
S
E R
OV
C

6
 Masters in Arts and

S
o you've almost given in to the mundane ways of your life.

Communication
There’s nothing that inspires you and you just think
mechanically. And then life throws an opportunity at you, all
unawares. In this case, it was design forum a couple of us 10th
semester students (four to be precise) attended, which has
broadened our perspectives on architecture, and several things,
programme
which otherwise went un-noticed. CEPT introduced a new course called The
Masters Programme in Arts and
The yearly Kurula Varkey Design forum (an initiative by School Communication last year. It is a practice-
of Architecture, CEPT), gives an opportunity to the students of based two-year course in arts, design and
Architecture (passed out) to display and explain their design communication which includes social
thesis. While not making it boring, the forum is quite science perspectives. Studio based
interestingly programmed, with discussions, talks, seminars and explorations forms the central focus of the
break-out sessions, held within the beautiful CEPT campus and programme and is conducted and facilitated
other landmarks of the city like IIM, L.D Institute of Indology by senior practitioners from the fields of art,
etc. This with a group of panelists, mostly architects, ranging design, film making, performing arts and
from B.V Doshi to artist Kaushik Mukhopadhyay, from Sri related disciplines. Integrated with studio
Lankan architect Hirante Welandwe to French-Indian Architect practice are theoretical inputs from experts
Stephen Paumier, to the ever inspiring Rupali Gupte, provided in the social sciences and humanities along
us with so much fodder to chew upon, that it left us wanting for with field studies and internship
more. opportunities. This course has been
developed for students with a background
While a few of the designs were stale, like an ecoscraper, the in art and design, and for mid-career artists
airport, where the program was just designed to fit in the and designers who seek a future as
requirements, there were several interesting ones, like a professional artists, advertising and media
bathhouse in Ahmedabad, home for the old aged (called blurring professionals, museum and art curators,
boundaries), Museum for a Graphite mine in Sri Lanka.....where designers, photographers, film makers and
we could actually see how the designs evolved taking into animators.
consideration several factors like context, the existing fabric,
which we almost seem to have neglected in our designs. For more information: Check out the CEPT
website:
On a 'preachy' note, we need to start giving importance to the http://cept.ac.in/main.php?pageid=45&LPO
whole process of design, question the decisions we make, so =1&RPO=4&SLPO=45
that our solutions are at least holistic, rather than just designing
a box and washing our hands off it.

There are several things I (we) could talk about, but that would
just be more like spoon feeding. Here’s hoping that we've
triggered off something in your minds to think about.

Oh, and if you still haven’t visited the school of architecture at

CEPT, please do...you'll realize what a 'school' of architecture is
and what a design studio actually looks like!!!

Link: http://kvdforum.blogspot.com/

ARVIND CAULAGI
The author is a final year student of
Architecture from Hindustan College of
Engineering who loves films, photography and
art and is presently impatient about making his
own movie.
Pictures around CEPT campus by Arvind
Caulagi. Other participants in the Kurula
Varkey Design Forum were Ahaladini
Sridharan, Nanditha Gopalakrishnan and
Poornima Balakrishnan.
7

