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its a weapon to set a child free.

CRY | CHILD RELIEF & YOU

this is not a pen,

>EDITORIAL

oseph Allen Stein passed away in October 2001 in North Carolina, USA. His significant contribution to the post indepen-

features case study of Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi where water harvesting techniques have been successfully adopted to ameliorate the scarcity of water in a rocky terrain. briefly introduces various parameters such as location, shape, finishes etc. to be considered while designing pools. In the horticulture section, Dr. Saroj Tuli lists a few tips for making hanging baskets and better flower arrangements. With this issue, the journal completes its first year. It certainly has been a hard and struggling year, but positive response and encouragement from all has inspired us to keep going... No words can express our sincere thanks and gratitude to our advisory panel, who has guided us at all times, especially in these ini-

tial stages. We would also like to thank our readers and subscribers, and professionals, students, institutions, people from building industry and many others for their constant support. Wishing you all a very happy and peaceful year ahead.

dence Indian architecture stands apart. A distinguished architect and an inspiring professional, he shall always be remembered for his strong environmental concerns. In this issue, we pay our tribute to this great architect. In the special feature on him, Shri A. P. Kanvinde, his contemporary, shares some thoughts regarding his association with him. Prof. Ravindra Bhan, eminent landscape architect remembers him as a very sensitive person. Anuraag Chowfla, who was associated with Stein for the last twenty five years, talks about aspects of Steins life - both professional and personal.
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INNER COURT, INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE (IIC), NEW DELHI. ARCHITECT: JOSEPH ALLEN STEIN

COVER: STEPPED ENTRANCE TO THE GLASSHOUSE AT LODI GARDEN, NEW DELHI. ARCHITECT: JOSEPH ALLEN STEIN

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4th water asia 2002

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION ON ASIAN WATER INDUSTRY 30TH JANUARY 1ST FEBRUARY, 2002 | PRAGATI MAIDAN, NEW DELHI

>CONTENTS

VOLUME I / ISSUE 4 / WINTER 2001-2002

06 07 09

NEWS LETTERS ANNOUNCEMENT

GENDER AND THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT

SYMPOSIUM TRIBUTE: JOSEPH ALLEN STEIN 11

JOSEPH STEIN IN INDIA

A. P. KANVINDE

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A DEEP PERSONAL LOSS...

PROF. RAVINDRA BHAN

14

NATURE IN THE CITY

ADIT PAL

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A GLOBAL MAN IN A TRUE SENSE...

CONVERSATION WITH ANURAAG CHOWFLA LANDSCAPE DESIGN

20

RAINWATER HARVESTING: PART 2

CASE STUDY - JNU, NEW DELHI

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SWIMMING POOLS
SAMIR MATHUR HORTICULTURE

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26
32 STUDENTS SECTION

HANGING BASKETS BETTER FLOWER ARRANGEMENT

DR. SAROJ TULI

RIVER YAMUNA: PRESENT STATUS & A VISION FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

PRIYANKA BATRA 34 TECHNOLOGY

Editor : Associate Editor : Advisory Panel :

AUTODESK VIZ 4
36 WEB SITES

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Brijender S. Dua Geeta Wahi Dua Savita Punde, Landscape Architect Manoj Mathur, Architect Adit Pal, Landscape Architect Nimret Handa, Nature Writer Overseas Correspondent : Runit Chhaya, New York Design : Grafiniti

www.topos.de
KNOW

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BAUHINIA PURPUREA

YOUR

PLANTS

REGISTRATION NUMBER : DELENG/2000/2943 // Duration of Print : Quarterly, 4 issues per year. Editorial and Subscription Office : C-589, Vikas Puri, New Delhi 110 018 Phone : 550 7652, 552 7652 (Telefax) E-mail : grafiniti@satyam.net.in Owned, Printed & Published by Brijender S. Dua, C-589, Vikas Puri, New Delhi 110 018 Printed at Kaveri Printers, 4634/19-A, Daryaganj, Delhi 110 002

WHILE EVERY EFFORT WAS MADE TO TRACE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND OBTAIN PERMISSION WHERE REQUIRED, IT HAS NOT BEEN POSSIBLE IN ALL THE CASES. ANY CLARIFICATION IN THIS REGARD W OULD BE REMEDIED IN FUTURE ISSUES . VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THE JOURN AL ARE THA T OF THE AUTHORS AND DO NO T NECESSARIL Y REFLECT THOSE OF THE EDIT OR ISSUES. JOURNAL THAT NOT NECESSARILY EDITOR OR THE PUBLISHER. THE EDIT ORS DO THEIR UTMOST TO VERIFY INFORMA TION PUBLISHED , B UT THEY DO NO T ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ITS ABSOL UTE ACCURA CY . NO P AR T OF EDITORS INFORMATION PUBLISHED, BUT NOT ABSOLUTE CCURACY CY. PAR ART THE JOURN AL MA Y BE REPR ODUCED OR UTILIZED IN ANY FORM OR BY ANY MEANS , ELECTR ONIC OR MECHANICAL OR BY ANY INFORMA TION ST ORA GE OR RETRIEV AL SY STEM, WITHOUT JOURNAL MAY REPRODUCED MEANS, ELECTRONIC INFORMATION STORA ORAGE RETRIEVAL SYSTEM, WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE EDITOR.

>NEWS

OUR BUILT HERITAGE IS OUR IDENTITY, LETS PRESERVE IT...

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Scope of the work of the Committee shall aim at formulating developmental controls and construction guidelines for carrying out any modifications / alteration in respect of these unprotected heritage buildings and sites in the walled city and notifications of the list of these areas under DDA Act along with the amendments in the Master Plan of Delhi. The work shall also include examining proposals of alterations of these areas, given by private bodies, govt. organizations or individuals and giving necessary clearance for carrying out the work. Anyone seeking to have a particular entry deleted from the list of these heritage buildings on the ground that it has no heritage value, or to add an entry to the list that it has heritage value can apply for the purpose to the Committee. It has been further decided that no heritage building shall be demolished, altered, repaired, modified, reconstructed or changed in its facade without seeking permission from the Committee. For further information: Committee for Heritage Buildings, Office of Chief Town Planner, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Nigam Bhavan, Kashmere Gate, Delhi 110 006 Tel: 91-11-396 6788

MOSQUE AT KASHMERE GATE, OLD DELHI

The Zonal Plan for walled city (Old Delhi, Shahjahanabad) has identified certain areas of importance, which require to be conserved or else, need to be maintained, while dealing with the buildings of this zone. These are areas of conservation, different control zones, and identified buildings of urban heritage as well as the monuments of historical importance, as listed by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Over the last decade, the walled city has witnessed tremendous growth in terms of new built up structures and settlement colonies. While the monuments protected by the ASI have been identified and listed in the Zonal Plans, no exercise has been carried out for other buildings of historical significance. These structures have been altered and new portions are constructed without any planning norms and guidelines. This has resulted in severe distortion of the character of the old city. The Indian Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), a non government national organization has compiled a list of buildings all over Delhi, which need to be conserved. However, no development norms are given along the list. In order to distinguish between the heritage buildings with reference to:
z

ALL INDIA WINTER ROSE SHOW

All India Winter Rose Show was organized by the Rose Society of India and the Indian Rose Federation. This show was held for two days (22 - 23 December, 2001) in National Rose Garden, New Delhi. This annual show, covering an area of almost 6 acres, exhibited more than 100 varieties of roses. Exhibits were invited from all over India under various classes like fragrant roses grown under natural conditions, under green house conditions, polyantha variety, miniature variety and climbing roses variety among others.
For further information: The Rose Society of India, Dr Bharat Ram, President, C/o Shri Ram Rayons, 4th Floor, Akash Deep , Barakhamba Road, New Delhi 110 001

Total prohibition of any construction, in respect of specified heritage buildings; Permitting renovation / repairs / reconstruction of other heritage buildings, retaining the outer envelope / facade;

and to regulate uncontrolled developments in these historically important buildings in future, a committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Chief Town Planner, Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Other members of the Committee include representatives (including architects and town planners) from INTACH, Delhi Development Authority (DDA), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) and ASI.
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>NEWS

>LETTERS

CHRYSANTHEMUM SHOW
Biswajit Roy

It was interesting to read the interview with landscape architect Michael Van Valkenburgh (Intuition interests me..., Issue 3, Monsoon 2001). He comes across as a simple and straight forward personality who has no qualms admitting that he feels uncomfortable working in a foreign culture or that at times he does rely on his intuitive senses for his design concerns. In an age of showmanship and, at times, forced concepts in almost every field including that of architecture, a lot of our own professionals here would do well to learn a few things from him. I would certainly like to see more of Michaels projects in your future issues. A. Siddharth, Bangalore Come winters and you have one of the most popular flowers Chrysanthemum, for pots, baskets, beds and any other flower arrangement. The flower has a list of amazing varieties in different colors, sizes and shapes. Its bloom lasts over a period of a couple of months and continues to look attractive in a semi dry condition. All India Chrysanthemum Show 2001 was organized on 1st - 2nd December, 2001 at DDA Park, Purana Quila, New Delhi. Organized by the Chrysanthemum Society of India and Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), this annual show is exclusively for showcasing various varieties of Chrysanthemums. This year, there were around 7000 exhibits. Prizes were given to various categories of the flower show including best chrysanthemum garden, small flowering in bush form, hanging baskets and islands of chrysanthemum.
For further information: Chrysanthemum Society of India, A-1/24, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi 110 029

Refer Rainwater Harvesting (Issue 3, Monsoon 2001), it is really unfortunate that almost always we tend to act quite late in the day. Mindless urbanization has resulted in India facing a plethora of problems including scarcity of water. Responsible use and tapping of natural resources like rainwater is the only way we can probably expect to survive in future. Mandatory application of rainwater techniques in all building projects in some states like Madhya Pradesh, is a right step in this direction. It should be definitely enforced in all other states as well. Raj K. Rathod, Bhopal It was good to see you introducing the concept of Cultural Landscapes (Cultural Landscapes, Issue 3, Monsoon 2001). I was particularly interested in its Indian context, which I found almost missing in the article. It certainly is a new issue as far as India is concerned. Along with its public awareness, stringent regulations need to be formulated for conservation of our heritage zones. Anant Varma, Ahmedabad I certainly enjoyed the article on Lodi Gardens as I walk there every evening. Patwant Singh, New Delhi

