What have we done in 2012?
The Inspiration
As the clocks tick and calendars turn pages, the verdict of Lord Nityananda manifests into a tangible reality. Weaving the thread between then and now is Srila Prabhupada’s instruction to our beloved Ambarisa Prabhu, who has laudably carried it in his heart for over 30 onerous years.
While Sadbhuja Prabhu ingeniously puts the works into motion, Bhavananda Prabhu creatively reflects– what would Srila Prabhupada like? The three form a fascinating team of directors on an onward journey and an intimate guiding force for the TOVP Architecture & Design Department.
Nested in the city of Pune, this department has become the design development centre of the TOVP, assisting Sadbhuja Prabhu to create the Architecture and Construction Drawings.
Achievements
2012 has been a year of success for us in various ways, as we have completed the items below.
- Construction Drawings (over 120 drawings):
- All the Staircase Towers
- Main Wing
- Planetarium Wing
- Narsimhadeva Wing
- Ramps
- Finishing Drawings (75 drawings and still ongoing):
- Decorative Interior Columns and Arches
- Flooring Pattern Working Drawings
- Decorative Railing
- Door, Window details
- All decorative details
- Research Building Materials and Agencies (Ongoing):
- Blue Tile
- Gold Tile
- Specialized Glass for the big domes
- Glass Reinforced Concrete
- Elevator, Escalator Agencies
- Special Acoustic Material
- Landscape Layout concept
Design Development
From an architect’s perspective, the temple is designed to facilitate the performance of devotional service by crafting constructional elements into a stage, in which the link between building elements and participants is direct and unmitigated. The architecture is aimed to serve either as a prop or at other times, a focus of devotion to aid the spiritual exercise. In essence, it is a direct catalyst of the experience.
A significant milestone in our design process has been achieved by modifying the proportions of the columns in the Main Temple interior elevation consisting of 3 gallery floors. As a backdrop to the altars, it now strikes the optimum balance between the splendor and the anthropomorphic scale – an architectural intent of poise and elegance, ushering the vision towards the Proprietor of the TOVP residing in the altars.
The Team
- Vilasini dd (Varsha Sharma)– Architectural Co-ordinator, TOVP
(M. Arch, The University of Arizona, Tucson) - Anupama Gore– Architect (Proprietor, Piankh Designing Spaces, Pune)
(B.Arch, MMCA, Pune) - Devendra Dhere– Architect (Partner, DD Architects, Pune)
(B. Arch, BVP, Navi Mumbai M. Tech, Urban Planning, COEP, Pune) - Vrushali Dhere– Architect (Partner, DD Architects, Pune)
(B. Arch, DYP, Kolhapur) - Sandeep Khapte– Architect (Proprietor, Tanishqaa Architects & Planners)
(B. Arch, BKPS, Pune) - Anup Shah – Architect (Director, Medialab, India)
(M. Arch, The University of Arizona, Tucson) - Atul Jagtap – Office Boy
Anupama Gore overlooks the drawings released on the site and facilitates internal communication between the architects, at the same time acting as our ‘fireman’. Devendra Dhere and Vrushali Dhere, the architect couple complement each other in a way where one conducts the research of various suppliers and manufacturers while the other thoughtfully implements them on drawings and design research. For most of 2012, we also had Sandeep Khapte who tackled the challenging Staircase Towers, Kalash and other technical aspects of the building. Anup Shah, through his design and 3-D visualization skills, has facilitated in envisioning the temple interiors through experiential design process.
I am grateful for this team’s sincerity and attentiveness to the ‘mood’ of the TOVP.