KARTIK GOES
GREEN
The GREEN
BUILDING
MOVEMENT has
gradually gained
ground in me. When there are
no differences in the external
appearances and functions of
both the conventional and the
green buildings, when they are
environmental friendly, they
have lower operational costs;
they increase worker
performance, productivity and
comfort level of the occupants-
then why not make them green?
Green is just not a color and not
about planting trees alone; it’s
also about how well a building
GOING GREEN
SAVES...
> Energy
> Water
> Material resources
> Occupants from
health hazards
> From environmental
hazards
OPINION
utilisation of natural air and
sunlight, we can make them
green, minimising the electricity
consumption. Thus a green
building will reduce the load on
our water reservoirs and
electricity sub stations.
With optimal designing and
uses its resources, reducing the
without compromising on
impact on the environment,
performance, by making
using maximum daylight and
buildings green we can increase
ventilation with proper material
the efficiency with which
efficiency.
buildings use energy , water
and material resources
When the Indian infrastructure
simultaneously reducing the
industry is growing at a rate
impact on environment and
which is twice the world’s
human health.
average, we should all think and
build green buildings so that we
Climate responsive architectural
save and utilise our energy and
design, modern technology and
water resources properly today,
certain green features can be
for a better India tomorrow.
effectively used to achieve,
Buildings account for nearly
what is called a green building.
30% of energy consumption in
Thus any building starting from
India. By orienting and
houses to commercial or
designing buildings in such a
industrial should be made green
way, ensuring maximum
8
causing less harm to environment. big, it can be made
DID YOU
the environment,
good occupant health Take for example the
green; thus doing
good to the
KNOW?!?
The Green Business
and safety, increase Sohrabji Godrej environment and in
Centre -- jointly
in worker Green Business turn saving our
promoted by the
productivity and Centre, Hyderabad- resources. Hence I
Confederation of Indian
minimising the load tiles used for feel when green
Industry, Pirojsha
on our resources. aesthetic purposes in buildings have all
Godrej Foundation, the
the columns are goods and added
Andhra Pradesh
On a personal note I actually from the advantages over the
government and the
find green buildings waste-lot of a tile standard buildings.
USAID -- is the only
appealing because company. Even the
building in the world
there is very less furniture used in the Why make a
to be awarded the
wastage of cafeteria of the conventional
'platinum rating' under
everything. Even building is recycled building anymore?
the LEED rating system
materials treated as and reused. Why not make all of
of the US Green
waste by some them green
Building Council,
companies are I find green buildings?
making it 'the greenest
recycled and reused buildings more
to reduce (the three appealing, as THINK GREEN. building in the world.'
important R’s in a irrespective of type BUILD GREEN.
green building) the of the building and
impact on the its shape-small or
KARTIK CHANDAK
The author is a final year Architecture student from
Hindustan College of Engineering and loves cricket,
music, movies and is currently obsessed with green
buildings.

9
 The long arcaded corridors stretched like life and led the
plot along with it. The waiting, the leaving, the twist, the

A realization….it all happened there. Parallel cinema.

R The huge mansion sulked as she left. It stood stubborn

with pride to equal hers and did not call back. Even
C though she took a long last glance. Drama.

HE
I M
It gave him the creeps, just to look at it. With its ancient
pillars, foreboding massiveness. Its appearance smirked

TO
the fact that it did not hide the existence of the
paranormal. Horror.

ET
CE
It helped the story skip years and thrives in its ahead-of-
its-time montage. Sleek, un-interrupting,

TS
ultramodern…it propels the protagonists providing its
imaginative backdrop. Futuristic.

U It gave shadows to lurk. It gave mazes to chase. It gave

R
lairs to rule. Thriller/noire.

E Architecture emotes. Architecture is an expression of the

creative, and cinema steps forward to prove it. It uses
architecture as a visually potent protagonist and weaves its
story through it. Be it the loud villainous lair, the happy
home or the sci-fi dueling
arenas-architecture lends you a hand in recognizing and
relating. It decides the era, makes it timeless, it sets the
mood and it tells you the state of the protagonist. At its
most self-obsessed state, it has the story told about itself.
The plot begins moves and ends in it.

Cinema and architecture have been faithful companions,

each complementing the other-enhancing, creating and
helping imagine so subtly that architecture sometimes
comes out, sits right next to the audience and steers your
mind to where the story points.

ANOODHA.S.KUNNATH
The author is a final year architecture student from
the Hindustan College of Engineering. Her first
priorities include- movies, writing and art. Food and
sleep however come a close second!

10
Photographs: Various sources on the Internet

11
 AN
ART
INVOLVING
THE
FIVE SENSES...
So many of them say that Architecture, is a visual art. In my
terms it is definitely not…if it is a visual art…you can even
experience Tajmahal in a photograph…. you don’t need to
experience it in person… but both have a difference… definitely…

There are 5 senses that are involved in experiencing

architecture….

Vision… Eyes… through which the play of light is

experienced…. i.e., forms…
Light is one of the major aspects in architecture…. Like
Louis I Khan says…

“A building begins with light and ends with shadows”

Touch… the physical experience of the surfaces….

