Vedasri Siddamsetty

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  • The Materials I love in Interior Design!

    The handle is the handshake of a building said one famous architect and in that feel of space, I’d like to add that if architecture is the way the built mass is read, the reason Interior Design is so relevant is that it is how the space is felt, getting down to the basic touch and feel of the building. And hence to use materials that feel fabulous is a great idea while planning the Interiors of a building. In my practice as an interior designer and a person who well, uses a building in many capacities, here are 10 favourite building materials that I choose to employ in the spaces I chance upon.

    1. Wood

    Wood is by far my favorite material to use in interiors, especially solid wood. Reminiscent of nature and the dynamic nature of trees, wood ages, takes the scratches yet it tells the tale of people living in the space or having been in the space. The best way to use wood in my opinion is as flooring, the perfect haven to walking barefoot in a setting! Although that positioning also makes it extremely hard to maintain. If one shies away from using wood on the floor, the other option is to go with solid wood furniture, some thing that one can lay their hands on, when and if!

    2. Stone

    The earthiness of stone is in its rusticity, rough or polished using stone in the interiors is a reminder of the earth that we build on. While there is a wide array of stone in the market, granite and marble have been used extensively to line our interior surfaces, surfaces that come in direct contact with us, the users of the buildings. Other stones that take precedence is onyx on walls and table tops, kota on the floor, tandur in areas where tandur is a local stone, laterite and resin binded precious stones as accents in walls or floors.

    3. Glass

    The transparency of glass is a big win in my opinion, and the steely coolness of it! One of the few man-made materials in my list, glass has the power to be opaque or transluscent when the space or situation calls for it. It also is a surface that can be written on, making it again a dynamic surface that records and is pretty much the canvas of a space. Glass also when used as a chandelier, or blown into varied shapes like the works of Chihuhy presents a grand and beautiful gesture, elevating the nature of the space.

    4. Linen

    Ever ran your fingers through linen, the texture of it is totally brilliant and the soft yet rough look of linen, runs the eye into an array and unlike smooth satin, linen is a punctuation when used in the walls, it is a story when used as dressings for the windows, or simply as art when used in a tapestry. The beauty of linen as a fabric is in its application with a pattern or simply as it may be in a solid block of color.

    5. Concrete

    If there was one material that makes up for its un-sustainability by its quality and composition, the weather that it can withstand, its got to be concrete. The fact that it can be custom mixed to present a diversity in strength and in appearance, makes concrete such a crucial part of today’s buildings. When making an appearance on the inside of the building, concrete can be polished super smooth or it can be left rough in rusticity. Why even a very smoothened concrete can present a rustic charm like no other. Over time when used in the floor, concrete can smoothen over the years.

    6. Brick

    The lure of terracotta has spanned across generations ever since the early civilisations have baked mud in kilns to make the first bricks. The strength of brick has facilitated the building of megaliths around the world in the past. Even today a brick lined wall or a brick vaulted ceiling has a beauty that is multifold. The colors of brick can also range from a deep orange to a dark mahogany and many others in between and that adds depth in tone to the space, bringing the feel of burnt earth to the user.

    7. Metallics

    I am a metallic girl, have always been. I would love to wear metal and also be in a metal space whether it is gold or silver! But the value that the shiny reflective metal can bring into the space is that of glamour. Shiny and sparkly, the glamour quotient of any space is heightened with the use of metallic elements whether in hardware elements or in accessories that are readily placed about in a space.

    8. Textured paint

    With a plethora of options the main reason I love using textured paints is the break or the break-free elements that they add in a space, and again creating a resting zone to the eyes. Also if the paint is in a lighter tone of cream, beige or greige even better, using the same colour in the wall and on the ceiling expands the space like little else. A big fan of using the same colour in all walls and ceilings I feel that the expanse generated is the best option for a heightened sense of being.

    9. Mud plaster

    Earth in all its glory, mud plaster does well not only on the walls but also on the ceiling, mostly because it mimics the feel of the textured paint but if not done neatly is also the cause for a whole lot of cracks. If cracks can be avoided then mud plaster is a great option for indoors that are earthy and feel soulful.

