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Research Activities
Post Independence Architecture of Vadodara: An ongoing pursuit since 1996, this presentation has given a form to my research on the subject. Among the architects, who have worked after Independence are Suryakant Patel, Anand Shirgaokar, Yashwant Mistry, Rasik Shah, Dhirubhai Patel etc. Click on the names to read about them.
Suryakant Patel : A Biography of his Architectural Work : The formalities have to be worked out but the tentative structure of the book is in place.
POST INDEPENDENCE ARCHITECTURE OF VADODARA
An Abstract
A Presentation By
Apoorva Pathak
Visiting Faculty, Dept of Architecture, MSU, Vadodara, India
&
S. Brinthalakshmi
Lecturer, Dept of Architecture, MSU, Vadodara, India
This presentation consists of 300 slides on the Architecture of Vadodara and the text below is an abstract of the commentary. The presentation is 45 minutes long and is available on request. For further information contact
Apoorva Pathak.The traditional architecture of the inner city is barely visibly and experienced. The landmarks of colonial architecture - once proud symbols of Vadodara’s glorious colonial past – are lost in today’s concrete jungle. In the midst of this vibrancy and variety, we intend to trace various attitudes in the architecture of Vadodara region since Independence.
With independence came an euphoria, which infused architects with the belief that many social and physical ends could now be met through physical design. This time of thought reflected that masters of the modern movement in architecture and urban design.
With independence came an euphoria, which infused architects with the belief that many social and physical ends could now be met through physical design. This time of thought reflected that masters of the modern movement in architecture and urban design.
Much new building was indeed required to meet social ends. National policy of decisions led to a variety of new building tasks.The Kalabhavan started offering a degree course in architecture in 1954. Qualified Civil Engineers undertook most of the architectural works in Vadodara at this time. M.K.Jadhav a chief architect of the old Bombay State designed it. This reflects modern architectural ideas of using plane surfaces and minimum decoration as in Lutyens, Government house in N.Delhi. Master, Sathe & Bhuta from Mumbai, first introduce Modern architecture in Vadodara. Achwal & Patel incorporated within the curriculum newer thought and process followed in a modern western world. Architectural thoughts in the first couple of decades came to terms with independence and the international scene. It seemed that importing modern architecture, which derived its legitimacy from a belief in the universalism of science, started an architectural revolution. Anglo Indian forms of architecture persisted until a whole new generation of Indian architects emerged. These new architects were still inspired by western, if not especially British, models of urban design and architecture.
The coming of Le Corbusier to India in 1952 set a new dimension to existing trends of design for many architects in Vadodara. The most prominent works of the state Vadodara being the office building for the Gujarat Electricity Vadodara and the Vadodara Railway Station.
Following these developments came the subsequent developments of the individual house. This individual house was the modern equivalent of the British Bungalow. Individual practices within Baroda have adopted interesting attitudes towards this "type" in their expressions.
The Urban Land ceiling and Regulation act (1976), has had a mixed impact on the housing production process in Baroda. During the late seventies, the Baroda municipal area witnessed an unprecedented spurt in housing activities. As for Baroda, the formal private sector comprising of Builders, Land Developers, Land suppliers etc., contribute nearly 77% of the total housing supply in Baroda.
The developer, in today’s context is the patron of architecture. The Developer – Architect nexus is in a position to generate a plethora of architectural expressions, which will constitute the built urban scenario of today and tomorrow.
The institutions designed by architects of Vadodara are a clear attempt to resolve this paradox faced by the profession today. The architectural expressions that we have witnessed today are a result the combined interaction of climate, culture, and craft within the cultural milieu of Vadodara city.
The architectural expressions that we have witnessed today are a result the combined interaction of climate, culture, and craft within the cultural milieu of Vadodara city. While no strict classification or architectural "ism" can be imposed on such a huge body of works, one can only trace seminal strands of thought processes. What one has seen is not a blind imitation of the western ideologies. Simultaneously, it is also not retrogression to the past. It is on more ways than one a healthy regionalism – for the want of a better word. Such a regionalism is not a camouflage, a fitting or a fancy dress. Instead it is the synthesis of what is most common-sense, dignified and enriching – sensually and symbolically – from tradition with freedom, comfort and securities offered by the industrial civilization. It upholds the individual as well as local architectural features against the more universal and abstract ones. It involves a critical synthesis of a region’s history and tradition and their reinterpretation and finally the expression of these modern terms. Hence the fundamental strategy of regionalism is to mediate the impact of universal civilization with elements derived indirectly from the peculiarities of a place.