JO U

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Water refreshes thirsty roots and allows landscapes to flourish. It is essential that water is delivered in the right amount and where and when the same is needed. RAIN BIRD, worlds number one manufacturer of Irrigation Hardware Systems and a premier water resource management organization provides the industry with the most and effective water management products, systems and services. RAIN BIRD INTERNATIONAL, (USA), is represented in India by HARVEL IRRIGATION PRIVATE LIMITED - an irrigation engineering company whose core is built around the principle of cost effective excellence. HARVEL, as distributors of RAIN BIRD, offers an extensive range of irrigation systems and solutions for every irrigation requirement.
HARVEL IRRIGATIONS PRIVATE LIMITED, 304, Meghdoot, 94, Nehru Place, New Delhi 110 019 Tel: 6413370, 6424802, 6485365 | Fax: 91-11-6464819 E-mail : harvel@vsnl.com | Website: www.harvelindia.com

>ANNOUNCEMENT

Gender and the Built Environment

gender and the built environment

A SYMPOSIUM ORGANIZED BY WOMEN ARCHITECTS FORUM IN ASSOCIATION WITH CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING & TECHNOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING COLLABORATIVE, AHMEDABAD, FEBRUARY 7TH AND 8TH, 2002

Womens movements across the world throughout the 20th century have generated changes in social patterns, roles and lifestyles, in short, transformed identities. In India, since the past one decade, there is now 33% reservation for women in local governments. Departments of womens studies flourish in many universities and women have begun to occupy positions in the bureaucracy and in political life. Specifically, in the field of architectural education, 50% of the students are now girls and there are more women on the faculty and more women planners in the field than ever before. A symposium is being organized at Ahmedabad with the aim of exploring the gender perspective in architecture, urban design and planning and to examine the role of women as both consumers and creators of the built environment, particularly in the South Asian context. This symposium hopes to generate a debate on how womens needs may be better addressed and their capacities tapped in shaping the built environment.
Thematic Concerns Themes for the Sessions
z z z z z z z z

Appropriation of space is a political act and therefore, access to space is fundamentally related to status and power. Spatial arrangements in a society reflect and reinforce the nature of gender, race, caste and class relations. At various levels, from the city to the dwelling, the ideals and reality of the relationship between men and women is expressed in built form. Cultural rules govern the use of space and codes regulate behavior between genders. Over the years, increased attention has been focused on gender issues in fields such as the social sciences, politics, management and cultural studies. However, in the disciplines connected with the built environment, ideas and theories continue to remain male dominated. Today, women are better represented in urban planning as well as in housing policy groups. Systems in the building industry and urban planning policy are needed that are more gender sensitive. For example, new building byelaws being introduced for fire or earthquake safety could also include provision for wheel chair / baby carriage access in all public buildings. If fundamental change is to occur, it becomes imperative to theorize a gender perspective into the discipline that trains professionals. The symposium will focus on India and South Asia. The proceedings of the symposium would be later published.
Organizing Committee Madhavi Desai Architect and Faculty, CEPT,Ahmedabad ManuAgrawal Student,CEPT,Ahmedabad Malini Doshi Architect, Ahmedabad Dr Darshini Mahadevia Arch-Plan, CEPT,Ahmedabad Ismet Khambatta Arch-Urban Designer, HCPDPM,Ahmedabad Nivedita DLima Urban Designer, EPC,Ahmedabad Gita Shah Arch-Plan, GIDC, Gandhinagar Parul Jhaveri Architect, Abhikram, Ahmedabad

Building byelaws and planning policies. Gender and the public realm. Gender and the appropriation of private space Gender and the building industry Theorizing gender into the built environment Curriculum and pedagogy Education and faculty development Relationship with other theoretical perspectives and academic disciplines.

Follow up Activities

The findings of the symposium should be of value to academicians, theorists, practitioners, government policy makers and NGOs. The Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology includes Schools of Architecture, Planning and Building technology. It could take lead in developing a theoretical angle relating to gender and the built environment to be incorporated in design education in the country. The aim of Women Architects Forum is to work towards the empowerment of women professionals to make a positive and consistent contribution to the field in terms of practice, research and education. The symposium will help generate awareness on gender issues in government and private spheres and create a professional network at the South Asia level for an ongoing sustained dialogue. The document published at the end of the symposium will disseminate its findings to the broader academic and professional world in South Asia.
For further information: Madhavi Desai, Convener CEPT, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009 INDIA Fax: 91-79-6302075 | E-mail: mmdesai@icenet.net

>TRIBUTE

scape architects is very much aps it the setting of the parent in his works in India, espebuilding, its relationship cially the experiences gained durwith natural elements or ing his association with Telesis (in informal layout of the Greek, means progress intelligently open and built forms or its easy scale planned), a seminal voluntary aswith its sheer simplicity? What is it sociation of Bay area architects, that makes the experience of enterlandscape architects and planners, ing a Steins building so serene and so during 1940s, in San Francisco. peaceful? There will always be a mystery... Joseph Allen Stein was a man Throughout his professional career, very close to nature. Whether it is JOSEPH ALLEN STEIN apart from architectural projects, the urban setting of the India Habitat 1912-2001 he was also involved in many enCentre at New Delhi or the picturvironmental development proesque setting of hills for Kashmir Congrams. Some of these include the ference Centre, his imminence to nature and environmental concerns are very effectively interpreted development of Master Plan of Lodi Garden with landscape in his design vocabulary. His architectural designs were visualized architect Garrett Eckbo, Conservation of regional environas a combination of indoor and outdoor spaces, both merging to ment of the Himalayan mountain range including Master Plan create a perfectly harmonious setting. As a result his architectural for Dal Lake area and Gulmarg-Tanmarg area in the Kashbuilding blocks were never gigantic or over imposing but of a scale mir Valley and Environmental Development Planning for that is easy to relate with both man and nature. His buildings, Bhutan. along with their settings, are not only to be looked at. They are to After spending nearly five decades of his distinguished and sucbe experienced... cessful career in India, Padma Shree Joseph Allen Stein passed His influences of working with people like Richard Neutra, a dis- away on 6th October, 2001. He was 89. ciple of Frank Llyod Wright and San Francisco Bay Area land-

The entire earth, or at least its fertile portions, could be a garden of paradise, with intensive agriculture in the irrigated lowlands, protected wilderness in the highlands and well engineered, pleasant new towns sheltering both industrial and agricultural workers on the less fertile lower slopes. In the case of India, much of the country has an ideal geological structure for realizing such a pattern of total landscape, in which there would be room for all, including the creatures of wildness.
Joseph Allen Stein
- from Building in the Garden by Stephen White. Reprinted with kind permission of Oxford University Press, New Delhi.

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Photo courtesy: Sushant School of Art & Architecture Archives

>TRIBUTE

JOSEPH STEIN IN INDIA

ACHYUT P . KANVINDE

Architectural profession in India lost a fatherly figure with the passing away of Joseph Stein over two months back. Stein had been in teaching and practice for the last about forty five years. Starting at Calcutta, where he was associated with the Bengal Engineering College and also with the housing of Durgapur Township, he subsequently shifted to Delhi. His initial work was in the Aligarh University. Amongst his significant projects in Delhi was the India International Centre in early sixties. This was about the time that we used to meet very often and exchanged thoughts. I could appreciate his concern for values associated with building environment. The India International Centre was planned and completed around nineteen sixty one. So also was the American School in Delhi. These projects had a big impact on the architectural profession in the country.

Stein. Both, Neutra as well as Raymond, were onetime disciples of Wright. Joe actually was working with Richard Neutra at Los Angeles and Neutra one time was keen to have him as a partner in his office. Association of Raymond is seen in the India International Centre, particularly with the introduction of concrete shells similar to Aurobindo Ashram, Pondicherry. Among Steins other important projects are the Conference Centre at Srinagar, Industrial Complexes for the Escorts organization, Cement Research Institute at Faridabad, American School in Delhi and the last one and most important, in my opinion, is the Habitat Centre, Delhi. The greatest quality about his projects has been the transparency and mobility of spaces in association to landscape and also heritage buildings. This is actually in a way a continuity associated with New Delhi plan which is very significant and which, I feel, is in a way getting lost in the present daytime.

Architecture in the Twentieth Century, Taschen

...environment and building are one. Planting the ground around the building on the site as well as adorning the building take on new importance as they become features harmonious with the space-to-be-lived-in. Site, structure, furnishing... all these become as one in organic architecture. Therefore, all are elements of this synthesis of features of habitation... and [are] harmonious with the environment. This is what posterity will call modern architecture.

- from Building in the Garden by Stephen White. Reprinted with kind permission of Oxford UniversityPress, New Delhi.
FRANK LLYOD WRIGHT

Joe initially studied architecture at University of Illinois, USA. He then joined the Beaux Art School in Paris. He subsequently joined the School of Architecture at the Cranbrook Academy of Fine Arts. At that time, the Academy was headed by Eliel Saarinen who was a highly respected architect from Finland. Stein had a great respect and fascination about Frank Llyod Wright and his work, which also equally influenced him. Association with architects Richard Neutra and Antonin Raymond left a great impression on

We often met and exchanged thoughts on the professional scenario. During one of our meetings at the India International Centre, after his return to Delhi, when Mrs. Stein was no more, and his own health was not particularly in good condition, he mentioned to me that he would like to walk together with me on the plaza of Habitat Centre and also around the National Science Centre, Delhi. However, with his failing health such a thing was not to happen.

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>TRIBUTE

Steins contribution to modern Indian architecture, after Lutyens about seventy years back, is extremely significant and will remain as a great source of inspiration to the future generation of architects in India. One rarely comes across with someone like him, who is completely devoted to architecture. Architectural profession was fortunate with his association and participation in India. His association will always remain alive.
Eminent architect Achyut P. Kanvinde needs no introduction. Recepient of the Padma Shree in 1975 and one of the most respected architects in India today, Kanvinde is truly considered as one of the pioneers of Modern Movement in Indian architecture. Throughout his long and distinguished career, he has designed a variety of projects including instituitions, industrial and housing complexes.
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THE MEMORIAL PLAZA WITH INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE (IIC) COMPLEX AT THE BACKGROUND
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STEPPED OUTDOOR THEATRE AT TRIVENI KALA SANGAM, NEW DELHI

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>TRIBUTE

A DEEP PERSONAL LOSS...

