Winning their spurs

Eromitha Ramesh and Suraj Ighe, two students who won Gold at the AYDA India Awards by Nippon Paint, explain the thought process behind their winning entries

this context. I started out by studying the current state of the Cooum, which got me thinking about the river’s associations with the city in earlier decades and if it had always been like this. This led me to understand that the way we perceive rivers has a huge impact on the way we treat and manage them, and that architecture can influence the way we perceive rivers.

Ideas for change

The project, inspired by Urban Wild Ecology, aims to create a culturescape along the Cooum in Egmore and endeavours to reconnect the river with the city through what can be described as “controlled localised interventions” that are thoughtfully placed at strategic trigger points along the river’s course. It provides an opportunity for people to experience and manage the river edge through a series of six different interventions.

Some of these interventions include a cultural centre, pedestrian bridges and event streets. These programmes act as extensions of the urban fabric not just physically but also programmatically. The architectural realisation of the idea happens through a series of interventions of both built and landscape. Within the architectural framework itself, spaces are designed to be adaptable to changing climate conditions over time and are strategically configured to create zones that facilitate interactions with various species, emphasising the role of architecture in fostering a harmonious relationship with Nature. In select areas, architectural interventions serve as mediators between preexisting structures and the natural environment.

AYDA gave me the opportunity to learn of inspiring ideas and from people from across the country. Winning the gold in Architecture has given me the opportunity to represent India at the international level and I’m really excited for the learning it will provide.

The writer is a student of R V College of Architecture, Bengaluru. he theme for the 2023 edition of the AYDA Awards India by Nippon Paint was Converge: Championing Purposeful Design. My project, The Universal School, aimed to diminish the boundaries of learning and create an allequal platform to ensure quality education. Many students confine themselves within the boundaries of their assigned college, limiting their potential for growth and exploration. Not everyone has the opportunity to attend prestigious colleges. Many face challenges such as limited guidance, insufficient resources, and a lack of awareness during their formative years. This is further exacerbated by the allotted colleges with the basic type of education system with internal problems that remain unattended.

TSharing expertise

To bridge this gap, my proposal was to establish a network of colleges focused on sharing expertise and providing exposure to students. Reputed larger institutions would serve as central hubs, facilitating seamless connectivity within the network through both offline and online channels and offer expertisesharing oppor

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tunities to students from smaller colleges and those studying remotely.

The design employs vibrant colours to accentuate the structure, with a focus on fostering student interactions to share experiences and gain exposure. Utilising a telescopic seating system, the openfloor spaces can transform into large interactive areas, enhancing engagement and improving retention rates. Incorporating the play of light and shadows, along with integrating elements of the surrounding landscape for a Natureconnected learning experience, the open layout and barrierfree spaces seamlessly merge and expand to create dynamic environments.

Mediacentric interventions enable multidirectional learning experiences. A central spine traverses all existing buildings, featuring a vibrant red unified path that energises nodes and facilitates various activities such as demonstrations, plays, courtyard teachings, and spaces for discussions and debates.

Technological advancements such as AR, VR, glass projections, and holograms are harnessed to enhance student connectivity with the remote world. A dedicated server room monitors student data across the network to identify shared ideologies and research interests, fostering collaboration and avoiding redundancy. Students seeking assistance in any field can access valuable expertise from faculty or peers and connect for guidance, both online and offline, at host centres. The digital learning centre includes an immersive psychedelic artistic space to engage students. Transforming the existing college setup, the central spine creates a vast linear space that facilitates the circulation of large crowds during periodic exhibitions, aimed at inspiring younger generations.

The primary objective is to attract renowned international faculty and provide training to students as well as faculty to enhance teaching skills in cuttingedge areas. The overarching goal is to establish a network of colleges where each teacher serves as a guide and each student as a companion, fostering a collaborative learning environment. This project represents a small but significant step towards a brighter future for India.

The experience of interacting with the best from the world and receiving reviews from during the AYDA Awards India was itself a big win. I am looking forward to representing India at the global level and the learning that awaits me there.