INTERIOR EXTERIOR - October - December 2020

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As we enter the last quarter of the year 2020, its time to reflect amidst a Pandemic, which has slowed down the world, in good and bad ways. The climate clock has been unveiled by artists Gan Golan and Andrew Boyd to warn us about the irreversible climate emergency. What lies ahead can be only anticipated, but what has been done should be contemplated by each one of us. Here I am, anticipating and contemplating aloud, as the architecture and construction industry expects a major shift.
It’s time for the designers to come forward with a way ahead, amidst the multi-faceted changes that are happening all around. As we expect a decline in tourism, a demand in experiential spaces has increased in domestic and work environments.
While the new apple store that anchors itself in the bustling Central World Square, Thailand, serves as future aspirations, in the minds of an everyday man; the V&A museum serves as wisdom from the past, reminding us of our intellectual ambitions. Although the future is uncertain, the social spaces are being redefined, even in the corporate world. For instance, Chennai One has been designed to enhance the nodes of chance encounters within the I.T. Park.
Work-from-home culture is growing rapidly, with a demand for larger homes that provide private spaces to individual members of the family. Who knows, one day we will see families spending most of their time in farmhouses by a lake, like in the case of Shardul Patil designed private house, away from the chaos of a city. Perhaps, a modern take on traditional haveli, punctuated with bright colored walls and giant volumes, as designed by Vora Architects. Or, a house made of varied materials and textures in a symphony that stands out in a dense residential setting in Ahmedabad as much as the Urban Frame House. Or, an attempt to build a house with zero maintenance costs, like the Todd Residence. Last, it could be all but a humble space with a responsive design as Arham, designed by Dipen Gada.