Pune offers a window to the world of architecture

Those who are at the crossroads of selecting a career after their X and XII board exams can get a glimpse of what architecture is all about at an exhibition, ‘Insight 2011-12’. The exhibition will display the work of architecture students. It is organised by Vivekananda Institute of Technology’s (VIT) Padmabhushan Vasantadada Patil (PVP) College of Architecture on the Pirangut campus.

A unique exhibition of ideas, images and expressions, it is spread over 1,000 square feet gallery dedicated to students’ work. The exhibition will be open round the year on all working days during college timing and will serve as a window to the world of architecture.

The exhibition, which is open to all, was inaugurated on February 21 by noted media teacher Samar Nakhate. Abhay Chhaged (chairman, VIT) and Prasanna Desai (director, VIT’s PVP College of Architecture) were also present on the occasion.

Followed by the inauguration, for the next five days, the VIT-PVPCA campus was alive with various cultural programmes including traditional day, sports day and food festival.  

“Students can get a peep into what architecture course is all about, the subjects taught, the kind of work done in the studio and the documentation done during the relative study programmes conducted at different places in India,” said Desai. 

One can also see the students work on design, building technology and various other subjects taught by the committed core faculty and the experienced architects. Models of important historic buildings in the world like St Peters Basilica, Leaning Tower of Pisa and Church of Notre Dame among others are also on display at the exhibition.

On how art is an important dimension of architectural education, Desai said, “It is explored through various basic design exercises done in the form of models and drawings by students of first and second year. Noteworthy is the exercise done by students of third year (B Arch) where they have explored through models and drawings as to how urban spaces around important public buildings like Balgandharva Rangmandir and Yashwantrao Chavan Auditorium could be activated by designing culturally relevant additions.”

He added that complex projects like high density urban housing and transport nodes, designed by the senior students, are also on display.

Assistant professor, PVP College of Architecture, Hrishikesh Ashtekar, said, “In line with the tradition of exploring the architecture in public domain, the theme of ‘Streets’ runs in the double height atrium space in the form of paintings, artworks and murals done by the students.” Apart from this, there are various interesting installations and paintings done in various parts of the campus.