In the discussion below the emphasis will be on the looks, functionality, technology used and search engine friendliness.

1. EDS Global

Animated landing page, very colourful and keeps you engaged for considerable time. Wait for it to load completely and the front page is interactive also. I mean depending upon the position of your cursor on the screen it will show the content.

CMS (Content Management System) supported, uses JavaScript, Php, MySql and CSS. It is important to mention about CMS, as not many architects have yet shifted their websites to CMS and continue to depend on the developer for even small updates.

On negative side, due to use of many images, even for menus, the website takes some time to load. Though the content of the website can be updated from CMS, it certainly lacks some basic Search Engine Friendliness (SEF).

2. Morphogenesis Architects

Neat. Minimal and easy to navigate through. It opens with an landing page with random images subtly fading into each other. The major content is  based on Flash. Don’t know why? I remember the earlier version of this website which was non-flash and was highly SEF. This new version misses the basic Search Engine Friendly features like URLs and tags, but the text content should be easily readable by Search Engines.

3. InForm Architects

This is based on flash totally and does not give an option of HTML or non-flash version. It doesn’t look like based on CMS. Interestingly, in footer it is mentioned that the site is best viewed in Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator (remember?), but it did work well in Chrome and Mozilla Firefox also. There was a time when black was favourite with Flash animators. Everything from logo to menus and content is animated which may become boring at some stage.

4. Form | Space | Design

Again a black background. I am sure this does not use any CMS and is totally based on Static HTML. One thing, the effects in  flash animation could have been easily achieved by JavaScript, which would have not only saved time but it would have been easy for updating also. The website uses the space on screen very well and not to miss the ‘LinkedIn’ logo in footer. Architects too are going social!

5. Rahoul Singh Design Associates

Wihite, this time with red as an accent. Again, I do not know why this website was created in Flash. All animation effects except the logo may be could have been achieved by JavaScript / AJAX. Neatly organised content and easy to navigate through, this website is centrally positioned and leaves lot of white space around to cater to different resolutions of the screen.

6. AAPL Architects

FLASH again. Right-Click and you will also see “Terms and conditions” link, broken at the moment.  Conventionally, people would first talk about their office, systems and then projects but on this website, the fluorescent green band on left gives importance to projects and the other information is separately grouped under the list of project categories.

cts that a category can accommodate seems to be limited to twelve. Any addition to this may result into change in the layout. Again, for any such change or addition, the architect is dependent on the developer of the website as it does not seem to have a CMS.

7. Division Space

A multinational architectural firm based in Mumbai, India. The website uses Flash and on landing page gives you an option of either going for a quick presentation or a detailed presentation. Whatever you choose, once you are in it you will have to either click on logo or use browser’s back button to come back to the landing page, just in case you plan to choose the other option. The website looks complete and updated with the content (this is important because many websites I visited were still showing copyright 2006 or so). The content also keeps you engaged for considerable time. Again, looks like for any kind of addition, modification or updation of content, the website depends on the developer / designer.

8. Design Concepts

Flash Intro which allows you to skip to main content. Non-stop Music (I kept the website on while working on this blog ). At first, it gave me an impression as if this was a website of some retail store. This website has a corporate look and the layout itself suggests that it uses some sort of CMS. Few things in this website which are missing in above websites include, a site map, newsletter facility and also a space for vendors. Very organised content, easily readable and friendlier for even new visitors.

9. Biome Solutions

Based on WordPress CMS, this website uses a ready theme, is fully expandable and easy to upgrade. I am not sure why ‘tags’ section is empty, which could have made it more Search Engine Friendly(SEF). Also, the URLs are also non SEF, which could be achieved in just one-click in WordPress. The “Pages” widget on right was not needed as the same is also appearing on top.

10. Planet3Studios

The landing page starts with the matrix of works and people. You can click on works to got to the detail page but the images of people on landing page are not clickable, I did not find any page which talked about people. Based on CMS but Search Engine Friendliness could be improved by simple steps. Not to miss the footer again: It has all social networking logos, unfortunately none of them work or just take you to the home page of the respective social networking service, at the moment.

The UD Deptt of Govt. of Maharashtra has published a draft of bye-laws for A, B & C class municipal councils and Nagar Panchayats.

Read it online below or DOWNLOAD IT FROM HERE.

 
http://issuu.com/advanirajesh/docs/dcr_abc_published_30_06_11?mode=a_p&wmode=0

I have always wondered “What kind of sketching architecture students shall be taught?” Again, it is debatable and subjective, what ‘good sketching’ means. For many, it may be good looking sketch, but for some it may be few lines that explain the idea. The idea that is going to take some shape in future. Architects deal with ideas and concepts. They talk spaces and connections. The ideas which have to exist in reality, which is not so true about fine arts sketching.

I think, architectural sketching is way different from ‘fine-arts’ sketching. And, that is the reason it shall not be taught in the same way as it is taught to fine-arts students.

Look at the following sketch by Frank Gehry, published in the book; Gehry Draws by MIT Press

I am sure, except Gehry nobody else would be able to make out what the sketch means, unless Gehry sat and explained it himself. I have tried showing this sketch to many students and have asked them “What do they see in this sketch?” And of course I receive all sorts of answers ranging from “shoes” to “Bath tub”.

