A VK Group monthly newsletter

- October 2022 -

Celebrating Ar. Vishwas Kulkarni's Contributions

Blood Donation Camp

As part of our year-long Golden Jubilee celebrations, VK Group organised a Blood Donation Camp on 23rd September 2022. This noble cause was done in association with Deenanath Mangeshkar Blood Center under Raktdan Amrut Mahotsav, an initiative by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt of India. Though 80-85 people had signed up, 62 were found fit to donate. The drive was completed in 3 hours. 

Capacity Building: Training Programs

The workshop sessions for prime and advanced software programs - Unreal Engine and Twin Motion, and Rhino Grasshopper were conducted since July 2022. The program gave insights about real time experiencing the models, coding the effects, understanding the digital twin expressions and creating interactive models. The workshop also focused on understanding different methods of interactive model methods such as Augmentation and Virtual reality, where an individual can experience the designed elements in real time.

The training programs attended by various employees of VK Group aimed at improving communication between themselves and the management, to  make sure that everyone in the organization has a positive vibe and willingness to do better every day.

Urban Resilience : Township Design and Development in Pune 

During the talk series held by The Loft Form, in association with AESA and IIUDI, Ar. Dwaipayan Chakravarty, Jr.Partner at VK:a architecture, presented on urban resilience in township designs in Pune. He puts forward the idea of masterplanning through the erratic, exponential rate of change in developing countries like India as an intuitive process: one that he smartly calls the fracture-repair process. The years 2005-2010 saw a flurry of Integrated Township Proposals, from 100-900 acres, with most around the 300-400 acres range. With the examples of Magarpatta City, Nanded City, Life Republic Hinjewadi, Mahalunge and Manajari Township projects, he illustrates how urban resilience in the context of Pune is climatic, legislative, real estate and infrastructure related.

Golden Jumpstart: Mentorship Program

Co-living Spaces: The New Age Homes?

With rise in work from home opportunities and companies preferring not to spend on office space, co-working spaces have become a familiar concept. But there is an equally increasing demand for another typology: co-living spaces. How is it different from a hostel? You get your private bedroom and bathroom, sometimes with a pantry or study area! How is it better than an apartment? You also get to enjoy community living with shared living and kitchen space, and other amenities, at a lower cost! The user group comprises mainly of millennials and young adults, although the age spectrum has been steadily widening. The flexibility of occupation, the variety of facilities provided and the sense of community appeal to the moving population.

The rising living costs and less space coupled with falling levels of  homeownership and solitary lifestyle, especially in the metropolitan cities, have facilitated the emergence of such typologies. But wait, the concept does sound familiar, doesn’t it? Boarding houses in the US and joint families in India have been living with a similar ideology for centuries, except that the residents rarely have a choice in that case.

Co-living could also be a resilient solution during a pandemic situation where a way of normalcy can be maintained through interaction with people while having one’s own safe space.  As more and more people start moving away from families and towards shared living spaces, the notions of how the house and its functions are perceived are also changing. While this typology opens up exciting avenues in terms of design and lifestyle, understanding the needs of the mixed population, proxemics in different cultures and conflict resolution are crucial.

Many co-living chains have sprouted in Pune as well - CoLiWo, Zolo,Stanza Living and Housr to name a few. The opportunity to socialize without compromising on privacy is definitely the best of both worlds for an ambivert like me. Would you prefer to live in such a place?

Layering Realities in Architecture

Autoclaved Aerated Lightweight Concrete (AAC) Wall Panels 

The Architecture of Modern India by Christopher Benninger

This newsletter has been edited and compiled by Ar. Athulya Ann Aby, Architectural Copywriter, VK Group

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