I.A.

Design Studio-1 SEM-1

VISUAL THINKING:
ARKA GHOSH / I.A
LIMINAL INTERIORITY: SPACE I CITY I CINEMA 200MARIA004
 "The inherent architecture of cinematic expression and the cinematographic essence of architectural
experience“(J.Pallasmaa)- is a complex, often multifaceted dialogue between both disciplines.

"It is undeniable that the cinema has a marked influence on modern architecture; in turn, modern architecture brings its
artistic side to the cinema.... Modern architecture not only serves the cinematographic set [decor], but imprints its stamp on
the staging [mise-en-scene], it breaks out of its frame; architecture 'acts.’”- Robert Mallet-Stevens

CINEMA & CITY MAPPING & ABSTRACTION SITUATIONS & INTERVENTIONS

INTRODUCTION: 1
THREAD: CULTURAL CONSTRUCT:

• Definition: “Cultural constructions are arbitrary characteristics that they are created and maintained by each culture, cultural constructions are not fixed
forever rather they are dynamic and change over time.” (McGraw-Hill) it is related to human study of anthropology.
.
• In other words it would be impossible to gain an understanding for anthropology without cultural construction since it’s purpose is to illustrate the birth, change,
and differences of ideas and values within individual cultures.

CULTURAL CONSTRUCT OF KOLKATA:

• In Kolkata the dresses of people maybe different spanning from dhoti to shirt-pant in contrast to American or Scotlander dress codes.

• The built structures of Kolkata it is again a mixture of British colonial structures, modern built spaces and some remnant of Mughal
Architecture in contrast with a city in UK or USA or a middle eastern country.

• In this respect Kolkata is a city of variety with reflection of history which is characterized by apparent slow movement of time.

Thread: Cultural Construct 2

THREAD: CULTURAL CONSTRUCT OF KOLKATA

• The road of Kolkata basically behaves as an organism.

• Different strata of people are engaged in different sorts of activities on the same street at the same time.

STREET OCCUPATIONS OF KOLKATA

CULTURAL CONSTRUCT:FACTORS 2
THREAD: CULTURAL CONSTRUCT OF KOLKATA

• Different generations of vehicles ply on the same road at the same time like different layers of time has been presented on a single
frame.

• All these collectively makes a picture of organized chaos which is at the same time very much vibrant & colorful too.

1950
Unchanged/
Repurposed
Now
Organized yet chaotic street
Study of transportation through time:

CULTURAL CONSTRUCT:FACTORS 3
THREAD: CULTURAL CONSTRUCT OF KOLKATA

• It also shows that people use nooks & corners of spaces in an intimate way.

• The attire of the people are also different it may show different cultures present in the city.

SIMILAR SPACE UTILIZED IN DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES:

ATTIRES:

CULTURAL CONSTRUCT:FACTORS 4
READING SPACE I CITY I CINEMA:
Cinema & City:
• Many important cinemas have depicted the urban life. They described different cities as spaces, lifestyle and their
culture. This includes Chaplin’s “City life” on one end to Mani Ratnam’s “Bombay”.

• When we decode the different frames of the movie, we can get layers of the different non-verbal communications, may
it be inanimate objects, living media or any symbology.

CINEMA & CITY : 5

 CINEMA & CITY:

Detective Byomkesh Bakshy! is a 2015 Indian Hindi-language mystery action-

thriller film directed by Dibakar Banerjee and produced by Banerjee and Aditya
Chopra.The story is based on the fictional detective Byomkesh Bakshi created by
the Bengali writer Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. The film stars Sushant Singh
Rajput, Anand Tiwari, Neeraj Kabi and Swastika Mukherjee in principal roles.

Important Locations & Aspects:

• 1943 pre-independence Kolkata, British & Chinese influence.

• Mode of transportation like Tram & Double-Decker Bus, Hand-pulled

Rickshaw was used.

• British Colonial buildings, busy Chinatown Streets, old Calcutta

dwellings as backdrop.

• Different occupations were explored for character study.

• Also war as a influence or effect on the City.

CINEMA CHOSEN FOR ANALYSIS: 6

 Scene: 1940’s Kolkata with its vintage cars, tram, activities of people in and around the road & footpath.

