Author: Shruti Shrivastava Site Location: Pune Institute: Dr. B.N. College of Architecture Advisor: Dr. Chetan Sahasrabuddhe
description
Livability could be defined as the degree to which a community is suitable for living, which is rather subjective. However, certain components and qualities are universally acknowledged as vital for making the community more livable. Better homes, streets, roads, infrastructural amenities, and other visible aspects are necessary for a livable society, but intangible factors such as a sense of security, happiness, satisfaction, a sense of community, togetherness, and family are also crucial. All of the characteristics that informal communities like Shinde Vasti-Pune already have. Together in a typical scenario, a slum redevelopment project compromises the intangible qualities of such communities all the while providing poor quality infrastructure and poor homes in the name of development, thereby losing the positive aspects of community and climate; however, does this have to be the case? This plan aspires to develop this informal community by conserving and enhancing the key elements, both tangible and intangible while putting Community and Climate at the forefront.
Author: Ruchira Rathod Site Location: Mumbai Institute: Rachna Sansad’s Academy of Architecture (AOA) Advisor: Swati Chokshi
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Cities have become our new homes for the majority of us. Previously, due to migrations, there was a concept of ‘hometown.’ This loss of ‘hometown’ has lost fewer of us who live in the city a much-needed respite. A getaway that allows us to unwind and break free from our daily routines. Nowadays, taking a “break” is associated with using social media rather than participating in group activities. When it comes to defining the term “break,” biases in components like gender, age, and space were seen. Definitions are strongly impacted by the respondent’s age group. The purpose of this study is to determine the definition of a break for various age groups living in the city. And how can a location give a refuge that caters to the concept of a ’retreat’? Finding a place within the city limits where users may recharge themselves. The chosen site is located in Mumbai, at Mulund Octroi Naka which has a strong contextual demand. The concept was derived from site prompts, with safety being the primary concern that needed to be addressed. Porosity was implemented through a scattering of built masses, greens, hubs, and organic waterbodies. the elements of porosity were introduced as a module of built function.
Author: Raghav Krishnappa Ramesh Site Location: Bangalore Institute: School of Planning and Architecture (SPA Delhi), New Delhi Advisor: Prof Tanuja BK, Prof Vikas Kanojia
description
The design seeks an inquiry into the idea of production of space and nature while exploring the theory of “Uneven development” in the city of Bangalore. In theory, rapid urbanisation and road networking alter the dynamics of the ecosystem, and the negative impacts are felt by the urban poor and the larger ecological gestalt. This mode of development does little to help a large number of blue-collar/informal labourers who depend on local means of production. What began as an antithesis to the idea of “uneven development” transitioned into understanding the value of a “geographical void”. Can these voids be revitalized to serve as a more significant catalyst to stitch the broken urban fabric of the city? To revitalize the depleting lakes of the city, the first step lies in addressing the issue at the source: the stormwater drains. A major part of the design seeks to revitalize the adjoining stormwater drain by proposing a number of recycling workshops and organic urban farms. The Center for knowledge and Excellence is designed as an Integrated Public Amenity, one which provides equal learning opportunities for varied user groups. The Public library component of the design is placed in correlation with the neighbouring school premises to increase the targeted footfall. Other community-based functions like seminar halls and Open source classrooms are placed toward the community park to encourage users from the neighbourhood to use the centre. The design makes use of contemporary and local materials like exposed concrete, brick cladding and chappadi stone. Given the modest climate of Bangalore, the centre makes use of open courtyards to create smaller microclimates which helps cool the building naturally. Overall, the design seeks to create a solution which can give back to the city as much as it claims as its birthright. The thesis aims at uncovering an alternative approach to the theory of the production of space and nature while reinventing the conventional idea of an Urban Hub.
Author: P V Ramyasree Putangunta Site Location: Hampi, Karnataka Institute: CMR University School of Architecture Advisor: Ass. Prof. Minu Zacharia
description
Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage site and its ruins are spread across 4100 hectares across the region. The project intervention area is situated at the edge of Kamalapur village almost at the entry to the Hampi heritage zone and hence intends to act as gateway catering to both the visitors and locals alike. The project attempts to celebrate the identity of the place, which includes topography, activity of the people, characteristics of existing structures, and porosity of natural vs man made fabric. Thereby it becomes a landscape of built form that is grounded to the earth and rising from it to merge with the terrain of HAMPI. It becomes a subtle gesture of memory of the built, unbuilt, the tangible, intangible experience of what Hampi in its glory stood for. The traces of memory the place holds to the locals is maintained at the same time the project tries to give an insight into the values of our history to visitors with a modernistic approach.
