writer’s haven

-Vishesh Gupta-Department of Architecture and Regional Planning

IIT KharagpurIIT Kharagpur

Supervisor Prof. Haimanti Banerji

AffordableImpulsive ContentsProtected

Organized

Productive

Inspiring

TranquilProject Brief…………………………..……..1

Comfortable

FlexibleAims and objectives………………………..2

Target user group…………………………..3

Ballad of activities………………………….4

Broad space distribution…………………..5

Case study options..………………………..6

Literature review…………………………...7Literature review…………………………...7

Indian scenario……………………………..8

P d Si 9Proposed Site…………………………….....9

Proposed Client…………………………...10

Image Source: What I've Learned About Writing (So Far); rdegges.com

Epilogue………………..…………………..11

Goals, aims, objectivesNurture the art of writing, encourage excellence in author publishing, and strengthen the network of authors/readers communitynetwork of authors/readers community

Facilitate authors with a workspace, residential, reference, learning and publishing assistance

Equip the client/publisher with adequate necessities to publish/publicize for commercial purposeEquip the client/publisher with adequate necessities to publish/publicize for commercial purpose

Allow sufficient level of interaction among interested users and authors for mutual learning

H t ti iti th t ll l lit t th i t ti t h b f thHost activities that call upon several literature enthusiasts, creating a getaway hub for the same

…2

Users

“There’s nothing to writing. g gAll you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed”

-Ernest Hemingway-

Image Source: The Eloquent Madness, http://pensaleas.wordpress.com/ …3

Users

Publish a book within stipulated time period

Complete undertaken writing job

Give a successful guest lecture media coveragestipulated time period

Working space, reference, id k h

writing job

Working space, quiet, t t t f

lecture, media coverage

Discussion rooms, residence, workshops, agent support

connect to nature, reference, occasional residence

,interaction options

Constant Motivation, Publishing assistance

Serene surroundings, Away from hustle

Proper facilities,Student Interactions

…3

Users, Activities

Leave the city, arrive.Haven to write, just right.

Write, sleep, refer and eat.Agent inspires, writer perspires.

“Wh t’ b k b t?”“What’s your book about?”Student speaks out, writer freaks out.

Creative writing workshop.F d lFamous conducts, learner constructs.

First draft completed! Send to edit.Template is laid out, publicity goes out.

Outsource, publish and read.Book fair to hold, books to be sold.

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understanding spacesUSERS ACTIVITIES CAPACITY

APPROXIMATE AREA

Writer space Writers Writing 50 writers 700 sqm

SPACES

p g qDorms/RoomWriters Residential 50 writers 1500 sqm

Writers Occasional discussionsGuests Parties/Intimate gatherings

(Mostly spillover for above)60 people 300 sqm

RecreationWriter's block

(Mostly spillover for above)Literary fests/Book launch

Block A Writers Reference 3500 books 200 sqmBlock B Public Produced work collection 7000 volumes 200 sqm

100 people 450 sqm

Library

Convention hall Public

Shop Public Commercial  300 books 75 sqmOffices Staff Publicity/Outsource followup 10 people 150 sqmEditorial Staff Editing/Proofreading/Changes 5 people 75 sqmDesigners Staff Layout/Cover 5 people 75 sqm

Administrative block

Designers Staff Layout/Cover 5 people 75 sqmWritersOfficialGuestsPublic

5 numbers x 50 l 200

5 numbers x 10 people 45 sqm

Commercial discussion/media interview/brainstormingWriting workshops/Student‐writer discussions

Discussion/ Seminar Rooms

Intimate

One‐to‐manyPublicWritersStaff

Washrooms All 60 sqm

50 people 200 sqm

2 numbers 75 sqmKitchen

Ancillary

writer discussions

Leisure/Café Public 100 people 175 sqm

…5

Case Studies

Writer’s Workspace, ChicagoThe Writer’s room Boston

Thomson press, FaridabadIndira Gandhi center for arts DelhiThe Writer s room, Boston

Moonlighting, GurgaonSanskriti Kendra, Gurgaon

Indira Gandhi center for arts, DelhiIndian habitat center, delhiBritish Council Library, Kolkata

References( in order of appearance):1. sanskritifoundation.org2. printweek.in; bookbinding workshop in Thomson press.3. Jourda‐architects.com; Indira Gandhi School for arts.4. britishcouncil.in …6

Literature Review

E i F l i G l S ki f b k•ErgonomicsoEquipment/hardwareoSeating/ comfortoPostures of writing

•Formal settingoAmbient lightingoSeat arrangementsoSeminar acoustics

•GeneraloOpen office plansoConference roomoLighting required

•Stacking of books•Check-out/Borrow•Display of books

oPostures of writingoFlexibility•Writing environmentoExtent of privacy

oSeminar acoustics•Informal spacesoCirculation/spacesoSize of Gathering

oLighting requiredoOffice ergonomics•Specifico‘Design cell’ layout

•Digital library•Reference frequency•Audio-visual facilityp y

oProximity to greenoLighting•Facilities

goNoise levelsoExtent of privacy•Services/Other

g yoOffice requirementsoEquipments/hardwareoBusiness model

•Reference frequency•Student’s survey

oEquipment/hardwareoInspirationoFonts

oEmergency exitsoAccess optionsoLiterary events

R /S ioRestaurant/Service

Experience Agents Event

…7

survey survey survey

“India is an emerging and expanding publishing market where there is a fast evolving readership that is eager to read new writers, and a number of first-time writers who want to get published” –Udayan Mitra, Penguin Books India1

Penguin India had experienced 500% sales growth in the same year (2007) and the Indian reader market could now y ( )

compete with the entire middle-east.

The upward trend doesn’t only affect the commercial fiction writers but also literary fiction writers, since a lot of people who get inducted into reading via commercial fiction are nowget inducted into reading via commercial fiction are now migrating to the literary fiction.

Publishers say the new-age writers have a huge following, not just in metro cities, but also in smaller towns.

For a growing number of first-generation English learners, young authors find an instant connect with their writing.4

References:1. The Times of India‐ Literary agents gaining ground in India , Atul Sethi | Mar 11, 20132. The Chetan Bhagat Phenomenon: Boon or bane for Indian Publishing and Readership?, Harsh Snehanshu3. Can Indian authors afford to pursue writing as a full time career?, Ravi Subramanian } Feb 7, 20144. The new breed of popular fiction authors in India, NDTV …8

Proposed site2400 m2@ Shantiniketan

…9

Proposed CLIENT

…10

lekhoni

"Every writer is, in the profoundest way, on his or her own, and there is little we can do to help. Inspiration comes or it doesn't, the form comes or it doesn't, the end comes or it doesn't.

B t thi ith t i t l t it d t thi But nothing comes without a quiet place to sit and try things, and read them over, and try them again,

and that is something we can do something about.

I l t th i i f th W it ' R d l d it i i I salute the vision of the Writers' Room, and applaud its mission. It is a dream come true for so many writers; may it live long and thrive!“

Gish Jen