SCENE SELECTION: 7
NVC PRESENT IN THE SCENE:

KINESICS CHRONEMICS PROXEMICS HAPTICS

NONVERBAL COMMUNICATIONS IN THE SCENE: 8

 CHAOS

LEVELS

Vertical lines of columns & street lights collide with horizontal & curve lines of electric cables makes a geometric composition. Different levels present in the scene.

SCENE ANALYSIS: 9
 VANTAGE POINT:

STUDY OF
PROXEMICS:

VIEW POINT 3
VIEW POINT 1

VIEW POINT 2 VIEW POINT 4

MAPPING ACCORDING TO THE SCENE AND VANTAGE POINTS: 10

STUDY OF
CHRONEMICS:

TIME:8:00 TO 10:00 TIME:12:00 TO 14:00 TIME:20:00 TO 22:00

MAPPING ACCORDING TO TIME: 11

 OVERLAPPING ELECTRIC WIRES ACT AS A TEMPORARY CEILING

SECTION SHOWING BOTH SIDE FOOTPATHS & ACTIVITIES ON ROAD

STUDY OF
PROXEMICS & ACTING ON LIMINAL SPACE
LIMINAL SPACE:
ANY VERTICAL STRUCTURE
USED FOR HANGING ADS
BULIDING FAÇADE USED FOR
ADVERTISEMENTS

FLOWER / PAN SHOPS USES TEMPORARY SHEDS

FAST MOVING SLOW MOVING WHICH COVER THE FOOTPATH
CARS TRAM
FOOTPATH ACTING UNDER CANOPY
AS LIMINAL SPACE TRAMLINE DIVIDES THE SPACE FOOTPATH ACTING AS
LIMINAL SPACE

FORMAL
VARIOUS ACTIVITIES IN
FOOTPATH
1.SHOP UNDER CANOPY
2.FLOWER SHOP
INFORMAL 3.PEOPLE BATHING

UNDERSTANDING LIMINAL SPACE: 12

 ACTIVITIES MAPPING THROUGH SECTIONS

STUDY OF
PROXEMICS & PEOPLE MOVING THROUGH STREETS INFRONT OF TRAM & FOOTPATHS PEOPLE BATHING ON FOOTPATH WATER FOUNTAIN

LIMINAL SPACE:

KEY PLAN

LIMINAL SPACE PEOPLE BUYING THINGS STANDING ON THE FOOTPATH

PEOPLE SELLING THINGS UNDER CANOPY TEMPORARYLY

STREET WALKABLE
SHOP FOOTPATH

UNDER CANOPY
TEMPORARY SHOPS
NIGHT TIME GATHERING ONLY UNDER ILLUMINATED AREA

ACTIVITIES MAPPING THROUGH SECTIONS: 13

DIFFERENCE OF LIMINAL SPACE IN VARIOUS CITY:
STREET SIDE
STREET SIDE OCCUPATION
FOOTPATH OCCUPATION

FOOTPATH

ANY VERTICAL
STRUCTURE USED
FOR HANGING ADS MEDIAN
DIVIDER
BULIDING FAÇADE USED FOR
ADVERTISEMENTS
STREET STREET

FAST MOVING SLOW MOVING

CARS TRAM
FOOTPATH UNDER CANOPY
ACTING AS TRAMLINE DIVIDES THE FOOTPATH
LIMINAL SPACE ACTING AS
SPACE LIMINAL SPACE

KOLKATA STREETS
NEW YORK STREETS

DIFFERENCE OF LIMINAL SPACE:[FOOTPATH] 14

 IMAGE OF KOLKATA-FROM FACADES

IMAGE OF KOLKATA: 15
MAPPING & ABSTRUCTION:
SELECTION OF PROP:

CHOOSING OF PROP:

COLUMN TREE
THE PROP OF A COLUMN WAS CHOSEN AS IT WAS THE PROP OF A TREE WAS CHOSEN AS IT WAS
REPRESENTING: REPRESENTING:

1. SPACIAL ELEMENT. 1. SIMILAR VERTICAL ENTITY LIKE THE COLUMN.

2. SPACIAL CONSTRUCT. 2. SPACIAL CONSTRUCT MAKER.
3. FOCAL POINT. 3. FOCAL POINT.
4. CULTURAL ATTRIBUTES. 4. ENABLER OF PROXEMICS & CHRONEMICS.
5. ENABLER OF PROXEMICS & CHRONEMICS. 5. MARKER OF SCALE.

