Walking down Fifth Avenue recently, I noticed an advertisement for a bank (I forget which bank) that displayed an imaginary skyline comprised of iconic buildings from the financial centers of the world. Without being certain, I felt there were many notable inclusions: Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney, Kuala Lampur, Dubai, Paris, London, New York, Chicago, San Francisco. Notable in its omission (or inconspicuousness) was any iconic building from India.
This got me thinking a little bit about Indian cities, and particularly, buildings in Indian cities. That the physical environment of India has a distinct characteristic is undeniable. Being in Mumbai, in Delhi, in Kolkata are all unmistakable experiences. India also has a rich heritage of iconic architecture: Red Fort, Victoria Memorial, the Taj Mahal, the Gateway of India. All of these monuments, however, are legacies of the Raj era, the British, or earlier periods. To my knowledge (and I am not as familiar with Chennai or Bangalore), there are not many iconic modern buildings in India.
Why should this be important? No reason, really, other than iconic modern buildings have a way of announcing the importance of the city to the world - hence the interest in China's CCTV building. And the recent growth in India's economy, as well as the rise of iconic architecture throughout the developing world, marks the absence of a signature Indian building as a curious absence. Which led me to this article, answering the question, but in a way that leads me to wonder if the collection of Indian architecture represented will truly become iconic? Or will they take on the utilitarian lack of character that you find at the end of so many Silicon Valley office parks, which appears to be the spiritual kin of the buildings portrayed in this slideshow?
This got me thinking a little bit about Indian cities, and particularly, buildings in Indian cities. That the physical environment of India has a distinct characteristic is undeniable. Being in Mumbai, in Delhi, in Kolkata are all unmistakable experiences. India also has a rich heritage of iconic architecture: Red Fort, Victoria Memorial, the Taj Mahal, the Gateway of India. All of these monuments, however, are legacies of the Raj era, the British, or earlier periods. To my knowledge (and I am not as familiar with Chennai or Bangalore), there are not many iconic modern buildings in India.
Why should this be important? No reason, really, other than iconic modern buildings have a way of announcing the importance of the city to the world - hence the interest in China's CCTV building. And the recent growth in India's economy, as well as the rise of iconic architecture throughout the developing world, marks the absence of a signature Indian building as a curious absence. Which led me to this article, answering the question, but in a way that leads me to wonder if the collection of Indian architecture represented will truly become iconic? Or will they take on the utilitarian lack of character that you find at the end of so many Silicon Valley office parks, which appears to be the spiritual kin of the buildings portrayed in this slideshow?
2 comments:
Dear Sir,
Obtaining Elemental Cost Analysis (ECA) of iconic building at India
On behalf of my course mates, I would like to ask for the ECA of iconic building at india from sir as a source in our assignment.
1. We are students from School of Housing, Building and Planning (major in Quantity Surveying), University of Science Malaysia, Malaysia. Our professor, Assoc.Prof. Sr. Azlan Raofuddin Hj Nuruddin, had asked us to complete an assignment by obtaining the ECA of iconic building at India.
2. Our assignment has to be submitted on 1st August 2008. Thus, hopefully we can receive the information a few days before the submission date because we need times to analyze and summarize the particular ECA.
3. The information can be sent through email wklim_0929@hotmail.com.
Your kindness is greatly being appreciated. Thank you.
to mr./ms. anonymous..
firstly, please refrain urself from disclosing ur University's name and ur lecturer's name in order not to tarnish their reputation. I am concerned because, ur language used is far comparable to that of a University student.. Please enhance ur usage in this universal language. You will soon realize how important English is. With regards to your request enclosed pertaining ur ECA, u should initiate some other sources too. For instance through databases, journals,from practitioners and so forth. Please be reminded on all of these matter. WIth all due respect, good luck in ur assignment and all the best in life!
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