Hearing… Ears… Through which one can hear the spaces…

style
whacky
the air hitting the surfaces… makes a constant rhythm in the
building…

weird
If there’s no air hitting… you can hear silence...

Smell… Nose… Through which you can feel the aura of the

simple
elegant
space

12
A T he fifth and the most important sense…is the subconscious eye or the third eye…

R through which we actually absorb a building…You will be able to see the virtual forms or
dimensions in architecture only through this sense…

C Virtual dimensions or forms in architecture are perceived through preconceived forms and
associated images in the visual remains.

H Even though your physical vision forgets to register what it sees, it’s your subconscious eye,
which enrolls it in the form of patterns and it, will be saved into the registry!

I Music is an experience, which uses one sense called hearing… and if music can create
moods… why cant architecture?!

T
Dance is an art form, which requires the sense called vision… it can hold your
concentration… Why cant architecture?!

E
Drama is an art form, which is experienced by two senses-vision, and hearing… it can take
you to some other world! Why cant architecture?!

C
Unlike other art forms, which involves the experience of one or two senses, architecture as
an art form that needs so many senses to take part in experiencing it…that makes
architecture one of the greatest and finest forms of art. So let’s all first understand the
essence of architecture and practice this great form of art with the greatest passion!

T G.K.MANICKAVEL

U The author loves Tamil poetry, art and music and is a final year architecture
student from Hindustan College of Engineering. He is considered one of

R
'The Photoshop Trinity' in the final year circuit of his college.

see
E feel
hear
absorb
13
KOOTHAM
THE BHARATA KALA

14
 Photo(L): Joel Suganth's Flickr Photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joellazarus/3080732839
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS

"...my intention was that the dance, now abolished in

the temple should create the temple atmosphere on the Measuring 40'x40', the
stage..." auditorium can seat 750.
50 can be
- RUKMINI DEVI accommodated on the
went to Kalakshetra in the past week. They presented a dance- floor directly in front of
drama, 'Andal Charithram' as a part of the 'Rukmani Devi Birthday the stage. There are 428
Celebrations', at The Bharata Kalakshetra Auditorium. chairs in the octagonal
well of the theatre, 168
There were quite a lot of foreigners clad in silk sarees and with chairs on the peripheral
bindis, bangles, malligai-poo(jasmine flowers).I didn't expect so veranda, and 104 in
many people to turn up for the performance.I had got the cheapest galleries in the balcony.
ticket possible and was quite happy that I got to sit right in front of
the stage, although on the floor. Dressing rooms are
available for artists, on
The auditorium was not one of those air conditioned halls. It was the ground floor.
built in the traditional Kerala-style architecture, with timber, like the
Koothambalam. It was overwhelmingly beautiful and had so much The Koothambalam -
grace. Bharata Kalakshetra
Auditorium is equipped
I believe architecture is a work of art that breathes. Architecture and with state-of-the-art
space influence human emotions. Even before the performance lighting and sound
started, I could feel the devotional ambience that existed in the systems.
auditorium - the dim lights, Kuthu-velakku, tiraseela(curtain)
depicting girls in a garden, the high-ceiling with artful assembly of Source: Kalakshetra
timber frames, wooden brackets, the earthy colors, floor mats and website:http://www.kala
bamboo chairs. kshetra.in

I had two-and-a-half an hour of good music, dance, expressions and

the divinity of the space. I came home having felt the divine.

AMBALAM
LAKSHETRA
AUDITORIUM
JIBI.J.BASCO
The author is currently in her final year of Architectural Studies in Hindustan
College of Engineering, Padur. She loves movies,dolphins, pigs and all kinds of
animals(every species possible except lizards) and anything that makes her gape and
go "wow
15
 SANDHYA RAMACHANDRAN
The author is a final year architecture student from Hindustan
College of Engineering. She writes erratically, reads when the
feeling seizes her and wishes to wander ‘where the voice of the
wind’ calls her.

City skyline looming large,

Skyscrapers, huts, shops, garage.
The humans-Creator's wonderful creations,
Shaping the world in their own fashion.