    10. Fauna

    Plants in all their forms when applied in the interior spaces lend charm and literally life to a built space. My favourite to spot in a living space is the swiss cheese plant, a plant is perfect for indoor use in perhaps any weather. The leaf of the swiss cheese plant is calculatedly frayed with fringes to create openings in the leaf. The pretty plant needs minimal maintenance but with its elegant appearance heightens and livens up a space!

    1. Project Focus No. 8: Black, White and Earth

      https://www.instagram.com/reel/DC52ypqSsHM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

      Project Area: 2800 sft

      Project Contractor Team: Raghuram, Sri Aditya Constructions, Inder Woodworks, Saravanan Steel, Kwality Furnishings, Paarkhi Stone, Stencil, Studio Segments

      The true nature of all earthly things is that of transience, everything and everyone is constantly changing, constantly evolving. What is, is and what will be, will be. Embracing this changing nature of the world is wabi-sabi, a worldview that emphasises simplicity, natural materials and the beauty of imperfection. Like they say it takes a wabi heart to recognise sabi beauty. Wabi is about recognising beauty in humble simplicity. Sabi is concerned with the passage of time, the way all things grow, age, and decay, and how it manifests itself beautifully in objects, contendedly. The 17th century Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto Japan, has had the profoundest impact on me, on a tsukubai (water basin) stone at the temple there’s an ancient inscription of four Chinese characters. These characters make no sense individually but when combined with the borders of the central square, they are read as “ware tada taru wo shiru,” which means “I only know plenty,” or “I only know contentment.” The meditative zen garden that it encloses and the rhythmic nature of drawing patterns on the white gravel becomes key to knowing oneself. Again two words inscribed on the greatest building of all time, the Parthenon, are “know thyself”. To understand the tenets of Wabi Sabi is to essentially know oneself.

      Rooted in simplicity is this project located in the leafy bylanes of Bengaluru’s southern district, Jayanagar. With two beautiful gulmohars flanking the elevation, this home uses its facade as the perfect backdrop for the rustle of the gulmohar leaves in the fall, the striking red gulmohar flowers in spring and takes shelter under the shady branches of the gulmohars in the summer. A facade for all seasons, the white canvas is punctuated by two windows on the front looking out, offering a view of the trees and are also veiled by the branches of the tree to provide privacy from the road. The windows are kept wide and tall to bring in ventilation and allow for optimum day light levels, also keeping the energy use of the building in check. The windows are enclosed by a pronounced grill pattern that is more of a feature in the elevation than a security engagement. As the upper floor massing comes forward it is supported by two columns to create a semi-open verandah, a boon with the city’s precipitation levels. Into this stepped back verandah the stairway flurries down with a waterfall lattice to line one up to the upper level, where the home begins. The lattice work extends upwards to the terrace level and ends as a railing. The stairway stops on the first level into the entrance lobby with a shared access into the office room and the living room of the house.

