Architecture and Town Planning
Until 1979, to be precise, it was at the beginning of my 5th Semester Engineering, I came across the terminology Architecture and Town Planning. This was a subject in my curriculum, there were no prescribed text book, but there was a syllabus and a GOLD MEDAL, for being first in the university without the sessional marks in memory of late Sri. Najmul Hussein a professor in the Civil Engineering Department, TKMCE.
One thing was certain, every student, even the cheeky ones who never bothered about any of the subjects were keen to win the gold medal; I volunteered to prepare notes on the subject referring books from British Council Library in Trivandrum, and made sure we had the best reference for the exams.
My acquaintance with design and plans was from my own home and many of the ancient homes I had visited as a child.
My introduction to a plan and elevation was for our own home, Ammonia prints, and my Appa was the designer, his concept was simple, even if the house had just one room, it should be big enough, well-lit and plenty of airflow, simple philosophy cross ventilation, functional, easy to clean and enough storage.
Kitchen should be big, with enough of work space, whole family should be able to move around without knocking at each other, there should be ample light, ventilation and separate area for washing dishes etc.
I have amassed my detailing principles from my parents and I have always been disciplined about a place for everything and everything in place.
I had the opportunity to visit various palaces and government bungalows. The most intriguing palace I visited as a kid was Tirumalai Naykkar Palace in Madurai, which we visited whenever Appa went to replenish the stock of types for the printing press. It’s so unique the floors shine and outshine everything around and made me wonder all the time how many chicken would have contributed to the eggs!!, that bonded the mixture which was used to build the palace and were they free range!!!
When we were young, we religiously travelled by car for Onam, Christmas and summer holidays to places around Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Mysore. Mysore Palace, Jog Falls, Tipu Sultans Seringapatam, Sri Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry, Aranya Nivas in Thekkady and many other palaces in Kerala which were treats of a life time.
When I started preparing notes for Architecture and Town Planning, I came across various architects, who made a mark in my life.
Frank Llyod Wright:
Study nature, love nature, stays close to nature. It will never fail you.
Le Corbusier:
I prefer drawing to talking. Drawing is faster, and leaves less room for lies.
Louis Sullivan:
Life is recognizable in its expression, this is the law. Form follows Function.
Laurie Baker
To me probably the most interesting part of designing a building is dealing with the clients— getting to know them, how they live and work and finding out what sort of a building they dream of. ..
Buckminster Fuller:
If the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong.
Every statement had profound effect on me, then and it still lingers.
Fallingwater was courage, daring architecture and structural engineering. To believe it was a private home was beyond imagination, however I prepared notes on the project, and used it many a times in assignments and exams.
When I walked past the wooded bend and the huge stone standing tall with FALLINGWATER engraved on it, 
I connected to my class mates from 1977-82 batch. We were so naïve, we were so boisterous, and we were so childlike….,
One world, one people became such an overpowering statement and the reality that wherever we are people make the difference, became so powerful a feel.
This place is a statement of its own and the elements used by the daring architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who started the private project at the age of 67; was concrete, marine plywood, wood, steel and locally available stones.
With information at finger tips, you can just Google and read and view anything and everything about the architect and his creations. https://en.wikiarquitectura.com/building/fallingwater-house/
However for me, every step I took at the site made me connect to my life and my destiny, and myself.
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