An experiential show

An experiential show
A group of 15 architectural students are showcasing their ideas and thoughts based on a unique study trip

When architect and designer Umesh Kumar G L, co-founder of DQ Labs, stood in front of the Centre Pompidou in Paris for the first time in 2010, nothing that he had read about the building as a student had prepared him for what he saw. “In pictures, the building looked very industrial but what I saw was a dynamic edifice,“ Kumar says. An alumnus of IIT Delhi, his perception widened after he started to travel to other countries.Looking at the buildings and design environment of “design conscious“ countries of Europe and USA led him to the conclusion: What you read is different from what you see and experience.

This insight resulted in Kumar designing a unique study tour for 15 shortlisted architectural students to explore the cities of Rome, Vatican, Florence, Milan and Venice. Organised by DQ Labs, the study tour conducted in October was a voluntary, nonprofit collaboration between Indian and Italian architects who helped the budding architects understand the design aesthetics of the brand `Made in Italy'. A social media campaign had invited applications from students to submit a one-page document that explained their works. The best 15 were chosen, of whom 13 are studying in the city.

A tangible result of the tour is the two-day exhibition Esperienza 2014. As the name suggests, the exhibition will be about the experiences. There will be four sections to the display, Kumar explains. One section is about photographs of buildings and places visited.The second section, is photographs of what they observed.“We did give them a few themes to guide, but the pho tographs are the results of them being aware of their sur roundings.“ The third section is about their learnings in the form of short write-ups. But the showstopper of Esperienza 2014 will be about student pro posals based on their insights and experiences that will be relevant to the Indian context.

Kumar cites one proposal that speaks of designing a disposal system (dustbin) relevant to Indian public spaces. Megha na Yatish, the student from MSRIT who was impressed by the accessibility to colourful dustbins, is working on the de sign in collaboration with DQ Labs. “Bamboo is the material of choice since it is easily avail able, less likely to be stolen and provide a livelihood to crafts persons,“ Kumar says.

There are five proposals in all, although Kumar was ex pecting 15. The viewers who visit the show can participate in a poll to decide the best de sign proposed. “The chosen design proposal can then be scaled up to have them installed in various cities across India.“ But, overall, the show will be a satisfying culmination of the lessons learned.

Apart from the show, the study trip has elicited another action. A visit to the 14th La Biennale Architecture exposition at Venice, which had representations from over 60 countries, led Kumar and his partner Shuan D'Sa to realise that there has never been any representation from India so far. “India has rich architectural heritage and exceptional talent. So why this absence?“ he asks. The duo has initiated a petition to get India's participation to “showcase its architectural visions“ the next year.“I am getting the petition signed by many architectects, designers, students and enthusiasts and will later submit it to the PMO.“ The next year's biennale may just see some Indian perspective.

Esperienza 2014, 10am ­ 8pm, Nov 22 ­ Nov 23, Alliance Francaise.