      The elk door knocker on the main door opens into the entry space that is flanked by the living room on the right and the dining space on the left. As the ceiling slabs cast are left exposed they are taped into each other with a petechiae of gold foil and paint just like in the broken pottery that are affixed with gold paste. Straight ahead is the foyer table, equipped with a pop-up library and an expansive abstract art work that is reminiscent of galloping horses. Inspired by the tones of the house, the art piece amasses the grey, white, black and gold hues of the living space. The alaskan white natural stone on the floor creates a cosmos in an endless carpet ride as one steps into the home. On this endless expanse of natural stone, solid wood furniture is placed mindfully in simple proportions and delicate ratios to create a form that is unified as a whole. The muted window dressings step back as the view brings forth the happenstance in the context. The living room is layered in light and seating, with a daybed swing, recliner sofas, straight sofas and a reading chair placed to create a warm environment. The centre table is supplanted by taller side tables all designed as an ode to a waterfall. These tables mimic the fall of water and are monoliths in sense, made of solid wood. The day bed designed at the precise proportions of five feet by five feet is calculated to the T to be ergonomically and anthropologically apt. The dynamic nature of the swinging daybed brings forth movement to the space and infuses a sense of laissez-faire, a feeling of calm that stems from all being well in this world. The feelings of accepting life, the way it is, the concept of being a lover of what is, is what the interior design concept endeavours to achieve. Into this living space, the white walls are paraded with a gorgeous periodic table, after all science is art, and an installation of eight deeply coloured squares from red to pink. The pop of colour at the far end of the living room wall is just the right amount of energy to liven up the space in style. Flanked to the left of the foyer space is the dining area, conceptualised with a square table, with chairs on two sides and the wooden bench seating on the other sides. This configuration of space entails a perfect setting for an eight seater, large in feel with the river white natural stone balanced on a cuboid in natural wood. The table dimensions are inspired by Charles Correa’s famous dining table in his Mumbai home. The river white natural stone of the dining table is different yet in tandem with the alaskan white of the floor. The dining table is off-setted by two cutlery cabinets at its two corners. None of the furniture in the living or dining spaces is kept above the waist level to create a feeling of spaciousness and with the walls in white, the desired effect is achieved. The walls are reserved for art or a view of nature, in a rare case, television! A curated stone and wood panelled hand wash is embedded into the walls of the dining space. This area is almost like the mood board of the house with its use of the natural elements of wood, stone and a mirror that reflects art or the great outdoors depending on the angle that it is seen from.

      Leading out from the dining space is the kitchen, following the tenets of simplicity, the material palette is kept subtle, neutral with the continued colours of white, grainy wood and the tinge of glass with the profile shutters. The linear kitchen is loaded with storage cabinetry, the refrigerator and a sink on one side while the other side is kept light with the front window and a chimney above the linear counter space. The kitchen is extended out into a utility space for the rigmaroles of washing and cleaning. The floor to ceiling latticework allows for a shielded view of the outdoors. The living room extends onto the God’s room that also couples as the gymnasium of the house. This area is the meeting point of the two bedrooms, the master and the son’s room and also leads to the other side of the office room which is additionally connected to the lobby area of the entrance. While the master bedroom is lined in modern lines with a floor to ceiling wardrobe and the hints of lotuses in the decor, the son’s room is some what an ode to space in its subtleness. The master bedroom is a safe haven, as is the son’s room, tucked away from the front and more public parts of the house. The four post bed in the son’s room faces the toy station with a back end for tucking away the essentials and is the regulatory space station in the expanse of space. The toy station is positioned to facilitate easy access to the boy’s collection of toys, legos, books et al developing on the Montessori method of learning that he follows in school. On two sides of the bed, the side tables affix the location of the furniture in place. The bedroom is annexed by a walk-in-wardrobe that is planned to accommodate storage, again in the make of the solid wood, shutters and carcass all made like a monolith. The office room consists of the sensibilities of the architect, with its annex serving as a library and the assistant workspace. As a backdrop to the architect’s desk is the panel of shelving and a full size murphy bed enclosed within the solid wood structure hidden away behind the monolith. The desk is a custom designed table with storage hidden away and monogrammed in the letter V, the walls of the study are fashioned by an expansive sketch of the Chrysler building, a Stephen Wiltshire piece and the other a personal collection of paintings, sketches, photographs, awards and empanelment certificates to the Institute of Indian Interior Designers and the Indian Institute of Architects. The roman blinds in the study are again a monogrammed construct in pattern. This office has an expansive skylight, that allows natural light to flood the space in the day time and offers a spectacular view of the stars and during Diwali time, firecrackers, at night.

      Rising like the phoenix from the old, the challenges the house posed were many in utilising the age-old wall-on-wall construction where each wall of the upper floor was built on the existing sixteen inch thick walls of the lower floors. Building and reconstructing a fifty year old house is no easy task and that staying on the construction site is absolutely no mean feat. But then thats what the dreams of six-year olds are made up off! The son has multiple times requested the workers to not finish early or on time for, “its so much fun to live on a construction site”. I’d say with the tenets of Vaastu considered, or not considered as the Vaastu guru said the ancient Indian building science does not apply on sites angled at a precise forty-five degrees, living on a construction site should be the architect’s dream process. For only through a twenty-four hour sun cycle, 28 day moon cycle and almost a year of season cycle would one know what the site desires to be, as the Greeks say. And architects, like the ancient architects did, would do better to listen to the site, for that’s the best way to architect the world, to be literally a site-whisperer. The ancient Greeks believed and I agree that the architect needs to be a site-whisperer, developing a deep and unwavering connection with the site, its context and how the natural elements play out on it, the sun, the wind, the earth and the space. They say that an architect’s house is never complete, but after exploring seventy-two options to finalise upon this one, and collaborating with the labour force from the civil to the artists, I’d say this one house and architect, is pretty much done!

