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Shri Radha-Shyam Temple near Kacheguda Railway Station, Hyderabad, India
About the snapshot:
A few days ago, we published the 5th post in the newly started series here on BRICKS-n-MORTAR (tag-labeled as - "SNAPSHOTS"). The title of the post was-- "Perfect example of an enchanting Temple Architecture and Photographic ecstasy" which showcased a beautiful Hindu Temple located near the Kacheguda railway station in the Indian city of Hyderabad.
The beauty of the image was the mesmerizing out-of-the-world whitish-silverish aura that the full moon embellished on the white colored medieval temple architecture on the otherwise pitch-dark night. The contrast between the resulting full moon rays showered on the temple against the dark sky background was like, as we stated in that post, like as if it symbolized victory of the Good over Evil.
Today's snapshot captures the same temple in almost the same picture angle, with the only difference that it is shot in the day time.
Who all of you, by the way, have seen this temple by yourself?
For quick reference, check out this snapshot we published a few days before here on this blog of the same temple in full moonlit night, with the full moon visible showering its eternal rays over the beautiful temple architecture.
Shri Radha-Shyam Temple near Kacheguda Railway Station, Hyderabad, India during a full moonlit night
Today's snapshot is from BRICKS-n-MORTAR 's own archives. We would love to receive your very own caption(s) for this snapshot in the comments section below and/or by email / 'contact us' form.
This being the 7th post in the newly started series here on BRICKS-n-MORTAR, tag-labeled as - "SNAPSHOTS". This series is being published here on this blog every Friday to start with. You may also send in some of your splendid photographs relating to our theme and may earn value points adding up to our ongoing BnM's blog promotion contest - 2010
This is the 5th post in the newly started series here on BRICKS-n-MORTAR,
tag-labeled as - "SNAPSHOTS".
This series is being published here on this blog every Friday
to start with. You may also send in some of your splendid photographs
relating to our theme and may earn value points adding up to our ongoing
BnM's
blog promotion contest - 2010
Today's snapshot is from
the photo archives of one of BnM Edesk members- 'P.Sood' who is an avid photographer. He insists to be termed amateur despite the fact that his works have been nominated in a couple of renowned e-galleries.
We would love to receive your very own caption(s) for
this snapshot in the comments section below and/or by email / 'contact
us' form.
An enchanting snapshot of a
Temple near the Kacheguda Railway Station in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh,
India
About the snapshot:
Looking at the picture, who would ever not praise the genius and supreme mastery of religious monuments' architecture?
World over, the religious monuments/ buildings/ structures/ artifacts/ construction (whatever one may call them as!) provide ultimate examples of architectural marvel-- be them the Hindu temples, Sikh Gurudwaras, Buddhist Matthhs and Stupas, Christian Churches, Muslim Mosques, Jain Mandirs, and the likes.
The factors like-- enormity of scale, architectural detailing and painstaking skill in constructing and finishing them-- are what attracts the attention of the worshipers and professionals as well.
And it is when the magical serenity of the place is captured aesthetically and devotionally by the means of a lens, the charm and bliss of the place becomes eternal.
This particular snap published today has been clicked in the Indian city of Hyderabad. The clicked Hindu Temple here in this post is located near the Kacheguda railway station.
The ongoing Shanghai World Expo 2010, suggestively the most extravagant and costliest world fair by all practical means till date in the world, is underway from May 1, 2010 to October 31, 2010 on the banks of the Huangpu River in the city of Shanghai, China.
Built over a staggering land area of 5.28 square km, this world expo (world trade fair) has cost an enormous $58m, with 190 countries and some 50 international organizations, having got built their life-sized pavilions to showcase their presence.
But, thinking back, does spending in the tune of millions and millions of American dollars on constructing pavilions and structures to showcase a country's or an organization's mark, be justified? Some may argue the move was right in the time of world's slowdown of 2008-2010 (2010 perhaps!!) when the world governments and authorities, etc. committed substantial funds to keep the economy wheel churning, and not get rusted resulting in a chain reaction of meltdown.
Whatever the reason behind this exorbitant construction spree be, let us-- for the purpose of pure academic interest-- focus more on the aspects of plan, design, architecture and theme behind the famous pavilions that have been in news.
For the purpose of sharing with our readers, the central theme behind the Expo 2010 has been christened by the Chinese authorities as-- "BETTER CITY, BETTER LIFE"-- exclaiming the world attention towards the coveted WORLD CITY STATUS to SHANGHAI, which is claiming the "next great world city" status in the world's geo-political domain.
