|
The Birla White Yuva Ratna
Awards were instituted in 2004 to recognise and
reward budding talent in the field of architectural
design. The awards are an initiative to bring
innovative design concepts to light, so that they
can be an inspiration for others to think beyond.
This
year's Birla White Yuva Ratna Awards called for
design entries in three categories — creation
of murals / items using Levelplast,
creation of designs / textures for walls using
Textura
and creation of a symbolic mural.
This
year a total of 1,532 entries from 961 students
across 45 colleges were received. Forty four budding
designers emerged as winners. The jury for the contest
comprised of four eminent and internationally renowned
architects namely Christopher Beninger, Raja Aederi,
Kamal Malik and D.M. Upasani.
In
the Levelplast category, two all-India prizes
and five state level prizes were awarded. In the
Textura category, there were two all-India prizes
and 15 first and second prizes at the state level.
In the symbolic creation category, two all-India
prizes were awarded.
The
winners of the prestigious competition were
declared and felicitated on 24 January 2007 by
Mrs. Rajashree Birla, Director, Aditya Birla Group
of Companies and Chairperson, Aditya Birla Centre
for Community Initiatives and Rural Development.
The
following is the text of the speech delivered
by Mrs. Birla.
“I
have had the privilege of being associated with
these Awards for the last three years and I must
say that the response of the community of budding
architects has been gaining momentum. From just
657 entries in 2004 to 1532 entries this year,
from 14 colleges in 2004 to 45 colleges today
and beginning with just seven states, today there
are 15 participating states. This is indeed both
encouraging and impressive. Let me therefore first
compliment our Birla White Cement team for this
initiative and for encouraging students to rise
to their creative potential. Second, let me congratulate
all the winners. Here is wishing you all the very
best of creativity as you climb up the architectural
ladder.
"While
the contest has been growing from strength to strength,
I find the creativity of these budding architects
is also on the rise. Every year I see better and
better designs. Of course this year I noticed that
you all have worked on different mediums such as
Textura and Levelplast Birla White. I have been
quite fascinated by your designs. They are different.
The prize of winning entries have all highlighted
unusual motifs — a three dimensional plate,
raised floral design, football on a wall, abstractions
— men ad women, animals as well as geometrical
patterns.
"Even
as I witness designs changing year after year, I
find architecture itself evolving. I would like
to share some of my thoughts on this. When I look
back and reminisce about some of the architectural
wonders of the past, still very appealing, I think
of the Victorian and Edwardian structures across
our country. They are awesome and inspiring.
"Take
Mumbai itself — where you have quite a few
of the oriental flourishes such as the Victoria
Terminus and the Bombay Municipal building. These
are both architectural structures of the 1880s,
done by the architect F.W. Stevens. Then the city’s
architectural monuments — the Prince of Wales
Museum and the beautiful Gateway of India.
"Go
down to the East, and you see the Victoria Memorial
Hall in Kolkata which has been designed by William
Emerson. I find it so defiantly classical in design,
vaguely mirroring the Taj Mahal. Overall, it is
a splendid monument.
"Down
South, in Chennai, you have the Presidency College,
conceptualised by Robert Chishlom. He, as perhaps
many senior architect fraternity present here
may be aware, came to teach art in Calcutta. He
later headed the Industrial School of Art in Chennai.
He rose to become the Principal of the Government
College of Arts & Crafts in Chennai. He designed
the Presidency College, Madras, when he won the
competition to do so. He also designed the Senate
House.
"Later
Chishlom and Henry Irwin built a skyline for Madras
– that was brilliantly elegant. Towers, domes,
arches, polished and unpolished granite work from
South India, pillars from every Greek school, carved
arches from Islamic architecture — characterised
architecture in Madras.
"Up
North, it has been very much the same story. Beautiful
pre-modern structures including bungalows dot
its prime areas.
"Today,
I believe, Indian architecture is passing through
a transitional phase. Even as the monuments of the
past are held in awe, the buildings of the past
seem redundant. The new buzz on the block is “progressive
and modern”, not necessarily authentically
Indian.
"We
stand on the cusp of a dynamic period of change
for India’s cities. There is a distinct shift
from traditional architecture to modern western
architecture where you have dizzying skyscrapers.
"The
concept of “green buildings” or eco-friendly
structures is also gaining ground. Electronic
monitoring of carbon-dioxide levels is becoming
popular. Abundant natural light and water harvesting
is becoming a decisive force in construction.
Earth-friendly designs are coming in. Glass-glazing,
aluminium cladding and the use of glass reinforced
cement have altered the form of buildings.
"I
have recently seen a multi-storied building in Mumbai
standing on 100 ft. stilts and soaring into the
sky. Obviously the objective of such structures
is to give a sense of expanse and spaces to reflect.
At the same time the architecture is minimalist,
even though there is exuberance in the use of building
techniques, angles and some stylistic reference,
it is very different and eclectic in a manner of
sorts. I do believe, this will increasingly be the
trend of times we live in.
"And
we look upto budding architects and senior fraternity,
to bring in even more refreshing landscapes and
skylines first to our city and then all over our
country.”
|
