OPEN OFFICE WEEK (OOW) BY CHENNAI ARCHITECTURE FOUNDATION (CAF) 2019 – MY EXPERIENCE

The OOW2019 by CAF happened recently between 9^th to 16^th Oct. For someone who does not know what it is, it is a practice of opening architecture offices for public viewing, where anyone can walk-in and have a feel of the offices, their projects, their work culture etc. So, being an Architect and wanting to see, understand and learn more I did not want to miss this opportunity this time around (as I had missed the same event last year due to personal commitments). Last year around 10 offices were involved and this time the number increased more than double to around 25 offices. I could visit only four offices out of the 25, as that much is how much I could fit in with my other regular commitments.

The first of the four offices I visited was KSM. Ar. Shoonya my good friend accompanied me here. It was a long time wish for us to visit this place. The main reason was to the see the office itself, tailor made to suit the space required for architects. We visited on the evening of 9^th Oct the very first day of OOW2019. We were taken on a small guided tour (if I may call it that way) by Ar. Shreya who was out student at MEASI. The most important part of this particular visit was the chat we had with Ar. Sriram Ganapathy.

Reception at KSM

He was busy with some discussion; still he accommodated a few minutes to speak with us. He spoke about the design concept of the office, the concept of staggered levels which allowed for a visually connected internal environment. This was covered up with an outer shell. To remove visual hindrances and to make the visual appearance of the whole space light they had used steel supports (having smaller cross section) instead of RCC columns, in the central part of the office supporting the staggered levels. One thing shared by him which I consider as very important was, the design of the office itself is such that, it helps the him in telling the clients of what kind of design language one can expect if KSM is doing the project. I put on record my thanks to Ar. Sriram Ganapathy to have spared some time for us.

Myself and Ar. Shoonya at KSM. One can see the difference in levels and the visual connect between levels

The upper level used as a library/display

The next opportunity to visit an office came on the Sunday the 13^th Oct. On Saturday due to the visit of our PM and Chinese premier I thought it was not a great idea to venture out. One important factor that stood apart this OOW was the info shared on social media like Facebook both by CAF and different participating offices. Through this I got to know 2 offices were open on Sunday too. I took this opportunity and visited 2 offices, this time alone without any company.

I visited Murali Architects. It was easy to identify the office from outside because of the red color angular staircase element, which reminds one of Architect Bernard Tschumi. Here it was Ar. Venkat a Junior architect at the firm who took me through the office and gave explanation on different projects and ideas incorporated in them. Personally, it was the Udavum karangal hospital project which stood apart, for its simple yet vibrant design approach. Here too the office was staggered but in a different way, unlike KSM. The building is a combination of an Architects house and office combined. The increase in projects leading to increase in work space gave rise to an uppermost level work space to access which is that red angled staircase. I should confess that the experience of climbing that staircase was quite different.

Entry to Murali Architects. The red stair element from front

While I was about to leave Ar. Murali Murugan had come to office. I met him and left immediately. It was a short meeting as he was in the middle of a client meeting and I did not want to take much of his time then. Personally though I wanted to chat with him for long, but as was busy left it for some other day. I could have waited, but having known about marathon meetings that Murali sir has with his clients I decided to leave and visit one more office that was open that day.

Ar. Venkat wlaking down on that staircase

The next on the list was PADGRO, who were kind enough to be open on Sunday. They had setup a a basement space as an exhibition hall and put up panels of their work. Mr. Ramesh and Urban planner explained me the projects. Ar. Nischal, also was present and gave his inputs. At PADGRO I also got the opportunity to meet senior Architect B S Moorthy. One important thing which they are doing is working on different projects with the government. Many Architects shy away from working with government for various reasons, but defying many odds they are working on various projects for different governments and corporations. I think only if architects take this responsibility to work with the government, will there be betterment in the environment we live in.

The front facade of PADGRO covered with greenery

Coincidentally, I visited both Murali Architects and PADGRO one after the other and both showcased their proposal for the late Chief Ministers memorial. One designed by Ar. Murali is being built. What stands of in the process is healthy competition between two architectural practices of the city. (I have my own reservation on this project itself. Not on the design)

Very well setup display in the basement at PADGRO

Next in the list was ARCHITECTURE RED, the last I visited. It was again Ar. Shoonya who accompanied me. As soon as we entered, there was kind of a small hall with different projects and models displayed. That scene itself spoke about the magnitude of projects they are doing and at the same time how different their projects were from what are coming up usually around us. Here again our Ar. Ummi Fathima Alumni of MEASI took us around explaining different projects. We could also meet Ar. Oveas Ahmed and Ar. Mohamed Muaviya our former students and were happy to know that they were doing good in arguably one of the better architecture firms in today’s context in Chennai.

Entry hall at Architecture RED displaying their projects and models

One of the models at Architecture RED

A selfie for this occasion. Right to Left: Myself, Ar. Oveas, Ar. Muaviya, Ar. Shoonya and Ar. Ummi Fathima

OOW 2019 was a very good experience for me. Got an idea of what different offices are doing, their ideologies, their working space and work culture. Getting to meet old students and to see they are doing good is so satisfying and these kind of events facilitate that. I would like to wholeheartedly thank Chennai Architecture Foundation for having organized something like this and looking forward to more such events. T H A N K    Y O U   C A F.

Thanks to KSM, Murali Architects, PADGRO and ARCHITECTURE RED.

Note: One architect asked why is that not many students are visiting. I told him it may be because of the timing of the program during the October month. This is the time when the semester ends and students are busy doing their submissions. The program a week or 2 earlier would have had more student visitors. I think so.

Hope you enjoyed reading!!!

Muzakkir G. M. Bijli