Unbuilding Architecture: A Call to Unbuild India

A VK Group monthly newsletter

- May 2023 -

Monthly Highlights

VK Celebrates Golden Connect with Consultants

On 6th May 2023, VK Group held the Golden Connect, a celebration of the trusted consultants who have contributed to our 50 years of successful architectural practice. Dr. Poorva Keskar, Partner at VK:e, introduced the agenda for the day. The evening opened with a touching video of the people that make the organization, sharing their fond memories and common love for the founder, Vishwas Kulkarni, and the firm.

The occasion was made more special with the launch of Unbuilt.01: unrealised explorations by VK:a architecture, a book containing some of VK:a’s design queries and interesting architectural ideas that did not see the light of day. We hope this inaugural book will be the first of many.

The special guest Mr. Abhishek Gupta from CRE Matrix mesmerized the crowd with data analytics around real-estate patterns, sales etc. that developers can use to understand where to start that next affordable housing project, what’s the best use of their land parcel, when to launch their project etc. The event was honored by a video message by the President of CoA, Ar. Abhay Purohit, who congratulated VK:a on this momentous occasion. The chief guest Mr. V Suresh, felicitated the man of the hour, Ar. Vishwas Kulkarni on completing 50 years in the profession. Mr. V Suresh, chairman of NBC and ex-chairman of HUDCO, stole the show with his energetic key note speech that elaborated on the building code and reminded the need to build sustainably.

As a sister concern of VK, Sustainability Initiatives also joined in the celebrations, completing 10 years since its inception. Ms. Apoorva Kulkarni, Head of VK:o operations, introduced SI and urged all present to join hands for upcoming outreach programs and research.

VK Group Breaking Grounds

Unrealised Explorations by VK:A architecture

A large number of projects of an architectural firm often remain unbuilt due to various reasons. While the architectural discourse is assessed through what is built, unbuilt explorations are not merely forgotten endeavours. They are sources of inspiration that shape an architect’s design ideas, philosophy and professional trajectory. At VK:a architecture, we approach every project by asking questions. Guided by these questions, the projects attempt to demonstrate various paths to arrive at an answer – sometimes, more questions. Unbuilt.01 is the first of its series, published on the occasion of the 50^th year of foundation of VK:a, containing some of these design queries and unrealized concepts.

The book features forewords written by Michael W. Bischoff, Partner at Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, New York and Ar. David Rhodes, Managing Partner at Rhodes Architects LLP, UK. Working with VK:u over the past two years, Michael makes a case for the unbuilt with the fact that "an idea that fails to be realized within one context has the potential to reemerge elsewhere in a new form". With years of collaborative work between VK:a and Ar. David Rhodes, some of which are exhibited in the book as well, he comments that "this collection of ideas and thoughts offer insight into what is possible when minds and circumstances converge."

Though unbuilt, none of the projects are hypothetical – they were all designed based on given requirements of the client or competition for a specific site and function. And so the cover features a triangular grid – the most stable form –set against a clean white background, a blank canvas of potential that these projects offer. As David aptly put it, "the ideas within it await a suitable client, brief and circumstances to move them forward."

The book ends on a special note, with a Manogat of Ar. Vishwas Kulkarni, the founder. "Though unbuilt, the designing of each one has given me a lot of pleasure", he says. He stresses on the importance of the unbuilt as "they represent an architect's or designer's philosophies and ideas more than their built structures." Unbuilt.01 is the tangible manifestation of the energy and excitement that went into exploring these unrealised concepts.

Unbuilt.01 is an enlightening compilation for architects, designers, students and enthusiasts seeking inspiration, insights into the creative process, and a deeper understanding of the architectural discourse. The inclusion of forewords by industry professionals and the founder's personal reflections adds further value to the book's content, highlighting the potential of unbuilt ideas and their impact on the field. Unbuilt.01 is a tangible manifestation of the energy and excitement invested into exploring these unrealised concepts, making it a valuable resource for the architectural community.

Go through the book at the VK:a office library

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Order your copy now!

From the Editor's Desk

A Case for the Unbuilt India

Publications on Unbuilt Architecture in India

A quick Google search for “unbuilt architecture” turned up a variety of results – all, except the recent publications by ArchitectureLive!, from the West. The Western architectural world places considerable importance on unbuilt projects, recognizing their potential to spark new trends and influence the built environment. The multitudes of articles talk about architects’ fascination with unbuilt. It’s not that architects in India haven’t been, or that we didn’t have worthy unbuilt projects (the never-ending submissions to Unbuilt Ideas are proof of that). We were just so busy building that we barely concentrated on the unbuilt, I guess. But it is encouraging to see the tides turning.

Notable publications like "India: Unbuilt" and the February 2023 issue of JIIA dedicated to the theme, highlight the growing interest in sharing and celebrating unbuilt projects. This evolving trend signifies a departure from the sole emphasis on construction, allowing architects to explore uncharted territories and unleash their creativity in conceptual designs.

India boasts a vibrant architectural community with architects envisioning groundbreaking ideas that often remain hidden from the public eye. By emphasizing the value of sharing unbuilt designs, India can foster a culture of innovation, inspire future generations and encourage architects to push boundaries in their creative pursuits.

