vfik
OPINION
SOME THOUGHTS ON ARCHITECTURE
I ARCHITECTS AND THE HOUSING
I SOCIETIES
;I
BOTTLENECKS
i what
i Littleis th~ awareness,e~pecial!yin Nor~hIndia,of '
Architects and Engineers can do In order to
create overall Architectural ambience and
I
j environment. Building codes are followed on!y till
, the government issues completion certificates.
Builders try to maximise their saleable per sQuare
metre covered space. Buildings are articulated in plan
, spoiling the aesthetics and deadlocking the scope for
a composite elevation. Apartments look like cages.
I
f lackingcreativeinputsinceArchitecturalservicesare
j engagedon!ytill authoritiessanctionlayoutplans.
I Architect is engaged on the basis of how QUick!yhe
gets the plan approved and how minimum he will
charge. Since it is difficult for the diploma holder
clerical staff to read Architectural language and
delineation. and he tries to approve on!yvery simple
elementary drawings since byelaws stop him from
reading orthogonal complex worked upon plans. the
overall result is a matchbox. Economical radial plans
are rare!y approved. since the scrutiniser doesn't
approve area based on circularcalculations.Moreover
the general unsuspecting public is unaware of the
advantages. Buildings are like goods to the builder.
He has to deliver the goods within a stipulated time
frame. Worst of all. even the structural consultants
have inhibitionsbreakingawayfrom orthogonal forms.
how complex and articulated they may be, to circular
and angularforms. No care istaken that the occupants
get favorable and avoid unfavorable orientations.
Symmetry is the key criteria as structural consultant
is appointed in the most unprofessional way where
he shall design the o/pical block or even o/pical
floor. Rates are negotiated with him like with a
vegetable vendor.
An overallsimpleform "Non orthogonal" basedon
climatology. earthQuake resistance. and other
functional aspects should be the key criteria for
designing of such buildings.
Many builders operate under prory mode posing as
housing socieo/ using young or needy Architects
working under them and exploit them. Innocent young
Architects cannot even see the realio/ since salary
package "fulfills" their basic need for bread and butter
and so called prospects "lure" them for "Golden Ar. Manuj
DARSHAN
I Future". They are compelled to work beyond their
.1 capacities and dignio/.This is another reason for the
lack of professional building design as the
environment created is "Quick Money Extract
Centric"than "PeopleCentric".
COM MON MAN It is hightime for the to realise
the value. additions that an Architect can offer in
housing development and howto get maximumlivable
and need oriented flexiblespace out of least "Saleable
Covered Area" hence pricing. How to get maximum
I out of favourable sun and wind directions.
!
AUTHORITIES By employing proactive
Architects and committecttownplanners.this problem
can be great!y resolved at the grass root levelsince
they will contemplate and incorporate about the
overall'comfort level to the masses instead of their
families. Need for approving bionic level forms exist
in India.
BUILDERS By realising the value of pure
Architecture. avoiding clutter and articulation in
building forms, making public realise about the time
needed to create a good environment and not
succumbing to commercial pressures, havinga good
buffer capital investment to facilitate the same, and
actual!y realising the "after sale" comfort level he
should provide his client with.
ARCHITECTS By not succumbing to the
pressures of the builder and be aware of the latest.
trends and exercising his creativio/ in designing '
I
people centric environment instead of concentrating
on facilitation in making money. I
CITIES FOR THE FUTURE I
1 When Le' Corbusier planned Chandigarh, it was a
vision considering the overall comfort level of the f