    2. Project Focus No 7: Sahamati Office

      Once in a while comes a project that one is extremely proud of, because of its ability to change you, architects dont just shape the world, in turn they are shaped by the world and this project did just that. For one, it made me an ardent fan of light at 2700K and once you have that in your living and working space you’d know why. But besides that this one project located off the main spine of Bengaluru, the MG Road is an office space for a start-up company, an account aggregator that makes online payment portals work. As the quick commerce industry takes India by storm, delivery in an instant, it is only possible because of payments that are carried out in an instant. The office tucked away in the leafy lanes off the busy MG Road, is an oasis, a respite with its green cover and also a location where work is possible round the clock, and along with nature features commissioned art that makes creative thinking, work and execution possible.

      To start with the design, in a rare case and also a very interesting one, I consulted the eminent Vaastu consultant Hari AR and discovered the science of Vaastu-shashtra, an ancient science that dictates how people could tap into the resources of the universe to build for positivity. And in that meeting, while the octogenarian explained the means to use an existing house for the win, I looked up several books that he has written to find wisdom in the way of life, whether color or water. Now armed with the ancient principles leveraging the movement of the sun, the plans for the bungalow to be retrofitted into an office space for about 25 people began. Every office works in a different way, just like no house is run the same, the nature of work, the dynamics of the team, and the requirement of every industry is vastly different. When Sri Harsha Majety of Swiggy declared at the Valley school interview that Swiggy doesnt have an office space, his model of work-from-home works for the company to maintain low overheads. But at Sahamati, the nature of work required the principals to meet investors and key decision makers on a daily basis, along with specialised teams carrying out specific works that make the collective output possible. So while walls were brought how and ceilings peeled, the new layout expanded the space with transparent glass partition systems that serve acoustic purposes too.

      The work spaces sprawl over the bungalow, some inside and some outdoor to welcome creative thinking and a tryst with nature, the birdsong in retrospect is totally worth it! Something to bring out the calm even on a very busy day. While nature works at its own pace, not hurrying forth to complete anything, so do the living beings in tune with nature, with that as the design concept for this office, the cue from nature is brought into the spaces that are expansive, soulful and are lent a dose of calm in their colour and composition. While the electrical team and the gypboard teams worked in tandem to make use of the existing walls and electrical points, tearing down walls where unnecessary, we unearthed, quite literally old wardrobes hidden away behind gypsum walls. Using the old wardrobes as storage spaces for the office, allowed for the work-stations to remain frill-free and essentially levitate over the different work spaces. As possible, work-stations are kept central and not facing the wall, that allows the team to feel a part of the team and encourage collaboration. Interior design is also in part behavioural design where designing interiors of a space is also a way of designing behaviour of the users who inhabit the space. Keeping the walls free of desks, make the walls a space to ideate, with large glass boards installed to collaborate together on ideas or literally to think things out. The sense of wood in combination with white lends a zen-like feeling in the space while also adding in the earthy element of wood, a warmth that brings out the best in a any of us. With an addition of commissioned art, some bringing in the softness of nature, others highlighting the monumentality of India and even more suggesting the quirks of the generation, thinking even of outer space, and at other times being other wordly, accentuating the mythology of lore, the tales of Krishna carrying the Govardhan Parvat on his little finger, the streets of Hampi, or the learning centre of Nalanda. The beautiful art work complement the essence of nature and the spirit of mankind in full force.

