Vernacular Architecture Need Of The Hour

Shruti Choudhari pays homage to Geoffery Bawa, and calls for an architectural makeover in our cities

A 'pressure cooker' environment, is a sad but true reflection of our burgeoning cities with infrastructure and resources stretched to the limits. The frenetic bustle of the city coupled with the intense work pressure of corporate life has resulted in a crying need for a house that helps the overworked denziens to unwind in the lush and bountiful lap of nature. Vernacular architecture, a branch of architecture that encompasses the native and traditional architecture of a region with a blend of nature is the answer.

While the current housing scenario in our cities leaves much to be desired in this direction a few cities, especially in the South, are slowly showcasing this style of architecture synonmous with Geoffery Bawa, billed as the greatest architect of Asia. Vernacular architecture incorporates building techniques, environmental adaptations, colours, building materials etc and goes hand in glove with the given environment. South India, where the climate permits the heady mix of buildings entwined with nature, is a perfect setting for the proliferation of Bawa's brand of architecture.

Geoffrey Bawa was one of the few architects of the modern era, who had an intrinsic understanding of the underlying principles of vernacular architecture. He brought about a symbiosis of Western tradition with local needs and lifestyles that amalgamate beautifully with climate, landscape and culture. They blend so well that sometimes we get lost in finding the demarcating line between the buildings and their landscapes.

Sri Lanka the home turf of Bawa has been the center of Vernacular architecture. After having been around India and also to some architecturally rich parts of the world, Ceylon of yesteryears and Sri Lanka of today is one place that stays close to my heart mainly due to the imprint of Bawa's magic. He had a strong penchant for designing buildings on the basis of the terrain, creating beautiful vistas in the landscape depending on shade and shadow, framing views of breathtaking beauty and creating a mix of modern and traditional architecture.

Educated in England in the post war generation, Bawa began his career at forty (late by architecture standards) and the maturity showcased in his designs was probably due to the maturity of his thought process. Some of his exceptional works include, The Garden at Lunuganga, The Architect's House, Colombo; Peter White House at Mauritius; New Parliament outside Colombo, Architect's office in Colombo; Kadalamma Hotel in Dambulla and Triton Hotel in Ahungalla.

The Garden at Lunuganga is a true testimony of Bawa's philosophy, `A house is a garden.’ All views of the house look as if they are part of the landscape and all the views of the garden from the house appear as extensions of the living space. The patterns formed by the sun falling on the landscaped garden create vistas of dynamic forms when viewed from the house. The landscape is not rigid or formal, it is more organic and natural with a smatter of tall coconut trees and tasteful sculptures.

The Triton Hotel design influenced by the shape of the site is a treat to the eyes. The long frontage gave Bawa the opportunity to dramatise the view of the sea that runs along the hotel site. The reception faces the swimming pool which disappears into the sea or so it seems. This is because the lobby floor, the swimming pool and the sea are all at the same level. All the other common spaces of the hotel are also designed as open pavilions with windows framing the sea. The whole site appears to be dominated by the sea which is facilitated by the vistas, an illusion which Bawa has created successfully. It is truly a work of art.

In India, architects have ventured along the same direction but no one has been able to create the same magic as Geoffrey Bawa did. That is completely our loss because, in this corporate-cultured world, we need to take a step back, breathe a little, live a little and what could be better than a place that would have Bawa's touch or traces of his philosophy to rediscover ourselves and our sensitivities.

(The author is an architect and director of Akme Projects Limited, Bangalore)