Life in Architecture: Abin Chaudhuri
The Indian design community is unwilling to take risks, thus the power to influence society is under utilised, says Chaudhuri
Architect Abin Chaudhuri is the founder of the Kolkata-based Abin Design Studio, a firm whose works transcend various aspects of architecture and design. From designing public spaces, private homes to making furniture and creating eye-catching installations, the firm’s contextual designs and innovative ideas speak for themselves.
Abin Design Studio has won many awards for their noteworthy work, the recent ones being – Kohler Bold Design Award 2018 for Community Harmony, ARCASIA Awards for Architecture AAA 2017 in the Social Responsibility Architecture Category & the IIID Design Excellence Awards 2017. In 2014, Abin’s Temple Pavilion made out of bamboos was selected by Museum of Modern Art (New York), for publication and a travelling exhibition titled Uneven Growth: Tactical Urbanism and for Expanding Megacities.
In an exclusive interview with Houzz, the architect touches upon his learnings from his decade long experience in the field, the current state of architecture and his dream project.
Photos courtesy: Abin Design Studio
Abin Design Studio has won many awards for their noteworthy work, the recent ones being – Kohler Bold Design Award 2018 for Community Harmony, ARCASIA Awards for Architecture AAA 2017 in the Social Responsibility Architecture Category & the IIID Design Excellence Awards 2017. In 2014, Abin’s Temple Pavilion made out of bamboos was selected by Museum of Modern Art (New York), for publication and a travelling exhibition titled Uneven Growth: Tactical Urbanism and for Expanding Megacities.
In an exclusive interview with Houzz, the architect touches upon his learnings from his decade long experience in the field, the current state of architecture and his dream project.
Photos courtesy: Abin Design Studio
Site: Pool house, Adisaptagram
Your portfolio is diverse; you have designed public buildings, hospitality projects, educational and residential architecture. Which one of these is the most gratifying to work in?
We have been fortunate enough to start off with very large scale institutional buildings in the early days of the practice. It provided us a clear lesson and experience required to handle such large projects and the need for an attention to detail in all aspects from site planning, to architecture as well as interiors. It also unveiled that the economics of architecture involved in such projects is quite different from usual design, in terms of allocation of resources, design intent and manpower, while keeping in context with the local environment as well as the client’s needs.
There are few instances where the work makes us happy with the outcome, but evolves into learning for future projects. Each field of design has their own lesson to contribute towards our philosophical and practical growth, from large scale real-estate development to the minutest details of residential and hospitality architecture, spanning across more socially-driven pro-bono projects and installations. At the end of each project, there is much to think and re-invent for the next stage of the studio.
At the moment, a few interesting projects are coming up in Bansberia, along with one or two corporate and training complex projects, where we have pushed boundaries of architecture.
Your portfolio is diverse; you have designed public buildings, hospitality projects, educational and residential architecture. Which one of these is the most gratifying to work in?
We have been fortunate enough to start off with very large scale institutional buildings in the early days of the practice. It provided us a clear lesson and experience required to handle such large projects and the need for an attention to detail in all aspects from site planning, to architecture as well as interiors. It also unveiled that the economics of architecture involved in such projects is quite different from usual design, in terms of allocation of resources, design intent and manpower, while keeping in context with the local environment as well as the client’s needs.
There are few instances where the work makes us happy with the outcome, but evolves into learning for future projects. Each field of design has their own lesson to contribute towards our philosophical and practical growth, from large scale real-estate development to the minutest details of residential and hospitality architecture, spanning across more socially-driven pro-bono projects and installations. At the end of each project, there is much to think and re-invent for the next stage of the studio.
At the moment, a few interesting projects are coming up in Bansberia, along with one or two corporate and training complex projects, where we have pushed boundaries of architecture.
Site: Temple pavilion, Bansberia
From building a temple pavilion in bamboo, to creating a retail building for the Karam Chand Thapar Group, in exposed concrete with brick and terracotta … your love for experimenting with materials is well-known.
Our aim is to approach every project with a new thought, its own unique design vocabulary. This is important because every project is unique, with its specific location, context, requirements, and of course the end user. Our philosophy of experimentation with design, technology and materials requires several visualisation tools, with a parallel understanding of spaces through prototyping at different scales. As the project idea demands, our tools of working keep evolving.
