Typology of Mughal Havelis

The 200-225 years old wonderful Havelis used to be the exquisite complexes empowering the cultural and visual aspects of architecture, the epitome of Mughal Architecture. These played a major role in active development in activity which could be segmented into basic terminology like Mardana, Baithak, Zenana, Jeena, etc.

It is a heart-breaking site to see the dilapidated conditions of these Havelis and a seemingly lost history only ingrained in the minds of few. But architectural imagination helps fill in the spaces and create an image out of understanding and experience. At those days Jama Masjid was visible from the roof of the Havelis, the plinth was raised to a height suitable for travelers on horsebacks interact with the retailers etc.

Type 2

Type 1

The haveli that I got an opportunity to visit was made out of wood as the structural material, red sandstone, pots (matka), and lime concrete. It was a type 2 haveli and luckily I got an opportunity to see it for the last time before its destruction.

Top view of Mardana 

Jama Masjid was visible from the roof of the havelis

Wooden beam construction

Hearth in the room connected to Zenana

The materials used for the slab

Lockers in those times

The Architectural Imagination [Part-3]

How the beginnings of architecture could influence and help conceptualize architecture practices in the present?

Gottfried Semper

Architect and historian Gottfried Semper's primary interest was to study the very beginnings of architecture.

To study those beginning he visited the great exhibition of 1851, in London, housed in the Crystal Palace.

There he saw a full-scale replica of a primitive hut from the Carribean Islands.

Elevation of the hut

Plan of the hut

The empirical fact of this primordial shelter exhibited the most advanced building of that time and it sort of prompted Semper to turn to a kind of materialist but also an anthropological model of architecture's beginnings, and a kind of model of how architecture could move from those beginnings to the present.

The four elements of a building that he devised were-

1. Fire (Ceramics,Metal)- It is a social and cultural equipment that provides both a formal centering device, but also the warmth. The protection that the group can gather around and form itself. Form like a bowl, a pot or a hearth is required to contain the fire. 
2. Base/Stereotomy (Masonry)- To hold this material a base is required. It has an inherent weight, a kind of inherent attachment to the Earth which bears on the Earth with compressive forces. 
3. Tectonics (Carpentry)- It a system composed of walls and the roof considered as an elastic frame. These elements have tensile strength connected by a knot or by tying the elements together.
4. Enclosure (Weaving)- Cloth, tapestry or some sort of woven material varying in thickness to accomplish different needs.

Frisky Fridays [Dynamic Tower]

Rotating Skyscraper

Proposed Rotating Skyscraper

Another skyscraper project in Dubai (city of future) is trying to break the records by being the

#1 Rotating Skyscraper in the world 
#1 Pre-Fabricated Skyscraper

Ar. David Fischer

Architect David Fischer Proposed an idea for this sustainable tower in 2008, however it never became a reality because of many hindrances. The project kick-starts in 2017 and is predicted to be completed by 2020.

Dynamic Architecture is the firm responsible for designing this project.

Site area- 27.5 acres

Accomodation floor

Villa floor

What are the aspects-

• This building is projected to reach 80 floors reaching a height of 420 meters. These floors will be further divided into retail space, hotels, accommodation, and luxury villa.
• The floors will turn independently using voice recognition.
• The installation of photo-voltaic cells and wind turbines will provide power. Production of the energy will be more than enough. (German technology)
• The parts are pre-fabricated being put together in a factory in Southern Italy.

Section

According to the architect, it will be "the first building designed in four dimensions"

(click here to see the 3 minute documentary by discovery science)

Heritage Walk the Talk [Part-3]

Jama Masjid

Sketch of Jama Masjid

Architecture and Ideology-

Site pl

• Jama means "Jumma" which is Friday, a day when each and every person in that area has to visit this place to fullfill religious needs, community development and awareness, etc.

• The Muslim community in this area is involved behind the glory and functioning of this glorious Mosque. You can see art like Patang-bazi, Shayari, Pigeon-rush, etc. still being practiced in this area.

• The structure is constructed on one of the two natural contours, Bhujalal Pahadi present in the area. There were three gates towards North, South and East side to enter the Masjid. The flight is made out of stone slabs. 

Some Interesting facts-

• Jama Masjid was an Army hospital in 1800's, because Britishers thought why not. 

• Akbarabadi Mosque which is said to be a very beautiful mosque (not anymore) was constructed nearby. (click here to read about this conflict about some findings of the mosque remains)

• East Gate (Khas Gate) is biggest wrt other two gates and is facing the Red Fort. North Gate is facing the Hindu community. South Gate is facing the Muslim community.

• During the festival of Id this place goes crazy like Acropolis of Greece. 

• Metcalf's daughter- distinguishing slippers.