PROF. RAVINDRA BHAN

Joseph Allen Steins passing away has been a great loss to society and a deep personal loss. I knew Joe Stein very closely since early seventies and admired him for work that showed great environmental concern and sensitivity in creating appropriate simplicity of built form, organization of open spaces, use of natural building materials and meticulous detailing of building components. His deep concern for environment could perhaps be traced back to his academic environment and the people with whom he got associated during his formative years. His association at Cranbrook (Detroit, Michigan - USA), where he completed part of his formal education under
Photo courtsey: Ravindra Bhan www.neutra.com

Although I did not have the privilege of working professionally as a landscape architect with Joe, but nonetheless we did interact and discuss with each other on a number of issues that concerned his projects. I would always treasure these discussions we had together. What made Joe Stein the architect, distinctively different from his contemporaries was his keen perception of understanding the building site. He was one of the few architects who knew well that shaping of land for human use should be based on the understanding of the natural processes which form it. This ecological viewpoint was Joes greatest strength, which led him to a holistic approach in visualizing a built form appropriate to its surroundings. He has been one of the very few architects in our country whose buildings have been successful in creating a union between man and nature. He was a great believer that regional identity can only grow out of an environmental context. He also believed that without coherent landuse solution, one cannot have a coherent urbanism and thus one cannot have a coherent architecture. His contribution to architecture in India has been very significant and he has left behind some of the finest arRICHARD NEUTRA, 1970 chitectural creations. One of his outstanding complexes built between 1959 - 62, India International Centre in New Delhi, will remain his memorable creation. As a person, he was a wonderful human being, caring, modest, decisive, soft spoken and a great teacher whose warm personality made one feel comfortable in his presence. He was a wonderful conservationist and above all a trusted friend who will be long remembered.

CRANBROOK ACADEMY OF ART, MICHIGAN, USA

architect Eliel Saarinen, had left a positive mark on his design philosophy of later years. The building complex designed by Saarinen at Cranbrook is a superb example of sensitively organized buildings and spaces with consistent use of natural building materials, unfailing control of scale, the play of water and the integration of Carl Milles sculptures. His later association with Richard Neutra, a disciple of Frank Llyod Wright, for whom Joe also worked for few years before starting his own practice in California, and also his association with landscape architects Garret Eckbo and Robert Royston, must have strengthened his bond with environmental concerns.

Professor Ravindra Bhan - Architect,Landscape Architect and Ecological Planner is one of the foremost practising landscape architects today. He is also a recepient of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture & Landscape for the MughalSheraton, Agra.

Source:

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>TRIBUTE

N AT U R E I N T H E C I T Y

ADIT PAL

It was a few years ago in a short encounter with the ever sharp Joseph Allen Stein that he leaned across his worktable and in a soft voice asked me if I knew what his favorite place was in New Delhi. Images of India International Centre and Triveni Kala Sangam drifted through my mind but I decided not to put my foot in my mouth and confessed ignorance. The answer initially surprised me for it was Prakriti the little nature shop located in the setback area to the south side of Triveni. Hidden away behind the main building, the impromptu nature of its bamboo and cane construction comes as a delightful surprise. In retrospect however, there is nothing surprising about Steins preference at all - with earthy pots and lush green plants set among the sound of trickling water, the intimate little shop must have struck a chord deep down in the heart of this simple man. The ambience of Prakriti also epitomizes the essence of Steins relationship with nature and his attitude to open spaces - he wanted people to feel good in and around his buildings and gardens, he wanted his places and spaces to elevate the spirit. Using the elements that are integral to human existence - earth, sky and water, he proportioned these beautifully in his work so that the right balance was struck and you simply felt good being there. At one level, the architecture of Stein is best described as tranquil and composed - his projects were to be an oasis of respite from the urban world around. The notion of proportioning the sky may seem odd at first glance but - if you think about it - in his projects, the amount of sky brought down to earth by the manipulation of scale and built form fits beautifully with the sense of place that he tried to create. The courtyard at Triveni, which surely must have been one of his favorite projects, is so oriented and scaled that it simply draws the morning sunlight down on to its garden terraces. Joseph Allen Stein was a liberal from all accounts and his open attitude towards life seems to manifest itself in the clean plans and lines of his buildings - they are essentially welcoming, not exclusionary. His background as a modernist architect in the spectacular natural surrounds of the San Francisco Bay-Area was replete with associations with the likes of the great modernist Richard Neutra. These influences resulted in an openness of plan that I would term modernist-Californian, apart from
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the International Style as it is more commonly referred to. The approach can be analyzed at one level in terms of architectural tectonics, but it also expresses an important attitude towards nature and the great outdoors, embodied in what Stephen White refers to in his book Building in the Garden, as the concept of collaborative environmental design.1 The transparency of the plan and the faade makes for a seamless visual integration between the room and nature. In the extreme climate of north India, home to the courtyard, Stein blended this approach with a more protective one in order to make his buildings habitable - resulting in the incorporation of semi-enclosed courtyard spaces and semi-covered building spaces protected by screens (jaalis). However, he strived to maintain the essential connection between the building and the garden, both in plan and in detail. The orientation and massing of the India International Centre and the Ford Foundation are such that the connection to Lodi Gardens (to the rear) is given its due importance. In Steins buildings, the view out to nature was all-important and the outside appears to flow inside. The complementary side of this approach was that his buildings never feel aloof from the landscape, an aspect reinforced by his sensitive use of natural materials. The vertical garden is characteristic of Steins projects, symbolic of what White refers to as a means towards transforming the urban environment.2 In keeping with this approach, window planters and terrace gardens have long been a trademark of Steins buildings, bringing the garden in, and adding a delicate touch to complement the earthy textures of the faade(s). Whether these have been successful or not has depended on the quality of horticultural maintenance - since in the hot north Indian climate, planters and terrace gardens are essentially high maintenance devices. The availability of cheap labor has meant that when there is a will, maintenance is effective. However, experience has shown that should the institution using the office space be uncooperative in letting gardeners tramp over their carpets - as could be in the case of a multi-tenant office building - these planters become essentially unviable to maintain in the long run. The attention to architectural detail in the works of Mr. Stein is well known - it stands as an example to students and practitioners of architecture anywhere in the world. And while his and Margaret Steins concern for nature and love of plants manifested themselves in vi-

>TRIBUTE

GLASSHOUSE AT LODI GARDENS, NEW DELHI

brancy in the herbaceous borders of the garden spaces, their somewhat colonial attitude to horticulture did not result in the same critical approach to planting design in the manner of the great landscape designers of the art-and-crafts movement - Beatrix Farrand and Gertrude Jekyll. One could also argue that his gardens are essentially passive in the sense that there are no normative ideas of cultural landscape, ecology, native planting or even exotic planting built into them. However, one has to keep in mind that when some of these gardens were conceptualized in the late 1960s and early 1970s, landscape architecture as a discipline was in its infancy in India. Secondly, this sort of criticism of Steins gardens might be hard to sustain, since a critical look at the landscape architecture profession in India today will show that most practitioners still deal with landscapes as gardenesque adjuncts of buildings, not spaces in their own right - and planting selection is usually on a limited botanical, not intellectual basis.

Among Steins projects, the one that most interests me is the Glasshouse at Lodi Gardens. Though not as finely crafted as the nearby International Centre, it is a beautifully proportioned set of modest structures in stone, steel and glass in which one can see the influence of the works of Frank Lloyd Wright on Stein. Along with the - unfortunately now demolished - Summerhouse at the India International Centre, the neglected Glasshouse must have been amongst Steins favorite places; these structures were about gardens and nothing else and brought nature to the forefront more than any of his other works did.

End Notes 1 White, Stephen, Building in the Garden, Oxford University Press, 1993. 2 Ibid. p.116.

Adit Pal did his masters in landscape architecture from the University of Pennsylvania. Practising landscape architect in New Delhi, he is also a visiting faculty member at Departments of Landscape Architecture and Urban Design, School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi. >e-mail: aditpal@satyam.net.in

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>TRIBUTE

A global man
I N C O N V E R S A T I O N

in the true sense...

A N U R A A G C H O W F L A

W I T H

Anuraag Chowfla did his graduation in architecture from MS University, Baroda. He joined the office of Joseph Allen Stein in New Delhi inDecember1977.Hedid MastersinUrbanDesignfromRiceUniversity,USAin1982.ThepartnershipofSteinManiChowflawasformed in 1993. Anuraag about Stein - the professional and the person...

In 1952, when Stein arrived in India, a newly independent country must have offered him tremendous possibilities and freedom in terms of starting a new design vocabulary without any prejudice and presumptions would you comment on this notion? It certainly did. But, one also has to look at his background first. Joe had set up his office in San Francisco. He was extremely captivated by the natural setting of the Bay Area. But, he had to leave the US - he was sort of hounded out of the place, because of his liberal left views. One of the issues was that he was working on the design of a community project, which was one of the first designed mixed race housings of that time. The federal system banned housing loans for such projects and Joe was finding it extremely difficult to work there. When he arrived at Calcutta in 1952, in his own words, the spirit of Gandhi and Tagore was fresh and bright. The overall atmosphere was positive. The promise and hope of a better future was there. He was extremely enthused and excited. He was certainly very happy and considered himself fortunate to have students at Bengal Engineering College, who, according to him, possessed a strong sense of the arts and crafts and a great sincerity towards learning. The overall academic standards were quite high. Some of them, he used to remember, drew beautifully. So, yes, he did find this a very fresh place - receptive to new ideas, and architecture which was inclusive of a greater social purpose. Do you think Steins experience with Richard Neutra and the San Francisco Bay landscape architects Garrett Eckbo and Robert Royston influenced his later works, especially in context of India? Joe had worked in Richard Neutras office before setting up his own
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practice in San Francisco. I cant speak with great authority regarding Neutra - if he had any literal influence on Joes works here in India. But, Joe was certainly very deeply influenced by the geography of the California Bay Area landscape. He often said that it was a perfect meeting of land and water. The experience was always there in his mind. After coming to India, he collaborated with quite a few architects as well as landscape architects from the Bay Area, for his projects in India. I know for sure that he was in touch with Garrett Eckbo. Eckbo actually worked with him for redevelopment plan of Lodi Gardens and other projects for the Ford Foundation in the 1960s. I think he also collaborated with Royston for some international works. Unfortunately, none of it was realized. During your interactions with him, did he express an opinion about the works of masters such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Le Corbusier, especially with context to the way they dealt with open spaces and nature i.e. light, air and water? Well, he was admirer of both. But perhaps, he was more in tune with Wrights philosophy of architecture. While he was growing up, the legacy of Wright was very much alive and strong in the US. He appreciated Wrights ideals of organic architecture and his response to nature in his projects. The apparent simplicity of his works and his thorough attention to smallest details was particularly admired by Joe. When it came to the relationship of the built forms to the natural, Joe felt that Wrights buildings - especially some of his residential buildings and the prairie houses, were perfect examples - the courtyards, the walkways, and the extended arms of the buildings effortlessly flowing into the outside spaces... He was certainly deeply influenced by Wrights approach to the crafts, and that was one thing that struck him most. In Joes own words, Wright crafted his buildings.