Author: Milan Bhupendra Bhai Patel Site Location: Kevadia, Gujarat Institute: College of Architecture, Sardar Vallabhai Patel Institute of Technology (SVIT) Advisor: Prof. Pallavi Mahida
description
This year marks the 75th anniversary of Indian independence. It is a source of immense pride and celebration for us Indians. Should it only be slogans, cliche publications, and festive programmes? Rather, it is to continue to inspire youthful minds. Understanding the freedom struggle and colonial forces constitutes the basic paradigm for post-colonial India. The memory of any collective effort, any struggle, and any willing sacrifice will strengthen our national unity, express our aspirations, and display our diversities of approaches and action toward the one united goal of national liberation need to be taught. This memory of struggle needs to be preserved so that each young mind lives through the struggle that their forefathers underwent and begins to value the idea and feelings of freedom. A proposal for the museum was identified and the main aim of the project was ”Revisiting the events and phases that impacted the freedom struggle of India to imbibe patriotism in the new generation on the event of Azadi ka Amritmahotsav. (75 years of Indian independence)”
Author: Mayuresh Pradhan Site Location: Mumbai Institute: Lokmanya Tilak institute of Architecture and Design Studies, Navi Mumbai Advisor: Prof. Harish Shetty
description
The project began as a quest to understand if one could navigate through a structure like one navigates through a story? This simple quest led to further investigations of what is a public space at its core. The structure attempts to juxtapose various narratives along with the primary program which was essentially ‘A Film Archive and a Museum’. While the three floating blocks cater to the primary programs, the ground becomes an open public space, which is merely a passage between the abutting primary roads on both sides of the site. Here one has elongated that passage and tried to orchestrate a narrative within the ‘Urban Passage’ where the essential programs intertwined with the temporary events but at the same time secluded. This creates a micro climate, within the structure that doesn’t completely rely on active techniques of lighting and ventilation. And is rather a garden within which a structure is curated.
Author: Mansi Dharmendra Kabrawala Site Location: Surat Institute: Sarvajanik College of Engineering & Technology (SCET) Advisor: Ar. Snehal Shah
description
India is a major emitter of greenhouse gases and one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change. The country is experiencing significant climate changes and a variety of impacts such as water scarcity, heat waves, drought, etc. Countries across the world have realised the urgency of sustainable urban practice. Accordingly, we need a new approach to architectural design – the one simultaneously addressing the complex environmental issues and other that meet the needs of contemporary societies and economies. Therefore, the question here arises, how to see this challenging moment as an opportunity to look at innovations that is relevant to a society?
Since cities strive for economic development, environmental development is always overlooked by all the sectors of the industry. Time and again, Designers are one of the responsible creators where each design action can affect lives of the users. With an
increased awareness that comes with these emerging issues, today’s globalized society needs to find an effective design solution that would bring out innovative ways to merge the present with future, that creates a better world for all!
The thesis addresses to the major challenges of our time and in the future through Climate Responsive Design Approach.
Author: Kurada Sharmila Dharani Site Location: Mumbai Institute: Department of Planning and Architecture NIT Rourkela Advisor: Dr. Basudatta Sarkar
description
The most concerning problem in the fastest growing cities around the world is the increase in population with no adequate infrastructure. All the fastest-growing cities are the synonyms of pollution, exploitation of natural resources, etc these days. So, the challenge here is to fit the urban population within the limits of the cities and to develop their neighbourhood as a whole to give them a sustainable life where there is no exploitation of natural resources and pollution, rise in temperature, climatic change, but paves their and the world’s way ahead in terms of green practices. The design – Mixed-Use Sustainable Tower at Mumbai, achieved LEED Platinum rating following the sustainable credits as required under the diverse categories. The project also provides free energy for the resident’s lifetime through the usage of renewable energy techniques and systems. The project sets an example of sustainability and its ability to transform the neighbourhood and the environment as a whole.
