Swiss Positions showcases 33 buildings known for their brilliant design at the Open Palm Court. Snehal Shah, who is taking people for a walk around the exhibition, shares details on the architectural must-haves. By D Kaushik
A leaf-shaped church made entirely of wood at Sumvitg establishes strong relationship with historical architectural archetypes and the local community. A newly-built footbridge between two river banks at Boudry is an extension of the existing footpath and constitutes a sinuous structure with a slated screen wall. Photographs of both are part of an exhibition, Swiss Positions, at Open Palm Court. The exhibition curated by Nathalie Herschdorfer is presented by the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) in cooperation with the Embassy of Switzerland in India and Swissnex India. The display of 33 photographs is a take on sustainable architecture and features key projects from the Swiss construction sector over the past 20 years.
The unique exhibits explore different angles with regard to construction, materials, ecology and protection of the environment. These architectural works, whether viewed from a technological, organic, vernacular or bioclimatic angle, or from a social perspective, enter into an interaction with the context in which they are created. “Swiss architecture and engineering today have an excellent reputation across the globe, not only due to the quality of technical expertise but also due to a strong determination to pursue the objective of sustainable development. This exhibition shows that sustainable development is not a ready-made formula but a group of varied architectural practices that raise a number of questions concerning both creativity and sustainability. In Switzerland, architects design, renovate or rehabilitate buildings with sustainability in mind. These projects show that inventive and visually arresting architecture is possible while complying with demanding environmental and economic constraints,” informs Snehal Shah, a visiting Professor at CEPT (Center for Environmental Planning and Technology). He is delivering lectures in Bengaluru, Chandigarh and New Delhi for students of architecture. He will take interested groups through a walk of the exhibition. Snehal has studied architecture in Ahmedabad and works as an architect, both in Switzerland and in India. He defines sustainable architecture “as a building that respects elements of nature.” He explains that the basic premise of every building has to be sustainable — it should use local materials, not pollute the environment and should be simple but aesthetically designed. Snehal says that all these qualities are easily spotted in most of the Swiss buildings. “Good life depends on good architecture. The reason the Swiss architecture has maintained a position in the world is because they are financially or politically dependent on anyone. They believe that aesthetics is a part of life. Each building created by them will keep in mind the functional value and will not use any material that will harm the environment. Also perfection is an inculcated attitude and it runs in their genes,” says Snehal and giving an example of sustainable buildings adds that the ones made up of stone are sustainable and not the ones constructed with the glass.
Talking about sustainable buildings in India he says that Jaisalmer is the town with most sustainable architecture. “In fact, most of our villages with mud houses are an example of sustainable architecture. Pole houses in Ahmedabad and Pune are very sustainable. Some modern architecture, which is designed only keeping in mind the Western format, is what we cannot call sustainable. It is not only harmful to the environment but the functional value of those buildings is also questionable,” he says.