>TRIBUTE

Joe certainly thought very highly of Corbusier. But, I feel that he was a little cold towards Corbs notion of space. He felt Corbs work was too classic, too sculpturesque and perhaps too monumental a scale. Joe was always interested in breaking down the scale to the human measure. This was something Joe had always been trying to achieve, successfully, in his own projects. But I dont think he found this in Corbusiers works especially bigger projects like Chandigarh. This was something he was not comfortable with. Although he did admire Corbs smaller scale projects. I know he liked the Sarabhai house in Ahmedabad. Also, when it came to Corbusiers innovations like the pilotis and the idea of the roof garden, Joe was certainly influenced by these. The notion of simplicity in design and form, without any pretensions - which was one of the fundamental tenets of the modern movement, was particularly taken up by Joe. What about his intellectual interactions with Indian contemporaries such as Balakrishna V. Doshi and Achyut P. Kanvinde - did those influence him to any extent in his thinking about Indian notions of space? He was great friends with both and a partner with Doshi. With Doshi, the relationship was complex. He actually collaborated with Doshi on many projects including the Master Plans for Dal Lake in Srinagar and for Gulmarg - Tanmarg area, both in the Kashmir Valley in 1970s. Of course, due to change in the political scenario in Kashmir, none of the schemes were realized. The collaboration had been formed for specific projects. But sadly, Stein and Doshi never actually got to work together fully for a collaborative design. And, I think both of them were upset with this. Stein certainly respected Doshi and Kanvinde and their respective works. He felt that each one was sincerely trying to define a modern Indian vocabulary. Though at times, he did not necessarily agree with their approach. We see a major role played by his wife Margaret Stein in giving inputs in terms of interiors and exteriors or in landscape design of some of his buildings - could you shed some light on this? This is a classic example of a life long relationship. Though Margaret was never formally trained in architecture or interior design, she had, over the years, acquired a fine-grained understanding of design principles and a fine sense of aesthetics. She frequently gave her inputs and actually collaborated in landscape and interior design schemes for Joes works starting right from the various residences designed during his California days in the 1950s to the later projects here in India. I dont think she was particularly interested in larger projects. She focussed on interiors, fabrics and landscape.

How did his closeness to nature influence his approach towards ecology and environment in his projects? And during his later years of profession, was he was involved in any environmental conservation projects? Stein was extremely concerned about environmental issues. He was very much a global man in the true sense. In his views, everyone on this planet deserves a better life. He had figured out very early that unless one takes care of the planet, it would not be a place worth living in. Putting in extra care not in glossy interiors, but into a nice lovely garden, however small, in a house was his way of responding to the general deterioration outside. This was probably a first response and a defense against the decaying world... his little gesture of giving back to nature. This has always been his underlining philosophy for all his works irrespective of the scale of the project. Few people are aware that after the development of the Master Plan for the Dal Lake in Srinagar, one of his concepts was to actually revive the perfume industry of Kashmir Valley. Joe had learned from the history of the state that at one point of time, due to abundance of scented flowers, the perfume industry of Kashmir was counted at par with world-renowned perfumeries in France. He planned planting of rows of flowers on land along the rivers and canals with little perfumeries interspersed in between. He felt that part of the problem of the Kashmir Valley was general unemployment. In his views, his scheme could eradicate this problem to some extent. Sadly, the project was never realized. Mr. Steins attention to architectural detail is legendary - did this same attention extend to his notions of landscape and horticulture or was that an aspect he left to others to work out? Joe was always the one seeking balance between built and the natural environment. He was not formally trained as botanist, horticulturist or ecologist. But over the years, with his experience and interest, he gathered knowledge about plants - their characteristics, flowering patterns and growth.
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Putting in extra care not in glossy interiors, but into a nice lovely garden, however small, in a house was his way of responding to the general deterioration outside.

>TRIBUTE

The natural landscape was an integral part of all Steins works which, in smaller projects, he himself took care of. For medium to large size projects, often, he took the services of professional landscape architects and horticulturists, though it always was a collaborative effort. The details - forms, colors and heights, planting materials used etc., got the same attention as the architecture. He had a lot of respect for the maalis (gardeners) in the IIC. In his opinion, they are the people who actually take care of the complex. You have been very closely associated with Mr. Stein over the years. Could you tell us about your association with him... what it was like to work with the man?
USE OF JAALI AND VERTICAL GREENS AT TRIVENI KALA SANGAM

It has been a very rich and learning experience. Joe was a very private person, not easy to make friends with. He was, by nature, reserved. It took quite some time and work to know him. But, once he took you under his wings, he would take great care of you - took you to his house, showed you his books, and sketches. He was extremely meticulous... days and months of work would be scrapped and started afresh if he had a better design idea. Quite often, when our working days ended on a certain design discussion, he would come up with innumerable sketches the very next morning. Obviously, he had been working half of the previous night! When I joined his office in 1977, there was no publication to showcase Indian architecture. It was through travelling and by word of mouth that one would know about good projects and offices. I knew that his was a good office and I have stayed here ever since. The partnership of Stein Mani Chowfla was established in 1993. By that time he had somewhat withdrawn himself partially from work. And I guess he had enough confidence in Meena and myself to carry his work and directions further. So he was a sort of emeritus... but he was always there as a guide. He was an extremely simple person, and I guess this reflects in his works also. I find this very inspiring. Which of his projects in India - in your opinion - truly reflect the spirit of his design? One of his very first projects in India - the Triveni Kala Sangam in New Delhi was also one he loved most. He liked the idea of Triveni as a place - an open public building as a center for the arts and crafts and for people to meet and gather. It has a lovely scale. This was the place he first successfully attempted the concept of the vertical garden in the form of planting boxes interspersed with large perforated jaali panels, stepped outdoor garden theatre and overhanging pergolas. Every element played a crucial role for the overall simple design... a perfect balance of nature and built form in an urban setting. He also enjoyed working on the India International Centre plan.

CLIMATE CONTROLLED COURTYARD WITH SUN SCREENS, INDIA HABITAT CENTRE (IHC), NEW DELHI

Another project Joe really cherished was the development of the Kashmir Conference Complex, Srinagar. For him it was the Bay Area where, according to him, land and water meet in absolute harmony, and where the site articulate itself so beautifully.

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grafiniti

grafiniti

>TRIBUTE

LEGEND 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. ENTRANCE INNER COURT RECEPTION ROOMS AUDITORIUM OFFICES / SERVICES LODI GARDENS MEMORIAL PLAZA

3 4

2 1

LAYOUT PLAN, INDIA INTERNATIONAL CENTRE (IIC), NEW DELHI

Drwaing from Building in the Garden by Stephen White. Reprinted with kind permission of Oxford UniversityPress, New Delhi.

India Habitat Centre (IHC), which has over a million square feet of usable space, Joe particularly felt, was a successful attempt at meeting modern urban demands - a series of blocks of optimum heights built around semi enclosed landscaped courts. He evolved the idea of climate controlled courtyards with sun screens which not only filter the light but also give a sense of a notional ceiling - just enough enclosure, perfect for gatherings and exhibitions. After completing his innings, would you say Stein was a satisfied man? When he came to India in early fifties, the country was looking up positively. There was hope for a better tomorrow. Stein had dreamt the same. But the gradual decay in the political and social structure, which has suddenly accelerated over the last few decades, had left him as a disappointed man. Deteriorated condition of the urban scenario due to shortsighted planning schemes, uncontrolled urban growth and the irreplaceable loss of nature had made him quite sad in the last few years. He felt that India is not equipped to handle big city problems and we should focus on developing a network of smaller urban centres.

Joe was man of great integrity. He always possessed that child like quality - of believing that things would definitely change for the better. His sketches always had little children - playing, flying kites... His works, his simplicity and his belief of giving back to nature shall always remain as a source of inspiration for generation of architects to come.

ANURAAG CHOWFLA

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>LANDSCAPE DESIGN

part 2
DR. SAUMITRA MUKHERJEE & DR. ANITA MUKHERJEE

In continuation of the article on Rainwater Harvesting from our last issue, we hereby feature a case study where water harvesting techniques have been successfully implemented.
WATER HARVESTING AT JNU, NEW DELHI

water harvesting at JNU, new delhi

ater planning, within the context of overall landscape planning, should not be defined only within the plans strategy, but also via the identification and definition of specific regional issues: a new approach to protection of the surface associated with water utilization, protection and valuation of water bodies and related territories. It should take into account the landscape characteristics. In urban areas, dependence on ground water is high, resulting in deterioration of ground water resources, qualitatively as well as quantitatively. This necessitates replacement of ground water reservoirs through artificial recharge by rainwater harvesting, which involves collecting, storing and conserving local surface runoff.