Besides these 5 main themes, pavilions of 190 countries and some 50 international bodies & organizations have been grouped in 5 zones, viz., Zone A, Zone B, Zone C, Zone D and Zone E.
Do check out the significant country-specific pavilions being spoken of for good themic designs on the official Expo 2010 website or any other reliable website that is reporting the fair.
As far as our opinion is concerned, some of the pavilions have been architectural marvels, while a few pavilions have simply been sorts of waste of money and efforts of course. Readers interested in reading about and looking into the pavilions of all the countries and organizations can surf through the content at the Official Website of Shanghai's Expo 2010.
Designs pictures of the Indian pavilion is reproduced hereunder, with a request to our readers to share the actual visit snaps if some of you happen to visit the place in person.
Yesterday night, while editing the final version of the post scheduled to be published today here at BRICKS-n-MORTAR, we happen to take a tea break and took some more time off to check & prune our mailboxes as well as the network links that we follow.
One of such many updates was from ArchDaily, a daily architectural content website, the recent entry of which derailed us from what we were doing that very point of time. The entry, in subject, inadvertently got us into sort of an informal debate among ourselves, which we now think, could well be posted today instead of the earlier planned post and be shared with our readers to have their insight also.
ABOUT THE DEBATE WITHIN OURSELVES...
The debate started after looking at one of the architectural entries out of a total of eight there in this very update at ArchDaily, which was titled 'SHIP' and was a submission by some Japanese Architect agency, called Katsuhiro Miyamoto & Associates with their reported postal address indicating them to be located at Takarazuka, Hyogo, Japan.
The subject entry 'SHIP' made us follow its 'Read more' hyperlink in the received update mailer for two reasons--
ONE, the picture accompanying the entry was looking somewhat weird as compared to other content in the mailer; and
TWO, the seemingly weirdness of the entry made us more so very inquisitive to find out as what in the first place was the idea behind such a design?!!
This is how the house looks like... (reproducing and sharing the pictures of this weird looking entry from ArchDaily as ready reference)
Now, having visited their respective hyperlinks, this is what the website mentions about the Japanese architect agency's design:
A residence built on a two-tiered site with a level difference of 3 meters. Because of the concern remained about the credibility of embankment and retaining wall built along the housing development, the foundation was laid on natural ground beneath the lower tier which was more reliable as the supporting stratum. The steel-made volume for public rooms floats over the retaining wall and above the upper tier for better view. Private rooms are arranged along the lower tier where the atmosphere is calm, at a distance from the front road, within a reinforced concrete structure which functions as a counterbalance to the overhanging volume.
...The result is in fact much reminiscent of a ferryboat, in terms of both structure and layout, in which passenger decks and floating section are separated up and down with the vehicle decks in between.
Cor-ten steel used for the structure of this house’s first floor and up is entirely untreated on the surface and bare, expected to be covered with stable rust in the future. Contrastingly, the interior surfaces –floor, wall, ceiling- are finished uniformly white with elaborate thermal insulation. Combined with their curved forms, it is intended that a neutral space with a feeling of loss of depth is created.
THIS IS OUR OPINION ON THE DESIGN... but, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Despite reading the details and looking at various pictures of this weird-looking building, we couldn't be convinced as why foundations (deep foundations and/or pile foundations, etc.) couldn't be possible in the front half of the building, which could have let the building have some meaningful and natural shape? Moreover, we don't think this design could have been economic considering the fact that enormous quantity of steel structure would have been put in use to support such gigantic unsupported cantilevered upper storey part. The RCC overhang would also have been of larger volumes so as to provide a balancing counterweight.
All in all, we debated and debated for hours to find any reasonable meaning in designing such weird-looking buildings (apologies though to the conceiving Japanese architect agency in case we have not been able to understand their concept!!)
Let us ask now BRICKS-n-MORTAR readers to help take the debate further to some concluding decision as what such designs be termed as---
INNOVATIVE & UNIQUE...
or...
WEIRD & UNWARRANTED DESIGN ??
BTW, here's showing the picture of another entry of the same mailer, which is differently conceptualized, but is still looking amazing. Have a look! What do you say for this?
Article shared from 'AddThis' toolbar available in the online version of 'The Hindu', a leading national newspaper in India
Quote..When Zhao Yue Ting bid for the contract to build India’s pavilion at the Shanghai Expo, the Chinese engineer had little idea of what he was getting himself into.
