Nov '23: Cities in Transformation - A History of Building Better Communities

A VK Group monthly newsletter

- November 2023 -

Monthly Highlights

Celebrating Victories by VK:a

We are delighted to announce the outstanding achievements from VK:a in recent architectural competitions.

Team Yesaji's design proposal for the Vastad Lahuji Salve Memorial won the competition organized by the Pune Municipal Council (PMC). Their innovative approach not only captures the essence of the social reformer, activist, and freedom fighter but also stands as a testament to VK:a's commitment to meaningful and impactful design.

Team Kanhoji in consortium, has won the the project for providing Comprehensive Architectural services and Project Management Consultancy (PMC) for the establishment of a Government Medical College in Sindhudurg. This project signifies a major milestone in our journey, demonstrating our ability to take on and excel in challenging architectural ventures.

Team Laxmibai secured the second place in the Idea Competition For Integrated Development Plan by the Govt. of Maharashtra Public Works Department. Our project, the "Pillar of Spiritual Enlightenment," redefines the Jotiba (Wadi Ratnagiri) Hill pilgrimage site, focusing on enhancing accessibility for pilgrims while improving resilience of the site.

14 VK:e Projects Recognised at the CII-IGBC GBC 2023

VK:e continues their green championship journey with 14 projects awarded at the CII - Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) Green Building Congress 2023 held at Chennai between 23rd and 25th November. Congrats to the entire VK:e team! It’s great to see such a significant number of projects being recognized for their environmental excellence, especially those contributing towards Pune's greener future.

Amol Umbarje Awarded Certificate of Commitment

Amol Umbarje, Sr. Coordinator at Sustainability Initiatives, was honored with the Certificate of Commitment on behalf of the World Book of Records, an organization working globally for the social work done during the Covid and post-Covid period through the Maha NGO Federation and Sustainability Initiatives. The award was given by the Vice President of World Book of Records Mr. Mehboob Sayyed, in the presence of Mr. Shekhar Mundada, Chairman of Maharashtra Goseva Commission.

Diwali Celebrations at VK

VK employees illuminated Deeputsav with joy, celebrating Diwali in a spirit of togetherness. Amidst vibrant decorations and traditional festivities, the team came together to share joy, laughter, and the warmth of the festival.

From the Editor's Desk

Pimpri-Chinchwad - Trailblazing Cities in transformation

Adding on to the reasons why Punekars are proud of their city is the recent nomination of Pimpri-Chinchwad for the prestigious Guangzhou International Award for Urban Innovation 2023. Being the only Indian city among the 15 shortlisted cities from around the world, it showcases India's capabilities in urban innovation and sustainable development on an international platform. The Navi Disha community toilet model initiative placed Pimpri-Chinchwad the best practices (currently ranking second).

Central to Pimpri-Chinchwad's success is its commitment to sustainability. The integration of green spaces, coupled with eco-friendly infrastructure and efficient waste management, not only enhances the city's visual appeal but also positions it as a pioneer in environmentally conscious urban living. The city actively fosters inclusivity, community engagement, and cultural expression, creating an urban environment where residents actively participate in shaping their community.

Since 2012, the Guangzhou Award has emerged as a global platform for fostering knowledge creation and facilitating city-to-city learning in urban innovation. Winning it can significantly impact a city's development by providing global recognition, financial support, networking opportunities, and increased visibility. Some other cities selected include Antalya (Türkiye), Bogotá (Colombia), Cape Town (South Africa), Kazan (Russia), Mannheim (Germany), São Paulo (Brazil), and Xianning (China).

You can show your support for your favourite city by voting on their website (last date is Nov 30th!):

Help Pimpri Chinchwad win!

VK Group Breaking Grounds

Two Decades of Building Better Communities in Pimpri-Chinchwad

Pimpri-Chinchwad's transformation from an industrial hub to a thriving residential urban space began in the late 20th century. Since then, VK:a's architectural designs have been shaping the urban landscape and contributing to elevated quality of life for residents in the Pimpri-Chinchwad region, with comfort, convenience and modern amenities.

At MHADA's housing scheme in Pimpre Waghire, done more than a decade ago, innovative approach to affordable housing ensures variety and avoids the monotony often associated with affordable housing developments. Through flipping, rotating, and tilting the units, the design team maximised the number of units within the given area while maintaining a dynamic and engaging architectural form. The stepped form of the buildings allowed for the inclusion of open terraces for each apartment, which serves as multi-functional spaces for families to utilise and enjoy.

VK:a's SuCasa, Wakad, ingeniously overcame the challenge of an odd plot shape by curving two rows of buildings, creating a central open space with smaller pockets on the sides. The central open space has been transformed into an interactive community hub with residents coming together to celebrate festivals and events.

Kalpataru is a sustainable haven with environmental measures, including the use of fly ash bricks, local material procurement, recycling practices, solar water heating systems, and a sewage treatment plant, showcase a commitment to sustainable living. Thoughtful landscape design transitions from rooftop gardens to parking levels, emphasizing the connection between architecture and the environment.

Kohinoor World Towers (KWT) represents a one-of-a-kind commercial property with boutique office and shop spaces, designed to meet the requirements of modern businesses. Located in an active and well-connected neighborhood, these office buildings offer flexible and luxurious workspaces with integrated gardens and open spaces, creating breathing zones and interactive areas for employees.

Each project reflects a commitment to creating spaces that not only meet the functional needs of the community but also contribute to a vibrant and connected urban environment.

Inspiration for the Month

Simplifying AI Image Generation

If you've ever been curious about exploring AI-generated images but (like me) felt intimidated by big names like DALL-E and Midjourney, the recently introduced AI image (and video) generation feature in Canva, offers a free and user-friendly alternative.

The images on the top-right are created using a simple prompt “celebration of Diwali in an Indian city”. The more detailed you explain your scene, the more specific an image will be created (colour tones, style of drawing, characters etc). The short video below is created the prompt “celebration of Diwali in an Indian city with a child playing with crackers as the main subject”.

For those eager to try more, playgroundai.com is another free-to-use platform for AI image generation. Happy exploring!

Product In Focus

EV charging and SOLAR PV Solutions by Northen Light Energy

ZIZI is a fully integrated EV Charging Infrastructure Company, offering robust EV charging solutions, including EV chargers (Made in India), a network grid for convenient location finding, operations, and billing management, and the provision of green renewable energy to power stations. The EV count in India is expected to grow to 5 crore by 2030. An EV Charging station has already been installed in Kohinoor World Towers, reflecting VK's commitment to designing for the future of sustainable and accessible electric mobility.

Know More

Podcast Recommendation

Let’s Talk Architecture by Danish Architecture Center

Author and journalist, Michael Booth, is not an architect, but he is curious about cities, and how they are built. In this podcast he ventures out into the city with architects, planners, and urban developers, while he asks them about the agendas, that shapes their projects and our built environment. They talk about everything from the aesthetics of the climate change, modernist masterpieces, extensive retail planning, rethinking of materials, sensuous architecture, transformation of existing buildings, the shaping of new architects, and much much more.

Start Listening