Our exploration with materials come as a result of this driving philosophy and need of the design, and the economics of the process.
What are the strengths and weakness of Indian architecture/ community as you see it?
Being politically correct I think is one of the major challenges in our industry today. Our immense power to influence society is being under utilised if we are not willing to take a risk. We are often given design opportunities that can be used to send bold social messages but find ourselves bound into playing it safe. Even in our democratic society we frequently fall into the trap of being politically correct.
From building a temple pavilion in bamboo, to creating a retail building for the Karam Chand Thapar Group, in exposed concrete with brick and terracotta … your love for experimenting with materials is well-known.
Our aim is to approach every project with a new thought, its own unique design vocabulary. This is important because every project is unique, with its specific location, context, requirements, and of course the end user. Our philosophy of experimentation with design, technology and materials requires several visualisation tools, with a parallel understanding of spaces through prototyping at different scales. As the project idea demands, our tools of working keep evolving.
Our exploration with materials come as a result of this driving philosophy and need of the design, and the economics of the process.
What are the strengths and weakness of Indian architecture/ community as you see it?
Being politically correct I think is one of the major challenges in our industry today. Our immense power to influence society is being under utilised if we are not willing to take a risk. We are often given design opportunities that can be used to send bold social messages but find ourselves bound into playing it safe. Even in our democratic society we frequently fall into the trap of being politically correct.
Site: Aurus sales pavilion, Kolkata
What do you think of the changing nature of Indian cities?
Not just individual buildings, but the need for input of design in urban infrastructure is being realised across the country. The upgradation needs to be addressed in three parts – through software, hardware and urban governance. The ‘software’ should be urban awareness and responsiveness of people, followed by provision of ‘hardware’, creating infrastructure and showcasing their efficient utilisation. Basic public utilities need to be fulfilled as an initial step, such as bus shelters, public toilets, barrier-free footpaths, healthcare.
What are your thoughts on sustainable, accountable design?
Responsible design is the need of the hour, to stay in context, especially with the physical environment. We can contribute towards the society in a much bigger way, not only satisfying the needs of the private client or work within the boundaries, by acting beyond, physically realising the ideas for public. The definition of sustainability has upgraded from just creating ’green’ design to being efficient in terms of allocation of resources, manpower, finances, economic feasibility, socio-economic viability, contextuality and potential for impact.
What do you think of the changing nature of Indian cities?
Not just individual buildings, but the need for input of design in urban infrastructure is being realised across the country. The upgradation needs to be addressed in three parts – through software, hardware and urban governance. The ‘software’ should be urban awareness and responsiveness of people, followed by provision of ‘hardware’, creating infrastructure and showcasing their efficient utilisation. Basic public utilities need to be fulfilled as an initial step, such as bus shelters, public toilets, barrier-free footpaths, healthcare.
What are your thoughts on sustainable, accountable design?
Responsible design is the need of the hour, to stay in context, especially with the physical environment. We can contribute towards the society in a much bigger way, not only satisfying the needs of the private client or work within the boundaries, by acting beyond, physically realising the ideas for public. The definition of sustainability has upgraded from just creating ’green’ design to being efficient in terms of allocation of resources, manpower, finances, economic feasibility, socio-economic viability, contextuality and potential for impact.
Site: Pool house, Adisaptagram
Read more:
Life in Architecture: Sameep Padora
Houzz Forum: What is Sustainability in the Indian Context?
Tell us:
What are your thoughts on the state of urban planning in cities? What is needed. Share with us in the Comments below.
Read more:
Life in Architecture: Sameep Padora
Houzz Forum: What is Sustainability in the Indian Context?
Tell us:
What are your thoughts on the state of urban planning in cities? What is needed. Share with us in the Comments below.
We believe architecture is an artistic expression as far as it transcends its purely utilitarian, technical and rational realm and turns into a metaphoric expression of the lived world, human condition and context. Our aim is to provide a ‘soul in the shell’ – a philosophy that has stayed with the practice from its initiation. The hunger for utopian designs has partly evolved into the realisation that good design has the power to retain its flavour, while creating a larger-than-life impact on the society.
Where do you derive inspiration?
As a studio aiming to search for the perfect vocabulary for each project, the driving force comes as a result of several experiments with materials, technology and ideology. The core of this path is about being unafraid of exploring unfamiliar things.