With Unbuilt.01, VK:a has become a torch bearer in publishing unbuilt projects by an architectural firm. I hope that others will take this as a cue for more such publications.

"The study of unbuilt could edge Indian society toward exploring a building vision filled with new possibilities...Together, built and unbuilt could help us understand the environment that encourages and hinders development in the built realm." - Natasha Iype, Imagining the Unbuilt (Essay in Unbuilt 2.0)

A Repository of Unbuilt Ideas

Inspiration for the Month

A Call to Keep Unbuilding

Throughout history, architects have put to paper, ideas that were sometimes unintentionally unbuilt. But some others were never intended to be built, atleast not during their lifetime, as they were too ambitious for the economy and technology available then. Yet they have often served as catalysts for later projects, inspiring generations of architects to push the boundaries of design and construction.

Burj Khalifa completed in Dubai in 2009, bears a striking resemblance to Frank Lloyd Wright's "The Illinois," designed in 1956, which envisioned a mile-high skyscraper.

In the mid-20th century, Buckminster Fuller proposed the "Dome Over Manhattan," an ambitious plan to enclose Manhattan Island in a climate-controlled dome. Although the project never progressed beyond the concept stage, it laid the groundwork for the sustainable architecture movement. The dome's underlying principles of energy efficiency, climate control, and resource conservation have since influenced contemporary designs like eco-friendly buildings, green roofs, and sustainable urban planning.

Le Corbusier's "Ville Radieuse," a visionary urban plan conceived in the 1920s, aimed to revolutionize city living by creating self-contained, high-rise communities. While the complete realization of his concept remaines elusive, its ideas continue to inspire modern urban planning and the development of compact, livable cities. Le Corbusier's concept emphasized the integration of green spaces, efficient transportation systems, and pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, which have become central themes in contemporary urban design.

Étienne-Louis Boullée’s design for the cenotaph for Sir Issac Newton is easily my favourite unbuilt structure, “the most beautiful and perfect sphere” surrounded by rings of cypress trees. His visionary designs inspire many architects to this day.

Unbuilt architectural ideas possess the power to transcend the limitations of their time. As we build upon the visionary concepts of the yesterdays, let's leave more utopian ideas, to shape the cities and structures of tomorrow.

Some more Unbuilt works of famous architects

Material In Focus

Waste to Pavers

Delhi-based startup Shayna EcoUnified India Pvt Ltd used 340 tons of plastic waste to make 11 lakh colourful paver tiles until now. Founded by Paras Saluja and Sandeep Nagpal, the production unit is based in Ghaziabad, UP. They are produced in tie-up with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) in Vietnam. 1kg of plastic waste makes 1sq.ft of tile, which comprises 4 plastic paver tiles. The tiles are anti-static, anti-microbial and anti-bacterial.

Know More

Book Recommendation

India: Unbuilt Architecture

The book features 54 inspiring unbuilt architecture ideas by Indian architects, and nine intriguing essays on the theme contributed by professionals and academicians. Prem Chandavarkar's Foreword for the book stresses upon the reasons why one should examine the unbuilt. Suprio Bhattacharjee in his introduction for the book makes an attempt to establish the concept of Anti-Practice. The book also pays tribute to two of the most celebrated modernist Indian architects - Achyut P. Kanvinde and Anant D. Raje and features some of their unbuilt works.

Breathe: Travelogue Series

Lost In The Beauty Of Kashmir

Azar Indikar shares the experience of his recent journey to Kashmir:

Me with my family visited Kashmir in the month of April 23’. We visited many fabulous places there like the Dal lake, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, Pahalgam, Hazratbal, Tulip Gardens, Mughal gardens etc. Some highlights:

Visit to Gulmarg, Kashmir

Gulmarg is known for its picturesque beauty, snow-capped mountains, and wide range of adventure activities. The journey to Gulmarg was as beautiful as the place itself, with the picturesque landscapes and the stunning views of the mountains. The town is surrounded by lush green forests and is home to some of the most amazing species of flora and fauna. The beauty of the Himalyas we experienced through the cable car ride to the top to Kungdoor region was mesmerizing. Gulmarg is indeed a paradise for nature lovers.

Visit to Jamia Mosque, Srinagar

During our visit to Kashmir, we visited this beautiful Mosque in the heart of the city of Srinagar. It was built by Sultan Sikandar in 1394 AD. This mosque is influenced by Persian architecture and Buddhist pagodas. We enter through recessed porticos which opens up in a large courtyard with ablution tank in the centre. The landscape of this courtyard has been designed as per Char bagh concept of Mughal gardens. The structure surrounding this courtyard was made up of brick pointed arches. The structure is quadrangular in shape with four turrets, which are covered in pyramidal roofs. All these turrets were interconnected by prayer halls. The structure was surrounded by pedestrian street which opened up in shopping arched which gave the whole complex an old city feel which somewhat has similar to Jama Masjid, Delhi. The overall experience of visiting this mosque was serene and beautiful.