The design, centred on an 18 metre-tall bamboo dome, confounded Chinese engineers. Bamboo, strangely enough, is rarely used in constructions in China — so much so that, Mr. Zhao says, there was no building code for him to follow.
“This design was very unusual for construction experts in China,” he says. “The engineers did not know how to proceed. Most of the workers had never worked with bamboo. And to top it all, the government was convinced it would not be safe.”
The design envisaged that the 35 metre-wide dome — it will be the world’s biggest bamboo structure — would be supported entirely by hundreds of 20 metre-long pieces of bamboo.
For three months, Mr. Zhao and his colleagues at the China Jingye Engineering Corporation, one of the country’s largest firms, worked to ease the worries of the Shanghai government, conducting a dozen safety checks and fire-resistance tests.
Simon Velez from Colombia, one of the world’s premier bamboo experts, was roped in. Engineers even built a full-scale sample model, following Indian building codes, to assure officials that the structure would be safe.
The expansive dome now stands completed, supported by an intricate network of more than 500 pieces of bamboo. The bamboo has been brought from Anji, in the Zhejiang province, China’s bamboo capital.
The design has so impressed Chinese officials and architects that Mr. Zhao’s company has now been commissioned to conduct a 6-million Yuan study on bamboo construction, and even come up with a building code for future constructions.
The company has received offers from within China to build similar structures.
The Shanghai government has announced that, after the Expo concludes in October, every country’s pavilion, save for China’s, will be dismantled so that the government can recoup some of its huge investment by selling what has now become prime real estate in Shanghai.
India’s dome will, however, be spared demolition. The local government in Wushi, Zhejiang, is so impressed with the buzz generated by the design that it has offered to dismantle the pavilion and reassemble it back in Wushi, piece by piece of bamboo.
Awnings-- also known in common terms as Canopies, or Shades, or Overhangs, or even simply Coverings-- are one of the most common mean of covering the architectural openings of a building of the likes of windows, doors, ventilators, sliding/ swinging/ rolling shutters, porches, sit-out open spaces, sidewalks, etc.
Modern day Awnings usually comprise of a canvas or fabric coverings (made of materials of the likes of cotton, polyester, vinyl, polymers, light metal or acrylic or fibre sheets, etc.), that are mounted atop light-weight but strong holding frames (made out of welded or bolted sections of steel tubes, aluminum sections, angles, channels, wooden members, etc.).
Most of our readers would be astonished to know that use of Awnings is as old as a at least a century old, if not more. In fact, the modern awnings are nothing but some sort of modified (rectified) version of a hatch-roof type arrangement that has been in practice since ages that people used to take shelter for themselves and/or their belongings and the cattle stock. PURPOSE OF USING AWNINGS
Awnings are used for a variety of purposes, a few of which being:
Protecting the architectural openings from the extremities of weather be it rainfall, direct sunlight, steep windy conditions, etc.
Providing shade to the openings in direct sunlit areas which helps in reducing the excess heat exposure to the building thereby reducing cooling and air-conditioning requirements
Providing sort of a barrier against ingress of dust nuisance
Using them as temporary structures for having a cover in shape of an overhang or a shed as against having a permanent concrete or steel structure, which can be retracted when not in use.
Using them as means of marketing and advertising, i.e., highlighting brand names and putting billboards, etc.
Enhancing the architectural beauty and overall look of the building from aesthetics point of view.
TYPES OF AWNINGS
The common types of Awnings in use are:
Fixed type overhangs
Semi-fixed type overhangs
Retractable type overhangs
Lateral arm type coverings
Drop arm type coverings
Canopies (Awnings with column/posts/struts supports in front other than the wall fixing means are usually called canopies)
Pop-up canopies
Fixed or semi-fixed or retractable type screens
Besides, awnings can be also classified in terms of their shape, size, material, working principle, etc.
WHERE TO USE AN AWNING?
One can fix an awning literally over any externally located window, door, ventilator, driveway, porch, balcony, rooftop, garden, etc. An awning basically provides shade besides serving the needs of building and architectural aesthetics.
HOW TO FIX AN AWNING?
Besides getting professional help, one can also fix simpler types of awnings by himself/ herself. All one needs is a simple wall-mounted type bracket or a frame and a suitably designed covering. Mechanized and sophisticated awnings may preferably be fixed with the assistance of professionals only. Moreover, special care must be taken if awnings are to be fixed on openings at heights, roofs and other difficult locations.
