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Karan Grover, organiser of Hansgrohe’s Axor Forum, held on March 10, 2010 in Kochi, introduced the speakers and the topic: adding value through design.
I will begin by invoking the divine architect of Indian cosmology – Vishwakarma. The Rig Veda describes the architect of the gods as a being with multi-dimensional vision and supreme strength.
The Mahabharata describes him as: “The Lord of the Arts, executor of a thousand handicrafts, carpenter of the Gods, most eminent of artisans, the fashioner of all ornaments... and a great and immortal God.”
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He has four hands, wears a crown, loads of gold jewellery, and holds a water-pot, a book, a noose, and a craftsman’s tools.
The iconography conveys skills of the greatest architects – respect for water, education, technology. And the noose? Well, in the hands of the gods, it usually implies a gentle implement to capture all difficulties, which would also apply to our profession. Symbols are always open to subjective interpretation.
The work of Jean-Marie, Christopher, Aniket, Pinakin and Tony would, no doubt, meet the standards of divine architecture. They demonstrate an ethic and a response that is sacred, that shows their respect for communities and the environment they transform.
While their principles may be similar, each has a distinctive style and gives new meaning to the terms problem-solving, grace and creativity.
They are, in fact, great examples of the expression positive deviants – pioneers and renegades creating much-needed new pathways for our increasingly complex future with the highest intent and integrity.
They are people who want to change the world for the better, in the biggest and smallest multidimensional ways, and embrace life differently. Their attitudes, practices, strategies and behaviour enable them to function more effectively than others who possess the exact same resources and conditions.
Those who try to imitate them will be limited. Those who take the time to emulate their multifaceted approach will reap much greater benefits.
We have the good fortune to hear each of them speak about their views on value-added design and its contribution to responsible sustainability.
Each of them brings a breadth of experience that covers almost every element and every terrain.
They practise the truth that sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the future, that provides comfort, well-being, security and, above all, responsible land use. Each of them has won numerous awards, been featured in leading journals and works on multiple projects across the globe.
This is an incredible opportunity to view multiple interpretations of perennial issues. What is value? Must it be added, or it is the unveiling of an essence?
Sustainability – can this be a feature that is self-perpetuating without high maintenance? In our efforts to meet certain criteria, do we plan for resource renewal?
Design is a very complex process. The term implies the development of plan for products, structures, systems or components with an intention. I look forward to the discovery of the varied mental connections that offer the answers to ‘What were you thinking’ in the best possible sense, as we view and discuss brilliant design features.
All actions are a response to circumstances. And circumstances are delightfully dynamic.
How do we live the change that is happening around us?
We impact our surroundings and are, in turn, changed by them. In our efforts to be responsible and encourage others to be mindful, we attempt to change behaviour, a very difficult process that must constantly be investigated.
Times change and concepts evolve. Technologies significantly affect the ability to control and adapt to natural environments. The human species’ use of technology began with and continues with the conversion of natural resources into tools.
As technology continues to play a major part in the design and building process, we cannot allow ourselves to be consumed by the benefits of this new-found knowledge.
We must remember that many of the current-day green technologies have been derived from, and influenced by buildings that are centuries old. From these buildings we have learned that simplicity is often the answer over complication, and understanding a system that works is far more important than the manipulation of working systems to suit our individual needs.
These working solutions are not hard to understand or even challenging to incorporate into our current designs. The problem lies simply with the emphasis of how we choose to design, the choices we make and the guidelines we choose to follow. All of these decisions play important roles in the conclusions of our overall design.
Building placement is an idea, but it is also an understanding. The understanding lies in wait to be rediscovered and reinvented, but we must choose to do so. This is where the idea takes over from the understood. Modern thinking coupled with historic reference can challenge our understanding of what we think we know, or once thought we understood.
Many of us strive for perfection, to create buildings that make sense, that fit within the environment we are given to build – but very few of us do so with the artistry of Aniket Bhagwat.
Perhaps it is his understanding of landscape that takes charge of his design process. Or his fearless approach to creating what many others would deem impossible. Whichever way you choose to see his work, one thing remains undeniably apparent, and forcefully true.
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