1. Role of architect in today’s society? The Profession of Architecture changes with the times,

especially so in recent times. Driven by Technology and Economics and the rising population and material wealth all over the Earth, the demand is for NOW. Art has taken a back seat and is applauded in curious circumstances not for what it is but for what value it may possess monetarily.

Today a value based architect must rein in his commercial ventures and boldly express the aesthetics of Human behaviour and LIFE as it ought to be lived in the built environment. It is difficult but it is the Challenge. The Architect once again must take over as leader and coordinator of the built environment. To translate a clients’ vision into a creative realisation.

2. Out of your active involvement in many educational institutions what is your opinion about architectural syllabus and its relevance to today’s practise. What do you suggest is the way forward?

A big challenge of change! Education in the primary stage up to the six semester must focus on the tools of expression and the details by venturing into the life styles and hopes of people involved in the spaces with relevance of time and must learn to walk and document in a way to comprehend the meaning and reason of sheltered and open spaces that make the dynamics of life meaningful. This must be learnt such that the content has context of the ethos of the culture it studies. This can in depth influence the built expression by historical and evolving content. In the later semesters they must go out and intern and learn from real life professional practices, the choice of the practice must also be in tune with their own strengths and beliefs. Not necessarily all the way but must have hues that inspire them one way or the other. This search and learning than will influence their selection of a Design THESIS in the later semesters. Here the THESIS need not be NOW type of projects but can reflect the possible future with bold expressions that can motivate to take on challenges in real life practice.

3. What is ‘design’ in Architecture – your perception? DESIGN is not all Architecture. But Architecture

encompasses all Design. Design has a pattern. It has a flow, it connects the senses to the elements and plays with the thinking Mind to create that sense of identity which is unique and evokes psychological response to make Life seek values in all that one perceives.

4. Your comments on the past and future trends in architecture in India.

In India architecture in the past played the role to express the power of the rulers and make their presence strongly felt by the discerning and in a manner overawed the masses to a soft submission. The Elite ruled. In the present it is Chaos of everyone running nowhere to please no one knows whom. Sheer marketing and business of Real Estate rules and feeds the democratic masses with dramatic glamour. There are only very

few microscopic examples of good architecture. BUT I am confident that from this chaos will rise a new

expression of creativity with values both ethical and cultural reflecting and responding with a fusion of Technology with Arts to great sensitivity. Here the number of Schools of Architecture that have emerged in the recent times will evoke a sense of competition which one hopes will drive the learning and professing of this unique profession to the real challenges of the future.

5. Challenges in the architectural profession for budding architects.

Challenge of Change, the future holds great promise. The avenues that a fresh architect has are only limited by one’s imagination. Competition and various other factors will influence. But it is evident from the spirit of youth that this emerging dynamics will see a bright future. There may not be many individual practices, in the urban scenario. But the second and third tier cities and the rural sector will open fresh opportunities. This must be taken up. Not just housing but in all scenarios. I am also confident that for the very adventurous and brave a whole new arena awaits, below and beyond the Earth surface. Sub-terrain communication as also space travel will be wonders to explore.

6. What is the relevance of sustainable architecture in today’s context?

Sustainable Architecture as I comprehend does not mean for a building to stand over decades. Functions change, Forms have to play with relevant Technology and innovative and imaginative use of new materials and Structures and Services and all that influence Architectural Design in all its formats. With all these challenges if the spirit of these spaces cross time barriers, that to me is sustainable architecture. An Ethos has a subtle infinity.

7. A few words about your firm Fountainhead? Over SIX DECADES ago influenced by the writings of

Ayn Rand in her book THE FOUNTAINHEAD about an architect (the character was based on real heroes) and nearly FIVE DECADES ago when I started the practice, I have journeyed many mountains and crossed many valleys to conquer many peaks and taken on challenges with great enthusiasm to discover new areas and create fresh expressions. Studying in depth every element that one came across, with all the senses that influence Life and its pattern of behaviours in the various habitats of Man and his Environment heave been the challenges that one has with a sense of pride state created expressions of sustainability. Very often a lonely journey, but the students and young architects have always and continue to join this adventure and give it LIFE and a sense of eternity. Schools of Architecture have been an inspiration – a spring of creativity, full of enthusiasm keeping the FOUNTAINHEAD flag flying high.

