Looking beyond for a social cause

Ar. Yatin Pandya, Principal Architect, Footprints E.A.R.T.H

In the aggressive world of competitive architecture, establishing an individual's creative identity  requires fathomless perseverance and tremendous will to work. Yatin Pandya, an Architect of international recognition and repute is one such personality, who has changed the lives of people struggling to get a roof over their head. An academician, author, researcher and a well known architect, Yatin has established his firm deservingly named as Footprints E.A.R.T.H in Ahmedabad. His works in the field of architecture are extremely charming and fascinating. An architectural firm well known for urban planning and housing has carved its image on the sands of time. Working hard to improve the lives of people in the poverty stricken area of Vadodara, Yatin and his team has made the difference. The vision of the organization was to provide space to the deserving people at a very moderate price and to improve the standard of living of the underprivileged people.  Ar. Yatin graduated from CEPT University and later pursued his masters in Architecture at McGill University, Montreal. Built expressions caught up with Ar. Yatin to know more about the scope and future of architecture in India.

Importance of Architecture

Ar. Yatin explains, "Seventies and eighties was the fertile time for Indian architecture when it questioned the core issues of architecture within the parlance of the Indian milieu. It broke the bounds of system, freed from the shackles of masters as well as came out of the shadows of world architecture". There were plural and multiple approaches chosen to address core issues of socially appropriate architecture with Indian ethos and sensibilities. This is the era after the euphoria of an independent nation to leapfrog in to global scenario and futility of search for answers from Global arena had realized that one has to look within for meaningful answers. This was therefore the time there was search for Indian identity and contextually appropriate architecture. Different paths were explored from: appropriate technology being an answer to interpreting and inferring from Indian traditional architecture, to even pursuing higher technologies.

Vision of Footprints E.A.R.T.H

Ar. Yatin’s firm Footprints E.A.R.T.H. is a professional service organization involved in environmental studies, architectural design, indigenous research, alternative technology and affordable housing. Research, applied research and dissemination are tri prong activities of the organization. Contextual relevance, socio cultural appropriateness, affordability, sustainability and humaneness are the primary concerns for the design at Footprints E.A.R.T.H. It deals with diverse scales of projects ranging from eco townships, institutional campuses, mass housing schemes, slum improvement initiatives, residences, exhibitions, and interior design as well as graphic and product designs. The practice is research based and the endeavor is to evolve development norms and standards which are indigenous and stems from socio cultural realities of our contexts in India. In addition to architectural practice and research the organization also is involved in academic endeavors. It conducts short term design studios as training programs for national and international students. Organization has also taken initiatives in raising awareness for cultural and architectural heritage of the city, to develop educational material in print and audio visual format, as well as to charter the cause of barrier free/ universal designs.

Meaning of Sustainability

According to Ar. Yatin, 'sustainability is phenomenon and not a formula'. Sustainability is also to be holistic concept not only dealing with resource management but also timeless aesthetics, socio cultural appropriateness, structural efficiency as well as affordability. Buildings last longer than us and therefore it needs to sustain over changed time and therefore timeless aesthetics is an important dimension of sustainable design. Also buildings are for people and therefore they have to be appropriate to their needs and priorities. Environmental management within frugal consumption of resources with minimum of waste is absolutely the need of the hour. Traditional and vernacular architecture of India have shown great sensibilities in these aspects and in many ways have been the role models to learn from and emulate. While there is growing acceptance of sustainability issues in current times from clients to creators there is no deeper engagement, inquiry or agreement with its directions and approaches, therefore there are many questionable resolutions even under the pretext of sustainability.

Sharing one's knowledge

Ar. Yatin is a person who's very keen on disseminating his knowledge to others. Knowledge is a gift which is earned through observing, experience and by grasping from others. In order to excel in any specific field or profession, one must have the capability of learning in depth. This can motivate the individual to come up with more solutions and to face any kind of challenges. Ar. Yatin as a person of knowledge and skills likes to share it widely with everyone else. Ar. Yatin says, "It's a long process where one should have patience to learn more and update on one’s own. Sharing one’s knowledge will help the individual to understand better about the subject and practical experience will teach an individual how to handle things during crucial times." A professional person is like an agent who transfers information in the form of lecture to educate them on various matters and topics. Architectural education is concerned with mental, moral as well as aesthetic sensibilities.  It is an effective combination of information, skills and values.  Information varies with time and space and hence, calls for constant updating.  This process of updating continues through professional practice and does not alter the educational format. Interior Designer's skills essentially concern spatial perception and are nearly constant and universal. The values are eternal. Therefore the education has to base itself on more fundamental attributes which develop the critical faculties and raises consciousness. Such an education prepares the younger generations to face any kind of challenges and handle situations during arduous times.