Author: Kishan Kumar Jayantilal Prajapati Site Location: 500 m West side away from Mumbai city in Arabian Sea Institute: D.C. Patel School of Architecture Advisor: Harsh Sharma
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The Major intention of this project is not just to create a resilient habitat for environmental change but also which cherishes climate change. This is an attempt to make a symbiotic relationship between humanity and Aquatic Reservoirs understanding Global Environmental Issues and the Complexion of Future Habitats.
Humanity has learned to live with elements of nature but mankind has lacked the development of inhabited spaces on water. So far we are avoiding water rather than embracing the challenges of water with its properties and characteristics. Hence a solution to a Human Habitat can be able to float and adapt to water properties.
The current habitat is a result of years of evolution and the habitat of the future would also be years of evolution, Possible Parameters triggering evolution could be Robust Transportation, Digital Communication and Artificial Intelligence, less dependency upon physical infrastructure, and more productive and green belts ensuring local food ecology and high nutrition system providing a healthy lifestyle to an individual. This habitat follows Equitable Approach and culmination of technology, environmental sensitivity, and human emotional traits, Improving standards for wealthier being along with a simple, healthier, and productive environment, An Individual gets sufficient opportunities in an Ideal environment.
Author: Amay Raskar Site Location: Pune, Maharashtra Institute: SMEF’s Brick School of Architecture Advisor: Ar. Ninad Rewatkar
description
In this constant growth of technologies, AI has come up on top as a major factor in the growth and development of a country if used in an appropriate way.
Ai is a branch of computer science dealing with the simulation of intelligent behaviour in computers. So like The basics of technology roots out from wars and the military. From refrigerators to mobile phones to electronic computers.
AI has also bled in the everyday life since Alan Turing to today’s Google and siri. But apart from that, there have been recent advancements in the healthcare agriculture education and smart cities and smart transportation. Inferences being application use of AI in Sustainability, architecture, construction, environmental implication, water consumption, light control, improved agricultural practices etc. India After a lot of attempt in trying to establish private connections, the development and growth was not enough and most importantly it was not enough for the aiming to be the AI garage for 40 percent of the world i.e be a global provider of solutions to the rest of the world, as india has its diverse issues and unique scenario a push towards this direction would get us closer to this goal. It has proposed for the creation of CORE, ICTAI and CSTS, with core focus on healthcare, agriculture, education, smart city and smart transportation.
With this the proposal of CORE ICTAI and CSTS I tried to wrap my thesis project around the same proposal.
Author: Keerthikashree M Site Location: Chennai Institute: BMS College of Architecture, Bengaluru Advisor: Ar Shanthala V
description
INNOVATOPOLIS is a Hybrid Ecosystem that stimulates Co-Creation, Collaboration & Cross-Disciplinary approaches to nurture research, innovation and entrepreneurship. It is a Design & technology Innovation hub, in a tier 1 city which will act as a connector, providing an intellectually challenging environment for professionals, academia from multiple disciplines and the public.
The architecture of this typology is collaborative, flexible, adaptable, and reconfigurable. It will help, support, and streamline the development of design, products & the growth of young professionals in bringing new ideas & solutions into reality. The key design aspects of this project was spatial integration and segregation of spaces, configurations for the built environment based on activity patterns of users, flexibility and reconfigurability, integration of built with nature.
As the project sits in the hot climatic conditions, Passive cooling systems, cross ventilation, sun shading devices, solar income, rain water harvesting etc are used and the skin of the building is designed to battle the harsh climate. Vegetation and Landscaping plays a major role in achieving comfortable open and semi open spaces. Terracotta, a traditional and local material has been used predominantly for facade & roofing, for a sustainable built environment.
Author: Jainami Shah Site Location: Dahanu, Maharashtra Institute: Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies Advisor: Jude Dsouza
description
The thesis intends to understand the distinctive identity formed by Indigenous communities by their interconnected relationships with land and ecology.
Due to rapid urbanization, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) keeps extending its limits to the rurban peripheries. These forces have led to Industrial towns and supporting infrastructure for the metropolis being located on the outskirts of the cities leading to the depletion of the ecologies affecting the indigenous community. The tribal folklore is mainly oral and thus not valued and expressed in planning processes.
