Critical Regionalism

CRITICAL REGIONALISM
ARCHITECTURE
Name: Ria gurbani
Roll no:16031
Sr no: 34
Subject : Architectural theory

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Sub title : To study critical regionalism in architecture

Abstract –Critical regionalism is a style of architecture that emerge in 1980.It is a style of

architecture of that seek root in modern tradition architecture but tied to geographical
context. Critical regionalism this word is first used by architect theorist Alexander tznois
and liane lefaivre and with a slightly different meaning by Kenneth Frampton
Critical regionalism try to seek the answer of “ how to be modern and to continue the
tradition , how to revive the old dormant civilization as part of universal civilization.
In the past , basically in modernism building were just made according to local climate,
topography ,local material it was like were same type of shirt ,eating same type of burger
and architecture was also same. In critical regionalism we not only consider climate,
topography etc but also the custom, tradition and how the personal feel in that space.
So Let try to understand critical regionalism with example jawahar kala kendra

Keyword – Vernacular,Region,Critical,Modern,Context

Introduction :

Critical regionalism is a style of architecture that came around 1980s.The term critical regionalism was
first used by Alexander Tznois and LianeLefaivre and it got famous by a historian theorist Kenneth
Frampton

What is critical regionalism ?

Critical regionalism is an approach architecture rooted in the modern tradition but in the context of
geographical and culture. Critical regionalism is not only regionalism but in the sense of
vernacular. It is the mediate between the global and the local language of architecture

In the above definition of critical regionalism we came across the term critical, tradition, vernacular and
regional so let us understand what it means

Regional mean characteristic of a particular place or a region like geographical,

Vernacular means use of local construction material, local need and reflecting local tradition, tradition
means transmission of belief or custom from generation to generation.

Critical term mean expressing or analysis the merit and demerit of work.

By understanding above term and definition we came to know critical regional architecture is a style of
architecture in which we critical analysis the context of our site and design a building according to
climate, topography and light but at the same time we also consider the local tradition and local need.

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For e.g. if we are constructing a building in Mumbai most preferably we will construct a high rise
building because in Mumbai first of all there is space limitation and secondly if we build a spacious
bungalow no doubt everybody like spacious room security will be a issue because in Mumbai everybody
life is so busy anybody hardly state home .Similarly if we want to build a house in Rajasthan or Kerala so
we will built a bungalow because people over there are use to live like that with spacious room

Aalto and Utzon were famous the architect who actively participate in critical regionalism architecture
movement in addition to them Studio granda, B.V .doshi, Charlecorrea, Alverosiza,Mariobotta ,Eduardo
souto de moura were the architect who participate in critical regionalism.

CASE STUDY 1

JAWAHARA KALA KENDRA: It is located in jaipur in rajasthan it is a multi art centre

built by rajasthan government to preserve rajasthan art and craft and is designed by
Charles correa .

Jaipur is the capital of rajasthan in western india.climate lies on the borderline of hot
desert climate and hot semi arid climateunder the koppean climate classification ,
rainfall is 650mm anually but most rain occur in the monsoon month between june and
September. Temperature is relatively high around 30 C and in winter temperature
ranges from 10-15 C with less or nohumidity and cold waves lead to temperature near
freezing .

The concept of the art centre is inspired by the original city plan of jaipur which consist
of nine square with central square left open. The plan of city jaipur is based on the nine
square yatra in which each square is linked to the planet as per the characteristic of the
particular planet and the astrological value of it

On the left side there is jaipur city plan and on right side the plan of jawahar kala Kendra
.The centre has been made in eight block housing museums, one amphitheatre and the
other closed auditorium, library, art, display room, cafeteria, small hostel and art studio

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Fig1,jaipur city plan

. Fig2, plan of jawahar kala kendra

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Each room in jawahar kala Kendra iscompare with a planet and design according to it ,
the table is given below

PLANET COLOUR QUALITY FUNCTION

Venus White Art Drama
Jupiter Lemon Yellow Knowledge Library
Ascending Node(Rahu) Iridescent Devourer/ Restorer Documentation
Saturn Earth Red Knowledge Museum 2
Descending Node (Ketu) Brown , Black Anger Museum 1
Mercury Golden Yellow Education Lok kala Kendre
Moon Milky white Heart Cafeteria

Fig 3,Table of room

Fig4,Defined space according to usage and name of the room according to planet

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Fig5, Internal and external circulation

The below picture is the view of library showing pergola and glazing. The library is
partial open and the roof was treated with architectural feature pergola design on such
way that the corridor will always remain in shade it also created a wonderful design of
light and shadow and the pond in corner will keep the room cool.