Renowned Architect Jaisim has enjoyed the practice of architecture for over four decades now. Jaisim Fountainhead started in 1970, has created and recreated innumerable homes, institutions and commercial enterprises. He has written over 150 papers and articles, serves on several boards and councils. Today, he still continues to pursue the adventures of the built environment, searching and researching beyond the boundaries of time and space. (www.jaisimfountainhead.in)

08INTERVIEW A interview with Architect Jaisim Krishna Rao

MEASI Academy of Architecture december 2017 edition01STUDIO PROJECTS WORKS - NOV 2017July-Nov ’17 semester was successfully completed with very interesting works by students. The final year Urban Insert project looked at 3 inner city locations and came up with new Master plan proposals for the same. The Fifth Semester worked on Museum Design and School of Fine Arts while the Thrid semester worked on Nursery School Design.

archEASI newsletter

Muhammed Afser

Museum view

Fathima Rishma

UD - Batch A

SITE VISIT021. Every Saturday , the 1st year students accompanied by Prof.Balaji and the design faculty have been going on sketching tours to various parts of of the city such as Mylapore Kapaleeshwar Temple, Nageshwara Rao Park, Egmore Museum as part of their Architectural Design Programme.

2. M. Arch (RED) 1st semester students embarked on a pilot project to understand market demand along Tambaram to Porur & Tambaram to Velachery Stretch. (Ar. Susithra)

3. 3rd sem ‘C’ students visited Santhome Church & St.Antony Church at Armenian street to study church planning and architecture as a part of their History of Architecture course. (Ar. Febina)

4. Final year students were taken on a site visit to Auroville and Golconde Pondicherry on 9th Sep ’17 as a part of SUSTAINABLE PLANNING & ARCHITECTURE course. (Ar. Ramanan)

5. 3rd sem ‘A’ students were taken to Dakshin Chitra as a part of Building Construction course to expose them to brick bonding and masonry connections. (Ar. Anis)

UD - Batch C

UD - Batch B

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1. The 13th Graduation Day of MEASI Academy of Architecture was held at the Altaf Ahmed Auditorium on 5th Aug 2017. Ar. Vijay Garg (Vice President COA) was the Chief Guest and Thiru.Rajendra Rathnoo, IAS was the Guest of Honour.

“Architecture is the thoughtful making of space.” – Louis I Kahn

03MEASI ACTIVITIES

EVENTS & LECTURES1. Ar. Lindsay Bremmer, Principal

investigator from Westminster University discussed possibilities of research topics and its methodologies with the faculty members.

6. 5th Sem ‘A’ students visited Egmore Museum & Cholamandala Artist Village for Museum case study as part of architectural design project. (Ar. Anuradha & Ar. Febina)

7. 3rd sem ‘A’ students went to Farwood Furniture Industries as a part of Building Construction course to expose them to furniture design, finish and joinery. (Ar. Anis)

8. M. Arch (Gen.) 3rd sem students visited Adyar Poonga as part of their Urban Landscape course. (Ar. Subhasree)

9. 5th sem ‘A’ & ‘D’ students visited Anna Nagar tower Park as a part of their Site Planning course. (Ar. Basha & Ar. Thingom)

10. 3rd sem ‘D’ students visited Chetpet Eco Park for their Architectural Design project. (Ar. Radhika & Ar. Clisson)

2. A meeting was held on 22nd Sept 2017 in the AA Auditorium to condole the passing away of Prof. V. J Bharath. A sapling was planted by his wife within the campus as a fond memorial.

3. Prof. Priya was invited as a jury member for Annual NASA Design Competition 2017 on reimagining alternative urban spaces in Sept 2017.

4. MEASI welcomes our new faculty - Ar.

Prasanna Pandian, Ar. Manju Parkavi, Ar. Riyaz.

5. Our best wishes to our relieving faculty Ar. Febin Mohamed, Ar. Arjun Satheesh, Ar. Sakthi Abhilasha.

6. A welcome dinner was hosted by the new MEASI management to all the staff members of the various MEASI institutions on 9th Oct ’17.

7. As part of United Economic Forum (UEF) three MEASI Institutions, including MEASI Academy of Architecture, put up a stall at the Chennai Trade Centre on the 18th and 19th Nov ’17 displaying the students works and infrastructure.

8. M. Arch general students presented their thesis synopsis for approval to the review panel on 29th Nov ‘17.

2. A guest lecture by Ar. Mohan Hariharan was organised at MEASI on 10thNov ’17. He presented an audio visual presentation of museums around the world - “Glimpses of Museum” for the 5th year students.