citizens. Thereafter. little had been the awareness
amongst town planners and government bodies of
how actual!y a cio/ works.
Here we would like to experience and encounter a
problem first and then try to find a solution to it.
Cities are always planned I 00 years ahead. Little do
we know regarding how the future is got to go? Indian
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I!I 15
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 cities are more or lesslike asthmatic lungs, congested
wheezing and coughing.
Citiesaresmallerthanstates,whicharesmallerthan
country.Hencethere existsa needfor a refreshable
uniform national bylaw,which should transit with
latitude,geology,altitude,climateetc. Weon!!' have
beenfollowingtheoutdatedambiguousbylaws,which
are not on!!' creatingslum like structuresbut also
encouragingcorruption.On!!,5 %of byelawscaterto
improveurbanenvironment.Othersaretechnolegal
multiply interpreted statements, which are
interpretedbyplotowners,Architectandtheauthorio/
in morethanoneway.If it isa law.it shouldhaveone
and on!!' one meaning.inferenceand interpretation
and should in no w'!Y motivate anyoneto break,
surpassit or find evenasingleloophole.Publichasa
right to know the law. Lawsare meant to provide
collective mentaland physicalfreedom and not to
createcollectiveconstraints.
TRANSPORTATION The keyreQuirementof a
cio/. no one. not evenbi<)'cleroute plannershave
actual!!,thoughtof howa poor laborershallreachhis
destinationin the most economicalway.The traffic
varieo/in Indiatransitsfrombi<)'cles,rickshaws,
thelas.
bullock carts. jugaad and tractors, auto ritkshaw,
scootersandmotor<)'cles,cars,lorries,buses.trucks.
The root of traffic planningin India is a thorough
understandingof non-motorabletrafficbehaviorfirst
ratherthanmotorable.
SEGREGATION OF BYE PASS
TRAFFIC Should be anticipated in advanceso that
flyoversare constructedin advance.Segregationof
railroad,servicetraffic etc is reQuired.
SOCIAL SECTOR PLANNING Strong
experienceof resident'sforumsshouldbe surveyed
extensive!!'so that their problemsare kept in mind
whena newcio/isbeinglaidout. Citieshenceshould
be peoplecentric.
LAND USE PLANNING Cities are not on!!'
habitationsbutprimari!!,alsoassetsasarevenueearner
to the countryhencetheyshouldperfectasa worthy
bread earner. They should be based upon
reQuirementsof internationalmarket.
Howeverydwellinggetsfavorableorientation?How
the environmentshouldlook three dimensional!!,.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A HUMBLY
POOR NATION
NarrowPlotslookingover [like]streets
Roundedroadintersectionwithacareless!!,
placedpole
16
Widerightof w'!Ybut probab!!,tracingastraightroad
betweenpotholes.cattle, tents, and heart-touching
speedbreakers-getpaidfor app!!'ingbrakes.Idealists
areadvisedto watchout for brakefailures.
By passesreQuiringby passes
Selfencouragingred abstractmuralson lowerwalls
of publiccorridors
Facilitation-"ChannelFee"
ProperThird DegreeLiarsandManipulators
Risingroad levelsto caterfor flood control
Sendanythingrejected-itwill get sold here
SetbackLine: LaC
Window Size: White money
FAR : Farto achieve
Zoning : CLoUningofzonesover/ ChaLooU
Barsatis[Windcheaters]in hot and
dry climate
UNIFORM BUILDING BYE LAWS?
HOW CAN THESE WORDS WEAR A
UNIFORM?
GREEN LUNGS Oh?Thefunguscausesasthma!
PopulationandPollutionnebuliseslikesalbutamol.
Whydo politiciansreQuiremoney?Theycanpurchase
anythingwithout them!
CORRUPTION It'sa necessaryevil!Leaveapart
friction [FearCreation]in public'sindividualinterest
BYE-LAW Soundslikeawall-byitselfupsidedown
Looks found in dust raisingbooks Smellslike a fly
over sneezeTasteslike high drawgin [selfate]
Heardin differenttonesfrom public
Creative input
Go andhunt for it to kill it down
Reformers
Somewhodon't wantto be reformed
InvertorandGeneratqrmanufacturers
arerichpeople
PublicHealthServices:Without
adoctor-PublicStealth
Services
UNITY Wewantto untie
 DISCUSSION