"We make better architects," the man declares,

"Men build more, look around and stare.
How many men have stormed the fields,
Equipped with creativity and greatly skilled."

"The Falling Waters, Taj Mahal, Opera House,

Men have created all, you cannot oppose.
It is a man, who can take the pressures,
That this very demanding field offers."

"Women are coming up, no doubt,

But how many of their works does the world shout about?
Men have physical strength, the stamina, the energy,
To work long hours, to help construct, to oversee."

"Be it classical, modern, digital,

All our works, do, immediately sell.
Men rule the world in about every lane,
Women, leave the fight, be sane!"

"Life's challenges are fast and furious,

Design problems are draining and tedious.
Your tender hands can take them not,
In this struggle, your mind shall rot."

"Hmph! Rubbish!" the woman declares,

"Women are better architects, because they care,
Not only for function and aesthetics alone,
But the soul of the building that makes it an office-home!"

"They think, they react, they create, they express,

Much better than men, to truly confess.
Their buildings have character that only a woman can lend,
You see life in every kink, every curve and bend."

"Worldly pressures are many, agreed,

But housewifely ones are worse indeed!
So better are we off, showing ability,
BAT
In buildings, giving vent to creativity."
16
 "Long have you men folk, suppressed, oppressed,
Left us women 'behind in time' and depressed.
Now we shall break free and show the world,
Our imagination, into our designs, we shall mould."

"Men are good, women are better,

We are the 'in-kind', the trend setter!"

I listened to them both with equal interest,

Wanted to declare 'my kind' was the best.
But truth smiled and stopped temptation,
And made me do one small confession.

That architecture is not about WHO builds but WHAT is built,

Neither toward man, nor woman, shall the favour tilt.

Be it man, be it woman,
It is just about life and creation.
Forming structures, shaping dreams,
To provide spaces to live, rest and scream.
Provide life with a platform to stage its play,
To see the see and say the say!
To laugh, to breathe, to work, to cry,
To think, to link, to fight, to deny.

You mould, inch by inch, your own 'little world',

Your world is your own, no matter who did mould,
Till life seems to flow from pillar to post,
Till comfort and shelter rule the roost,
Till you can find your peace and calm in there,
Till you can love the space and lean to care,
Till it can protect you and inspire till it stands,
It doesn't count if it had a man or woman's hands!

Architecture is an eternal quest in creation,

An attempt to help live life in a better fashion.
To make every moment treasured within walls,
Walls of your house and walls of your heart.
To inspire, to help, to make you experience,
The myriad forms of this life's performance.
And after you- to tell your tale,
To make progeny remember your fame.

No matter WHO builds, no matter if man or woman,

Architecture is all about giving a soul to creation.

TTLE IN BRICK
Picture(L): A Courtier in Akbar's Durbar, Moghul Miniature Painting MUSINGS...
Picture(R): Woman Lost in Thought, Painting by Raja Ravi Varma
CREDITS:

Conception, Layout and Design: Sandhya Ramachandran

Cover Design and photograph: Arvind Caulagi
Point. Logo design: Arvind Caulagi
Photographs: Various sources on the internet
Additional Photographs: Sandhya Ramachandran
Creator: Sandhya Ramachandran
Co-Creator: Arvind Caulagi
Special Thanks to: Students of Final Year B.Arch, Hindustan College of Architecture(Batc 2004-2009) for their
overwhelming response, support and continuous encouragement!

Point. is a non-profit ezinetter conceived and created to bring in some inspiration to students and give them
some decibels to scream-out-loud! It is currently devised as a fortnightly ezinetter that is circulated through e-
mail to as many students of architecture as possible.

The copyright of the work published within, are held by the respective creators. The ezinetter 'Point.' is owned
by the 'Toote Pencil Incorporated' - an unregistered, non-money making, un-business 'collaboration', jointly
owned by Sandhya Ramachandran and Arvind Caulagi.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India
License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.5/in/ or send a
letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.

| postthepoint@gmail.com | http://www.pointonline.wordpress.com |