Academy of Architecture (unaided) // Third Year Architectural Design Studio // Project 01 June 2012

Hemal Biscuitwala | Santha Mattoo | Prashant Prabhu | Anuj Daga Class In charge: Sulakshana Bhanushali

Inter-play

Introduction: "An activity is play if it is fully absorbing, includes elements of uncertainty, involves a sense of illusion or exaggeration, but most importantly, true play has to exist outside of ordinary life. Plays purpose is to generate more possibilities for play. Play is free, and this quality of action distinguishes it from the practices of ordinary life --- Johan Huizinga: The Playing Man Thus the act of play is both; a basic element of social life and outside of ordinary life, a free action in which the parties involved participate voluntarily. Play has always been a part of cultural history whether manifested as hunting games among early man or jousting games among medievals to prove authority. Destinies have been decided on the mere act of play and games have always had a political slant akin to war. Even the Pandavas lost their kingdom over a game of dice. Pedagogical Aim: Architecture as a performative act can be compared on many occasions to the act of play. Apart from its utilitarian aspects such as shelter, architecture has the possibility to bring joy through the experience of space. The outcomes of interaction in spaces are unforeseen and thus their results are always speculative. Although always structured within rules, architecture has the power to allow a lot of freedom and interplay between built forms and people. Like the act of play, it engages people in time and a space of its own. Architecture has the possibility to be playful. Learning Objectives: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Articulation of given program brief into an abstract concept Translation of concept into built form Understanding of distinction between served and serving spaces. Structuring of space within built form Clarity of landscape versus architectonics

Page | 1

Academy of Architecture (unaided) // Third Year Architectural Design Studio // Project 01 June 2012
Hemal Biscuitwala | Santha Mattoo | Prashant Prabhu | Anuj Daga Class In charge: Sulakshana Bhanushali

Program Brief: Museum of Play / Games In the midst of modern games, we have forgotten some of our own traditional Indian games or sports that once shaped our culture. The program brief for this project aims to bring these long forgotten games and our modern cultural games together in the form of a spatial archive a museum not only for studying, researching, exhibiting and performing these games but also to evolve new conceptual ideas informing forms and spaces within which these games are played. Can architecture participate in formation of play, spaces and play spaces? Let the games begin Program requirements: Total program area for museum building including circulation not to exceed 1500 sq.mts. Specific area requirements to be calculated by students based on case studies and research. General requirements are: 1. Entrance lobby with ticketing and waiting area. a. Ticket counters - 6 nos. b. Waiting area. c. Tourist Information kiosks - 2 nos. 2. Games Museum a. b. c. Permanent Exhibition Space Temporary Exhibition hall (with smaller independent exhibition spaces) Curatorial workshop.

3. Administration Spaces a. b. c. d. e. a. b. c. Curators office. Accounts offices. Conference Room - 2 nos. Office space for 20 staff members. Toilets. Library / Presentation space Research and Archive cell. Museum Storage.

4. Archival / Storage / Research Spaces

5. Concession Area a. Food Kiosks / Food court. b. Bookstore / Museum shop. c. Toilets.

Students are free to add / release some program elements based on their research. All landscape elements, car and two wheeler parking, site services etc. to be considered in addition to the defined 1500 sq. m. of program requirements.

Page | 2

Academy of Architecture (unaided) // Third Year Architectural Design Studio // Project 01 June 2012
Hemal Biscuitwala | Santha Mattoo | Prashant Prabhu | Anuj Daga Class In charge: Sulakshana Bhanushali

Methodology: 1. 2. 3. 4. Archiving and documenting in detail aspects of Indian games and forms of play. Case studies of museums: understanding how spaces interact with the program and user. Comparing rules of games / play to spatial structuring systems in museum case studies. Using the learning from comparative analysis to form new spatial systems

Studio Schedule: Day Mon Thu Mon Thu Mon Thu Mon Thu Mon Thu Mon Mon Thu Mon Thu Mon Date 11.06.12 14.06.12 18.06.12 21.06.12 25.06.12 28.06.12 31.06.12 02.07.12 05.07.12 09.07.12 12.07.12 16.07.12 19.07.12 23.07.12 26.07.12 30.07.12 Activity Introduction of Program Pin up Review: 40 games documentation (one per student) Pin up Review: 40 museums (one per student) + Introduction of Site Design Development: Select concept for structuring space from comparative study Design Development Review Design Development: Drawings + models Design Development: Drawings + models Intermediate Review Working Studio Working Studio Working Studio Pre-final review Final discussions Final discussions Final Marking / Pin up

Deliverables: As a class: A consolidated archive of 40 games elaborating upon Indian games both ancient and modern. A case study archive of 40 museums Individually: Explanatory technical drawings Drawing requirements to be specified. Study Models showing development of form. References: http://www.traditionalgames.in http://kreedaakaushalya.blogspot.in/ http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/namitaverma-388748-traditional-games-india-sports-pptpowerpoint/

Page | 3