OBSERVATIONS

The hydrogeomorphological features of JNU shows three units:

Low residual / Structural hills

observations

low residual / structural hills

This unit constitutes the surface runoff zone and therefore has very poor prospects of groundwater. They are mostly barren areas, with scanty vegetation along joints and slopes.
Pediment

pediment

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, has initiated the pilot project within the New Campus and its surrounding areas. The study area, JNU, is situated in the Southwest of Delhi metropolis, occupying a sprawling, undulating rocky terrain of over 400 hectares. Due to improper land use and a natural quartzite aquifer system, the quality of groundwater had deteriorated with lowering of the water table. The area also constitutes unused and some underused brick kilns (6.885sqkms), which have been in operation since many decades. In certain localised stretches, the clay content is high. Earlier dense cover of vegetation and high moisture content in the soil of these areas have not only minimised the removal of fine clastics (accumulated weathered materials) by wind action but also have increased the clay content of the soil. But, repeated heating of these areas has resulted in change in texture of the topsoil, which has effectively reduced the ground water recharge of the area. Selective lowering of ground water level of these areas supports the relationship between land-use pattern and the ground water environment. In general, JNU area lacks sufficient (required for sustaining ecosystem) surface water bodies and palaeochannels. Very thin soil cover in this area does not support the use of dug wells. Groundwater occurrence is restricted to the deep-seated fracture zones only.

The undulating, eroded and dissected shallow, buried planer surfaces along the fringes and slopes of ridges form this unit. The main drainage systems are developed in this unit. Weathering is shallow and soil thickness varies, the maximum being in the valleys near the streams. The soil is generally clayey and fine silt, and partly has grit and gravel. Drainage dissection is quite intense at places, often developing gullies. Weathering is more intense in coarse gritty. Ground water potential is generally low in this unit due to poor infiltration, and high runoff resulting from varying slopes and clay mantle.
Buried pediment

buried pediment

The flat terrain in the Northeastern part of the campus has a shallow to moderately thick soil cover, which is mainly silt and clay and at places, with grit and gravel. This unit forms a moderate to good groundwater potential especially, along fractures and drainage. Linement is linear or curvilinear feature of the surface whose parts align in a straight or slightly curving relationship that may be the expression of a fault or other line of weakness. Few lineaments have been identified in the area from satellite images. Among these, the two nearly E-W trending lineaments, traced in the northern part of the campus are prominent. The less conspicuous lineament / fractures identified in the images are along NW-SE.

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Map images courtesy the author.

70 0 10 0
DELHI RIDGE

C3 C3 SC
28 0 32 30

Fallow land

AB

VC
JNU COMPLEX

Water

C1 C2 C2

C1

RAVINES ROCKY VASANT KUNJ

JNU & SURROUNDINGS: HYDROMORPHOGEOLICAL MAP based on IRS-1C PAN Data

North CHECK DAM 1 CHECK DAM 2 CHECK DAM 3 C1 C2 C3 VICE CHANCELLORS RESIDENCE ADMINISTRATION BLOCK SPORTS COMPLEX LINEAMENT VC AB SC

JNU: PHYSICAL FEATURES based on IRS-1C Data

AREAS BENEFITTED BY CHECK DAMS RECHARGE AREA DENSE VEGETATION
STATISTICS TOTAL AREA 500 HECTARES GREEN BELT 442 HECTARES CONSTRUCTED AREA 47 HECTARES DENSE FOREST 11 HECTARES (PART OF RESERVED FOREST)

TECHNIQUES & INFERENCES

Rainfall cycles were identified each year, from 1996 to 2001. Their Soil properties and land use patterns are the major contributing factors effects of recharging the groundwater regime were observed in sixteen to the hydromorphogeology of a particular area. Information on the piezometers. In order to choose appropriate positions for check dams existing land use pattern is very essential for the formulation of poli(to replenish groundwater) in the JNU campus, historical monuments cies and programmes for sustainable development. People transform and other prominent urban features have been analysed by satellite imagery. Rainwater harvesting was land for different activities and quantifiable information on these domidone in the campus by selection of the check dam sites with the help of nating activities is necessary to develop future plans. Knowledge of past IRS-1C satellite data as well as obserhuman activities on the site may also vations of Ground Truth Radiometer, resistively surveys and magnetic surbe useful. veys. Multispectral and multitemporal data from SPOT, IRSCheck dam sites have been selected 1A, IRS- 1B and IRS -1C satellites in the places with low soil moisture. Locations for these have been sewhen integrated with land use, geological, geomorphologic, lected where valley section is narrow and maximum spreading up of steam, hydrogeological and magnetic data, with least bearing on the height of have potential for identifying suitable areas for constructing check the structure is possible. Thus, 14 sites SURFACE RUNOFF COLLECTED AT CHECK DAM 2, JNU dams. Interception of surface runoff have been selected for check dams.
grafiniti

techniques & inferences

by check dams across drainage at appropriate locations is one method for artificial recharge.

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POSITIVE RESULTS...

After adopting water harvesting techniques like construction of check dams, the campus area has shown very positive results as far as the recharging of ground water aquifers, vegetation cover and improvement in the quality and quantity of ground water is concerned.
z

positive results...

The water discharge in bore wells in neighbouring areas of JNU has shown remarkable improvement. The check dams are also creating water bodies, which the master plan says should be developed to act as major lung spaces to attract migratory birds and for improving the microclimate. After artificial recharge by check dams, the rise in water table has attributed to increase in vegetation. Increase in soil moisture, the total area under dense and sparse vegetation canopy cover has increased. Dense vegetation has increased by 47%, vegetation has increased by 24%. Area without vegetation has also shown 2.14% vegetation. It is now planned to recreate the forest cover of the large denuded parts of the ridge through planting of new trees of indigenous varieties. The areas where planting is proposed on priority basis are on sides of roads, where no trees have been planted so far, or where already planted trees have died. Planting is also being proposed in selected forest areas, especially around the check dams to increase the percolation of water and to prevent silting through soil erosion.

Multidate satellite images infer changes in vegetation canopy cover from 1987 to 2001. There is an increase in soil moisture by artificial recharge in JNU campus. The water level in some parts of JNU has already risen by over ten meters in less than two years. The depth of water level in the area prior to check dam construction was ranged from 17 to 22 meters below land surface. From 1996, the rise of water level was noticed between 5.26 and 12.50 meters. It was computed that 45,000 cubic meters of water was recharged per year to the shallow and deep aquifers.

QUALITATIVE IMPROVEMENT OF GROUNDWATER AFTER ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE

qualitative improvement of groundwater after artificial recharge

The quality of water for domestic consumption is of paramount significance as the chemical and microbiological contamination of potable waters can lead to serious health hazards/body disorders through a waterborne disease or toxic chemicals. This is evident through the following table:
Value after artificial recharge

Value prior to artificial recharge

394.5

22.06

148.2

73.3

694

137

460

148

296

8.5

0.9

p H

Electrical Conductivity (EC) micromohos / cm

Hardness CaCO3 mg / l

Ca mg / l

Mg mg / l

NO3 mg / l

F mg / l

22

0.9

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ECO HYDROMORPHOGEOLOGY OF JNU CAMPUS

eco hydromorphogeology of JNU campus

Being situated on a structural hill made up of hard, massive quartzite rocks and buried pediment, the flora of this campus is unique. An attempt was made to classify the suitable hydromorphogeological niche for new plantation. IRS-1C and SPOT data were used for this purpose. The eco hydromorphogeology of JNU campus gives clear guidelines of suitability of plant species in this varied terrain.

GEOMORPHIC UNIT

LANDFORM

HYDROGEOLOGY

SUITABLE FLORA

Residual / structural hills

Rocky ridges and mounds.

Massive compact jointed quartzite. Poor ground water.

Prosopis juliflora (Kabuli kikar) Azadirachta indica (Neem) Mitragyna parvixora (Phaldu)

Pediment

Undulating, eroded and dissected, shallow buried pediment with rock exposures. Thickly vegetated with scrub.

Weathered coarse gritty or sandy quartzite with cover of clayey and silt soil along stream course. Moderate to good ground water prospects along fracture and shear zones.

Acacia senegal (Kumta) Wrigtia tinctoria (Dudhi) Balanites aegyptiaca (Hingota) Sterculia urens (Kullu) Boswellia serrata (Salai)

Buried Pediment

Plain to gently sloping ground with occasional rock outcrops

Silt clayey and at places gravely soil derived from weathering of sandy and gritty quartzite. Good ground water prospects.

Ficus benghalensis (Bargad) Cassia fistula (Amaltas) Albizzia lebbeck (Siris) Ficus religiosa (Peepal) Ficus infectoria (Pilkhan) Terminalia arjuna (Arjun) Bauhinia variegata (Kachnar)

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>LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Glossary of T erms Terms

glossary of terms
Palaeochannels Multispectral Piezometer Lineaments Hydromorphogeological Micromohos Remnants of older river course. More than two bands of spectrum, it is a remote sensing terminology. The aquifer tapped by drilling in which ground water is available under atmospheric condition. Linear features, it may be hidden fault line. Hydro means water. Morpho stands for morphology or structure and geological stands for the earth science. Unit of measurement of resistivity value.

z z z z z z

References: 1 . Bhattacharya, A. K. and Gupta, A., Monitoring of the quality of drinking water in JNU-Munirka area, Proc. Nat. Symp. On Groundwater Quality, New Delhi, India, 2000. 2 . Cantanese, A. J., Scientific Method of Urban Analysis, pp. 47-74,University of Illinois publication, Urbana, Illinois, 1972. 3 . Kale, P., Sustainable Development: Critical Issues, 20(4):183-186, J Indian Soc Remote Sensing , 1992. 4 . Mishra, J. K., Aarthi, R., and Joshi, M.O.,Remote sensing quantification and change detection of natural resources over Delhi, 28 (19): 3131-3137, Atmospheric Env ., 1994. 5 . Mukherjee,S. and Mukherjee, A., Qualitative and quantitative improvement in groundwater by artificial recharge: A case study in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi . pp 35-39, Proc. 10 th International Rainwater Catchment system Conference, Mannheim, Germany, September 10-14, 2001. 6 . Mukherjee, S., Change in Groundwater Environment with land-use pattern in a part of south Delhi: A remote sensing approach, 9(2):9-14, Asian-Pacific Remote Sensing and GIS Journal , 1997. 7 . Mukherjee, S., Re-evaluation of seismogenic potentiality of Delhi-Rohtak area using remote sensing and seismological data, Unpublished DST project report, 1997. 8 . Mukherjee, S., Eco-conservation of a part of JNU campus by GIS Analysis, Proc.Nat.Sem.on artificial recharge of groundwater, New Delhi, India, 1998. 9 . Mukherjee, S., Das, A.K., Kumar, and Verma, Synthesis of Remote sensing, Geophysical and Chemical data to delineate Groundwater pollution in Kalindi Kunj area, New Delhi, Proc.Nat.Symp. on Groundwater Quality, New Delhi, India, 2000. 1 0 . Rao, L. K. M., Remote Sensing for Landuse Planning, 16 (1): 53-60, Int J Remote Sensing , 1995. 1 1 . Sokhi, D. S., Spotting historical monuments and sites from SPOT images, 20 (1): 65-71, J Indian Soc Remote Sensing , 1992.

