Change for Pune Bungalow

Got a call from my client in Pune to say that we’d probably build just a single level bungalow after all. Right from the start, I’d been advising them that 4 bedrooms – for a family of 3 – was a complete waste of space and money.

Better late than never.

Now the only problem is I have to re-work the layout and, more importantly, the built form. Permissions from the municipal corporation have already been obtained, so I have to stick to the same footprint for the structure.

Updated on 19th March 2005

The revised plan was frozen yesterday. The puja will be on 6th April when, as architect, I must dig a token hole in the ground.

New Site at Fountain

Got a call from a client for whom I’d designed an office exactly 5 years ago. He’s purchased new premises in one of the old buildings near Fountain (Hutatma Chowk) and it has a ceiling that’s 16 feet (5m) high! The space is just a plain old rectangle but the arches on the sides add a lot of interest.

Unfortunately, the previous owners have done some “work” on the old door frames and I doubt I can salvage any of the original look now. There is a long verandah – a little more than 3 feet (1m) wide on the entire Western face – and it has some nice ironwork.

Panna and Bhopal

Made a trip to Panna Wildlife Sanctuary in Northern MP. Although it’s a tiger reserve, we certainly didn’t see any big cats – not a single carnivore for that matter. There was a lone pug-mark during the last jeep ride but none of the excitement that one has when one is trying to catch a glimpse of the animals. A high point, though, was seeing a large number of Chinkaras (Indian Gazelles) on the plateau.

As far as insects are concerned, I saw a lot of Rounded Pierrot [Tarucus nara] and Lesser Grass Blue [Zizina otis] butterflies, a plume moth and an unidentified creature with an attitude.

Went to Khajuraho for a day but it was quite a washout because of the weather. Finally, after dodging the rain for 2 hours, we decided to give up and go back. Having always seen photographs of the famous (and infamous) sculptures in sharp relief, the results from my own camera was a let-down.

Before returning to Bombay, I stopped off in Bhopal and had an opportunity to see Bharat Bhavan by Charles Correa. I’m afraid the place is not being utilised to it’s potential. Also, the Museum of Man was a disaster. They have acres and acres of space and a large part of it is just lying there – doing nothing. Sad.