“Architecture is the thoughtful making of space.” – Louis I Kahn

EVENTS & LECTURES

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3. Historian S. Muthiah enlightened the students on various historic Indo-Saracenic monuments in Chennai through an interactive Quiz session on 31st Oct ‘17.

4. A guest lecture by Ar. Subramanium was organised for the 3rd year students on aspects of Campus Planning as an introduction of their achitectural design project.

5. As a part of Site planning course, the 5th sem ‘C’ & ‘D’ students were taught center line marking through a hands-on training session within MEASI campus.

EDITORIAL BOARD

Mentor

Prof.V.Balaji

Editorial Team

Ar.B.Subhasree

Ar.Radhikha Senthil

Ar.Anuradha Menon

Ar.Shilesh Hariharan

Ar.Divyalakshmi

UPCOMING EVENTS & COMPETITIONS

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0302

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STUDIO PROJECTS

MEASI ACTIVITIES

UPCOMING EVENTS & COMPETITIONS

SITE VISITS1. A two day Sustainability Sensitizing

workshop was conducted on 17th & 18th of Aug‘17 organised by Ms. Sangita Kapoor from IDE, Kolkata. Particpated by 100+ final year students and 10 faculty members participated . The programme had speakers like Ar. Benny Kuriakose, Ar. Suhasini Ayer, Ar. Nitin Killawala;to mention a few, who exposed the students to various aspects of sustainable

WORKSHOP & SEMINARSPARTICIPATED

1. As part of vigilance awareness week an essay competition on the topic “My Voice – Corruption Free India” was conducted at MEASI Academy of Architecture on 3rd Nov ‘17. This was organized by IOB Peter’s Road Branch. 150 students of first year B. Arch participated. The following are the prize winners.

1. Meghna 1st prize (‘B’ – Section)2. Samantha 2nd Prize (‘C’ – Section)3. Adila Akbar 3rd Prize(‘A’ – Section)4. Kruti Shah 3rd Prize( ‘D’ – Section)

DECEMBER 2017

09th Ar.Saniya

14th Prof. Priya

25th Dr.A.N.Sachithanandan

25th Prof. Arevu Chelvi

31st Prof.Anwar Shariff

JANUARY 2018

03rd Ar. Ramanan

04th Ar. Sangeetha

22nd Prof.N.Altaf Ahmed

29th Ar. Joseph Thomas

FEBRUARY 2018

01st Ar. Thingom

06th Ar. Manju Parkavi

08th Ar. Thasin Basha

11th Ar. Susithra M.R

18th Er. Leo Lawrence

20th Prof. S. Kesavalu

24th Ar. Radhikha

26th Ar. Shoonya

26th Ar. Prasanna

27th Ar. B. Subhasree

0504EVENTS

WORKSHOPS & SEMINARS

PARTICIPATED

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COMPETITIONS

INTERVIEW

05COMPETITIONS

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09BIRTHDAYS

2. Two entries have been sent for INSDAG - National Steel Design Competition ‘17- design of an elevated cycle track at New Delhi.

3. Rural documentation work by the students of 3rd year ‘B’ titled “Manapad - An Epitome of Style & Perfection”, has been sent for INTACH - Heritage Documentation Awards 2017. The results are yet to be announced.

development.2. The 1st year students participated in

a one day workshop on Paper recycling by AKARMAA Foundation on 25th Nov ’17. Ar. Kaushik & Ar. Deepa guided the students to successfully to make sheets of paper with

1. 4th year students are going on a 12 day educational tour to New Delhi, Agra, Jaipur & Chandigarh starting 2nd Dec ’17 accompanied by Ar. Shabana, Ar. Gajendran, Ar. Devaanand, Ar. Manikanda Prabu & Ar. Chetna. We wish them a safe and fun filled journey.

2. Segregation of the final year students under various panels and the allotment of supervisors are over. Formal thesis reviews are scheduled to start on 19th Dec ’17.

3. ASHRAE - SUSTAIN 2018 Competition for design of a Mall - deadline for submission is 21st Dec ‘17.

4. Society Interiors design competition 2018, registration & submission dates have been postponed to 18th & 20th Dec ‘17

We regret to announce the demise of our Design Chair, Prof. V. J. Bharath on 11th Sep 2017. May his soul rest in peace