They shaped the city and gave it the facade that we see every day. The present cityscape and skyscape have been sculpted by several building designers, many of them former students of the Department of Architecture, College of Engineering, Trivandrum. The very first department of architecture in Kerala, it opened the door to modern architecture in the state.
To commemorate the golden jubilee of the department, students and former students have joined hands with the city chapter of the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) to draw the blueprint of a one-year programme that celebrates the city and its architecture.
Dharma Keerthi, chairman of the city chapter, IIA, says the golden jubilee was an ideal starting block to begin an awareness programme on architecture and, in the process, honour the department of architecture too.
“Taking inspiration from the Venice Biennale’s 100 years of architecture programme that was kicked off by the Bauhaus School of Architecture in Germany, we decided to come up with an event that is all about architecture and that is why it is called ‘Fifty years of modern architecture.’ After all, the setting up of the department of architecture laid the foundation stone of modern architecture in Kerala. As part of the IIA programme, we plan to take residents on a journey into the past, the present and the future. Thiruvananthapuram has always had a rich culture of music, dance, art, architecture dance. We are trying to revive that pride and sentiment in her citizens,” explains George Chitoor, secretary of the IIA.
In addition, the IIA is planning a range of activities that will go on till May 2015. “Exhibitions, competitions, walks, philanthropic activities in schools and colleges, cleanliness drives, art in public spaces, seminars and discussions will be conducted over the year. Each will be led by a member of IIA,” adds Keerthi.
The programme was kicked off on October 11 by internationally renowned architects Christopher Charles Benninger, who inaugurated the golden jubilee celebrations of the department, and Peter Rich, who inaugurated the ‘Fifty years of modern architecture in Kerala’ event.
Later, the IIA brought in Riyas Komu, director of the Kochi Biennale, to mentor architecture students of three colleges in the city to design art works in urban spaces in the city.
“That is part of the outreach programmes to make the residents aware of their built heritage. The students are busy making and designing art works of different kinds that will be put up in certain select urban spaces in the city. In addition to graphic works, there are a wide range of art works that will be put up during the year,” says Maya Gomez, convener of the outreach programmes.
One of the events for the public is a series of heritage walks to familiarise residents with their built heritage. The first one is around PMG Junction and its surroundings on November 2.
“It is here that we see an interesting amalgamation of different styles of architecture. The Students' Union building has a screen of jali work while the University stadium also includes several features of modern architecture. The Corporation building with its modernistic jali screen is near the Victorian style Public Library and bang opposite it is the CSI church, one of the oldest in the city. So it is an apt place to start the ‘architecture walks’,” explains Maya.
Next is a walk along the Arat Road in the West Fort area, when the participants will take a close look at vernacular architecture that co-exists with the imposing colonial façade of the buildings with its many pillars and stately windows. Each walk will be led by experts such as academic and author Ashalatha Thampuram, architect Thomas Oommen, conservation architect Sharat Sunder Rajeev and so on.
“Since we would like to explain such aspects, the walks have been restricted to 20 people. Over the period of a year, the walks will be repeated in the same areas,” she adds.
The IIA is hoping to build up on this initiative to begin an interactive engagement with the people in the city and, eventually, Kerala.
Neena Thomas, present head of the department of Architecture, who is also an alumna of the department of architecture, says the idea behind ‘Fifty years of modern architecture in Kerala’ is to highlight the architectural evolution in the city. “J.C. Alexander, who was the chief architect and chief town planner of the Government of Kerala set up the department in 1964. He handpicked a few serving engineers as visiting faculty. My father, Thomas Poulose, Ramaswamy Iyer, A.K. Jayachandran, were some of the teachers in that group. It was only in 1980 that the department got its own head of department – Thomas Oommen,” says Neena.