SELECTION OF PROP: 16
ANALYSIS OF PROP:
COLUMN MAYBE CONSIDERED AS A CHRONEMIC & PROXEMIC CONSTRUCT.
IT REMINDS US THE MEMORIES OF GRANDEUR OF THE SERIES OF COLUMNS
THAT USED TO DEPICT A GOTHIC STRUCTURE. FOLIAGE

STEM

AS FOR THE ABSTUCTION OF A TREE WE CAN

BUT IF WE REMOVE THE PEDESTAL & CAPITAL OF A COLUMN THEN SHOW THE FOLLOWING WHICH CAN BE USED AS A
PEOPLE IN APPROACHING IT CAN INTERACT WITH IT VERTICALITY PROP.
MORE INTIMATELY.

JUSTIFICATION & ANALYSIS: 17

2D /3D ITERATIONS & MODELS: 3D MODELS OF ITERATIONS

2D ITERATION WITH PROPS

2D /3D ITERATIONS WITH PROP: 18

3D EXPERIENTIALITY OF SPACE:

UNDERSTANDING PROXEMICS & CHRONEMICS: UNDERSTANDING CLOSURE & SCALE OF AN OBJECT:

SIMILER ITERATION WITH COLUMN TO

UNDERSTAND SPATIALITY & PROXEMICS.

PROP WITHOUT ACCESSORIES POSITIONING THE PROP IN DIFFERENT SEGMENT OF SPACE.

3D EXPERIENCIALITY WITH SPACE: 19

CHANGING VERTICALITY & FOCUS:

CHANGING OF PROP LOCATIONS IN SPACE

CAUSING SHIFT IN FOCUS / BACKGROUND:

CHANGING VERTICALITY & FOCUS: 20

 CONVERTING
COLUMN INTO
COLONNADE:

ADDING
MATERIALITY
TO IT:

MULTIPLYING & ADDING MATERIALITY: 21

WITH MULTIPLE PROP :

SIMILER ITERATION WITH MULTIPLE

PROPS TO UNDERSTAND SPATIALITY &
PROXEMICS & CHRONEMICS

MULTIPLE PROP ITERATIONS: 22

 CONVEX NATURE OF THE PROP
COLONNADE CREATE A INSIDE / TREES CREATING A
OUTSIDE SITUATION . TEMPORARY CELING
OVER THE SPACE:

GOING CLOSER & INTO THE SPATIAL CONSTRUCT OF THE MODEL AND UNDERSTANDING PROXEMICS & CHRONEMICS:
CHANGE OF TREE FOLIAGE
CONTRIBUTES TO VERTICALITY &
FOCUS.

GOING CLOSER & INTO THE SPATIAL CONSTRUCT OF THE MODEL AND UNDERSTANDING PROXEMICS & CHRONEMICS:

RELATION WITH NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION : 23

INCORPORATION TRANSITION SEPERATION

NEXT SPACE PREVIOUS SPACE

TRANSITIONAL SPACE

RELATION WITH LIMINAL SPACES: 24

READING & FINDING SITUATIONS & INTERVENTIONS :
SITE SELECTION & ANALYSIS:
FOOTPATHS ALONG NATIONAL HIGHWAY 34: CASE-STUDY
BOTH SIDE FOOTPATH OF HELABATTALA & COLONY MORE NODE:
On footpaths along National Highway 34,in this case between Helabattala & Colony More Node there are temporary shops owned by hawkers on both sides of the road .
They sell different items from vegetables, fruits, flowers to meat and fish outside the main market. They are mainly illegal encroachers on either side of the road.

• There is no defined footpath, The width varies forms 6 meters to 10 meters at places on either sides of NH-34.
• The space between the built structure & temporary hawkers stall is considered as liminal spaces in this case.
• The road with also varies from 12 meters to 36 meters (Near Nodes).
• Pause points have been chosen along the liminal space of footpaths based on user activities for Design Intervention.