EVOLVING A PERFECT CITYMATRIX

Ar. Manuj DARSHAN . Food

I CITIES FOR THE FUTURE OR
a General Food
I FUTURE FOR THE CITY
I Prem se milkar chalo bolo sabhi gyani bano I i Vegetable
Seasonal
Poorvajonki bhanti tum karta-.yake maani bano
Regular
Ho'n vichar samansab ke chit man sab ek ho'n ii Pulses
iii Wheat. bread & rice
Gyan deta hoon baraber bhogyapa sab nek ho'n
iv Salad and fruit
b Water
! Ho'n sabhi ke dil tatha sankalpa avirodhi sada Man I

bhare ho prem se jisse badhe sukha sampada c Supplement Vitamins Proteins and Mineral
Vedic Sangathan Sookta d Beverage
e Miscellaneous

! Let our thoughts be alike. Consciousnessand

. Clothes
I
I temptations be one. EQual knowledge is bestowed a Day
in everyhuman.Let'sutiliseit optimal!}'andbecome' b Night
honest. c Sports
I d Undergarments
e Bio-climatic
! A couple of years ago I was watching a movie I f Miscellaneous
"Fifth Element" fjctioning on Vaastu theory I
I simulating 3-D ci~matrix flashing an idea which. Shelter and House
can change the way we live. Since in this never- . Health and Exercise
I ending maze of fashion. we are lost as to how to
Transportation
! think about a real ci~matrix. which solvesmost of
I
.
our problems. . Education. Culture. Art and Literature

. Maintenance like cleaning. washing etc

There was an enlightening experience when I was
I discussing an economic project of house negotiating I PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS
I between client and contractor. Sudden!}' the whole. Entertainment. amusement and recreation
paradigm shifted when he said to do all needful . Socialization
work and charged extra for luxury. Hence I got a
direction to filter design elements that were not
. Status and fashion

I aiming towards economy of my client. I

. Others

I find we humans have the same needs as far as More than population explosion. interpretation
basic necessities are concerned. There are self- explosion demanding status. power and luxury is
complicating the system. Poor person lives content
I created reQuirements to Quench our social
I superiori~ thirst and for creating undesirable I while a hurt ego complicates. creating a chain of I
comparative showoffs. Now is the time to reverse
( comfort. Though it is not mandatory to curtail
the time machine and weave a golden future for
these extras but it is time for us to think about
our coming generations.
poor in no way this comfort to cost them

! necessities. I There wasan old story in,.which Asuras Quarreled

with Devatas why they are different. They went to
PHYSICAL NEEDS supreme god who stiffens the hand of both groups
. EarningMoney for need. necessarycomfort. with sticks and gives them amrit in their hand and
status and showoff
ask them to drink. Asuras try to drink that and

III
32 I!I
THE jOURNAL OF THE INDIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS 2004 JUNE
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spill it over whereas devatas offer it to each other III Functional
and are contented. Let's choose life to be simple. Intra movement Optimisedmovementwithin
harmonious and synergistic. Society where money a building
is a slave and not the master will be created. I am Inter movement Walk able Movements till
hopeful that Ram rajya can revive where citizens 200 m
think and believe in giving than taking Where Vertical Lift. stairs. ladders. ramps
donation aims to help the poor than to gain honor movement
in society-Where it's better to be honorable than 3- Dimensional Escalator and Conveyor
to be honored. Transportation Intracity. Light 1-2 km
Medium 2-Skm. City Size
Hum na sochen hame kya mila hai, Intercity Rail. Road. Air.
Hum ye sochen kiya kya hai arpa'n Waterway

