As a studio which believes in the notion of a brief study before we jump into design development, very elaborate research studies have been carried out for multiple purposes.
The thin veil between Private and Public Accessibility – Verandahs [A Study]
Written by: Lakshmi Prasanna
Verandah – These abstract spaces have the ability to retain and give a new character or perhaps revive the historic foundations of Indian architecture. In addition to connecting the streets, these areas serve as a buffer between indoor and outdoor activity. From casual greetings to informal discussions these spaces host activities which caters to all age groups while bringing back the authenticity of the culture. The activities that are associated through these grey zones often bring in more human interaction and it is crucial to emphasize on such spaces in today’s world where urbanization is driving people towards the center. Traditionally these spaces are adorned, worshipped, and curated along the line of the street connecting the voids from the streets to the internal spaces. Though the functionality of these spaces remains constant with time and space they have started to vary in their sizes and shapes. The weather has a significant impact shaping verandas, with the constant wind movement and to cut off the heat people often spend most of their time in these spaces.
Bridging the gap between these grey spaces through architecture has gradually declined with the growing technology. People are rather focusing on extending their own private niches in the back end of the house, which offers more private outdoor experience while these threshold spaces are slowly growing out of sight. The sense of community in shared spaces has diminished due to the loss of these transitional space between the public and private spheres. Own private buildings and mechanical public spaces took over a drastic change in the current urban scenario. Through the journey of reattempting and bringing back these nostalgic spaces it all falls back to the time and space that lies within.
“Festivals were celebrated,
Gossips were spilled
But with time, they started disappearing
A mystical character in between that is lost in its own realm of charm?”