Urban Built Environment

A Philosophical touch

Ar. Jaisim Krishna Rao, founder, Jaisim-Fountainhead Building on a philosophy that is committed to the earth and dedicated to the client, has been the cardinal principle of every creation that is manifested by Jaisim-Fountainhead. Each building bears the unmistakable trademark of Jaisim - iconoclastic, individualistic and eco-friendly. Ar. Jaisim Krishna Rao, founder of Jaisim-Fountainhead, tells Built Expressions that to achieve an eco-friendly city macro developments should happen far between interconnected by rapid transport.

BE: What are the several issues identified with sustainable Urban Built Environment? How do we proactively address them?

JKR: Rapid Urbanisation is what is perceived in the day to life of a citizen. Actually it is NOT rapid enough to sustain equitable growth. As Human values of life is more and more technologically driven, it demands a lot of inter disciplinary interaction both vertical and horizontal.  This integration cannot be subtle. It will have clashes. The language of EKISTICS very clearly teaches us that the ingress of people in to urban areas is inevitable. Slums are not just poor people. It is people moving in like a flood or a slow seepage. It only depends on the magnetic dynamics that drive the potential of economic development in the standard of life of each and every human being. Unfortunately cities that were designed for a micro-percent of this movement cannot in any manner bear the impact. Again attempting to ad hoc modify the existing, by widening streets and adding FSI is a short sighted approach which only adds to the urban misery of quality of life.

BE: What are the effects of Urbanisation on environment? How do we mitigate this challenge in urban environment?

JKR: The overall impact of urbanisation is loss of sensitivity and evolved human values. Both these demand a transition. It is not easy to plan for something that we cannot predict. Human activity is and will move more and more towards a very eccentric and high pressure interaction. Personal relationship will no longer be the driving force. Neighbourhoods will not be with neighbours but only diverse residents. This is very evident in high rise apartments where no one knows the next door. If there are any interactive sessions it is more abstract and social rather than meaningful dialogue.

BE:  As an architect, how do you visualize a future Eco Friendly City? What important parameters of built environment this city shall address?

JKR: As an Architect concerned at least in the abstract I perceive the new MEGAPOLIS to be an ECUMENOPOLIS. In these spaces all human activity will be integrated within a large interconnected space - they could be gigantic structures above and below ground. These macro developments should happen far between interconnected by rapid transport. The economic activity will be a hub which will speak out to residential and other day to day movements like education and impulse entertainment. These parameters will not disturb the overall visual environment. They may in fact promote a whole new set of yet unimagined origins to different life styles. That is the challenge that awaits an awakening in the vision and architectural solutions that have yet not crossed human minds. It is an amazing future that awaits the brave and bold.

BE: What are the energy efficiency options that should be made mandatory in a building at the time of plan approval? Are there any steps initiated by the concerned authorities in this direction?

JKR: Energy -Water - green spaces - fear of these are myths. As long as humans THINK there can be no shortage of anything. The only possible argument can be - efficient use - but then what is efficient use? Who decides when milk becomes butter milk, butter or Ghee? And when it does become ghee, it is used to opiate the Gods! So, one buys bigger faster cars to go nowhere. But what and when is where?

I am personally of the opinion, less the authorities interfere the better we are. A few in powers cannot decide or dictate the life style of one and all.

BE: What is the impact of embodied energy of construction materials in the construction of High Performance buildings for sustainable future?

JKR: This is a misconception. Materials that seem to have less embodied energy demand a lot of energy to become usable elements. At the same time certain materials that have high embodied energy become usable with minimum effort.  This was one's ability to discern and create or innovate demands imaginative perceived solutions if not answers to any built space.  Energy can neither be created not destroyed. It is there. But the manifestation of many avatars demands responses that the Human life in this world demands.

Life cannot be static. It is a continuum of evolving growth. Today one cannot list constraints for the demands of a tomorrow. Live today with that sense of having achieved with joy and happiness. Tomorrow will take care of itself. What should be architect's objective and goal is to make the best of anything with the ability one possesses at that moment. Perfection is a imagined race of the infinite.

I may sound more philosophical than practical. But that is what has been missing. One must know why one is doing what. And into this doing energy gets embodied. Thinking and Acting upon that with courage and conviction is the optimized efficient expression of life in its highest form -built expressions…