British developed a policy of divide and rule. which PSYCHOLOGICAL COMFORT

still exists as a silent constraint in our subconscious III Fearlessness and not arrogance
minds. Technocrats have been divided as Architects. III Meditation. Peace. Mutual Compromise and
Engineers. Town Planners. and masseson the basis not power
of religion. An aspiring politician joins either of III Self Respectand not ego
the two "major" parties for success. We have good Examples of Products creating undesirable comfort
intentions thinking a lot to improve the world but and discomfort for others Non fuel efficient vehicle.
we won't work upon them due to priorities. It is polluting vehicle. unattended daytime streetlight.
said that the road to hell is paved be good cigarette smoking. drinking
intentions. Even families are divided. We interpret
even petty and trivial issues as monstrous Quarreling FEAR IS THE KEY
over it wasting time and energy. We compel our Fear creation in masses benefits corruption; some
buds pursuing careers of our choice than la\A.Yersand socialists use it to complicate their
understanding what they aspire for creating insight client's case and earn money. some umwalified
that we think well about them from a higher Q!.Iacksand government clerical employees sell their
perspective and search in them our own lost designs telling their clients that bylaw on!!' allows
identities. People who don't know our problems elementary layouts. suggest them violations and
and us rule. Let's consider architecture as a way of blackmail the owners when they do it. There is
desirable comfortable living. understanding between some doctors and
diagnostic labs. which augment patient's problems
Comfort can be a need but all needs are comfort
in itself. Desirable Comfort can be categorized as
under Physical Comfort. Body & mind

III Natural Sleep. Water Sports. Sitting.

III Latent Bath. Food. Exercise. Drink
III Climatic
Natural Adiabatic Cooling. E-W
covered pathways
Induced Air conditioning. Fans
Emergency Pre- Umbrellas. Rain Water
Shelters organisation
Post. Need EarthQuake Value-Based
camps. Cyclone shelters.
Evacuation. Fire tenders.
Landslide/Avalanche 'CBs Clean Laws
Modern
and
III Anthropometrics and Ergonomics Documentation Management
Static Adults
Transitory Children Var.ies with the
growth process Effective Governance
Customised Old. disabled. weak and sick polarised organisation
people

33
 RESEARCH

MODEL BYE LAWS AND ZONE MATRIX

FORMULAE FOR THE FUTURE
As mentioned in previous articles, we continue in street but shameful egos. Pity, Is the so called Ar. Manuj oarshan
SHARMA
strive of creating a Perfect Citymatrix. japan is already engineering department left in any position to define
creating sky city similar~ followed by Malaysia, Hong Plinth Level in the field as confident(ial)~ as they
Kong, etc... bonding in search of absolute truth. approve it on papers?
NASA is working towards evolving the probabilistic
sprawl of existing US cities by Imagery. In history, Roads are not designed as per transport need and
Cities like Lutyen's Delhi, Le Corbusier's Chandigarh pedestro vehicular conflicts occur. Speed limits should
and Raja )aisingh's Jaipur still rhythm in our lives. take care of the inter city commuters. Levels of roads
History is not a subject to learn but real essence is to are not consistent and are raised time-to-time
experience the pain and tyranny of our nation and generating business. More civic problems are welcome
humanity before evolution of real technology. from professionals and citizens.

For us now is the time to create perfect fuel efficient Rain Water Harvesting is shown for formality even in
vehicle roads, resource efficient habitations for our
impermeable areas with no effort to pool water. No
country. We ought to rebuild our nation suffering in ana~sis is proved whether all this water would
hands of outdated bylaws, defunct legal system, accumulate above impervious layers thereby reducing
bureaucracy, corruption, and ways of working. If we the bearing capacity of the buildable soils. Can
don't act. these articles and impressions would fade engineering department anticipate this sinking factor
away and left as a memory page. along with safety factor in survey result determining
the bearing capacity of soils? Oh Plinth level would
IS HEALTHAND URBAN PATTERN remain the same because every action has an eQual
ACHIEVED?
and opposite reaction-says Newton. Wow!
Due to political jugglery, government buildings,
private buildings, often clog many a green lungs in If violations can occur in the Lutyen's Delhi, what is
town. Many such public buildings violate the bylaws. wrong in citizens making violations?
Bylawsare often revised in tune to local politicians.
Mere~, planting the trees on areas meant for roads Public Health and Sanitary departments are meant to
and services is insufficient.
improve the health of the citizens. Are they doing
anything for the weak, old and the disabled? Even
The method of evolution of today's bylaws is very sewer in the congested drains gets blocked in absence
interesting. Setbacks instead of evolving as limits of expandable channel systems. No documentation Aeri al vi ew
emerged as particular lines to govern neighbors to
get air and light without obstruction. But today's
Town Plannersignored winter sun and wind direction.
Moreover there are violations disabling that very
purpose. After Corbusier's advent. courtyard system
wasdiscouraged even in hot and dry climates, as the
areaalmost e@als zoning lines enclosures including
allowable rear cantilevered projections.

