Pics: Meryick D’Silva
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (DV/KK)
Mangalore, Apr 11: “Mangalore is a small city which needs good infrastructure. The Architects Guild has come out with a special initiative ‘Mangalore First’ with emphasis on water, traffic and waste management and without political involvement. Hence everyone should support this cause,” said Charles Correa, an internationally renowned architect.
He was addressing an interaction programme organized by the Architects Guild at Bharath Mall’s multiplex theater here on Thursday April 10.
He said, “Many buildings coming up in the city; they have to give importance to landscape and the cultural heritage by considering the climate here.
"Architects should have a good imagination and vision," he added.
"A building is one which stands on a piece of land. Buildings should be constructed in view of the present culture and heritage of the land with the use of technology. Hence, this is a challenge in architecture,” he added.
"A painter can change his brush stroke if it goes wrong, but it is not possible with architecture. An architect requires good imaginative power and reasoning abilities."
Charles Correa expressed his views about the old buildings in the city. He spoke about his visit to St Aloysius College and said, “It is so cool and no air condition or fans are required. Buildings in Mangalore should be constructed considering the humid conditions; it is the duty of the architects to come up with designs that will be suitable for the existing climate.”
Charles Correa presented a brief explanation about his various projects, like the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial museum at Sabarmathi in Ahmedabad, the Kanchanjunga apartment tower in Mumbai and the Champalimaud Center for the Unknown in Lisbon, Portugal.
A short movie directed by Sankalp Meshram, ‘Journey into the Unknown’ was screened.
In answer to questions from the audience, Charles Correa said, “Architecture is an art as well as a commercial practice. There should be an agenda provided for setting good architecture.”
Nagesh Putaswamy of UltraTech cement and Christopher Norohna honoured Charles and Monica Correa, while Vinod Rana welcomed the gathering.