      In terms of functionality, the office is enclosed by sprawling gardens in the front and the rear, that is treated with pretty flora, floral art and seating space for discussions and open communication. The gardens are in full view from the main cabins for the founders, the work spaces and the conference rooms on the ground and the first floors. The main central wooden staircase provides the two floor connection, keeping the feel light and airy connecting the more public portions of the office to more private spaces on the upper floor. The tone of the conference room on the ground floor is kept more cordial, while the conference room on the upper floor is kept more collaborative and inclusive. Each of the rooms are given unique names, while the conference rooms are titled Hampi and Nalanda, the meeting room is called Synapse, suggesting the interchange of information between neurons, the work spaces are called Pi, Infinity and Fractal, that centre-stage mathematical concepts that are crucial to today’s computational industry that make the fringes of development possible. The ground floor also has in its midst a white brick wall with a collage of milestones of the company and the people that make the company thrive, with framed photographs and news-clippings orchestrated to inform the viewer on the stalwart achievements made by the company. On the upper floor at the landing of the staircase is the library that is flanked by two workspaces and leads out into the cafeteria area, enclosed in a tiled lit roof and the other conference room sided on two sides by glass windows and doors. From the library space are visible the two main art works that display the bright strength of India, the monuments of the country are curated and painted in a black sketchy tone by artist Ahamm Aditya and the intricate line work of Lord Krishna carrying on his little finger the might Govardhan mountain, taking into shelter his people, a note is made to the nature of work done at Sahamati that aggregates to empower people of the country. Art, an important part of the project is given its due and possibly took the most time to curate and commission following many warm and heated discussions between noteworthy influential figures and thinkers in the Bengaluru tech circles and equally enthused artists from the city’s own ChitraKala Parishad.

      The workspaces on the upper level, open out to the outdoors through shaded balconies that allow for meetings and open air discussions. Here a tree of life is painted on the wall with a red perforated bench, open for seating, and perhaps to strike notes of nirvana! While the palate of the furniture is kept neutral, all the furniture is custom-made, white and light textured wood, pops of colour in strategic locations are made with the use of red, to energise the space and infuse in it prosperity. With a lot of spaces facing the outdoors, blinds are installed, as per the necessity, different fenestrations are employed to maintain optimum lighting levels. The design makes the most use of daylight by opening up the existing windows and keeping them free to allow for light and ventilation all through the day. Balancing the indoor and the outdoor in equal proportions, this project also as a Design and Build project has me donning the hat of an architect and a builder. The best works are those where the architect dons the builders hat for sure, for the sensitivity that it lends to the project is for the win, for the project. While most of the existing parts of the building are retained, for sustainability is to keep some while remodelling some, breaking down a building should always not be an option, there is great merit in Brownfield architecture, a lot for the environment, and thats what we tried to do with this project. As the office works in its own rhythm churning out work for the future of India, the new tree planted by its chief patron and mentor, Shri Nandan Nilekani, also the Father of most Bengaluru Start-ups, rustles with the cool breeze of Bengaluru and finds its own rhythm.

      Project Data:

      Project Architect & Builder: Vedasri Siddamsetty

      Project Area: 6500 sft

      Project Timeline: November 2023 to April 2024

      Project Team: Impel Inc, Inder Woodworks, Skynet Networking, Featherlite Office system, Likos Partitions, Sachin Light house, The Town Hardware Stores, Polar Solutions, NXT Powertech, Arpitha Kamarthi Landscape, Kwality Furnishings, Light Form Marketing, Amit Safety Enterprises, Seagull technologies, NB Marketing, Design Mint

      Project Photos:

      https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipPbCyUBDqRY7TDlIoDUBQANQLYL8-tEtPMWFucrQ4ryUq2EuN7dbhsudkmjTmFyWw?key=eTF5UGtMTTRkajZsck9NcE16ZFVqTmVIdndYVFdn