Dr Saumitra Mukherjee is Head (Remote Sensing Applications) and Associate Professor at School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. >e-mail: dr_saumitramukherjee@usa.net Dr Anita Mukherjee is an Environmental Consultant.

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WATER HARVESTING AT JAMIA HAMDARD, HAMDARD UNIVERSITY

water harvesting at jamia hamdard, hamdard university

PROF. P . S. SRIVASTAVA & SAPNA MALIK

Hamdard University is located in the South of New Delhi city. Today, most of the existing tube wells in the region of South Delhi either have lower water levels or have dried. In Jamia Hamdard at Hamdard University (spread over an area of 100 acres), the average daily requirement is of almost 6 lakh litres of water, while the availability is only 2.5 lakh litres per day from the existing tube wells. To ameliorate the shortage of water, Hamdard University has initiated a project on water conservation and harvesting within the campus. The project has already been partially implemented by achieving:
z z z z

Cleaning of the existing stormwater drains and construction of check dams for capturing of rainwater that is being diverted to the sedimentation tanks. Digging of recharging wells near sedimentation tanks in the vicinity of the tube wells. Rainwater collected from the rooftop and water reaching from higher regions or hillocks in the campus is being channelized to the newly constructed drains that are diverted to recharging wells. All the taps in the campus have been replaced with spring taps to prevent water wastage (by dripping), when not in use.

The strategies adopted here have taken into consideration the fact that the use of wells to develop ground water supplies can, in some instances, be an economical alternative to dams and surface reservoir for the purpose of flow regulation and storage. During good rainy season, excess rainwater should be stored in the soil and also underground sources using suitable soil moisture conservation measures and water harvesting structures on the watershed basis. The engineering measures adopted differ with location, slope of land, soil type, and amount and intensity of rainfall. Depending on these parameters, the methods commonly used are contour trenching, contour stone walls, construction of temporary and permanent check dams and gully plugging structures. Additionally, percolation ponds, silt detention tanks and irrigation tanks need to be constructed to harvest water and recharge it to the ground for use in agriculture. Farm pond can be constructed for every 4 to 5 hectares in the watershed to provide protective / supplemental irrigation. The above mentioned water conservation management and water harvesting programs should be implemented in an integrated manner. There are some demonstrated technologies which are promising for cleaning contaminated aquifers. New technologies that are evolving include soil vapor extraction, in situ bioremediation, bioventing, air sparging and in situ thermal barriers.

Prof. P . S. Srivastava is Head, Centre for Biotechnology and Dean, Faculty of Science at the Jamia Hamdard, Hamdard University, New Delhi >e-mail: dean@hamduni.ren.nic.in

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SAMIR MATHUR
Luca Invernizzi Tettoni / The Tropical Garden

T
A SWIMMING POOL IN A HILL-TOP GARDEN WITH A THATCHED ROOOF SITOUT AND PALMS GIVING IT A TROPICAL FEEL

he presence of water has traditionally been a sign of plenty, as also a metaphor for quenching of material desires. Physical contact with water has been found to be therapeutic. The value of pools is an important link in the relationship between humans and nature. Swimming pools, even for the nonuser are a source of visual delight, and convey a sense of association to the natural landscape. Many questions arise relating to swimming pools, both in terms of their design and utility... What makes a pool safe and easy to use? What are the points to bear in mind while locating and building a swimming pool, especially in India? Pools are much more than just an element of visual relief in the landscape, and require careful handling if they are to fulfill their functional requirements...

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>LANDSCAPE DESIGN

Design of pools spans many interrelated fields such as site planning, framing a program of requirements as to its size and geometry, civil, plumbing, electrical engineering and horticulture. The reason why images of some pools are more appealing than others is due to a combination of factors relating to the pool location, design and construction. Safety considerations play a major role in design as a whole as well as of all its components. The key is to remember that pools are usually designed to be viewed as well as used and as in art, principles of light and proportion play a significant role in making them visually attractive.

Anthony & Sylvan Pools

SITE PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS

site planning considerations

ONE OF THE MOST COMMON SHAPED POOL- THE RECTANGULAR SHAPE

The relationship of landscape and built form, especially with respect to the functional requirements, needs detailed examination. A key notion in the location of swimming pools is a semblance of privacy, especially in pools which have multiple family units using them, whether in a group housing or a sports complex or hotel. In residential housing clusters, swimming pools are located away from the main circulation areas, though proximity to central open spaces is usually desired for ease of access. In single-family residences, the pool may take on an additional dimension of being the focus of social and party activity.

Anthony & Sylvan Pools

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

design considerations

The following are components of a swimming pool which are of interest to a designer: z Shell, water proofing and tiling. z Water recirculation system including inlets, outlets and pumping system. z Deck. z Planting around the pool. z Lighting inside and around the pool.
A FREEFORM SHAPED POOL

Shape

shape

Luca Invernizzi Tettoni / The Tropical Garden

Rectangular and freeform shaped pools are the most common. Of these, rectangular pools of proportion 1:2 between the sides are most widely used. Freeform pools with trees and planting, especially those facing the sea, enhance viewing pleasure like no other pool. Though, these pools are most challenging to build and maintain, these are often used in residential situations and in resorts to contrast with stark and rigid geometry of the architecture. Considerations of bottom drainage, water supply and access to center are difficult in these pools and these have been prone to structural failure, possibly due to the uneven distribution of stresses.
A SALT-WATER FREEFORM POOL IN PHUKET, BUILT IN THE ROCKS OVERLOOKING THE ANDAMAN SEA

A perfect circular form is not used often, as swimming of lengths is not possible.
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>LANDSCAPE DESIGN

There are functional divisions in the swimming pool relating to the depth of water. These are used to characterize the usability of the pools such as shallow end (for nonswimmers), deep end and clear length (for swimmers). Other elements such as shower, foot-wash and the deck are integral to the layout and should be in physical proximity in sequence of use when approaching the pool.

Anthony & Sylvan Pools

DESIGN OF POOL DECKS

design of pool decks

STEPPED DECK AROUND KIDS POOL ADD INTEREST TO THE OTHERWISE SIMPLE SHAPE OF THE MAIN POOL

Steve W Marley / Sunset Swimming Pools

It is assumed that at given time two thirds of the users are not inside the pool. Thus, the deck size should be at least the same as the surface area of water. Deck chairs about seven feet long are placed on pool deck with appropriate space in between and enough space to walk around them. Dimensions of the pool deck should follow from this. The pool deck slopes away from the pool. The edge grating is at level and handhold slopes inwards to prevent a mixing of rainwater or muddy water with the pool water. Chlorinated water from the pool is harmful for plants around, and the dimensions of the pool deck should be wide enough for excess water droplets falling off from the swimmers body.
Finishes

finishes

Pool deck material should be impervious to water or with low water absorption. Thus, common stone like sandstone is not recommended as it get stained. Stone on deck should be non-flaky that does not pierce the feet, as skin is soft after swimming and more susceptible to damage. This is the reason timber or exposed aggregate decks are not preferred. Deck stones are usually chisel dressed after lying to remove flakes. Tiles are usually found to be slippery with the deposition of materials along with water. Anti-skid tiles which provide a grip for children while running are best to use. These should be non corrodible. Special heated decks in hilly areas require piping to be underplayed the deck. The stone paving of the deck should be such so as to allow the heat to penetrate through.

EVERGREEN SHRUBS ARE OFTEN PLANTED ALONG THE POOL FOR SCREENING AND A SENSE OF ENCLOSURE

28

>LANDSCAPE DESIGN

planting

Planting around swimming pools play a major role in enhancement of the visual qualities of water. The principles behind planting for swimming pools serve two conflicting requirements:
z z

Privacy and sense of enclosure for the users. Spaciousness and visual delight as often the pools are located in proximity to other built up structures such as change rooms, pavilions, or habitable rooms.

Planting with shrubs and ground covers is usually most appropriate from the maintenance aspect. Plants such as Lantana sellowiana, Chlorophytum comosum and Dracaena reflexa are often used for this purpose. Large trees are best avoided in the near vicinity for their leaf litter and also as they block sunlight. Even evergreen trees are best avoided as they shed a proportion of their leaves during the year. Shrub beds fulfill the function of providing an edge and privacy to the pool environs. Evergreen shrubs at the periphery to provide screening and the use of bold textured or flowering plants as accents are preferable. Plants such as Furcraea watsoniana, Cycas revoluta and Cycas circinalis, varieties of bamboos and yuccas are often proposed. In coastal areas, bromeliads are also used to great effect. Bushy flowering shrubs such as Hibiscus varieties, Hamelia patens, Bauhinia varieties, Tecomas and similar species are used to provide both screening as well as floral displays. Ornamental evergreens such as Ficus benjamina, Ficus nuda, Duranta plumieri and Schefflera arboricola are used for screening and enclosure. Poolside lawns add value to a pool, both through increased use and through better visual perception. However, strips of grass reaching up till the pool is not advisable, as these are difficult to maintain due to constant wetting with chlorinated water.

References: 1 . Carpenter, Jot D. (Ed), Handbook of Landscape Architecture Construction, The Landscape Foundation, Virginia, 1976. 2 . Hospitality and Leisure Architecture of Wimberly Allison Tong and Goo, Rockport Publishers, Massachusetts, 1997. 3 . Lumascape Product Manual 2000, Queensland, Australia, 2000. 4 . Rutherford, Don (Supervising Editor), Swimming Pools, Sunset Publishing Corporat ion, California, 1996. 5 . Harris, Charles W. & Nicholas T. Dines (Eds), Time-Saver Standards for Landscape Architecture, McGraw-Hill Inc., Singapore, 1995. 6 . Warren, William, The Tropical Garden , Thames and Hudson, London,1997.

