Design Brief | The Drawing Board 2024

Summary

The ninth edition of the Drawing Board competition by Mindspace Architects focuses on Madurai's historic Paton Lane, known for its 10 granite pillars. The challenge is to redesign the surrounding buildings to integrate the 400-year-old pillars into the city's fabric, while maintaining the street's silk industry heritage. The aim is to create a heritage walk connecting the Minakshi Temple and Thirumalai Nayakar Palace, enhancing the area's historical significance and urban experience.

Takeaways

• 🏆 The event is the ninth edition of the Drawing Board competition sponsored by Rohan Baders.
• 🎨 Sanjay Mohe is an architect from Mindspace and he is presenting the competition.
• 📍 The competition's chosen site is in Madurai, between the Minakshi Temple and Thirumalai Nayakar Palace.
• 🏛 The site features a row of 10 columns, which are remnants of a palace and are historically significant.
• 🕰 The columns were constructed around 1600, making them approximately 400 years old.
• 🌟 The columns create a unique experience, reminiscent of the Luxor Temple in Egypt, transporting visitors beyond the 4-meter-wide street.
• 🏡 The columns are surrounded by houses and shops, many of which are related to the silk industry.
• 🔍 The challenge is to liberate the columns from their current trapped state and create an open space while maintaining the historical context.
• 🛠 The design brief involves redesigning the buildings along the 10 Pillar Street to integrate the columns into the city fabric.
• 🚶‍♂️ The aim is to create a Heritage walk connecting the palace and the temple, highlighting the grandeur of the columns.
• 📝 The competition encourages participants to explore different solutions and come up with innovative designs for the site.

Q & A

What is the ninth edition of the Drawing Board competition about?

The ninth edition of the Drawing Board competition is an architectural challenge sponsored by Rohan Baders, focusing on the site in Madurai, between the Minakshi Temple and Thirumalai Nayakar Palace.

Why was the site in Madurai chosen for the competition?

The site in Madurai was chosen due to its historical significance, the presence of the Minakshi Temple and Thirumalai Nayakar Palace, and the unique experience of the 10 columns in a narrow lane that evoke a sense of discovery and transport visitors to a different time.

What is the historical significance of the 10 columns in Madurai?

The 10 columns were constructed around 1600, almost 400 years ago, and are remnants of the palace that survived after the Kingdom's headquarters moved to Trichy.

What is the current state of the 10 Pillar Street?

The 10 Pillar Street is densely populated with buildings on small plots, typically ground plus two structures, with retail establishments on the ground floor and residences above.

What is the design brief for the competition?

The design brief is to redesign the buildings indicated in blue hatch along the 10 Pillar Street, making the 10 pillars an integral part of the city fabric while retaining the rest of the structures as they are.

What are the architectural constraints for the redesign?

The redesign must ensure that the ground coverage is 50% with an FSI of 1 and 1/2, and the height cannot exceed 12 meters. The ground floor should predominantly feature public activities related to silk weaving or retail.

How does the competition aim to enhance the heritage of the site?

The competition aims to create a Heritage walk connecting the palace and the temple, giving extra importance to the 10 columns and integrating them into the city's fabric.

What is the significance of the emboss Shivlingam sculpture on one of the pillars?

The emboss Shivlingam sculpture with a niche for lighting lamps is a unique feature of one of the pillars, adding to the historical and cultural significance of the site.

What is the expected outcome of the competition for the 10 Pillar Street?

The expected outcome is to create an open space around the pillars, liberating them from the trapped feeling, and enhancing the ambience while maintaining the relationship between the old silk shops and the historical columns.

How does the competition site relate to the broader context of Madurai's heritage?

The competition site is part of the broader heritage context of Madurai, connecting two significant monuments, the Minakshi Temple and Thirumalai Nayakar Palace, and aiming to highlight the importance of the 10 Pillar Street within the city's history.

What is the role of the public in the redesigned space?

The public plays a crucial role in the redesigned space, as the ground floor is expected to feature public activities that emphasize silk weaving or retail, making the space vibrant and integral to the community.