As of now the future identity of a landscape is purely hegemonic (ruling or dominant in a political context) and exploited for its resources. Participatory planning with the indigenous ideology can show a new model for a sustainable way of living – building – conserving. The dissertation attempts to address how to design and implement decision-making processes that enhance Indigenous lifeways (instead of gentrifying) and different aspects that would be instrumental in planning, governing, and developing the area.
It criticizes the nature of current development and tries to reimagine rural infrastructure and thus proposes smaller interventions that solves the lack of infrastructure while still preserving the ecology and the traditional way of life by improving the quality of common social spaces for political resistance. Here the thesis looks at the smallest form of governance the Gram Sabha (Pesa act) and how it can be activated. The site chosen for intervention was such that awareness would be activated within their daily routines.
The interventions spanned a series of scales- XS/S/M/L. From micro programmes such as rice mills, seating spaces and small infrastructures, to communal amenities for various activities and gatherings, village level administrative programmes and festival spaces. The proposal is structured around the imagination of Architecture as a catalyst managing Indigenous Knowledge through programmes of dissemination, and expression, awareness building, vocational training and workshops
Author: Jacob Babu Alappatt Site Location: Alappuzha, Kerala Institute: Avani Institute of design Advisor: Ar. Aditya Nambissan
description
The project tries to reimagine a tropical monsoon architecture of a water landscape (wetlands) by providing the community with the infrastructure it needs and fostering a conversation between land and water to assist people in better adhering and adapting to change.
Are tropical architectural forms bound to evolve or adapt to the shift in wetness, considering architectural uncertainties and certainties related to the change in wetness? How can we develop structures that can assure a safer future by making them impervious to rain and flood?
Architectural design should change to accommodate the needs of the site and the environment by supporting duality in programming. It should be able to adjust to the transient states of the water landscape centered around the demands of the destroyed or missing public. So, the research and study must be located in a region where changing wetness conditions might cause natural disasters that can impact people’s lives and livelihoods. Here the Wetlands in Kuttanad are taken as a broader context, and Kainakary village is the micro context.
Author: Harikiran V Alva Site Location: Neelavara, Karnataka Institute: Nitte Institute of Architecture Advisor: Palaksha Shetty
description
Cattle are one of the earliest domesticated animals by humans. Once often left to wander about in the open gradually started settling in alongside human settlements. Thus began the journey in the change in raising of cattle. To conserve them, many organizations are currently providing food and shelters designed based on human perception—the thesis questions the conventional design approach, which is majorly human-centric.
The primary approach of man towards nature was passive, which gradually changed due to man’s excessive desire. Man’s sensitive wisdom towards nature slowly started shifting towards material prosperity, money based in the present era, which affected not only humans and their habitat but also other living creatures, and created a gap between man and nature. In Asian countries like India, where anything that sustains a person’s livelihood is valued, cattle have been considered sacred due to their contributions to humanity. Humans used them for their daily needs and were respected as one among them.
The Design Proposal will be to create a Sustainable Village for Cattles, and its caretakers will be based on understanding cattle’s perception of space and its natural behavior. Spaces designed are based on various methods of understanding a cow and its natural wandering and creating a healthy habitat to live its intrinsic lifestyle.
Author: Devayani M Site Location: Sundarbans Institute: R V College of Architecture Advisor: Anup Naik, Mehul Patel, Nagaraj Vastarey, U Seema Maiya
description
This project investigates the need to design a climate resilient and responsive form for the coastal communities in the Sundarbans with the aim of adapting to the devastating effects of climate change.
The site is located in Gosaba Island in Sundarbans which falls under the moderate to high risk zone. This island is constantly threatened by coastal erosion, environmental degradation and salt water inundation due to flooding thereby causing loss of livelihood.
The master-plan is developed to be implemented in a phased manner over the next 30 years. The plan envisages responding to the identified natural conditions of the site and developing the design that proposes to selectively allow water flow through the site to create wetlands, and a natural mangrove buffer zone to mitigate the effects of floods and storm surges. The aim of the project is to create a prototype built form that is inspired by the local livelihood practices, skills and local typologies of construction. The design focuses on creating modular flood and storm resilient structures using bamboo as the primary building material. The buildings are raised on stilts and strategically located around the landscape and connected by elevated walkways to protect from the floods and harsh winds. The structure has modular components that can be easily customised to needs of the user.