Technical details and regulations of pool design shall be discussed in our upcoming issues.

Samir Mathur did his Masters in Landscape Architecture from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA. Presently, he is Assistant Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture in School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. >e-mail: mathur@vsnl.com

29

Lumascape Product Manual 2000 / LSI Systems

PLANTING

>HORTICULTURE

DR SAROJ TULI

With the land resources shrinking in the cosmopolitan cities, there is hardly any or no space for gardening around the house. This is more evident in apartments. Thus, one has to resort to airspace for greenery and flowers in hanging baskets. A variety of baskets can be used for the purpose: z Various types of terracotta and ceramics pots with provision for hanging. z Iron wire baskets (with or without covering). z Painted cast iron baskets. z Coconut shells or hollow bamboo pieces. z Wooden baskets or boxes made of durable wood and painted inside with charcoal powder in kerosene. These can be hung with ropes, chains wires or macrane holders. Selection of the container should be done keeping in mind: z The pores for drainage. z The plant that has to be grown in it. z Suitable size which is easy to handle. z Long life of the material used for basket. z A suitable place to place it. z And above all, its visual appeal. If the basket is with slits or holes, a layer of moss and palm leaf or coconut fibers is placed in its inner portion. Birds have a tendency to pull out moss. Therefore, a nylon wire mesh is fixed between the moss and basket shell. Coconut fibre is ideal, as it has longer life and looks natural and blends well with the green. Two styles of baskets can be prepared:
STYLE 1. Here the plants are raised on the top surface only. Plants that are used are trailers and creepers with long hanging branches.
FIG 01

STYLE 2. In this case, seedlings are

planted on the sides from bottom to top, to give basket a round appearance. Method z Line 1/3rd of the basket at the bottom with fiber and put soil mixture in it. z Take plant seedlings and insert the lower part of the stem with roots through the holes in the basket. Spread the roots on the soil, where seedlings have been placed all round. Put a thin layer of soil to cover the roots. (Fig 1) z Again line the remaining basket with fiber upto 2/3rd of the basket depth and fill soil to this depth, plant another layer of seedlings as before. (Fig 2) z After one week, cover the top sides of basket with fibers, put soil and plant seedlings on the top. The top seedlings grow faster than the ones planted on the sides. (Fig 3) z Put the basket in shade for about 10 days and then transfer it to the permanent site, depending on the need of the plant for sunlight and air. Water daily. z Pinching and pruning should be done regularly to encourage branching so as to cover the entire basket surface. Remove the flower buds if they appear early. This operation also gives a neat and clean look to the basket. z Put liquid manure in small quantities and spray Malathion fort at night.
SOIL MOSS

PLANTS THAT CAN BE GROWN IN BASKETS STYLE 1 Asparagus, Philodendron, Tradescantia,

Ferns, Chids and Jade.

FIG 02

STYLE 2 Green leafy vegetables - Coriander,

Mint, Parsley and Spring Onion. Small sized winter annuals - Nasturtium, Pansu, Allysum and Jafari.
FIG 03

Kalanchoe, Succulents, Orchids, Lantana, Ferns and Pilea muscosa.

30

>HORTICULTURE

Today more and more people are decorating their living rooms, study tables, dining tables, bathroom shelves, kitchen shelves with flower arrangement. These designs reflect ones creativity, mood, hospitality and occassion. Here are a few tips to keep flowers fresh for a longer time, enhancing the appearance of the arrangement.
z

Carry flowers from the garden or market in a head down position, so that heavy flower heads do not cause damage to their stems. Even if such a thing happens, pass a toothpick through the center of the flower into the stem. Use newspaper for wrapping the flowers. Keep flowers in neck deep water for a few hours to acquire turgidity. If any flower wilts, cut its stem by 1/2 to 1 under water and leave it in water for a few hours.

z
ALWAYS CARRY FLOWERS IN HEAD-DOWN POSITION

If the stem is woody, hammer at the base before putting in water. Alternately remove the bark from the lower 2 portion of the stem and shift this part into four longitudinal parts. Remove all leaves, thorns or tendrils from the stem that is under water to delay decaying.

z z

Flowers like Gerbera, Dahlias and Poppies have hollow stems and lose their sap fast. Sear the stem base on a flame. Tie cellotape round the rose buds to prevent their openings. Put paraffin wax at the base of Chrysanthemum flowers to prevent the bottom petals from falling. If the stem is thin, insert it in a thicker stem, ensuring that it reaches water. Spray the flowers with water twice a

WOODY STEMS SHOULD BE HAMMERED AT BASE BEFORE PUTTING THEM IN WATER

day.
z

All sketches by the author.

Do not put the flower arrangement directly under the fan, in front of a cooler, heater or sunlight.

Dr Saroj Tuli is Reader at Maitreyi College, New Delhi

31

>STUDENTS SECTION

RIVER YAMUNA: PRESENT STATUS & VISION FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

PRIYANKA BATRA

The following is an extract from a study done in the Landscape Department of School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi. It was covered under the subject of Advanced Landscape Engineering. The objective of the study was to understand the role of river Yamuna in present context and future, including the ecological aspects relating to it. This also included the study of the proposal of channelisation for the river.

Rivers are zones of concentration for human settlements from the historic times to the present day. The soil of the river bottomland is fertile, rich and valuable source that, with natural processes, replenishes itself. The ebb and the flow of the Nile have sustained one of the oldest civilizations on the earth, beyond its contribution in the food-chain. Similarly, Yangtzes in China and Ganges in India offer perennial water supply, agricultural land, transportation as well as communication facilities. The respect given to a river can be seen in the historic examples of New Delhis Central Vista and Shahjahanabads alignment towards the river Yamuna, whereas in contrast one sees the abandoning of Fatehpur Sikri due to lack of water.
RIVER FLOOD PLAINS BUILT AREAS GREENS MONUMENTS

North
LANDUSE FOR AREAS SURROUNDING RIVER YAMUNA, DELHI

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF RIVER YAMUNA z Source of origin - Yamunotri glacier. z The river enters the Union Territory of Delhi at Palla (in North210 MSL) and leaves at Jaitpur (in South-198.12 MSL) after traversing a distance of about 50 kms. z Its spread varies from 1.5 km to 3.0 km. z Water depth during floods is 9m and during the lean periods is 7.9 m. z 10 road bridges, 2 railway bridges and 3 fair weather Pontoon bridges cross-river Yamuna. z 17 major drains are discharging untreated effluents into the river. z The area has an assortment of authorized and unauthorized uses like samadhis, cremation grounds, sports complexes, thermal power stations, embankments etc. RIVER YAMUNA: ISSUES z River Yamuna has been subjected to pressures of fast urban and industrial growth. z At present, the physical inaccessibility to the river has resulted in
32

the mushrooming of squatters and its potential for social and recreational value lies untapped. z Lack of foresight, on the part of planners, has resulted in the location of thermal power stations, fly ash ponds, landfill sites and other such harmful landuses along the river. z The bathing ghats - used for bathing, cremation or public washing adds to the pollution of the river. z Monuments that are sited close to the river are in no way incorporated in the riverfront development. z The storm water channels that originally recharged a series of wells, baolis (step wells) and tanks on their way have now ended up polluting these secondary sources of water supply.

PROPOSALS FOR FLOOD CONTROL IN RIVER YAMUNA The various engineering techniques for flood control include dams, levees, dikes, embankments and channelisation or channel modification. While embankments are the currently used mode for flood pro-

>STUDENTS SECTION

tection in the Yamuna, the future proposal for it is channelisation. Embankments for the river have been designed while keeping in mind the warning & danger levels for a particular place. But these still have their ecological effects, as they offer false security on the flood plains of a river.

UNEMBANKED RIVER

Channelisation The channelisation of river Yamuna would be carried out in phases. The proposal for channelisation has profound impacts on the riverine ecosystem. Channelisation involves human engineering of a river channel in order to enlarge, straighten, embank, reduce the meandering, increase the slope, protect the existing channel or create new channels. A river is one of the biggest channels of recharging under ground water tables. With Delhi witnessing a sharp fall in the underground water level, the Yamuna riverbed becomes almost sacrosanct. While channelisation provides for more efficient irrigation & drainage of farmland, controls floods and provides more navigable waterways, it has its share of disadvantages. It increases velocity of water and hence allows less infiltration. This results in higher erosional energy, and downcutting of the channel, preventing further meandering. Increased bank instability and erosion often results in an increased sediment load carried by the river in the channeled section. This may be deposited downstream where the river velocity drops and disrupt the habitat and increase flooding. Turbidity is often higher in channeled sections than natural stream reaches. This can have negative impacts on the water quality, food supply and aquatic life. Due to channelisation, the water level would rise which will obstruct the flow of the surface runoff from Delhi through the storm water drains. This may lead to flooding in Delhi. Channelisation also reduces agricultural possibilities. Cost of channelisation is very high. The Regional Plan - 2001 has marked the riverbed as a rural use land and green wedge / belt. The entire area under the riverbed and its environs has been identified as a national wetland. ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE PROPOSAL FOR RIVER YAMUNA Due to the above mentioned problems in channelisation, an alternate proposal was drafted, which had an ecosystem based conceptual plan. This plan aims at the maintenance of the vital ecological processes, preservation of the genetic diversity, maintenance of exploited ecosystems & population of plants and animals at a sustainable level to evolve the quality of the landscape rather than just the quantity of the landscape. It comprises of the following components: z Augmenting water recharge potential to be made possible by extended storage of water in the form of retention and detention ponds. z Reducing pollution of Yamuna water through installation of STP with detention facilities at all out fall points and effluent management of adjoining rural areas. z Conservation of natural areas like natural swamps, marshes and special aggregation of flora and fauna, with proper mechanism to inhibit misuse through protective barriers and sound management.