CONCLUSION & INFERENCE
Awnings can provide additional aesthetic and stylish look to you home, office, commercial space, etc. besides serving the functional need of providing shade and a barrier to dust, rain, etc. They can enhance the appearance of one's dwelling or work place by adding shape, dimension and color. They also help to make homes more energy efficient by reducing the amount of solar radiation that enters through the windows, ultimately decreasing the load on the air conditioner during hot summer months. Awnings also can expand outdoor living space and offer an economical alternative to addition of permanent concrete or steel structures, which can be retracted when not required. Awnings also protect outdoor furniture and wooden decks from weather damage and fading due to excess exposure to UV rays. TO READ MORE RELATED ARTICLES OF USE, click here SUBSCRIBE to get B-n-M's updates and feeds right there in your INBOX.
India, in the past week gone by, witnessed one of the most horrendous and ghastly terrorist attacks on one of her iconic and heritage architectural structure which by no means can be considered less than a monument. Several innocent lives lost, many of dutiful Indian armed personnel martyred, and innumerable horrific memories remain in the eyes 'n minds of the entire rational world.
And, in the centre stage of this worst episode of inhuman and ghastly act of certain fundamentalists, stand the other victims - 'TAJ MAHAL PALACE and TOWER' besides the 'Oberoi TRIDENT', Jewish settlers' Nariman point building and the Cafe Leopold - which bore the physical blunt of this insane act of terrorism... may be still trying to find out WHY THEY WERE SO ATTACKED and defaced. The answer may never come to them unless the fanatic fundamentalists who carry out such devilish acts are blessed back the thoughtfulness and righteousness of whats right and whats not right by the Almighty.
This post of Bricks-n-Mortar is a humble and heartfelt 'get-well-soon' prayer to this iconic Indian monument as well as the other buildings that came under attack. Heartfelt tribute to all the persons too also who lost their precious lives.
The Taj Mahal Palace hotel was built in the year 1903 by Mr. Jamsetji Nusserwanji Tata, the founder of India's one of the topmost business conglomerate house: The Tata group. History has it that Mr. Jamsetji N. Tata decided to build this iconic hotel when he was denied entry into a premier English hotel during the Britsh Raj era. The result was this marvelous piece of architecture, which in fact was built even before the very famous 'Gateway of India' monument, some about 20 years back. [Check out the hotel's full history snapshot at the hotel's official website the link of which is following below]
As highlighted in the Taj Hotels' website,
"Built in 1903, the hotel is an architectural marvel and brings together Moorish, Oriental and Florentine styles. Offering panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and the Gateway of India, the hotel is a gracious landmark of the city of Mumbai, showcasing contemporary Indian influences along with beautiful vaulted alabaster ceilings, onyx columns, graceful archways, hand-woven silk carpets, crystal chandeliers, a magnificent art collection, an eclectic collection of furniture, and a dramatic cantilever stairway.
Over the past century, The Taj Mahal Palace and Tower, Mumbai has amassed a diverse collection of paintings and works of art and is a veritable showcase of artifacts and art of the era. From Belgian chandeliers to Goan Christian artifacts, the hotel incorporates a myriad of artistic styles and tastes."
"With distinctive onion domes and pointed arches, the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel combined Moorish and Byzantine design with European ideas. Constructed of yellow basalt and reinforced concrete, the grand arch borrows details from 16th century Islamic architecture."
Now that the nightmarish terror episode has been tamed by the Indian armed forces and the positive will of the Indian and International people alike, lets all wish these iconic and marvelous architectural jewels come to vibrant life as soon as possible. Come together hand-in-hand wishing the marvel and grandeur of these beautiful jewels of the earth are restored by the utmost strong will and empathy of rational mankind.
Imagine this...
You--- in the capacity of an owner, developer, promoter, partner, realter, stakeholder, buyer, etc--- got a wonderful building constructed putting into precious hard-earned funds and hiring services of the best of the architects from the region.
Imagine this...
You are so very proud and happy to see your dream come true of constructing one beautiful and elegant piece of architecture, which in all terms is no less than your Taj Mahal by your own means no matter how meagre the funds-input might have been as compared to the actual Taj Mahal.
And, now visualise this...
Just like the backwaters on the banks of the Taj being utterly polluted and defaced come out as no less than an eyesore, visualize some of your lack of planning and/or oversight and/or some unauthorized/illegal structure springs up in the very foresight of the building elevation, then what would your dream do? What would happen to your immaculate planning and wish of presenting a marvellous piece of architecture to the world?
