flash

EXPLORING SPACE AND

ITS STRUCTURE

Dr. B.S. Bhooshan

Architect planner
Mysore and Bangalore

Architecture could mean many

things to many people
Ones preoccupations and
background may influence ones view
of architecture

For some:
architecture mean the decorated
surfaces and for some others:
it is the sculptural shapes

For yet others:

Good architecture is importing
and displaying costly materials
Or
it could be a response to the
climate,
or
size or cost of the project, the
technology of construction and
so on and on

For me:
architecture has been a
search
To understand what is meant
by architecture
Therefore my work has been
explorative

EXPLORING THE PROCESSES

EXPLORING THE STRUCTURE
OF SPACES
EXPLORING THE
POSSIBILITIES
While trying to make a living

For me:
Architectural expression has
more direct a bearing on the
common life that it is more
important a medium than
other forms of cultural
expression like performing
arts and visual arts.

Architecture is not an
isolated phenomenon.

I believe:
Architecture is responsible for
the spatial organization of the
world. Therefore it plays a
constitutive role in the
formation of the human
subject, at the level of both its
representations and its
perceptions..

ARCHITECTURE
IS
THE ENTIRE BUILT
ENVIRONMENT
.

BUILT PROFESSIONALLY,
FORMALLY as well as
INFORMALLY

ARCHITECTURE = TOOL + SYMBOL

AS A TOOL:
.
it is always a result of violent
colonisation on land and nature.
There is no architecture, which
does not affect ecology adversely.
The question is:
HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH?

architecture as a tool
anonymous nonprofessional
community creations.
but not a mere tool always,
it is expressive as well

AS A SYMBOL :
It powers the human psyche.
Architecture as a symbol of power. As a
symbol of oppression. As a symbol of deadly
order. And violence and destruction.
Does not construction encode destruction?

CONSUMERISM AND EXCITEMENT :

Powering the need for oppression and
exploitation.
That propels the architecture of destructionA large segment of architectural productions
today.
Destruction of nature, destruction of harmony,
construction of barriers and fortifying
stratification in society.

MUCH OF TODAYS

ARCHITECTURE

HAPPENS
ONLY IN THE COSMOPOLITAN
SEGMENT OF METROPOLITAN

COMPLEXES.
THE SYMBOL FACTORIES. AND
ICON SHOPS.
IMPACT OF THIS ON THE REST OF
THE SOCIAL AND SPATIAL
CONTINUUM IS HARDLY
UNDERSTOOD.

Harmonious architecture is one,

which integrates with the local culture
and local ecology. What implies is a
regional architectural approach.
And that alone is sustainable.

BHOOSHANS RESIDENCE, MYSORE

JIIA Award 1990

GROUND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR

SECTION AA
SECTION BB

FIRST FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR

SECTION AA

FIRST FLOOR

SECTION AA
SECTION BB

The 3D window
FIRST FLOOR

SECTION AA

URBAN CONTEXT
SRINIVASANS RESIDENCE
INDIRANAGAR, BANGALORE

FILLED UP EARTH

GARAGE

STORE

SERVANTS
TOILET

TOILET
UP

Basement Floor Plan

STORE
UTILITY
GARDEN SPACE

KITCHEN

POOJA
DINING

DOWN

UP

11

FOYER
LIVING

DOWN

SIT OUT

Ground Floor Plan

TOILET

TERRACE

BEDROOM

Down
TOILET

Up

BEDROOM
LIVING
BELOW

First Floor Plan

TERRACE

DOWN

TOILET
UP

GUEST
BEDROOM

BALCONY

Second Floor Plan

3'-6"

Water Tank

6'-1"

9'-6"

34

7'-6"

32
30

Toilet
28

9'-4"

9'-4"

24'-4"

24
22

Bath tub
2'-0"

19

Toilet

17
15

6"
Filling

13

he roof

Roof to
Detail.

9
7

8'-7"

5
3

3"
1'-1 4

+8'9"

11'

13
9
7

7'-2"
7'

Toilet
0'0"
ter Lvl

7'

11

6" filling

+6"

7'-6"

24'-4" Lvl

7'

5
Toilet

7'

+9"

SECTION A-A
9" filling
14'-1"
7'-7"
7'

23'-10"

Living

+ 9'-9"
+ 8'-9"
6"
Thermocole
filling

7'-9"

7'

8'-6"

/- 0'-0"

Living

+ 6"

SECTION B - B

+/- 0'-0"

Final Front Elevation

The Curved Roof

from inside

8"

Masonry Wall 13" Heigh

A
7'
L.G. Channel 16
Gauge Thick

Guest Room Floor Lvl

Hurdi Block

24'-4" Lvl

Tube 2" dia

7'-6"
7'