    3. Spectacular Santorini!

      There is no one who has been to Santorini and not loved it, for the sheer spectacle that it creates. From Fira to Oia, from Kamari to Gialos, from Akrotiri to Koloumpos the variety that the island creates is spectacular. Oia is a top favorite with its cliffhanger buildings all equipped with thermal baths and jaw-dropping sunsets, while Kamari with its black sand beach, from the volcanic eruptions, is tucked away for quieter retreats and Fira is for the youth, with a bustling marketplace and a scrumptious view, ancient bookshops and the like. But the best thing about Santorini if one can do it, is the 11 km hike that connects Fira to Oia and in the process giving the average hiker a hike of a lifetime. Another island of the Cyclades, Santorini is known for its erstwhile and even some active volcanoes, its sense of peace. The hike though is one that puts most things in perspective. From the bustling Fira, taking a stop at the age-old Atlantis bookshop, one can see the celebrities of the past, through the books they signed, as they stopped by on their journey, then the bells of Thira, and then finally the volcanic land gives way to the top most point of the island, dotted with churches before relenting into the poshest part of the island, Oia.

      Again mostly comprising of hotels, Oia is a hospitality hotspot with the best of spaces, to eat, soak in the thermal baths and watch the ocean or the cruise ships as one prefers. It is also completely whitewashed, with softened plaster on its buildings and provides sunset views that are captivating and inward looking more that ever. Great beauty is said to humble one, and Santorini does a lot of it, all at once. The hike to the sunset, from Fira to Oia is the best part of Santorini I would say, with a lot of stops to take in the view that is breathtaking. For otherwise Santorini, officially called Thira is much too calm. The rare natural beauty of Santorini, the breathtaking caldera, a caldera is a large volcanic crater, especially one formed by a major eruption leading to the collapse of the mouth of the volcano, the views, the extraordinary volcanic beaches and the lunar landscapes are the wondrous results of this eruption that can only be admired in Santorini. In this incredible “canvas” everything is totally harmonious. It has a Unique Landscape and Geomorphology making it one of the most romantic destinations in the world that was formed by a massive volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. It offers a unique blend of historical richness, natural beauty, and modern architecture. The modern architecture with its mud forms in white nestles on the brown volcanic land and settles against the blue sky. Straight out of a fairy tale, looking down at the cobalt-blue domes or looking up at the bells of Thira is a sight to behold. The sanctity of the land is a huge sigh, and the calm that comes when a volcano abates and leaves a euphony of calm, the sound of silence. Well for me it was by breath, as I hiked up to Oia!!

    4. Mesmerizing Mykonos!

      The name of the island refers to a “pile of rocks” or to a “rocky area”. However, later legends support that the island’s name is associated with the local hero Mykonos. Mykonos was the son of the King of Delos, Anios, who in turn was the son of Apollo and of the nymph Roious, descendant of Dionysus. The grandson of the Greek God Apollo Mykons, has a fancy island to his name. Mykonos is undoubtedly the queen of the Cyclades. The Cyclades are an island group in the Aegean Sea, southeast of mainland Greece and a former administrative prefecture of Greece. They are one of the island groups which constitute the Aegean archipelago. The name means ‘encircling islands’ and refers to the archipelago forming a circle around the sacred island of Delos. The largest island of the Cyclades is Naxos, however the most populated is Syros. All the islands of the Cyclades are reachable through the network of ferries and easily manoeuvred, over a distance in the sea. In fact some island hopping is essential while in Greece, to understand how the ancient Greeks would need to, and the modern tourist while in Greece will also have to look seaward! Mykonos is an island with the most vivid nightlife in Greece, but it also has astonishing beaches, a beautiful Chora and elegant shops, boutiques and restaurants. A speckle of an island, its architecture in all white and the lace of white paint frolicking on its granite floor all over its lay had my heart. The windmills, that were used to pound flour in its hey days, and the little Venice neighbourhood with bite-sized streets are utterly delightful and charming. Mykonos in its touch and feel is extremely classy. And everywhere I looked seemed like wanting for a picture, or even a ready sketch. The sunset at Little Venice with the windmills at the far sight and the wind running in my hair was an effervescent feeling. The prettiest island in Greece, has a rather youthful vibe to it. But more than its picture perfect ways was the fact that the extremely pretty parts are normally functioning schools, homes and people going about their daily lives, not just as a display for tourists. To live in such a picture perfect setting, children going to school was extremely quaint. Here the architecture is not lofty or aspirational, it just seemed so matter-of-fact, very effortless yet perfect.

