20 MILESTONE FACADES IN THE ARCHITESTORY OF

OUR CITY Pecha Kucha By - Ar. YESHWANT RAMAMURTHY, FIIA, FIIID

STUDIO ONE , HYDERABAD

Since brevity is the soul of this evening, let me quickly tell you about my

presentation. This is not about my work. It’s about documenting the

evolution of design in our city. And as I see it, facades tell this tale. You

will see 20 images through which I hope to telescope 400 years of history

into 400 seconds. At the end, we will ask ourselves the eternally

unresolved question. Do people determine their architecture or does

architecture mould us?

1

NAWAB BABAR ALI KHAN’S HAVELI-SAIDABAD

GANGA- JAMUNI TEHZEEB

Dotting the old city are these quintessentially Hyderabadi homes of the erstwhile gentility. They are dignified and

serene. Diverse architectural elements come together to create harmony.

KHILWAT - CHOWMAHALLA PALACE, 1750 AD

2 SERENE SOVEREIGNITY

Rich in intricate stucco workmanship, Chowmahalla is the finite perfection of the Deccani Style with symmetry

balancing its grandeur of scale.

3

ZENANA MAHAL -PURANI HAVELI , 1815 AD

SCALED PERFECTION

Recently restored, this annex of Purani Haveli once housed 6 Begums and their retinues around a

central courtyard. The building is scaled for the feminine lifestyle needs for which it was created.

ST JOHN'S CHURCH SECUNDERABAD , 1813 AD

4 COLONIAL GARRISON ARCHITECTURE

Across Hussain Sagar, Secunderabad became home to British inspired garrison building including this

Church which use classical order features more as construction techniques rather than decoration.

5

BUNGLOW SECUNDERABAD , 1880 AD

BRITISH CANTONMENT ARCHITECTURE

Large Colonial bungalow like this one displays the tedium of predictable regimentation. However, these buildings responded

excellently to local climatic conditions for their affluent owners.

HYDERABAD PUBLIC SCHOOL – BEGUMPET, 1920 AD

6 OSMANIAN SELF ESTEEM

English Architect Vincent Esch crafts the new “Osmanian” style by combining the formalism of British institutional

design with his own refinement of the Deccani idiom. The message is one of discipline and dignity

BHARATH REDDY RESIDENCE – BASHEERBAGH, 1950AD

7 TELANGANA ZAMINDARI AFFLUENCE

Laid out in the early 50”s, Basheerbagh, Narayanaguda, Hyderguda, Himayatnagar and Barkatpura became home

to Telangana Zamindars who displayed their wealth through the solidness of their homes such as this one.

HMT BUILDING ,

BALANAGAR, 1975 AD

RAIL NILAYAM ,SECUNDERABAD, 1972 AD

8 BUREAUCRATIC LANDMARKS

As the public sector established its presence in

Hyderabad, govt resources were used to create

these imposing structures. Before the boom in

private sector investment such building were the

first tangible change in the scale of the urban

skyline

9 DIS”ORDERED” RAGBAG

OFFICE BUILDING AT BASHEERBAGH, 1980’s

Mansard

roof

Dormer window Triangular

pediment

Stained glass

skylight Corinthian column

Bay window Reflective glazing

Simha dwaram Brass knocker

Aldrop bolt

Backlit acrylic

signage Granite canopy

Texture paint

Neon sign board

……………….. This was the face of our confused architecture of the 80”s.

10 VAASTU CATACLYSM

TEXTILE TREASURE TROVE OR TEMPLE EDIFICE , AMEERPET, 1990’s

With N.T.R’s reawakening of Telugu pride and an influx of energy with coastal Andhra settlers, Vaastu

becomes a priority. Is this a store or a religious Toranam ?. As the bill board says, 50 % off on both.

11 TEACHING SHOP ELEVATION

ADITYA ENCLAVE, AMEERPET , 1990’s Aspirational immigrants flood suburbs like Dilsukhnagar, Kukkatpally and Ameerpet. Every street fronted office

building screams out coaching classes for youth.

12

AMRUTHA MALL ,SOMAJIGUDA ,2000AD

MALL, MAULLING, MUTILATION…

Every inch of the façade of early Malls is taken over by signage. Where is the intended elevation?

13 “STRIPPED” MALL

PATHERGATTI - b,1600 - d,2000 AD Contemporaneous with Charminar, the neechay dukan, upper makaan concept of a traditional shopping

street is today stripped of its glory. Kalooram beats them all by leaping completely out of the past.

Actual

Hardscape

Rendered

landscape

14 LEGO SET CYBERABAD

ICICI

BUILDING,

GACHIBOWLI,

2011 AD

Fast forward to Today. As you can see the

sky garden hasn’t happened.

15 BOUQUETS OR BRICKBATS

WAVEROCK, NANAKRAMGUDA ,2006 AD How many of us in the audience would like to work in this building 8 hrs a day X 365 days a year?

HOTEL AVASA, MADHAPUR, 2012 AD

16 CELEBRATING MODERNISM

An oasis in our insanity. This building returns to design sensitivity and sensibility with style, scale and

maturity.

17

WHISTLING COURT, GACHIBOWLI, 2013 AD

AWARDING DESIGN EXCELLENCE

Contrasting with cookie – cutter apartments in the neighborhood, this design brings nature and

intimate human proportions to group housing.

18

RAVINDRA BHARATHI, 1961 AD

MONUMENTAL MANTA RAY - 2016

What’s the future prediction for our

Architecture ?… FLUIDIC design

guaranteed to give Zaha Hadid a run for

her money.

FALUKNUMA PALACE, 1861 AD

NATIONAL FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT

BOARD, 200r8 AD

19 Divided by the inner ring road are two important buildings. Extensively restored to its

original splendor, Falaknuma preserves our heritage.

Daunting thought that this is tomorrow’s architectural legacy.

Even more frightening . If every building was to proclaim the nature of its business through

façade design, what would KOHLER head quarters look like ?. I leave it to your imagination.

But, back to our question. Do people determine architecture of does architecture mould us ?.

CONFUSED ? … 20