EXAMPLE:

ROAD
TEMPORARY FOOTPATH WITH
OVERLOOKING
HAWKERS STALL MEAT SHOPS
OTHER FOOTPATH
FOOTPATH WITH ROAD TRAFFIC
PERMAMENT MARKET & WITH
TEMPORARY MARKET OTHER SIDE

FOOTPATH WITH
MEAT SHOPS

SITUATION SELECTION: 25
CASE MAP SHOWING,
HELBATTALA /COLONY
MAP SHOWING NH-34
& SITE WITH FOOTPATH
STUDY: MORE NODE & NH-34

FOOTPATH
ALONG
HELABATTALA
MORE

MAP SHOWING
HELBATTALA NODE
LOCATION:

A- HELABATTALA 3 LANE NODE

B- COLONY MORE 3 LANE NODE

WAY TO
BARRACKPORE

SITE SURROUNDING WITH BUILT SPACES

SITE LOCATION & MAPS: 26

 PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWING ACTIVITIES SURROUNDING THE LOCATION

SITE PHOTOGRAPHS: 27
CASE STUDY: PRINT & HELABATTALA & COLONY MORE NODE
XEROX
SHOPS HARDWARE STORES TANMOY RETAIL GROCERY
POLYCLINIC COMP. SHOP MARKET
TELECOM A- HELABATTALA 3 LANE NODE
KEYA SETH LAUNDRY
B- COLONY MORE 3 LANE
TAXI SWEET & TELECOM SHOPS NODE
STAND FOOD SHOPS SBS TELECOM
MEDICINE MIO AMORE TANTUJ
SHOP MEDICINE
TOWARDS
SILIGURI FOOD SHOP
SHOPS SWEET &
FOOD SHOPS
SREELEATHER
S
SHOE &
LEATHER
STORE
A VIDEO KING
BIRIYANI
SHOPS
TEA RETAIL
SHOPS HARDWARE
B POND STORES BEAUTY &
TOWARDS CVOSMETIC
BARRACKPORE
FOOD
TEA & PAN SHOPS POND SHOPS
INDIAN OIL
PATROL PUMP GURUDWARA
SAROJINI PALLY TELECOM
PARK
INTERNET CAFES
SWEET &
FOOD SHOPS
PRINT &
XEROX SUBHAS
SBI BANK KHELAGHAR
SHOPS MEDICINE TELECOM FOOTBALL
SHOP GROCERY GROUND
SHOP
TEA & PAN SHOPS

TOTAL STRETCH OF NH-34 :735 METERS:

MAP SHOWING NH-34 & SITE MIO AMORE
WITH FOOTPATH
SITE IN CONSIDERATION: BOTH SIDE FOOTPATHS OF NH-34

NODE IDENTIFICATION & SURROUNDINGS: 28

MAP SHOWING NH-34 & SITE
WITH FOOTPATH

NODE TO NODE VEHICULAR & ACTIVITY MAPPING:

• People gathers on the road for traffic and transportation because the temporary
shops situated on the edges of footpath limits their waiting spaces.
• Bottlenecks for vehicular progression forms at and around nodes, thereby causing
traffic-jams and chaos.
• Therefore I intervened at these sites to draw the people to the liminal space.

VEHICULAR & ACTIVITY MAP: 29

 DEFINING PAUSE POINTS:
Vehicular Mapping Throughout The Day:

MAP SHOWING NH-34 &

SITE WITH FOOTPATH

User Mapping Throughout The Day:

DEFINING PAUSEPOINTS: 30
MAP SHOWING NH-34 & SITE
WITH FOOTPATH

A
PAUSE TIME: 15-20 MINS PAUSE TIME: 5-15 MINS

B
A’
C
B’
D C’

E D’

E’
F

G
F’
H
G’ PAUSE TIME: 15-40 MINS PAUSE TIME: 5-15 MINS
H’

STREET SECTION LOCATIONS DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES AROUND THE FOOTPATH FOR DEFINING PAUSE POINTS

PAUSE POINT ANALYSIS: 31

 SECTION AA’ SECTION-CC’

