20 milestone facades in the architestory of...
TRANSCRIPT
20 MILESTONE FACADES IN THE ARCHITESTORY OF
OUR CITY Pecha Kucha By - Ar. YESHWANT RAMAMURTHY, FIIA, FIIID
STUDIO ONE , HYDERABAD
Since brevity is the soul of this evening, let me quickly tell you about my
presentation. This is not about my work. It’s about documenting the
evolution of design in our city. And as I see it, facades tell this tale. You
will see 20 images through which I hope to telescope 400 years of history
into 400 seconds. At the end, we will ask ourselves the eternally
unresolved question. Do people determine their architecture or does
architecture mould us?
1
NAWAB BABAR ALI KHAN’S HAVELI-SAIDABAD
GANGA- JAMUNI TEHZEEB
Dotting the old city are these quintessentially Hyderabadi homes of the erstwhile gentility. They are dignified and
serene. Diverse architectural elements come together to create harmony.
KHILWAT - CHOWMAHALLA PALACE, 1750 AD
2 SERENE SOVEREIGNITY
Rich in intricate stucco workmanship, Chowmahalla is the finite perfection of the Deccani Style with symmetry
balancing its grandeur of scale.
3
ZENANA MAHAL -PURANI HAVELI , 1815 AD
SCALED PERFECTION
Recently restored, this annex of Purani Haveli once housed 6 Begums and their retinues around a
central courtyard. The building is scaled for the feminine lifestyle needs for which it was created.
ST JOHN'S CHURCH SECUNDERABAD , 1813 AD
4 COLONIAL GARRISON ARCHITECTURE
Across Hussain Sagar, Secunderabad became home to British inspired garrison building including this
Church which use classical order features more as construction techniques rather than decoration.
5
BUNGLOW SECUNDERABAD , 1880 AD
BRITISH CANTONMENT ARCHITECTURE
Large Colonial bungalow like this one displays the tedium of predictable regimentation. However, these buildings responded
excellently to local climatic conditions for their affluent owners.
HYDERABAD PUBLIC SCHOOL – BEGUMPET, 1920 AD
6 OSMANIAN SELF ESTEEM
English Architect Vincent Esch crafts the new “Osmanian” style by combining the formalism of British institutional
design with his own refinement of the Deccani idiom. The message is one of discipline and dignity
BHARATH REDDY RESIDENCE – BASHEERBAGH, 1950AD
7 TELANGANA ZAMINDARI AFFLUENCE
Laid out in the early 50”s, Basheerbagh, Narayanaguda, Hyderguda, Himayatnagar and Barkatpura became home
to Telangana Zamindars who displayed their wealth through the solidness of their homes such as this one.
HMT BUILDING ,
BALANAGAR, 1975 AD
RAIL NILAYAM ,SECUNDERABAD, 1972 AD
8 BUREAUCRATIC LANDMARKS
As the public sector established its presence in
Hyderabad, govt resources were used to create
these imposing structures. Before the boom in
private sector investment such building were the
first tangible change in the scale of the urban
skyline
9 DIS”ORDERED” RAGBAG
OFFICE BUILDING AT BASHEERBAGH, 1980’s
Mansard
roof
Dormer window Triangular
pediment
Stained glass
skylight Corinthian column
Bay window Reflective glazing
Simha dwaram Brass knocker
Aldrop bolt
Backlit acrylic
signage Granite canopy
Texture paint
Neon sign board
……………….. This was the face of our confused architecture of the 80”s.
10 VAASTU CATACLYSM
TEXTILE TREASURE TROVE OR TEMPLE EDIFICE , AMEERPET, 1990’s
With N.T.R’s reawakening of Telugu pride and an influx of energy with coastal Andhra settlers, Vaastu
becomes a priority. Is this a store or a religious Toranam ?. As the bill board says, 50 % off on both.
11 TEACHING SHOP ELEVATION
ADITYA ENCLAVE, AMEERPET , 1990’s Aspirational immigrants flood suburbs like Dilsukhnagar, Kukkatpally and Ameerpet. Every street fronted office
building screams out coaching classes for youth.
12
AMRUTHA MALL ,SOMAJIGUDA ,2000AD
MALL, MAULLING, MUTILATION…
Every inch of the façade of early Malls is taken over by signage. Where is the intended elevation?
13 “STRIPPED” MALL
PATHERGATTI - b,1600 - d,2000 AD Contemporaneous with Charminar, the neechay dukan, upper makaan concept of a traditional shopping
street is today stripped of its glory. Kalooram beats them all by leaping completely out of the past.
Actual
Hardscape
Rendered
landscape
14 LEGO SET CYBERABAD
ICICI
BUILDING,
GACHIBOWLI,
2011 AD
Fast forward to Today. As you can see the
sky garden hasn’t happened.
15 BOUQUETS OR BRICKBATS
WAVEROCK, NANAKRAMGUDA ,2006 AD How many of us in the audience would like to work in this building 8 hrs a day X 365 days a year?
HOTEL AVASA, MADHAPUR, 2012 AD
16 CELEBRATING MODERNISM
An oasis in our insanity. This building returns to design sensitivity and sensibility with style, scale and
maturity.
17
WHISTLING COURT, GACHIBOWLI, 2013 AD
AWARDING DESIGN EXCELLENCE
Contrasting with cookie – cutter apartments in the neighborhood, this design brings nature and
intimate human proportions to group housing.
18
RAVINDRA BHARATHI, 1961 AD
MONUMENTAL MANTA RAY - 2016
What’s the future prediction for our
Architecture ?… FLUIDIC design
guaranteed to give Zaha Hadid a run for
her money.
FALUKNUMA PALACE, 1861 AD
NATIONAL FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT
BOARD, 200r8 AD
19 Divided by the inner ring road are two important buildings. Extensively restored to its
original splendor, Falaknuma preserves our heritage.
Daunting thought that this is tomorrow’s architectural legacy.
Even more frightening . If every building was to proclaim the nature of its business through
façade design, what would KOHLER head quarters look like ?. I leave it to your imagination.
But, back to our question. Do people determine architecture of does architecture mould us ?.