Finished First Floor Lvl

CURVED ROOF DETAILS

17'-4" Lvl

3" Thick Concrete CC 1:2:4

6"

Distribution reinforcement
8 dia @ 12" c/c bothways

DETAIL AT A

Tube 2" dia bent in Roof profile

in the centre of the room
Hurdi Block
L.G. Channel 16
Gauge Thick

8 dia @ 6" c/c

3-12 dia

6"

6"
16 dia link rod ( 3 No's for 3 tubes )

Tube 2" dia bent in Roof profile

2'-6"

4"

in the centre of the room

Stirupps 8 dia @ 6" c/c

13"
2-12 +1-16 dia

DETAIL AT B

I believe:
ARCHITECTURE
as built environment
is a
TEXT TO BE READ.

WRITERLY TEXTS ARE

INDIVIDUAL EPRESSIONS.
BUT ARCHITECTURE IS
MEANINGFUL WHEN IT IS READ
AND ONLY AS HOW IT IS READ.

LANGUAGE IS CULTURE
SPECIFIC.
THOUGH SOME PARADIGMS,
SIGNS AND SINTAGMS ARE
ICONIC.

THEREFORE
WE TRY TO MAKE ICONS .
And we are
ENORMOURED BY THE ICONS.

BUT ICONS DEFER FROM

PEOPLE TO PEOPLE
FROM CLASS TO CLASS

WHICH CLASS ARE WE BUILDING

FOR ?
ARE WE RESPONSIBLE ONLY TO
OUR CLIENTS?
THE PAY MASTERS?

architecture is a system
of signs and therefore it
is a text

Oppositions are present

everywhere
Floor / ceiling
Left/right
Above / below
Sacred / profane
Movable / immovable
Pillars / beams
Vertical / horizontal
Solids / voids Supporting / supported
Forces / effects

The structure of a space is

determined by the way in which
these opposing elements are
juxtaposed.
That determines the readability or
otherwise of the place.

Readability is a function of
existing language of spaces in a
culture.
When that is broken excitement may
happen, novelty may appear, but may
become just curious things , not
necessarily readable. It may not mean
anything, to begin with. Until a new
language get established.

Should one look for meaning?

Structural semantics recognises only

two types of spaces;
Access space and use space
Either you are accessing a space or in it or getting
out of it. Outside is also part of this access.
Access space is a transition space and are most
interesting spaces in architecture one which
enhances the experience.

Access spaces narrate

stories.
Narratives appear as
events, episodes and
become a
plot/theme/story.

Dialectics of space:
Onside and outside are binaries.
One enters a building, experience
the movements and come out to
see the building again.
His idea of the building is not the
same again. One is at a higher level
of a spiral of understanding.

We read stories because we are

curious to know what next.
Events beyond expectations
interest us.
Expectation / surprise
They create interesting stories.
But what is expected and what surprises
are culturally determined.

The Village: a Resort Hotel,

Mysore 1989
JIIA Award 1994
JK Cements 1997

SITE PLAN

RANGAYANA, MYSORE.

BHOOMIGEETHA : AN AUDITORIUM 2002

AND
VANARANGA: OPEN AIR THEATER 2003

+ 2'-2"

+/- 0'0"

+ 6"

+ 6"

Existing Courtyard
Single Space hall

Existing Courtyard

Store Room
Low wall

+ 1'-8 1/2"

Managers Cabin

Existing Ramp

Existing Bhoomigeetha hall as on 15 August 2001

Back Stage

Side Stage

Side Stage

BHOOMIGEETHA

STAGE

Toilet

Toilet
Green Room 1

Green Room 2

Open to Sky Courtyard

Open to Sky Courtyard

Costume

Costume

AUDITORIUM 207 CAPACITY

FOYER

Ladies
Toilet

Gents
Toilet

Ticket
Counter

FLOOR PLAN
Down

Down

FLOOR PLAN

For Lighting

For Lighting

Auditorium Space

Existing
Double Height

Double Height

Store Room

New VIP balcony

Control Room
Electrical

Mezzanine Level

Existing Electrical Booth

Double Height Foyer

Existing Balcony

Exhibition Space

Entrance Door leading into the Lobby

Lobby showing the exposed brickwork

View of the Foyer

Kalamandir Stage Above

Balcony

Kalamandir Auditorium Space

Foyer

Stage Lvl

Section through the Auditorium

View of the Auditorium Space

View of the Auditorium Space from the lighting Booth

FITTING INTO A URBAN

STREET CONTEXT
A HOUSE IN KUMARAPARK WEST
BANGALORE
2001

Ground Floor Plan

First Floor Plan