LIMINA
L SPACE

LIMINAL SPACE

MAP SHOWING NH-34 & SITE

WITH FOOTPATH
LIMINAL SPACE
2.5 MTRS 12 MTRS 2.5 MTRS
3 MTRS 12 MTRS 10 MTRS

B
A’ SECTION-DD’
C
SECTION BB’
B’
D C’

D’ LIMINAL
SPACE

LIMINAL SPACE 1

LIMINAL SPACE 2

6 MTRS 36 MTRS 6 MTRS

2.5 MTRS 24 MTRS 6-7 MTRS

STREET SECTION LOCATIONS IDENTIFYING LIMINAL SPACES

SITE SECTIONS: 1 32
 SECTION EE’ SECTION GG’

LIMINAL
SPACE
LIMINAL

MAP SHOWING NH-34 & SITE SPACE

WITH FOOTPATH
LIMINAL
SPACE

2. MTRS 12 MTRS
2 MTRS

SECTION HH’

E’
F LIMINAL
SPACE
LIMINAL LIMINAL
G SPACE SPACE

F’
H
G’ LIMINAL
SPACE

H’

STREET SECTION LOCATIONS IDENTIFYING LIMINAL SPACES

SITE SECTIONS: 2 33
 Point of Time per
Events Possibiliities Nature Purpose Typology of Prop Parameter Ideation Place of Action Effects on NVC
Pausation Person

Shop for Groceries 20-30 Min Intensifying the Pause Any Vertical Prop For
Focal Point with
Verticality /Focus Liminal Space Between Proxemics &
Daily Market Shade/Shelter Social Mixing Scale / Color /Material Shading device &
Footpath & Built Space Chronemics
For onway Chat/Gossip 5 Min to 10 Min Intensifing the Pause Shading Device Platform

Shop for Food 10-15 Min Intensifing the Pause Background for Focus
Focal Point with Proxemics &
Liminal Space Between
Food Stall Shade/Shelter with Seating Social Mixing Scale / Color /Material Shading device & Chronemics and
Footpath & Built Space
Shading Device with Seating Haptics.
For onway Chat/Gossip 5 Min to 10 Min Intensifying the Pause
Seating

MAP SHOWING NH-34 & SITE Line for Auto 5-15 Min Intensifing the Pause Any Vertical Prop For
Focal Point with Proxemics &
Verticality /Focus Liminal Space Between
WITH FOOTPATH Auto Stand Shade/Shelter with Seating Resting Scale / Color /Material Shading device &
Footpath & Built Space
Chronemics and
Shading Device with Seating Haptics
To rest Between Journey 15 Min to 20 Min Intensifying the Pause
Seating

A 1.Traffic Signal 5-15 Min Decreasing the Pause Any Vertical Prop For Proxemics &
Traffic Point 1 2.Crossing the Road 5 Min Decreasing the Pause Shade/Shelter Passing By Verticality /Focus with Scale / Color /Material Shading Device Adjacent to Footpath
Chronemics
3.Stopped by Police 10-20 Min Decreasing the Pause Shading Device
B
A’
Intensifing the Pause Any Vertical Prop For
C To meet & Gossip 30 Min to 45 Min Verticality /Focus Focal Point with Proxemics &
Liminal Space Between
B’ Statue Complex Shade/Shelter with Seating Social Mixing Scale / Color /Material Shading device & Chronemics and
Shading Device with Footpath & Built Space
Intensifying the Pause Seating Haptics
D C’ Office Goers for Break 10 Min to !5 Min
Seating

Any Vertical Prop For

E D’ 1.To give Puja 5 Min to 25 Min
Intensifing the Pause
Verticality /Focus
Focal Point with
Liminal Space Between
Proxemics &
Kali Temple Shade/Shelter with Seating Social Mixing Scale / Color /Material Shading device & Chronemics and
Shading Device with Footpath & Built Space
Intensifing the Pause Seating Haptics
2.For Festivities 30 Min to 45 Min Seating
E’ 1.Traffic Signal 5-15 Min Decreasing the Pause
F 2.Crossing the Road 5 Min Decreasing the Pause Any Vertical Prop For
Proxemics &
Traffic Point 2 3.Stopped by Police 10-20 Min Decreasing the Pause Shade/Shelter Passing By Verticality /Focus with Shading Device Adjacent to Footpath
Chronemics
Shading Device
G 4.State Transports for
Intensifying the Pause
F’ Passengers 20 Min to 30 Min Scale / Color /Material