The project is a response to the impending disaster that the people of Sundarbans have to face. Through symbiotically fusing the built environment within a natural ecology, the architecture is designed to positively sustain the landscape and its people.
Author: Brendon Joseph Dlima Site Location: Mumbai Institute: L.S. Raheja School of Architecture Advisor: Ar. Mridula Pillai
description
Mumbai undergoes a crisis from June to September annually. The city’s fast paced development has been at the cost of it’s vital blue-green infrastructure, causing its vast population to suffer a submergence during the monsoon months, due to increased rainfall and a rise in sea level, both attributed to Climate Change. The dissertation investigates whether an architect can make Mumbai resilient to floods and whether Mumbai can become a flood resilient city by learning to use the rainwater it receives.
The Oshiwara River Province was taken as a site to re-design for flood resilience. A masterplan of the Oshiwara River Province was designed to reduce and manage runoff. The most vulnerable building typologies along the river which were informal settlements and cow sheds were re-designed thereby providing more room to the river. The building typologies which were not as vulnerable were retrofitted for resilience.
Mumbai can thus become resilient to floods by learning how to use the rainwater it receives and by giving the blue green infrastructure the importance it deserves. Through this approach we will be able to eventually achieve ‘Flood Resilience in Mumbai’
Author: Ansh Shah Site Location: Vadodara Institute: SEDA, Navrachna University Advisor: Shantanu Jana
description
The chosen site for the proposal is adjacent to the historic D.N.Hall and the modernist KAAF building. We strive to continue the legacy of coming up with periodic design decisions by adding a contemporary touch to the campus. We envisage to create an extension that would teach-
Students: to go through a learning journey that includes everything from collaborating on design decisions to technology selection and system monitoring. Faculty: They can participate in continuous research initiatives that improve their expertise and academic credentials as early adopters of intriguing new technologies. Local Schools: Obtain a greater understanding of what is achievable and motivation for future generations to work toward a more energy-efficient society. The Larger Community: The building embodies sustainable development principles and serves as a model of sustainability for universities and professionals nationwide.
Since the building will be part of an academic curriculum, it will feature experimental aspects that will be evaluated. The proposal will serve as a prototype for monitoring the zero net energy results across time. This information shall also aid in the development of a precise design plan for transforming the M.S.U. campus into a zero net energy campus in future.
The jury for the Charles Correa Gold Medal 2021 was Dennis Pieprz (Jury Chair & Urban Designer, Sasaki), Gurjit Singh Matharoo (Principal Architect, Matharoo Associates), Shimul Javeri Kadri (Principal Architect, SJK Architects), Nadine Gerdts (Senior Critic, Rhode Island School of Design) and Bijoy Ramachandran (Principal Architect, Hundredhands) where they mainly looked for entries that consider the site and context of the proposed project with clarity in formulation and addressal of real-life issues.
Click on the image to learn more about the Jury.
GOLD MEDAL 2021 WINNER
‘Decoding Cultural Trauma: The Case of Girangaon, Mumbai’ by Prachi Kadam
The winning project ‘Decoding Cultural Trauma: Case of Girangaon, Mumbai’ uses architecture to address the sensitive issue of cultural and urban trauma, by making it contextual, and working within the existing urban fabric in the Girangaon bazaar in Mumbai. The project attempts to tackle the huge development pressure on the site through a human-centric design intervention. The sections are beautifully drawn, each one describing a different glimpse into the plethora of activities that take place within the built, and unbuilt spaces amidst a varied scheme of programmes, spaces and volumes.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS
‘Pop Up Structures For Temporal Scenario’ by Jaswanth NS
The first honourable mention, ‘Pop Up Structures for Temporal Scenario’ is commendable as it speaks to the smaller towns of India and captures the kinetic city in an innovative way – it blurs the line between product and architecture and addresses a real problem with a unique and novel solution. It looks at a site enroute to the temple at Palani, using it to accommodate pilgrims during the annual Thaipusam festival, and is imagined before and after the festival’s season returning to its agrarian condition. The thesis is sensitive to the mechanics of these kinetic structures and the design of it serves to address three issues: accommodation, healthcare and cultural gathering space, through a common solution to help us in our understanding of the context and functionality.
