VARNIKA DALMIA

THE UPHILL BATTLE

A place transforms into a place when clusters of relationships come together, in unison, to form it. The relationship between the activities performed in that place and the place itself forms a vessel. Vessels are fascinating architectural elements too. One’s intellectual, emotional and social processes get simulated in the built environment manifested by vessels. OurContinue reading “THE UPHILL BATTLE”

HOME WITHIN A HOME

The latest conversation about vessels makes us think about our own homes as one. The spread of coronavirus has lead to many being quarantined or home-bound and this is the time when we can sit and reflect upon the spaces that we inhabit all the time, our homes. This is a plan for my house.Continue reading “HOME WITHIN A HOME”

CHAMBER OF SECRETS

There is a bias against chambers that they are supposed to be enclosed spaces. But is that true? Chambers, in the form of walls, borders, and gated spaces form a distinction between the inside and the outside. They are too confining and rigid. For example, Castello Di Goronzo, in Tuscany seems like a highly enclosedContinue reading “CHAMBER OF SECRETS”

PORTALS TO NOWHERE

I grew up watching the Chronicles of Narnia and was always awestruck by the magical cupboard which could transport the kids to another world. A world, completely different from ours. To me, that cupboard was a portal. Portal, when thought about in the non-architectural sense reminds me of a tunnel that would take you toContinue reading “PORTALS TO NOWHERE”

A(n)xi(ou)s

Architectural spaces are defined by lines and curves. The idea of axes and paths was something that we discussed about in the last class. Axis is a formally planned and designed track to walk along. Paths on the contrary are informally created tracks that either diverge from axes or are created to wander in andContinue reading “A(n)xi(ou)s”

WORLD ON YOUR BACK

Travelling, as most of the world describes it to be, is a form of rejuvenation and disconnect from the daily life, for most of the world. However, a certain community of people a.k.a ‘nomads’, live their lives as travelers. “Take the world with you” is a phrase that perfectly describes the nomadic frame of mindContinue reading “WORLD ON YOUR BACK”