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Fig6 & fig 7 outside of library

The open air theater was place in the centre of the art centre and the rest of the square was
connected to the central place the best part of the theater is the stepped platform which can be
used as the sitting area.The open air theater is only to look good at it is enclosed by the high
wall which create acoustic and ventilation problems at the time of crowd.

Fig8 , open theater

Some of the point that we observed in the structure

 Material used as sand stone and white marble.

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 Vastu symbol on façade of each unit.

 Small puncture on walls for ventilation
 Light shafts have step profile with marble capping
 Courtyard bringing light and ventilation
 The place has an amazing interplay of light shadow and colour evoking emotion
in the user and invite him to move further
 The spaces flow as narrative and changes the mood of the user according but
the overall circulation lack of continued covered corridor which make the place
unused during the time of rains

Fig 9 , overall view of jawahar kala Kendra

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Fig 10,inside of jawahar kala Kendra

CASE STUDY 2

WATER TEMPLE BY TADAO ANDO

Water temple by tadao ando is located in Hompuki, Japan, it is located in the northern
part of the island of Awaji and is characterized by a landscape dominated by hills and
partially but that does not have the identity of its own. Hompukuji has become part of
the city awaji japan.
Temple of water is a religious structure but it is far from the wooden structure of the
classic Buddha temples but it seems to them by their mystical quality of space , It is
form are strong symbolism some of them are hidden but also show clearly that its
belong to Buddhist doctrine and oldest Japanese philosophical tradition for e.g. lotus
temple a symbol of heaven , represent the emerge of amida Buddha

Fig 11,
Site plan from the top,water temple

It is something more than a simple inversion of holy space by tadao ando ,it employs a
series of different architecture spaces conceived like a concrete staircase which ut the

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pool into a two symmetrical part descend down into the momentary darkness from the
light below the water and eventually into the sacred place of buddisht temple. But it feel
like walking between the lotus flower, one feel this is the place which transcend day to
day life , aplace where combination of architecture with nature and water naturally leads
to meditation and asceticism

Fig 12, stair or path cutting the pool

The one does not approach the sanctuary directly but circulate around the inner
sanctuary where the colour become more intense , the red colour is most intense during
the sunset as light radiate from western façade it also have symbolic meaning because
Buddha came from west india

Fig 13, circulation leading to sanctuary

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Conclusion :
Critical regionalism can also can be called as modified version of modernism and it also
guide or should try to be modern yet traditional in big cities but not forgetting our root or
try to do in a better way.
Critical regionalism is basically a mediate between global architecture and local
architecture but do it in a critical self conscious , may be we can said that critical
regionalism lead the building to being essentially site specific and having its own
uniqueness.
The two example we have seen jawahar kala kendre by Charles correa and Water
temple by tadao ando are different in their own way in jawahar kala kendre the architect
has used local material,local art craft, light and concept of jaipur city to make the
building more user friendly while on the other side. The architect tadao ando has
change the picture of Buddhis temle in our mind but keeping intact concept or feeling of
the temple same both the architect have critical desing the building by keeping
topography

Bibliography:

 https://www.slideshare.net/ar_suryas/critical-regionalism
Author – surya ramesh
Publish on 9 april 2008

 https://www.slideshare.net/sumitraina/jawahar-kala-kendra
Author- Sumit raina
Publish on 8 aug 2012

 https://www.slideshare.net/ahmadali471/tadao-ando-44291341
Author-Ahmad riaz
Publish on 4 feb 2015

 https://www.slideshare.net/archinidhi/tadao-ando-architect-of-light
Author – Nidhi Thigale
Publish on 29 oct 2015

 https://www.slideshare.net/ridailyas52/framptons-critical-regionalism
Author-Ridhas llyas
Publish on jan 4 2014

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