      The white buildings are dotted with blue door and window frames, though little Venice has some coloured elevations, the scale of the entire city respects the human proportion. Little Venice is also not made for the automobile and is extremely pedestrianised. Called Little Venice, it is replete with elegant and gorgeous old houses situated precariously on the edge of the land, much like in Venice and hence the name I suppose, it has a magnetic appeal. The whitewashed edifices against the backdrop of the azure Aegean Sea are simply marvelous! The air of nonchalance that prevails in Little Venice disarms even the most discerning of travellers. The casually calm and relaxed island displays no anxiety, interest, enthusiasm or worry even as the calm day converts into a bustling action-packed musical night. Though the island shuts down like most others for half of the year, the other half it is all sound and bustle! On the last day of the season I saw the cafes and restaurants playing fabulous music from non-visible speakers, yet the very next day, on the non-seasonal day, like the very next day, the very same places were closed for the year! A stark contrast, yet the white walls, with its blue windows remain and the children head over to school lthe very next morning!

      The island is located between the islands of of Tinos, Syros, Paros, and Naxos. It is just 85.5 square kilometers (33.0 sq mi) and its highest point is 341 meters (1,119 feet). Across the island reaching the Southern part that boasts of the Paradise beach, one can drive through the hilly regions and see the actual terrain and buildings in the process of building. The architecture is plastered to not have a sharp edge into molded softness and that is so welcoming to the eyes. The detail of the softened edges adds a whole deal of character to the chunk of buildings set close to each other. Experiencing the buildings also brings out a charm of its own, as I walked in to dine at an Italian restaurant in the alleys. Due to its high tourist footfall, there is a vibe to the island that is classy, stylish and edgy in its own right. I for one loved traipsing through the narrow streets and could not stop walking, it just felt so wonderful to be walking all over, and when seated I could not stop sketching what I could see. Ofcourse while all of Greece was rather sketch-worthy, Nafplio, Galaxidi were artists paradises too, but Mykonos took the cake. Dotted within the homes, eateries, shops are churches again with the soft edges, the blue frames and the laced floor ways that are simply the best.

      Again the best of the places cannot be easily described, they can only be felt and Mykonos, is a gem, for it does nothing spectacular, isnt trying to hard to impress, but its cozy, casual quality, its effervescence spirit and its beautiful beaches keeps it a top favourite! My legs would just not stop walking on the painted streets, and though its an island laced in history and mythology, after all Mykonos was supposedly where the battle between omnipotent Zeus and the fearful Titans took place, it is mentioned as the place where Hercules slew the Giants, as the Giants were invincible while they stayed in the protected area of Mount Olympus, Hercules managed to lure them out of there and kill them on Mykonos, it puts all its history behind with a crazy air of nonchalance few cities Greece or even in the world are able to do!

      No one does it like Mykonos!

    5. The Acropolis of Athens

      If there was a dream come true, it was visiting the Acropolis in Athens. Sir Banister Fletcher’s History of Architecture puts forth some recommendations for architects to study, but even while studying, the Temple of Athena in the Acropolis of Athens stands out spectacularly. Just like the Eiffel tower that follows one everywhere in Paris, the Acropolis of Athens follows one everywhere while in Athens. It is poised, enigmatic and towering in its presence. I do always feel how difficult it would be for the current generations to live amongst such creations in Europe. What pressure to create!

      Touted as the most perfect building ever built, the magnanimity of the Parthenon, built in tribute to the Greek Goddess Athena Parthenos, or the Goddess of Wisdom, the Temple of Athena is profound. No line of the building employed in its construction and design is a straight line, the columns are not of the same measurement from the bottom to the top. They are narrower at the top and broader at the bottom but because of the nature of optical illusion they seem to be equally proportioned. The concept of Golden Ratio that is a proportion of 1:1.618 and the nature of all beauty in nature follows that proportion was found in ancient Greece. The Temple of Athena’s floor plan follows this very ratio as do the other temples in the Acropolis. Most of the other temples like the roof of the Parthenon have been decimated, unfortunately, yet they retain their splendour with the range of Doric, Iconic and Corinthian columns that line the fringe of the plan. From a corner the angle of the Parthenon reaches out to the sky. The use of about 100000 tons of white marble from the nearby quarries makes the Acropolis of Athens stunning and ethereal.

