In December 2016, I and a group of friends from AESA (Architects, Engineers, and Surveyors Association), from Pune, visited Architect Nari Gandhi‘s last project, in Kolegaon, near Ahmednagar.
We were very fortunate to meet most of the architects who had very sensitively created the protects we visited and understood in detail their philosophy behind the same. As they say, seeing is believing so experiencing each project in reality and having intense design dialogue with fellow AESA members and the architects themselves was extremely stimulating, motivating and inspiring.
We were told by the locals there that he tragically passed away in a car accident in Aug of 1993, while this project was nearing completion, so unfortunately he could not see the fully realised project!
The project had two parts to it – a Gate/Darwaza and a Dargah. Both projects are beautifully crafted in red-fired brick, that was locally made.
The Darwaza was an arched-shell structure with steps and a resting pavilion at a mezzanine level, wherein the architectural form represents plasticity, visual depth, and spatial transparency, with a humane scale.
The Dargah was also fully done in brick and looks like a sculpture in brick! All the existing trees grew through the structure making the spatial relationship between the built and nature even more special.
Both these structures have a magical silence and aura that immediately touches your senses and one can feel the labour of love instantly! I can never forget what one of the masons of the Darwaza said to us.
“Nari saheb ne ye sab bahut mohabbat se banaya hai.” (Tr: Nari sir made all this with lots of love).
I for sure learnt a lot. Those learnings have stayed with me subconsciously as ‘Sanskars’. Many things learnt from this memorable visit have manifested into built spaces by my studio as an abstract influence!