UNEMBANKED RIVER IN FLOODS REDUCED NATURAL FERTILITY. WATER LOGGING IN CASE OF OVERFLOW HIGHER FLOOD LEVELS DUE TO REDUCED FLOOD PLAINS AND INCREASED SILTATION

RISE IN RIVER BED

FALSE SECURITY TO HUMAN SETTLEMENT EMBANKMANT SECTION

Hierarchy of green areas to be developed depending on existing accessibility and viability of development of areas with varying use intensities like remnant forests, landscaped parks, zoological and botanical gardens with significant emphasis on pollution control. z Recreation to be limited to ecotourism as in development of passive greens and water sports facilities where environmentally viable. z Continuation and renewal of existing areas is envisaged with special emphasis on improvement of built environment. Promotion of agriculture and allied activities like horticulture and floriculture. z Control of industrial wastes at source. z Sludge from treatment can be used as manure & judicial control of fly ash dumping. z Encourage aquatic vegetation by providing suitable conditions like soft base for plants to grow.
z Bibliography: 1 . Floods, Floodplains & Environmental Myths, Centre for Science & Environment (CSE). 2. 3. 4. 5. Report on the Zonal Development Plan for river Yamuna area, Special Design Cell, Delhi Development Authority (DDA). Ecological constraints for river development, Delhi, N. G. Shastri. River in the life of a city - Yamuna riverfront development: an endeavor to revive the past to ensure a sustainable future for Delhi, Nupur Prothi. Irrigation & Flood Department, Inter State Bus Terminus ISBT, Delhi.

Priyanka Batra is pursuing her Masters in Landscape Architecture at the School of Planning & Architecture, New Delhi.

33

>TECHNOLOGY

Autodesk VIZ 4 is the latest release in the software product line formerly known as 3D Studio VIZ, the award-winning 3D software for design exploration and visualization. Autodesk VIZ 4 builds on the powerful modeling, texturing and rendering features of 3DS Max software to support you throughout the entire design development process. Now featuring a new generation of global illumination rendering technology, Autodesk VIZ 4 significantly enhances value throughout the design process by more accurately simulating real-world lighting conditions.
Although Autodesk VIZ can be used in a variety of disciplines, its four primary uses are as follows: Exploration. At the start of a project, one can develop ideas in real time and prepare design studies for more precise development in ones primary design application. Communication. As designs evolve, one needs to continuously communicate the design intent to colleagues, consultants, and clients. Validation.One can test designs under development for compliance with specific performance criteria. Presentation. One can present finished designs or designs under development in a persuasive fashion using a variety of compelling multimedia techniques.

KEY FEATURES AND BENEFITS

Interactive 3D Environment
A key element in the rapid acceptance of Autodesk VIZ has been its ability to present a compelling visual environment - quick work and immediate, interactive feedback as forms and spaces are modeled. and design elements are experimented with. Modeless modeling provides a unified workspace, and surface finishes and lighting systems can be created, mapped, and manipulated on-the-fly.

Global Illumination Rendering

Autodesk VIZ 4 introduces a new generation of global illumination rendering technology for more accurately simulating lighting effects in a scene, enhancing the softwares value throughout the design process by: z Producing more accurate renderings of what objects or spaces would look like in natural or artificial lighting conditions. z Automatically capturing subtle lighting effects that add depth and realism to images. These effects including indirect diffuse lighting, soft shadows from area light sources, and color bounce between surfaces .produce images and animations of realism for compelling presentations. z Simplifying the workflow for designers who previously used both 3D Studio VIZ and Lightscape to obtain similar results.

34

>TECHNOLOGY

SUNLIGHT

DAYLIGHT

MOONLIGHT

Image courtesy MBT Architecture

Image courtesy Guillermo Leal Llaguno

Real-World Lighting
In conjunction with global illumination rendering, Autodesk VIZ 4 also introduces support for physically based lighting. Rather than specifying the intensity of a light using arbitrary values, one can now use more meaningful photometric units (i.e., lumens, candelas). It also supports the industry-standard IES (Illuminating Engineering Society) data formats for describing the performance of manufactured lighting fixtures.The software also comes with a ready-to-use library of common lighting fixtures. One can get realistic results simply by positioning the lights in a scene the way one would in the real world. Autodesk VIZ 4 also supports IES daylight standards and offers an enhanced daylight system for defining natural lighting conditions by specifying location, date, time and cloud cover conditions.

Feature & Benefits

A fluid 3D environment with real-time response on lighting, textures, and forms. z Cuts conceptual design cycle costs and time. z Reduces or eliminates need for physical prototypes. A new generation of global illumination rendering technology for more quickly and accurately simulating true lighting effects in a scene. z Provides a more accurate representation of what designs will look like for better valuation and communication. z Produces richer, more realistic images and animations for truly compelling presentations. z Improves workflow for designers previously using 3D Studio VIZ 3and Lightscape for similar functionality. Physically based, photometric lighting specification for working with realworld lighting fixtures and more accurate daylight simulation.
z

Unique, Intelligent Interoperability

Autodesk VIZ 4 offers an enhanced DWG Linking feature that provides unique interoperability with AutoCAD platform-based solutions. This feature enables one to fully leverage the data created in your design platform (Autodesk Architectural Desktop, Autodesk Mechanical Desktop , Autodesk Land Desktop software). DWG Linking allows one to use the most appropriate application for the job. Autodesk VIZ lets one append data to a design that may be too heavy or otherwise inappropriate for a production application.

Makes it much more intuitive to position and evaluate lighting in scenes. Supports tools for lighting analysis that enable you to both visually and quantitatively evaluate the lighting performance of a given design (both daylight and artificial lighting).

Multimedia and Communications Tools

With its technological roots in 3DS Max, the leading design software for digital content creation, Autodesk VIZ provides state-of-the-art tools for digital creation and output. Combined with the latest global illumination rendering capabilities, these tools provide unprecedented flexibility for communicating and presenting designs in the representation most appropriate to the task. For example during model creation, one can manipulate geometry and objects, try different materials, and set lighting in a fully interactive viewport. One can automatically create animated shadow and lighting studies that show the effect of the sun over a specified time. For internal reviews and collaboration, still images can be rendered quickly with 180-degree panoramic images, and walk-through animations at varying levels of resolution and fidelity can be created. For presentations and competitions, one can create compelling rendered images and animations of the highest professional calibre.

Unique, intelligent interoperability through DWG Linking with AutoCAD, Autodesk Architectural Desktop, Autodesk Mechanical Desktop, and Autodesk Land Desktop software. z Fully leverages work across both CAD and 3D visualization environments. Breadth and depth of multimedia and communications tools integrated into the environment.
z

Increases collaborative design with enhanced design communications. Provides greater flexibility in developing appropriate presentation graphics for a broad range of media.

For further information: Chakresh Jain, CAD Studio, K-71, Hauz Khas Enclave, New Delhi 110 016 INDIA Phones: 91-11-651 0051, 696 1592 Fax: 91-11-652 1695 E-mail: cadstudio@vsnl.com

35

>WEB SITES

l g onto...
www.topos.de
> > www.topos.de
TOPOS- European Landscape Magazine is a specialized journal on design of landscape architecture. Ever since its foundation in 1992, it has become one of the most comprehensive journals on international landscape architecture. An interdisciplinary approach by the journal aims at enabling dialogue between architecture, landscape planning, garden art and public design. Published quarterly, the journal has single bilingual editions in English and German. Every issue is design oriented featuring projects and planning work from all over Europe. These include exciting private gardens, parks, plazas, memorials, public areas and development works of various open space projects in Europe. The website www.topos.de is neatly organized under the categories:
CURRENT ISSUE PREVIOUS ISSUES FINDER

Available in English and German, the website offers a complete table of contents of its current and all previous issues. It also includes information regarding all articles published in them. Selected complete articles, along with images, are available online. One can search through the list by issue number, author or subject of the article. One can also contact the editorial staff for any clarification. The site has a very good access speed and is easily navigable. A white background with blue color combination for the interface is visually appealing.
More sites worth checking...

>>

www.landscapeindia.net www.landscapeindia.net >> www.neutra.org www.neutra.org >>

Recently launched website of Ahmedabad based practice of Landscape Architect and Environmental Planner Parbhakar B Bhagwat.

>>

Website of the office of Architect Richard and Dion Neutra. Definitely worth checking!

36

CUT & KEEP

Original illustration by Suddhasattwa Basu in Nature Watch. Lustre Press Pvt. Ltd. 1990

BAUHINIA PURPUREA
Bauhinia is named after two botanists, Jeans and Gaspard Bauhin of 16th century, who were twin brothers. Purpurea in Latin, refers to purple color. FAMILY: Leguminosae. COMMON INDIAN NAME: Kolar DISTRIBUTION: All over India, particularly along the foothills of the Himalayas from Indus to Assam. Also found on the hill ranges of Central and Southern India.
DESCRIPTION: Kolar is a medium sized evergreen tree with conical to rounded crown. The bark is smooth, ashy grey or brown in color. Leaves are light green in color, simple and bilobed, cleft about halfway down with strong nerves radiating from the base. The leaf is split down in the middle, giving a hoof like appearance, by which Bauhinia can be at once recognized. Flowers are deep pink or rosy purple, large and showy and have five petals. Profuse flowering is followed by long, sword like green pods, looking like French beans along the foliage. FLOWERING SEASON: September to December GARDENING NOTES D ES I G N F U N C TI O N S It is mainly used for ornamental planting and due to its medium size, is well suited for small gardens, houses and roadside. It is one of the few trees that flower in autumn season. O T H E R U S E S : The tree bark is used for dying and tanning and sometimes for fiber. The flowers are pickled or used as vegetable. Wood is used for agricultural implements and for buildings.

CLIMATE: The tree can grow in a wide range of climatic conditions. It can grow well in semi arid climate. It is a frost hardy tree and can be grown in an altitude of 5,000 feet above mean sea level. SOIL: It can grow in any type of well drained soil but prefers moist fertile and loam soil. On the ill drained clayey soil, the growth is stunted. P R O P A G A T I O N : Bauhinia can be easily grown from the seeds, which are sown in March to April, on raised beds, in lines 25cms apart. The germination takes place in 7 to 10 days. The seedlings are then transplanted in the rainy season. The plants start flowering at an early age.

BAUHINIA VARIEGATA (KACHNAR)

Kachnar is one of the more common varieties. Mostly all the features of this variety are similar to Bauhinia purpurea except for the flowering season and color of flowers. Flowers are white or deep purple. These are large and generally appear from February to March when the tree is in leafless condition. This tree flowers when the purpurea variety is in fruit, which makes an easy distinction between the two. Other varieties include Bauhinia racemosa and Bauhinia blackiana.
37 LA, JOURNAL OF LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE / WINTER 2001-2002

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