Tango In Architecture – 1

      This post is about the design of ‘A Multi – Purpose Arena’, which was my M.S.Arch thesis at IIT, Chicago (1989-1990). The purpose of this post is to explain how east and west can fuse architecturally. It feels strange to summarize an entire thesis in a few blog posts! In an effort to warm up this blog for such a technical subject, I have drawn parallels in nature. Here is Tango in summer and fall. In order to understand it better, it is recommended that you also read the following posts:

• Introduction to architectural student work
• Leafy rangoli
• Methodology for futuristic Indian architecture.

      Now without getting into the technical details, I shall explain Tango in architecture over a series of consecutive posts. The site chosen for this arena is located in Old Delhi, India. It has a physical spread of 11 hectares. On its eastern side it is flanked by the wall of an old historical monument called the Red Fort. The wall is 90 feet high and 2000 feet long. The city itself is of high density and low-rise in nature, with mixed land use (commercial, retail, residential etc). The site is the largest chunk of green land in this dense urban setting. To draw a parallel in the west, its like what Central Park is to New York city. The program for this project deals with three major issues. They are:  Public activities – annual and daily functions, parking and traffic. The design concept involved the following parameters:

1. To shift the present surface parking into a below grade area, which would also accommodate other facilities for the arena.
2. To use the structural grid of the lower level for bringing order in the design of the arena, at grade level.
3.  To create a temporary structure with transparency, so as not to dominate the Red Fort.
4. To generate a design module which can take a different form for each different function, by varying its angle, height and location on site.

      Below you can see the model of this module. The slender columns are the only permanent structures. The use of fabric makes the arena temporary and flexible in nature. As for Tango, you shall see how this module generates a variety of forms for the following functions:

Event/ Function……………………………Capacity

Open air theater………………………………..10,200 seated people

Republic day parade………………………….12,285 seated people

Independence day……………………………..23,815 seated people

Circus……………………………………………..1910 seated people

Fairs and exhibitions…………………………9800 standing people

Top View

Front View

      The engineering technology for erecting this structure with varying forms is western but the use of canvas in an outdoor, informal setting with a tropical climate makes the design eastern. Hence it demonstrates Tango in architecture by fusing east and west.

Ratna

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