Here's our pick of the sessions, talks and shows to catch at The State of Architecture, an exhibition that opens tomorrow
An interior shot of the Parliament Library designed by Raj Rewal
Did you know that the Hall of Nations at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, was the first of its kind to be built using reinforced concrete?
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Designed by architect Raj Rewal with structural design by Mahendra Raj, the building, according to its makers, was conceived of in terms of the traditional ‘jali’, a geometrical pattern of perforation that serves to obstruct directs rays of the Sun while permitting air circulation. And that’s just one of the magnificent structures that will be discussed as part of The State of Architecture — Practices and Processes in India, a three-month-long exhibition focussed at generating dialogue around Indian architecture.
An interior shot of the iconic Hall of Nations, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Pic Courtesy/ Stateof Architecture.in
While conferences and discussions will be the key focus, The State of Architecture, which is spread over a period of five months, has lots to offer in the form of exhibitions, film screenings and talks. the guide has handpicked a list of what to expect at the exhibition that opens on January 6.
An interior shot of the Parliament Library designed by Raj Rewal. Pic Courtesy/ParliamentLibrary
Exhibitions
>> January 7 to 15, 10 am to 6 pm, The Army and Navy Building Lobby, Fort: Deco on the Oval: Celebrating Bombay’s most loved art deco buildings built around Oval Maidan.
>> January 8 to 16, 11 am to 7 pm, Artisans’, Kala Ghoda: Mumbai North — contemporary aerial photographs of Mumbai’s suburbs
Spread over five months, the exhibition aims to generate dialogue around Indian architecture. Pic Courtesy/Stateofarchitecture.in
>> February 4 to 20, Sir JJ College of Architecture, Fort: Pedagogical practices in architecture at the Bombay school of art (along with a lecture by Mustansir Dalvi)
>> February 16 to March 11, 10 am to 6 pm, The Army and Navy Building Lobby, Fort: A special exhibition focussing on India’s first modern building, Golconde in Pondicherry.
>> March 15 to April 9, Max Mueller Bhavan, Kala Ghoda: Charles Correa, Unbuilt works
>> April 14 to May 6, Max Mueller Bhavan, Kala Ghoda: Indian landscape design, tracing narrative
A still of In Which Annie Gives It To Those Ones. Arundhati Roy won a National Award for writing this film
Screenings
>> January 29: Doshi — Architecture Without Adjectives
>> February 24: In Which Annie Gives It Those Ones
>> March 9: Resonance, Raj Rewal and tradition
>> March 16: The Climactic Session — Raj Rewal, Mahendra Raj and Charles Correa
NOTE: All films will be screened at National Gallery of Modern Art, 12 noon and 4 pm
Tours
>> The event will also have a guided tour with curators at 6 pm on January 7 (prior registration compulsory). It will be followed by two guided student tours organised every month and starting at NGMA.
So far, the dates are: January 23 and 30, February 20 and 27, and March 12 and 19. Registration process yet to be announced.
Log on: www.stateofarchitecture.in
Empress Court building opposite Oval Maidan is a typical example of Art Deco architecture. Pic/ Shadab Khan
Lectures & discussions
>> Jan 15, 16, 17 and 19, 6 pm, National Gallery of Modern Art, Kala Ghoda: Celebrating Charles Correa, work, legacy and contribution. Spread over three days, it will have lectures, screenings and discussions on Correa’s works exploring themes such as buildings as ideas, cultural projects and public architecture, housing and urbanisation.
>> February 26, 6 pm, NGMA: Vandini Mehta and Rohit Raj Mehndiratta discuss some of the most prolific works of Mahendra Raj in the book,
The Structure: Works of Mahendra Raj.
Late Indian architect Charles Correa. Pic/AFP
>> February 11, 6 pm, Max Mueller Bhavan, Kala Ghoda: A panel discussion on the book, India — Modern Architectures In History by Peter Scriver and Amit Srivastava.
Also read: Charles Correa (1930-2015) - Correa-graphy in Brick 'n' Mortar
>> You can also catch lectures by Ram Rahman, Bimal Patel, Sen Kapadia, Brinda Somaya, Christopher Charles Benninger, Raj Rewal and Himanshu Parikh, spread over a period of three months (check official website for date, venue).
>> The event will also host two conferences — The State of the Profession on January 12, 13 and 14 at NGMA, and Windows & Mirrors — Looking at New Architecture in South Asia on March 18, 19 and 20 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya.
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