Sept'23: Reexamining the Role of Balconies in Modern Living

A VK Group monthly newsletter

- September 2023 -

Monthly Highlights

Golden Dialogues on Generative Design and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Architectural Practice

The fourth session of Golden Dialogues was organised by Sustainability Initiatives as a Panel Discussion on 'Generative Design and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Architectural Practice', on September 15 at Navalmal Firodia Auditorium, Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Law College Road, Pune. Architect Krishna Moorthy (Mumbai), Architect Aditya Chandra (Mumbai), Architect Bhairumal Sutar (Pune) were the experts on the panel.

Aditya Chandra, chief architect and partner at Chandrashekar Architects, Mumbai, talked about the various design appilications based on Artificial Intelligence that architects can use to work better. He stressed on the need to catch up with AI in this early stages itself as they could soon replace much of the work we do today. While Krishna Murthy, principal architect at Folds Design Studio, does not believe that AI is going to cause massive unemployment, he said that “architects should not be ashamed of doing on-site labour themselves.” Bhairumal Sutar, founder of CuMiLab, Pune explained how parametric architecture and generative AI can be implemented with careful curation, through real-life examples. A large number of practicing architects and students attended the discussion.

From the Editor's Desk

Reexamining the Role of Balconies in Modern Living

As someone who has spent her whole life living in apartments (with and without balconies, with usable balconies and for-the-sake-of-it balconies), I can vouch that balconies are not overrated. Yet it had somehow turned into a forgotten or unnecessary architectural element in the 21st century. Until the lockdown reminded us its value.

Historically, balconies have been associated with power. Dating back to ancient Egypt and Rome, palace balconies were reserved for kings and queens to address their subjects. While Adolf Hitler announced the annexation of Austria before World War II from the Imperial Palace balcony in Vienna, Winston Churchill famously joined the British royal family on the balcony at Buckingham Palace to celebrate the war’s end. Indians still gather around 'Mannat' to catch a glimpse of Shah Rukh Khan, just like people gather around the Vatican's balcony to see the Pope. As urbanisation intensified, balconies became gateways to fresh air in densely populated cities, varying in materials, shapes, and sizes according to region – from the wooden balconies of pol houses in Ahmedabad to the sandstone jharokas in Rajasthan. Even in the 21st century, spacious balconies and terraces remain status symbols.

During the pandemic, balconies became even more important. People used them to show support for healthcare workers, celebrate special days, and even have concerts. Balconies became places where neighbors came together and helped each other (and banged our vessels together to scare viruses away).

However, it's perplexing that many new developments still fail to recognise the necessity of balconies, especially in residences. In apartments, balconies are more than just viewpoints; they serve as utility spaces for families, gardens for plant-lovers, and meditation zones for overworked individuals. Architects, builders, and developers need to rethink the significance of balconies to remind themselves balconies are indispensable for a healthy, comfortable urban life.

Why do balconies inspire us?

VK Group Breaking Grounds

A Balcony Revolution: VK:a's Influence on Pune's Architecture

If you've ever strolled through Pune, you've probably noticed the distinctive double-height balconies that are prevalent in many of the city's apartment buildings. What you might not know is that Vishwas Kulkarni, the visionary founder of VK:a architecture, played a pivotal role in popularising this feature in Pune.

It happened almost by chance when he introduced double-height terraces as a unique design element in a project near Law College Road. Back then, most apartments were closed-off spaces with limited connections to the outdoors. These balconies changed the game, offering residents a slice of open space and a breath of fresh air within the confines of their apartment. However, getting the authorities on board was a challenge, as this concept was far from the norm.

Girish Kale, now the head of Liasoning, remembers Vishwas Sir's determination, "He was part of the interaction committee formed by AESA (Architects, Engineers & Surveyors Association), CREDAI (Confederation of Real Estate Developers' Associations of India) and IIA (Indian Institute of Architects).

He introduced the concept of double height balconies in the committee and fought against existing rules to get it approved.” After the authorities approved it, it was adopted by others due to the advantages it provided to the well-being of the users as well as a way to maximise the utilisation of FSI. Now this design element has been adopted by many projects across the state. This is a testament to how an architect can transform urban living. Since then, double-height balconies and terraces have become an integral feature of the firm’s designs. Instead of replicating identical layouts on each floor, the layouts are shifted and modified to create these double-height terraces attached to living rooms or bedrooms, as seen in numerous projects by the firm such as Success Towers, Rohan Garima, Ynis Ynos, Sucasa, and Falcon.

The feature has been highly appreciated by the residents as well. Saumin and Utsav, residents of Rohan Garima, express their delight, saying, "Our favorite spot in the house is the balcony. We live on the 10th floor, offering a breathtaking view. The best thing about the house is that the sunlight enters only when it is suitable [morning and evening] and blocks out the harsh afternoon sun.”

Inspiration for the Month

The Art of the Balcony

Beyond being an essential element for a healthier and happier urban living, balconies possess the potential to add visual interest to set buildings apart from the ordinary. Architects who realize this have changed the skyline of the cities they design for.

The zigzagging balconies with larch railings in Ragnitzstrasse 36, a residential block Austria, breaks free from cost and size constraints, allowing for a unique, visually captivating design. In the mixed-use L’Arbre Blanc tower, balconies fan out like leaves. Modeled on the shape of a tree, the curved 17-storey building contains 113 apartments with cantilevering balconies, alongside publicly accessible facilities on the ground floor and rooftop. Meanwhile, the Never Never Cube in Punjab by Studio Ardete, which was initially conceived as a simple box, gains attention with its balconies designed as parallelepipeds.

VK:a understands both the aesthetic and functional aspects of balconies. A prime example is the Mudra Apartments in Bibvewadi. Here, terraces envelop the building, shaping its form. Alternating internal layouts create double-height terraces, seamlessly connecting indoor and outdoor spaces. Each apartment features a spacious terrace along its periphery, resembling vertical bungalows. Anant Smriti in Katraj stands as a unique addition to Pune's urban landscape, defying the conventional sea of concrete boxes that dominate the city's skyline. Drawing inspiration from the timeless beauty of circles, round balconies wrap around the building. Even the stairwell and corners of the structure have been thoughtfully curved, aligning with the overarching aesthetic to create a harmonious and visually striking living environment. Meanwhile Ynis Ynos apartment, in Shivajinagar, boasts vertically alternating triangular balconies and double-height corner terraces with cantilevered bedrooms, creating a unique architectural statement that never fails to catch the eye of passersby.

Material In Focus

Fosroc Building Solutions - Polyurea System

Fosroc presented their new technology in Waterproofing Solutions at VK:a on August 3rd. A leader in manufacturing and supplying high performance chemicals for the construction industry, they explained the used and application of Fosroc Membrane HDPE-P and Polyurea System for waterproofing in different parts of the building.

Know More

Book Recommendation

Yes is More: An Archicomic on Architectural Evolution, by BIG

Yes is More is a unique architectural book written by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), exploring their philosophy and design principles through a series of visually captivating comic-style illustrations. This book presents architectural concepts and projects in a graphic novel format, making it both informative and engaging for readers interested in the world of architecture and design. It showcases BIG's innovative and often groundbreaking built and unbuilt architectural projects and the stories behind them. It also highlights the firm's commitment to sustainable and environmentally conscious design.

“The true origin of an architectural project is often an untold story,” says Ingels in the introduction. “The process is too prosaic, too inconsistent, and too unheroic to convince. This is an attempt to unveil the chaotic conditions under which we work.”