Traditional and Modern Architecture

Tradition depends on the place and people. It has played a vital role in forming a perfect resolution and it is a balanced resolution accounting for culture, climatic and construction technology of the given place. Thus tradition is still been accepted in the present time and also adds lot value to everything. Even today tradition is prevailing in every field and long lasting not simply because it is old but is an effective, time tested resolution out of accumulated wisdom. Modern need not be anti thesis to the same but is largely as applied remains to be universal rather than local, designer centric rather than user centric and externally overlaid rather than intuitively evolved from the place. Therefore tradition and modern architecture are like a hybrid seed, which will reproduce the fruit of finest structures in the field of architecture.

 Spreading Indian Architecture

Ar. Yatin has an attachment towards our Indian Architecture, so he likes to spread about it worldwide and draw the attention of various other architects towards India. He tells that there is a growing need to share Indian interpretations and perspectives through as much more publications from our soil and scholars. Right and scholarly interpretation helps see India, its culture and architecture not as aspects of bygone history or as ritualistic recordings but truly as role model for experientially engaging timeless architecture with frugal resources. Indian culture architecture boasts of plurality to satisfy diverse value systems, frugality by optimizing resource consumption, timelessness by remaining awe inspiring even after millennium as well as spiritually nourishing by philosophical engagements.

Conservation Projects

India is well known for its heritage and tradition, history tells us about our tradition through the remarkable structures constructed by the ruling kingdoms over here. But we are still following our Indian culture and tradition at present in our daily life. So is our monumental structure which resembles our Indian tradition. Ar. Yatin feels that he has the responsibility to protect our heritage monuments which portrays about our country and its tradition. Archaeological survey of India is largely keen on embalming monuments and freezing them. They are more pre occupied with material restoration rather than the spirit of structure. Very little is institutionalized neither rules are framed to conserve our living traditions which are fast falling prey to insensitive development approaches and market forces. Law of antiquity is concerned with time while the conservation ideology of other developed places talks about representative values.

Ar. Yatin and his team had the privilege of restoring two of Le Corbusier's projects in Ahmedabad and also designing city museum and exhibition in them for adaptive reuse. Only of its kind as City museum- in India also embodies history as well as heritage of city by showcasing culture, craft, architecture, craft, art and institutions as well as individuals of the city of Ahmedabad. Ar. Yatin has also taken the initiative in preparing publications, video documentaries and design souvenirs to popularize these monuments very innovatively.

Slum Development Initiatives

"There's a huge population of under privileged people in every state," he states while speaking on slum improving initiatives. Mass housing is an issue in the urban areas of India.  Ar. Yatin feels that a house is very essential for every human being to spend rest of their lives, which is very crucial for them to own a small space or land. It is not only a shelter but also embodies the values of the users and forms an integral part of their life as well as the social milieu. Therefore 'I decided to bring about a change in the lives of the poor. I took up many projects in slum redevelopment, one of the largest affordable housing projects for the urban poor I was connected with the city of Indore. 6500 family sites and services project had been a path maker in terms of settlement design with low rise high density developments, distributed yet interconnected network of open spaces, incrementally growing houses and house form variations in mass housing. Post earthquake rehabilitation in 18 villages of Gujarat was exploration in participatory design processes and alternative technologies'. Involving with activity centre in a squatter settlement was an opportunity to innovate and apply recycled waste building components as an answer to local employment opportunity, waste reduction and cost optimization. Similarly innovating solutions to bring in light and ventilation in slum houses for women's organization helped evolve low cost design developments to affect positively the masses. Apart from this it also persuaded me to come up with innovative ideas and low cost design developments. Thus these encounters helped me to understand the lives and minds of the people but have also forced to explore new dimensions.

Milestones in career

Ar. Yatin has achieved several landmark milestones in his career. If we trace back the path he has tread and connect the dots, we realize the enormity of the work that is carried out under his able leadership A few names which brought him on the global map and making his firm's flag high with selfless pride are the Post Earthquake Rehabilitation Settlement in Gujarat, Environmental sanitation Institute (Sughad), Manavsadhna Activity Centre, Shahjahan residence and Evosys.

Built Expressions salutes these men who care nothing about them but still make enormous difference by working for the society. 

APPROVED QUOTES

1. "Seventies and eighties was the fertile time for Indian architecture when it questioned the core issues of architecture within the parlance of the Indian milieu. It broke the bounds of system, freed from the shackles of masters as well as came out of the shadows of world architecture".
2. "Sustainability is phenomenon and not a formula"
3. "This is the era after the euphoria of an independent nation to leapfrog in to global scenario and futility of search for answers from Global arena had realized that one has to look within for meaningful answers."
4. Therefore the education has to base itself on more fundamental attributes which develop the critical faculties and raises consciousness. Such an education prepares the younger generations to face any kind of challenges and handle situations during arduous times.