Art, Architecture and Design Professionals On TFOD

Earth architecture, a building technology perfected and practiced since pre-historic times, is yet being evolved and refined by practitioners of today with late Laurie Baker, Geoffrey Bawa, the practitioners at Auroville Earth Institute and some others leading the movement in this part of the world. We are proud to have earth architects like Trupti Doshi, Pondicherry and Vinu Daniel of Wallmakers, Cochin on TFOD, both mentored by Satprem Maini of the Auroville Earth Institute, who committedly expound and propagate this ecologically sensitive and superiorly sustainable form of building shelters using earth or mud.

Just as earth-friendly is the practice of building with earth, so is, we are told, building with scrap, re-cycling waste to new uses, using local and traditional insulation techniques for climate control and passive air-conditioning; and also that it is very important to raise awareness among and train young builders today in all these practices. Well, all these and much more come together in the sculptural abode of Biju Mathew, created by Vinu Daniel and his team at Wallmakers.

Known across the world for its DIY furniture sold at low price points, Ikea will open its doors to Indian customers early next year. The first store will be located on a 13-acre plot near Hitec City in Hyderabad, and Ikea plans to invest Rs 10,500 crore and open 25 stores across the country by 2025. Mumbai, Turbhe – to be precise, is next in line after Hyderabad. Over 7,500 products – most international, a few local – will be up for grabs for Indian consumers.

In conversation here with TFOD Correspondent Teja Lele Desai, Mia Lundström, Creative Director for Ikea India, shares the challenges Ikea faced and overcame in setting up its India operations.

The designing of a new building in a fancy district, to house cultural displays, is typically faced with a predicament. As a representative of cultural heritage it is expected to acknowledge traditional and historic aspects of the locality where it sits while, as a modern piece of infrastructure built to serve a rapidly progressing society, it should reflect the futuristic aspirations of such a people. Viewed against the background of this dual challenge, The Fosun Foundation building, an arts and culture centre standing as the centre piece of the Bund Finance Centre completed on the Huangpu river front in Shanghai by Foster + Partners in collaboration with Heatherwick Studio, is a brilliant piece of architecture that uses the latest technological advances in visual art and façade treatment to evoke references to preserved traditions with a nuanced stroke that blends sophistication and verve.

Matai Associates is an architectural practice based out of Baroda. The practice founded by architect Vijay Matai, and now co-headed by his son Vineet, has always been at the helm of responsive and responsible design, appropriate to climate and relevant to context. The 35-year-old practice committed to finding innovative and effective design solutions to improve the quality of life in urban and semi-urban environments – claims this week’s TFOD Profile Of The Week!

Art is not what you see, but what you make others see – Edgar Degas

India, a culturally rich and diverse nation, has arts and crafts woven into its tapestry, dating back more than 5000 years. Learning about Indian art is like going through the pages of history. As old as the Indian civilization itself, these are rooted in ethnicity and intangible values passed down through generations.

Traditional arts and crafts are more than just beautiful objects; they are the echoes of time! Deep within the process of their creation are anecdotes waiting to be told, heritage expecting to be revered, myths and faiths that shape it up. Handcrafted by artists and artisans, they tell a tale. One such exceptional form of artwork and a symbol of India's rich heritage is Bidriware, an exquisite metal handicraft.