Material Analysis
WGSN-home build life’s coverage of the global interiors industry provides a broad range of information and material analysis. Reports range from new material reviews to material application analysis. Global designers and manufacturers are interviewed to provide insight about the use of materials on interior products while reporting on innovative new materials.
Madhya Pradesh seems to be the only state in India which has several grand public buildings and international award winning projects. The New Assembly building in Bhopal and the Madhya Pradesh State Electricity Board office in Jabalpur, The Judicial Academy in Bhopal, the Rajiv Gandhi Jal Grahan Mission in Raipur and the proposed "White House" in Bhopal are some fascinating examples which show that global aesthetics is moving very fast into the smaller Indian cities
Rahul Mehrotra, co-author of the definitive coffee-table book on Mumbai "Bombay: The Cities Within" and chair of the Department of Urban Planning and Design at Harvard University, will be launching his next book this Wednesday in Mumbai.
"Architecture in India since 1990" (Rs 2,700) is an illustrated study that delves into the transformations that have taken place in Indian cities since globalization.
So what is the 'contemporary Indian'? No, it's not an architectural style that merely tacks on 'Indian' motifs or symbols to the structure, or mimics vernacular architecture. No, in a globalised world, an architect can't simply get by on national identity.
What ties together the architects are, 'multidisciplinary insights' and a widening of respective agendas to include concerns about climate, ecology and gender. It is through the description of structures by them that he comes to a definition of the 'contemporary Indian'.
One of the most enduring achievements of Indian civilization is undoubtedly its architecture. Indian architecture, which has evolved through centuries, is the result of socio-economic and geographical conditions. Different types of Indianarchitectural styles include a mass of expressions over space and time, transformed by the forces of history considered unique to India. As a result of vast diversities, a vast range of architectural specimens have evolved, retaining a certain amount of continuity across history.
Ancient Architecture
Indian architecture is as old as the history of the civilization. The earliest remains of recognizable building activity in the India dates back to the Indus Valley cities. Among India's ancient architectural remains, the most characteristic are the temples, Chaityas, Viharas, Stupas and other religious structures.
Colonial Architecture
Like all other aspects, colonization of Indian also had an impact on architecture style. With colonization, a new chapter in Indian architecture began. The Dutch, Portuguese and the French made their presence felt through their buildings but it was the English who had a lasting impact on architecture.
Rock Cut
The Rock-cut structures present the most spectacular piece of ancient Indian art specimen. Most of the rock-cut structures were related to various religious communities. In the beginning, remarkable Buddhist and Jain monuments were produced in areas such as Bihar in the east and Maharashtra in the west.
Temple Architecture
In ancient India, temple architecture of high standard developed in almost all regions. The distinct architectural style of temple construction in different parts was a result of geographical, climatic, ethnic, racial, historical and linguistic diversities. Ancient Indian temples are classified in three broad types. This classification is based on different architectural styles, employed in the construction of the temples.
Indian architecture has had radical shifts twice in the recent past; one in 1947 with the emergence of a post independence architectural language and more recently in 1991 when the economy was thrown open. Both these moments propelled a boom in building activity, development of cities as socio-economic centres and have given modern India its share of contemporary building icons. The years 2008-2009 shall however serve as grim reminders of the susceptibility of the Indian architecture industry to the modern day market forces. The lessons learnt have shown us the scarcity of resources, and hence judicious utilisation of existing resources is now a given. |