‘Infrastructure for Artistic Practice’ by Manish Shravane
The second honourable mention, ‘Infrastructure for Artistic Practice’ is exemplary as it looks at urban acupuncture as a potential methodology in an informal and densely packed settlement in Thane city. This thesis takes a participatory approach in the redevelopment of this commune, and each intervention is a strategy to regenerate the existing socio-cultural practices through a catalogue of urban tools and uses local technology and place making as its basis.
Award Ceremony
Watch the livestream of the Charles Correa Gold Medal 2021 above.
Charles Correa Gold Medal Storehouse
The ‘Storehouse’ is a digital repository of undergraduate architectural thesis projects that were received as a part of the Charles Correa Gold Medal. The storehouse intends to be a compilation of curated academic projects from across India, that gets updated annually after the Gold Medal Awards hosted by the Charles Correa Foundation.
Click on the image to visit the Charles Correa Gold Medal Storehouse.
Kapil Gupta is the co-founder of Serie Architects and Principal of Serie Mumbai. He graduated with honours from Sir JJ School of Architecture in 1996, Mumbai followed by postgraduate studies at the Architectural Association, London. He was a Director at the Urban Design Research Institute, Mumbai between 2003 and 2008, where he led India’s first entry to the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2006. He has served as a visiting critic at numerous schools in India and been on several jury panels for competitions and design awards including Archiprix in 2010. He was the Charles Correa Design Chair at the Goa School of Architecture for 2020 and a design reviewer for the 2022 cycle of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture.
Rohan Shivkumar
Architect, Urban Designer, Film-maker
Rohan Shivkumar is an architect, urban designer and filmmaker practising in Mumbai. He is the Dean of the Architecture course at the Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies. His work ranges from architecture, urban research and consultancy projects to works in film and visual art. He is interested in issues concerning housing, public space and in exploring the many ways of reading and representing the city.
Rohan is the co-editor of the publication on an interdisciplinary research and art collaboration – ‘Project Cinema City’. He curates film programmes and writes on cinema, architecture and urban issues. He has also made films on art, architecture and urbanism including ’Nostalgia for the future’, ‘Lovely Villa’, and ‘Squeeze Lime in Your Eye’.
Meghal Arya
Co-founder, Arya Architects
Dr. Meghal Arya is an educator and practicing architect, teaching design and history at the Faculty of Architecture, CEPT University. She has been guest professor at leading international institutions like ETSAM, Madrid, TU, Vienna, UCT, Johannesburg, POLIMI, Milan, and the Charles Correa Chair at GCA, Goa. Key to her work is seeking knowledge embedded in traditional Indian architecture, unfolding its essentials and translating its value into present context. Her doctoral research ‘Embedded Knowledge in Architecture’ furthered this interest, focusing on the relation between water and human built environment, published as a book titled ‘Spatial Ecology of Water’. She curates faculty development programs for teachers in architecture and has several publications to her credit. Her professional experience includes public projects related to transport infrastructure, educational institutions and special buildings like zoo. Her firm, Arya Architects, is a niche award winning practice with partner Vijay Arya engaged with the design of public spaces in India as inclusive dignified realms.
Suhasini Ayer
Co-founder, Auroville CSR Trust
Suhasini Ayer is an Architect ,Urban Planner and co-founder of the Auroville Centre for Scientific Research (CSR) Trust. She heads Auroville Design Consultants – a planning and architectural design studio, primarily focused on planning, designing and implementing the applied research development projects within Auroville to field test the innovations and research carried by CSR and other organisations within Auroville.
The studio is also active in providing planning and design consultancy integrating the experiential learning of the applied research projects into the design vision while responding to the natural and human geography, local climate and culture to evolve minimal and elegant built forms. The underlying theme in all the projects is the creating integrative systems, including water, energy, waste, building materials and technology to create passive sustainable networks between the people to the built and unbuilt spaces, to empower them to take responsibility for their environment.