---=-=---=-=---
Something of the same sense happened to this beautiful creation of civi engineering, which is located in the very heat of the Delhi - NCR. It is being told that nobody took notice of this illegal hoarding and temporary hut being erected while the building was being completed, and the same has now become an utter eyesore in the view of this beautiful building besides being a sour battle of litigation with ghost parties (illegal compensation claimants).
Take notice and practice care if you also are planning or making your very own masterpiece. Ensure no one props an unwanted eyesore there. The good old adage says...'Prevention is better than cure'.
WITH THE ONGOING TUSSLE OF THE MANKIND WITH THE MOTHER NATURE IN ALMOST ALL SPHERES OF MODERN LIFE, THE MAN IS HELL-BENT ADAMANT TO RUIN ALL THE GOOD THINGS THE NATURE HAD PRESERVED FOR HIM, THEREBY RUINING ALL THE RESERVES AND VALUE SYSTEMS. THE SAME HAS GONE TRUE FOR ERECTING BUILDINGS ALSO WHERE MAN HAS PUT ENDLESSLY ENORMOUS LOADS OF CONCRETE, STEEL AND MULTITUDES OF DEBRIS ON EARTH'S FACE.
The practices deployed over the period of years aspiring to reach the zenith of his Architectural and Design skills, and not understanding the true importance of saving the grace of the mother nature, the mankind has now put itself in danger of destabilizing the nature's harmony and balancing character. Floods, droughts, green-house gases, ozone depletion, melting of polar ice, etc. are just a very few examples how the mankind has now been at the receiving end.
However, understanding the importance of living in harmony with the nature, a few individuals/ corporates/ organizations have lately started thinking of maintaining the ecological balance going hand-in-hand with the increasing skylines. The concept of Designing and Constructing the'GREEN BUILDINGS'has become a positive and welcome start.
Acknowledging the importance of Going Green, BRICKS-n-MORTAR.com will essay some valuable webspace writing some stuff on this topic, enabling our readers to understand the basic requirement, necessity and uniqueness in adopting the 'GREEN-BUILDING-REVOLUTION'.
WHAT IS A 'GREEN BUILDING'?
In this first article of this series- "GO-GREEN!", let us first let our readers understand what a green building is?
Green building is the practice of increasing the efficiency with which buildings use resources — energy, water, and materials — while reducing building impacts on human health and the environment during the building's lifecycle, through better siting, design, construction, operation, maintenance, and removal.
Green buildings are designed to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:
Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources
Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity
Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradation
A green building uses less energy, water and natural resources, creates less waste and is healthier for the people living inside compared to a standard building.
In the next article on this "GO-GREEN!" campaign of BRICKS-n-MORTAR.com, we shall discuss the various facts and requirements of green buildings concept vis-a-vis the further developments in this field of Civil Engineering.
Do post your suggestions/ feedback/ contributions to us.
This photograph was taken in the South-Indian city of Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, where the reader who has sent this across went visiting.
The house in picture looks nice, but has one very prominent Architectural feature, which technically speaking, is some sorts of a flaw (in terms of designing the structural elements.)
Can you identify?
[Hint: Look near the slanting red roof]
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As discussed one previous time here before also on bricks-n-mortar.com in another web-shared post, The beauty of Wikipedia is that if one feels the content is not correct, or if one wants to add to the content, then the article can be edited/ enhanced/ modified (of course subject to step by step approval).
So if you think you can add more precise and/or realistic content, GO ON! Click the link below (or here) and make the article better. You can be the useful contributor enabling other readers to get more specific and truthful details.
Due to the disagreements over how to measure and classify structures, engineers have created various definitions for categories of buildings and other structures. One measure includes the absolute height of a building, another includes only spires and other permanent architectural features, but not antennas. The tradition of including the spire on top of a building and not including the antenna dates back to the rivalry between the Chrysler Building and 40 Wall Street. A modern-day example is that the antenna on top of the Sears tower are not considered part of its architectural height, while the spires on top of the Petronas towers are counted.
An interesting Article on 'List of Largest Buildings in the World' [Source: Wikipedia]
The beauty of Wikipedia is that if one feels the content is not correct, or if one wants to add to the content, then the article can be edited/ enhanced/ modified (of course subject to step by step approval).
So if you think you can add more precise and/or realistic content, GO ON! Click the link below and make the article better. You can be the useful contributor enabling other readers to get more specific and truthful details.