One can go on and on with examples, but it is necessary to quote one example of a final year student of architecture who came to me to have my views on his dissertation. When he started explaining his idea, to denote spaces what he drew was ‘ovals” and to denote connections he perfectly used “straight lines”. If I show this to some third person, the person would call it a pair of “spectacles”. How would you as a teacher react to this?

Essentially architecture students have to deal with three type of sketches:

1. Sketches by observation: The ability to draw the sketch of a building, product or any object by looking at it.

2. Memory Drawing: The ability to draw from memory. The subject has been seen / viewed / experienced in past.

3. Visualisation: This is most important and more and more effort in my view shall be put in this area. The ability of drawing something which is going to exist in future, something which has been conceived in designer’s mind or sketching of an idea which till now did not exist.

In architecture schools (atleast in India), I think, more stress is being given to observation drawing. I do not deny the essence of it, rather to be able to draw one must start with observation drawing. What I don’t agree to is the process of learning sketching stopping there itself. Eventually more and more emphasis shall be given to memory drawing and drawing by visualization, as architects have to spend their lives sketching something that doesn’t exist.

I have thought of a simple exercise for second year students, where students do not only try to draw and sketch their ideas but also learn to control proportions of different objects in same space.

Exercise 1: Draw a view of a room which contains: a study table, a chair besides it, a book shelf, a window, pen stand, laptop /computer, ceiling fan and a two seat-er sofa.

OR, the submission of first three designs shall only be in the form of sketches and no computer generated or scale drawings.

What do you think? Let me know.

[This is draft post, changes would be made to content, language and formatting but the subject will remain same.]

The Seminar will focus on key issues like,

• Ecological Design
• Green township
• Green Buildings
• LEED Certification
• Good Governance
• Green Construction technologies
• Planning for barrier free cities
• Inclusive cities
• Cultural inclusion

With examples of cases like Magarpatta City in Pune, Greater Hyderabad and Global Studio.

REFER TO THE FOLLOWING BROCHURE FOR MORE DETAILS ON CONTENTS AND THE SPEAKERS.

Design and Planning for Sustainable Habitats - Page 1

Design and Planning for Sustainable Habitats - Page 2

For registration inquiries, contact:

Seminar Secratariat
Habitat Human Settlement Management Institute (HSMI)
HUDCO House, Lodhi Road,
New Delhi – 110003
Tel:  +91 – 11 – 24308600
Fax: +91 – 11 – 24365292

Email: hsmicsh@gmail.com

Please feel free to recommend any blogs if missing from following list.

www.indianarchitecture.net
(By Ar. Shamit Manchanda)

http://drshashibhooshan.blogspot.com/
(By Dr. Shashi Bhooshan)

http://anaghaspeaks.blogspot.com
(By Ar. Anagha Paranjape)

http://musings-of-a-third-world-architect.blogspot.com/
(By Ar. Rajeev Kulkarni)

http://suryabala4radicaldesigns.blogspot.com/
(By Ar. Suryabala Sah)

http://sf.sabufrancis.com/
(By Ar. Sabu Francis)

http://pushkar-architectureplus.blogspot.com/
(By Ar. Pushkar Kanvinde)

http://urbanarchitecture.in/
URBAN ARCHITECTURE INDIA

http://archirendezvous.blogspot.com/
(By Ar. Tejashree Kulkarni)

http://archistudent.net/
(By Ar. Guneet Singh Khurana)

http://akshay-kaul.blogspot.com/
(By Ar. Akshay Kaul)

http://www.biomesolutions.blogspot.com/
(By Ar. Chitra Vishwanath, Biome Solutions)

http://narendradengle.blogspot.com/
(By Ar. Narendra Dengle)

http://vinay-decodingarchitecture.blogspot.com/
(BY Ar. Vinay Sonone)

http://bssa-iaac-groupeight.blogspot.com/
(By Ar.GAURAV JHUNJHUNWALA, Ar. HIREN GANATRA, Ar. KSHITI SHAH, Ar. SALONI CHOUDHARY, Ar. SHALIN DOSHI)

http://rkiidea.blogspot.com/
(By Ar. Rahul Bhushan)

http://kerala-life.blogspot.com/
(By Ar. Thomas Viruvelil)

http://archbhoo-india.blogspot.com/
(By Ar. UK Bhoobalan)

If you are in Delhi, anytime till June 26th, I personally suggest that you shall not miss this exhibition and also get hold of the book which exhibits some the projects displayed here. Some pictures from the exhibition:

An associated event comprising presentations by Delhi architects is scheduled on Saturday June 18, 2011 at the Gulmohar Hall between 7 and 9pm.

An IHC WALK through InCITE’s +91 RESIDENCES – Contemporary Indian Houses exhibition at the Visual Arts Gallery is scheduled on Sunday June 19,2011 @ 10:00am. Prior registration is required with IHC programme desk.

This effort is supported by Rehau.

More details about the event are available here.

Past 20 years of experimentation with the evolving technology around in the field of automation, robotics and nanotechnology, architects has a new way to look at the design processes and tools. (Source: http://ddcworkshop.blogspot.com/)

For more details and registration click here.