The term "setback" is literal~ a verb instead of noun.

Road levels and security factors keep on rising enabling
owners either to sanction building plans showing
higher Plinth Levels and Boundary Wall Heights losing
overall building height or to make their houses at
higher level and pay penalty. Setbacks lines approve
front projections at levels, which are different in sites
because the newer owners keep on raising the levels
leading to ug~ street scape with no respect to the

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THE JOURNAL I!I 13
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 transit with the following super factors in the following
seQuence
Latitude and Altitude
Sun and Wind Direction
Rainfalland Terrain

Dependent Ciry Matrix Factors will also govern the

bye laws
Interciry Transit Behavior
Land Use Planning
Rural Sector Response
Culture and Traditions

Byelawsof the future shouldbe Loophole/ Lacuna

ProofE@ations,Not aformula.

Simple and Adaptable A simple volumetric zoning 3

dimensional transitional formula for form coefficient.
1-0 form should be rendered in every plot depending
on abutting roadswidth and orientation as per Vaastu
irrespective of projections, etc. and ground
relatedness shall be it's subset.

Value of the variable depends upon openness factor

of the urban zone residential. commercial,
institutional, mixed, and hi rise etc.

Statementof ownershipandparticular about IIIA.lournal of the Indian

Lesser Ground Relatedness should be encouraged Instituteof Architects.to bepublishedin thefirstissuedeveryyearafterthe
lastdayof February
by not counting the staircase under covered areaand FORM IV
Nameof IIIA.lournal ofThe Indian
elevated bridge roads for more volume to encourage Publication Instituteof Architects
open spaces.
Placeof 5th Floor.Prospect
Publication Chambers.Annexe. Dr. D N
Plots can be planned in golden section derivatives. Road.Mumbai 400 00 I

Boundary walls and gate voids can also be matricised. Periodicityof Monthly
Publication
The Architect should be free to design within that
volumetric po!frhedron. 4 PublisherName Ar. DivyaKush
Nationality Indian
Address The IndianInstituteof Architects.
LOOPHOLE I LACUNA PROOF 5th Floor.ProspectChambers.Annexe.
Dr. D N Road.Mumbai 400 00 I
Simple and Adaptable Judgment based on
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I mathematicalformulae and expressedin Architectural Nationality Indian
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Terms can be written in English/Hindi or Regional 5th Floor.ProspectChambers.Annexe.
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I SimpleandAdaptableJudgmentfavoringthe goalof 110. DamjiShamjiIndustrialComplex.
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creating a perfect ciryscape. Mumbai 400 093

7 Nameand The IndianInstituteof Architects.

, Should not encourage feudalism and egoism in addressof
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ProspectChambers.Annexe.5th Floor.
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Ar. Manuj Darshan
SHARMA
I bureaucrats,red-tapismand cadre/lobbyformation ownthe newspaperMumbai 400 00 I
and partnersor share
within clericalstaff. .
holder holdingmore
thanone percentof the Member IIA Journal
total capital and News1ette r
Need for Empowerment of Architects to sanction Committee
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Building Plans enforcing support from government the bestof my Knowledge.

side respecting urban pattern-a perfect cent per cent Dated 1st March 2004 Sd/-
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