East Gate

Jama Masjid

North Gate

Wuzu Tank

Wuzu Tank and a turret where
Azam can call for prayers

Group photograph in front of Mehrab

Heritage Walk the Talk [Part-2]

TellTale to Jama Masjid

Netajee Building might be a palace owned by a
the big personality of that time

The fascinating urban organization
 of this Chowk at the activities carried
on here is explainable by architecture

Chawri Bazar was known as Jannat-e-Shahjahanabad before the advent of Marathas who named this place as Chawri (Marathi) meaning meeting, congregation or sabha in honor to Mahadji Shinde (Maratha Ruler)


Our journey started at the Chowk Hauz-Qazi

Hauz (Parsi) means "Water Tank"
Qazi (Arabic) means "Judge/ Important religious dignitary"

(Click here for the location on Google Maps)


This whole stretch of Chawri Bazar Road was filled with an environment of "Dance and Music"

Division of streets at the time of Mughal Empire

Societal transformation
(A barber in Mughal era v/s now)

• The stretches of street in Shahjahanabad have gone through a lot of transformation. De-layering which is a cumbersome task in itself but in this trip visiting the heritage of nautch (dancing) girls was the main objective.
• Don't confuse this area as a red light area (where prostitution is practiced) because their focus was towards the art of entertainment. People residing here were in love and respect for the art of dancing in specific. Even the children of the ruler were sent to Tavaiff's to learn manners and aesthetics of a noble person. 
• Mujra was meant to be most sensuous, and beautiful dance form of that time. It was performed by girls at that time to showcase their talent towards the art of dance and made her eligible for some noblemen auction where one would become her patron for her entire life.

Three categories of girls/women in this area divided according to the ways they earned their livelihood-

1. Tavaiff- Highly respected patrons of dance styles, usually were behind a generation of new styles.
2. Rakasa- Honorable dancers who usually practiced the art of mannerism and dance. 
3. Randi- Less respected girls who were meant to be of a lower grade and used to practice prostitution.

Now there are perceptions to look towards this scenario one is filthy/corrupted with words like mistresses, sexism going on but the actual scene was totally different than today's approach towards respect and logic. 

Conventional Building in Chawri Bazar

The construction using steel sections

There were shops on the ground floor,
balconies on first floor and roof

Kind of British Facade

Kind of Mughal Facade

The view from the courtyard

The visible layer of the facade was mostly British but I'll try to de-layer it to explain the concept behind it.

Layers

1. Mughal Layer of the place with the essence of art flowing in the air.
2. British Layer of the place where they brought marketing (commercializing) forcing the current trends to shift into smaller scales and levels. This was the first wholesale market which later on became a hardware market.
3. Formation of the dancing community to prostitution making it into a red light area.

British layer 

• They extended the height of the structure by adding a floor. 
• They added wooden fascias or louvers on the above part of the extended balconies. 
• The columns constructed were hybrid with Mughal aspects (lotus base), and Greek/Roman aspects (corinthian capital and shaft)
• They added a Gothic element (Rose window), French/European element (curled steel jaali), British element (fanlight and panels), and Mughal element (cusped arches).

Ahmadabad a college trip [Part- 3]

Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya

Entire Ashram site plan

Site plan for Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya

• Site Location and hierarchy- Sabarmati Ashram is located along the west bank of the Sabarmati River on the Ashram Road. (click here to view it on Google Maps)

• Client- Sabarmati Ashram Trust which was established in 1951

• Architect- Charles Correa

• Site Analysis- First Ashram was established in Kochrab area in 1915. It was shifted to this 36 acres site near river Sabarmati adjacent to British prison and a graveyard. WHY??. The Museum is covering an area of 0.55 acres.

• Building Type- Culture and Entertainment [Memorial Museum]

• Ideology- To preserve the essence of life which Mahatma Gandhi carried (religious community life reflecting the simplicity of a village life having prayer as the main source of strength) and preserving his teachings.

Section showing the
grids of Modularity

• Concept- Historic Home of Gandhi which acts as a memorial, centre for Gandhian scholars.

• Structural System- Square units of 6 m span has 0.92 m load bearing brick columns that support RCC channels (beams and rainfall conduits) which further supports wooden roof making it flexible for future additions because of its Modularity. The wall widths were varying from 0.3 m to 0.45 m. The foundation is of concrete and is raised about a foot from the ground.

Site Section and Elevation for
Gandhi Smarak Sangrahalaya

• Facade- A pattern of tiled roof, in a typology analogous to a village. There was no use of glass but wooden louvers as the medium of light and air to flow in the structure. The interiors had a different approach to transparency. Stone flooring, wooden doors and brick walls were used in the interiors.

Facade at the entrance embracing the Three Monkeys

View of the shallow pool and the inside facade embracing
 the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi out of Silver film.

Wooden Roof

RCC Channels

Seats between the columns

Use of wide columns as display area

Showing the connection of brick column
with beam and stone floor

An organisation of Gandhi's work this best was dazzling to my eye's. The column's bore statements and some memorable pictures of the legend. Here are some of the quotes that I found extremely useful.

To be continued about the Entire Ashram in the future posts*