Architecture and I: ARCHITECTURE WITH ARCHITECTS

IUCAA, known as Inter-University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics, represents model of cosmos. It is situated in pune.
The building itself is very perfect for its purpose.

We can see the playful nature of building as soon as we march towards it. it has three main courtyards flanked by the various functions and two main roads passing toward its periphery which marks the importance of this building.

Both the entrance of the building is very dramatic, which is unique. The entrance, through which we entered, was flanked by double layer of wall supporting the dome at its top symbolizing entrance. This dome was painted black from within, representing black sky of night with many punctures of different sizes which allowed the flow of light through the point marking the exact positions of stars in pune on a particular day.

On moving further, we were now part of a huge courtyard with many different elements representing the expanding universe (the big bang), and many stone blocks scattered along the diagonal of the courtyard, starting from formal to informal organization. This stone blocks, were asteroids scattered in space resulted from to the big bang. The matter of over scale of courtyard with respect to the building was intelligently solved by placing blown up sculptures in scale to courtyard scale.

The courtyard is surrounded by Research Labs marked by the sculpture of Aryabhatta (who more than ten centuries ago, established that our planet was round), Library marked by the sculpture of Newton (sitting under a tree looking at fallen apple), Domed entrance marked by the sculpture of Galelio (gesturing up to the dome of heaven) and Classrooms marked by the sculpture of Einstine (time in his watch, contemplating the relativity of space).

All the colors use inside and outside the building was chosen from the shades found from the elements of our Space and the Milky Way.

Second entrance which is exactly opposite in direction to first one is marked by two concrete pillars and the three layered atone cladded wall, which merges with the clear sky at the top.

We also got to know, while process of construction, Charles use to sit with many scientists and researchers from Bangalore for hours discussing various aspects about the nature which resulted in this wonderful creation. I could realize the amount of pain the architects must have undergone while working on this project to give it an identity.