Author: Ganju M.N Ashish, Dengle Narendra
Place: New Delhi
Publisher: GREHA Publications
Year: 2013
Pages: 66
ISBN: 978-81-928194-0-2
Subject: Architecture
Sub-Subject: Architectural Theory
Keyword: Architectural Theory, Community and Identity, Sustainable Architecture
Shelf: C9R5
Accession No: B1642
Contents: Acknowledgements, Introduction, Self as Community, The Act of Building with the Awareness of an Evolving Universe, Maintenance as Renewal, Regeneration with Learning, Aferword, Bibliography
Abstract: The book, developed through a dialogue between two experienced architects with four decades of practice and teaching primarily in India, introduces a four-part analytical framework to clarify its theoretical foundation. This framework includes: 1) Self as community, emphasizing the interconnectedness of individual and collective identity; 2) Action coupled with awareness, highlighting the importance of conscious engagement in architectural practice; 3) Maintenance as renewal, focusing on sustaining and revitalizing built environments; and 4) Regeneration with learning, which underlines continual growth and adaptation through knowledge. To explore and refine these ideas, several workshops were conducted at colleges in Ahmedabad, New Delhi, Bhopal, Vijayawada, and Mumbai. These sessions facilitated broader discussion and critique, enriching the concepts presented. The response from the architectural community was notably positive, particularly from both national and international reviewers. Among the most encouraging feedback came from renowned Western architectural theorists, Professors John Habraken and Christopher Alexander, who recognized the significance of the book’s contributions to architectural theory. Their endorsement adds substantial weight to the work, signaling its relevance and impact across diverse architectural traditions and pedagogies.