H Any Vertical Prop For

G’ Sreeleathers &
Adjacent Shoe Shopping for Shoes 20 Min to 30 Min Intensifing the Pause Shade/Sheter with Seating Social Mixing Verticality /Focus Scale / Color /Material
Focal Point with
Shading device &
Liminal Space Between
Proxemics &
Chronemics and
Shading Device with Footpath & Built Space
Shops Seating Haptics
H’ Seating

STREET SECTION LOCATIONS

PAUSE POINT > TIME SPEND > INTERVENTION

PAUSE POINT ANALYSIS: 34

 REACH HEIGHT
Abandoned concrete pillars, that were used as pile caps
for constructions are repurposed as architectural installations in
Kolkata.

Alteration of part of the StreetSide wall through rough texture

material to prevent postering and wall lettering.

It also creates hapticity.

DESIGN EXAMPLE SEEN IN LOCAL CONTEXT: 35

DESIGN INTERVENTION FOR
DECREASING THE PAUSE: Traffic points: Before
crossing the road.

PLAN
INSPIRATION FROM PROP
TREE FOR SHELTER

COLUMN
COLUMN

TERACOTTA ROUGH TEXTURE ON

HAND REACH LEVEL TO HEIGHTEN
FRONT ELEVATION SIDE ELEVATION HAPTICITY
FRONT ELEVATION SIDE ELEVATION
INSPIRATION FROM PROP
COLONNADE FOR VERTICALITY

INSPIRATION FROM PROP LEVEL

DIFFERENCE FOR PLATFORM VIEWS

DESIGN OF THE INTERVENTION: TYPE 1 36

DESIGN INTERVENTION FOR
INTENSIFYING THE PAUSE: Waiting Area of Footpath:

PLAN
INSPIRATION FROM PROP
TREE FOR SHELTER

COLUMN

TERACOTTA ROUGH TEXTURE ON

HAND REACH LEVEL TO HEIGHTEN
INSPIRATION FROM PROP SIDE ELEVATION FRONT ELEVATION HAPTICITY
COLONNADE FOR VERTICALITY

VIEWS

INSPIRATION FROM PROP LEVEL

DIFFERENCE FOR PLATFORM

DESIGN OF THE INTERVENTION: TYPE 3 37

DESIGN INTERVENTION FOR
INTENSIFYING THE PAUSE:
Market Area of along Footpath:

PLAN This level difference of 650 mm will

attract hawkers to sit on the platform.

INSPIRATION FROM PROP LEVEL

DIFFERENCE FOR PLATFORM

FRONT ELEVATION SIDE ELEVATION

DESIGN OF THE INTERVENTION: TYPE 3 38

 DIFFERENT HEIGHT CONSIDERED :
3.15 M-FOR SEATING
3.35 M- FOR FOCUS & STANDING

SHADE BY TOUCHING :CURIOSITY

SUPPORTING FOR HAWKERS

SOCIAL MIXING
WAITING

IMPACT ANALYSIS: ACTIVITIES 39

 TYPE 1

MAP SHOWING NH-34 & SITE

WITH FOOTPATH

TYPE 1 TYPE 3

TYPE 2

TYPE 2

TYPE 3
INTERVENTION
LOCATIONS:

INTERVENTION & VIEWS: 40

 TYPE 2

MAP SHOWING NH-34 & SITE

WITH FOOTPATH

TYPE 1

TYPE 1

TYPE 2
TYPE 2

TYPE 3
INTERVENTION
LOCATIONS:

INTERVENTION & VIEWS: 41

• People’s movement pattern will change by the
pause point interventions.

• More social mixing will form on these locations.

IMPACT ANALYSIS PEOPLES ACTIVITY: 42

 CONCLUSION:

• Modern city should grow centripetally, thus also the interventions on it.

• The interventions on interiority & liminal spaces arises from this concept.

• These interventions will be viable if the non verbal communications in these

spaces enables people to act more intimately.

• In all such activities the consideration of cultural construct should be taken into
account aptly.

CONCLUSION: 43
THANK YOU: