The Winners!
POINT IN ARCHITECTURE
First Prize Winners
Shruti Madhukar Teli
India
I am shruti Madhukar teli. I am doing 4th year of architecture from V.P.P.M.P.C.O.A. I was born and brought up in Mumbai, India. Other than architecture, I like to write, read and document my experience in visual format. My aim is to become a successful architect and country planner.
What is your design philosophy?
Architecture is an art where we get to treat the whole world as one canvas. So, other than deconstructing and making it man made, our design is supposed to be appreciating what is already existing on the earth. Relatability is another point. As I have even mentioned in the writing, human experience is crucial. Design is supposed to be revolving around it, adding to the experience and not suppress it under concrete. Not only user should communicate with the design but the design should also communicate with the user, back. There should a two- way communication happening.
Can you briefly explain your understanding of the topic and the source of ideas?
Initially, my understanding for point in architecture was finding the one converging point. I was thinking in a more geometrical aspect. But then, that is my point and it is not important for everyone to have the same point. I thought of taking a broader image and let reader choose their point in architecture. So, other than going for one point I went for connecting dots with different elements like water, sky, height of a building, etc with the support of an experience converging to the principal point. Now that you have one principal point i.e., relatability, it’s on user to choose what to take from the writing. So, it can interpreted and it will portray different story to every reader based on their point in architecture. My source of ideas was solely dependent on my experience and my perspective about architecture.
When and how you were first introduced to architecture?
I believe architecture was always around me. From the calm I got sitting on the cold granite window niche for reading in the evening to running on the wooden staircase of the house in my village to reach the terrace and see fireflies around. But I learnt to appreciate it as I unfolded more and more about the elements, architect’s philosophies and details about it. I think Rajasthan and Laurie baker book truly introduced me to the architecture and gave me perspective. Otherwise, I think I am still unfolding architecture everyday introducing me to the different sides of it.
What does architecture mean to you?
Architecture for me is an opportunity for change. You get to implement you imagination into reality. Its an art that allows me to let people see through my perspective and experience it for years with the fact that it is going to have an immense influence. Through architecture, I am not just learning about the earth through climate, topography but also human psychology. As I have mentioned in my essay, architecture let you design the world with the limitless colours like wind, water, light, shadow, etc and that’s what makes us different than other artists.
Second Prize Winners
Swapnil Biswas
India
I am a fourth year B.Arch student from School of planning and architecture, New Delhi. Also an illustrator, graphic designer and a curious photographer.
As per my understanding of architecture over these years, I believe that the art of designing spaces has a purpose to narrate a story. These stories then tend to stitch together to form a muse. I empathize to give priorities to various mediums and concepts through my works, which in turn forms a backbone for the muse.
What is your design philosophy?
I remember growing up at some outskirts of Kolkata during my early childhood, and my grandma narrating stories to me and my cousins every evening. I often found myself being at one with these stories of intangibility. I have travelled cities, and through my journey, I have seen stories amongst the busy lane and quite chawks. It is here, where I draw my inspirations from.
Irrespective of the concept, I believe that the art of designing spaces has a purpose to narrate a story.
Can you briefly explain your understanding of the topic and the source of ideas?
In my opinion, the motive of the challenge was to explore the basic fundamentality of design, namely ‘Pont’.
Rather than focusing on the physical attribution of ‘Point’ in design, my idea was to focus on the intangible nature of the word. Through my art-work, the juxtaposed idea of physical reality and digital realism finds to coexist in harmony.
When and how were you first introduced to architecture?
I was introduced to architecture pretty late, during my early 18’s. I always had an interesting relationship with art, photography, philosophy and science throughout my school life. It was just after finishing my school that I came into the field of architecture, and while exploring this field, the subject of interests seemed to harmonize incredibly.
What does architecture mean to you?
In my opinion, architecture is a concept that emerges from the vernacular realities of a place, point and time; to coincide harmoniously with the user group and their interaction with the society.
Third Prize Winners
Madhulika Pandraj
India
Madhulika Pandraj
Special mention
Honorable mention
Dana Ibrahim
Khyati Solanki
Ruiqi Xu & Runze Tian
Dana Ibrahim
Khyati Solanki
Ruiqi Xu & Runze Tian