Arthur Duff
Mentor + Partner, Studio Praxis
Arthur Duff has over 30 years’ experience in architecture, interior design, and furniture design and manufacturing. After completing his studies at CEPT University, he spent 9 years in India, working with Anant Raje and Kiran Pandya before returning to Ireland and co-founding the Duff-Tisdall Design Studio. He has also worked as a lecturer with a number of Irish Design Institutions. In 2015 he joined the faculty at CEPT University and established the Master Programme in Furniture Design as well as heading Library Services at the Lilavati Library on campus.
Duff joined Maneesh Kumar at Studio Praxis in Ahmedabad as mentor and partner. The firm focuses on using natural and appropriate materials and construction methods, to create climate-responsive designs that are sustainable and comfortable to live in and use. The practice sits at the intersection of architecture, interiors and furniture design.
The Charles Correa Gold Medal is an award initiated in 1998 by Indian architect and urbanist Charles Correa. Through the format of the Gold Medal, the Charles Correa. Foundation intends to not only challenge students and schools of architecture to focus on pressing issues, but also to emphasize the role that architects can play in society as “agents of change”
This year, the Charles Correa Gold Medal focused on thesis projects that addressed climate concerns through architecture design. Charles Correa coined the phrase ‘Form Follows Climate’ and often said “to build in India is to respond to climate”.
Jury
The jury for the Charles Correa Gold Medal 2022 is Kapil Gupta (Serie Architects), Rohan Shivkumar (Architect, Urban designer, film-maker), Meghal Arya (Co-founder, Arya Architects), Suhasini Ayer (Co-founder, Auroville CSR Trust) and Arthur Duff (Mentor + Principal Architect, Praxis Architects),where they mainly looked for entries that consider the site and context of the proposed project with clarity in formulation and addressal of real-life issues.
Jury Statement
The Charles Correa Gold Medal seeks out compelling visions for the future of the built environment across architecture colleges in India. This year, the Gold Medal addresses the urgency of climate responsive architecture. Correa’s lucid intuition, ‘Form Follows Climate’ is remarkably pertinent today, a moment where the construction industry is a significant contributor to global warming, accounting for almost 25% of global carbon emissions.
The award challenges students and institutions to rewrite the values of the discipline and the profession, to foreground a strong environment-led framework of thinking and making, if we are to confront the challenges of living in the anthropocene.
The 46 entries for the CCGM 2022 reveal an increasing awareness among students of the implicit role that the construction industry plays in global warming. The entries expressed various architectural and planning solutions, from interesting passive design strategies to impressive technical simulations to understand and optimise how buildings consume resources, energy and water, recycle waste and landscape strategies to create food security.
While we will not be awarding the Gold Medal this year, we encourage students to seek out new ideas and methods of thinking and building sustainably within the diverse environmental, cultural and social landscape of the subcontinent.
Honourable Mentions
‘AI + X Research Centre’ by Amay Raskar
This insightful proposal for an environmental research centre foregrounds the computational intelligence of building diagnostic software as a tool to enable and evaluate passive design strategies while creating a vibrant urban realm for users and the city.
The project deploys a set of procedural transformations to a generic volumetric grid of programs. The addition and subtraction of grid modules is rationalised by computational optimization for daylight penetration, thermal mass efficiency and cross ventilation, besides the cogent organisation of institutional programs. The typological repetition of elemental public spaces generates a surprisingly porous building, with human-scaled green terraces and open-to-sky voids that facilitate an intimate visual connectivity across the campus.
‘Architecture for a future: An Exploration in Dynamism and Transience’ by Supreeth L Suresh
This provocative project proposed adaptive reuse as a strategy to renew and repurpose the abandoned building in the city, thus ensuring the full use of the embodied energy. In stark opposition to the logic of speculative real-estate where erasure and new new construction is the norm, the project invests in the embodied carbon conservation of the old structure. It also proposes the use of construction waste to further mitigate its carbon footprint.
Adaptive re-use is increasingly adopted globally as a viable use of the carbon already embedded in the building besides helping in urban regeneration. While the proposal requires more rigorous design development, we would like to applaud this entry with a citation, as it forsakes market-led formalism for a thoughtful response to its site and a relevant response to climate change.
Award Ceremony
Watch the livestream of the Charles Correa Gold Medal 2022 above.
