New Modularity
Course Mentors: Malak Singh Gill, Shrikar Bhave, Sabaa Giradkar
Semester 4 technology module addresses the question of modularity in architecture. Modularity today, is understood today only through the lens of an industrially manufactured assembly system,
where every component is expected to fit together with a highest degree of precision only. Instead,
this technology module wants to explore a more communitarian, artisanal, exploratory, temporal and at times playful dimension of the idea of modularity. Predominantly in the history of Asian
architecture, one can find modularity and temporality as central to almost all forms and scales of
architecture. For instance, one can think of the Katsura Imperial Villa in Japan, Fatehpur Sikri and Padmanabhapuram palace in India, Kasthamandap temple in Nepal or the prefab houses near
Padma, Meghna and Jamura rivers in Bangladesh.
In the space of social events, modular and temporal aspects of the built-form are central and operative -from calamities and disasters to festivals. Every kind of event brings with it certain architectural imperatives and this studio is focused on addressing the wide range of possible responses to these imperatives. To the imperatives of the events there are also imperatives of the site and management of resources like water that architecture needs to offer spatial ideas for. Even though modularity is the technical focus of the studio the objective of the studio is to think about the possible emergence of architectural forms that are more than the sum of all parts.
In the space of social events, modular and temporal aspects of the built-form are central and operative -from calamities and disasters to festivals. Every kind of event brings with it certain architectural imperatives and this studio is focused on addressing the wide range of possible responses to these imperatives. To the imperatives of the events there are also imperatives of the site and management of resources like water that architecture needs to offer spatial ideas for. Even though modularity is the technical focus of the studio the objective of the studio is to think about the possible emergence of architectural forms that are more than the sum of all parts.
The studio will explore the community food facility and an ancillary multipurpose event space (festivals, community centre, disaster relief, healthcare camps and so on) where the question of
modularity is central and operative. The site chosen for this intervention is around one of the
informal settlements called Eksar Dongripada, Borivali West located in Northern suburbs in the city of Mumbai
Materiality and system details will be the central force to guide the design. Managing water
requirements within the built form will equally be necessary while responding to the water condition
in terrain context.
NOTE: In addition, the designs will cater in detail to either or all of the following water management system on site; water use optimization, rain water harvesting, water storage (UG and OHT), water recycling, water treatment.
NOTE: In addition, the designs will cater in detail to either or all of the following water management system on site; water use optimization, rain water harvesting, water storage (UG and OHT), water recycling, water treatment.