      Athena, a virgin Goddess is given all the best qualities, to inspire the people with a persona of goodness. She is said to have emerged from the head of her father Zeus and was also his favourite. As the legend has it, the prima God Zeus once had a terrible headache that bothered him unyieldingly, then one day his splitting headache literally caused his head to split from which emerged Athena! She was extremely loved by the people, in Homer’s Illiad, she is depicted as a war Goddess, with rare military prowess, representing the intellectual and civilized side of war, she is the divine form of the heroic, martial ideal and personifies excellence in close combat, victory, and glory. A huge statue of Athena is said to have been inside the Parthenon. One fact that struck me at the Parthenon was that no matter how lofty the statue, or the column or the building, in ancient Greece they were all broken down into smaller cubes or cuboids and fitted into each other to form a complete whole. The beauty in their fixing did not even reveal the joints, and the nature of their dry fixing is why they have probably even lasted all these years. Its like a lego town in action, except this was all in stone. Even the ancient civilisations in Egypt seem to have had a major influence on the ancient civilisation of Greece with the towering proportions. The pinnacle of achievement that the Parthenon displays may have been humbled by the future generations, yet it embodies a spirit that is far more crucial, standing the test of time, even as the Ottomans stored gunpowder and ammunition, accidentally firing a missile into the roof of the Parthenon and blasting off. In war and moments of anger such precious constructs can be lost, quite mindlessly! The beautiful Parthenon is poetry is a stationary mode, it is brilliant. Even with eighteen thousand tourists that visited it the day we were there, it held its power, its stance, highly unaffected and unbothered by the furor it created! It withheld the ammunition to an extent but I wonder if it can withhold the footfall that it receives, day after day, year after year. But unfortunately in architecture seeing is believing and then understanding. My textbooks allayed in me a strong preference for the Ionic column, the slender column with a capital in two curves coiling along the golden ratio, but in reality the beauty of the simply well-bodies Doric column is unsurpassable. The Corinthian column you ask? The one with a tidy composition of acantha leaves on its top? the celebratory one? Well, it felt too gaudy! While the Doric columns remained the Greek favourite, employed all over, the Romans loved the newer Corinthian order or columns and introduced the Tuscan and the Composite columns to the mix of Doric, Ionic and Corinthian orders of columns. The Parthenon though applies all the three in its structure. On the outside are the fluted mighty Doric columns. Today to restore the columns cost a huge sum of money and unless 80% of the original pieces of the column are found the archeologists do not assemble the random rubble that it seems. The fluted design on the Doric column is very tactile, a design phenomena that is rage in today’s glass too, but in stone, it feels phenomenal. The Carytids as an architectural support, or the depiction of female stature carrying the roof of the temple instead of the columns are striking. It would have to be my favorite feature that I found on the Acropolis in the Erechtheion. The frieze or the triangular panel that is found atop the Doric columns has been damaged, yet the pieces that remain are exhibitory of the fine nature of workmanship. Pieces of the frieze on the pediment can be seen assembled in the Museum of the Acropolis at the foot of the Cecropia, the hill of the Acropolis was named after the serpant-man Cecrops.

      The Museum of the Acropolis is quite something. While the museums of the archeological sites of Delphi and Epidaurus are enchanting, well Socrates is found in Delphi, the museum of the Acropolis has been designed atop the archeological remains of a marketplace and the glazed floors allows one to levitate over the marketplace. The Museum was designed to capture the interest of the visitors and present the Greek splendour in all its shambles and ruins. I do not know why people travel, amongst the 18000 people on the day and hour we were there (8 AM in the morning, obviously we waited for the crowd to thin to actually engage with this marvellous piece of architecture) I overheard several conversations, where a bunch of people were saying, “why do we need to know the orders of the columns, what use will it ever be to us?” Literally groaning as they climbed. Well, the asymmetric nature of gain or loss is the truth, and I do hope that the tourists who dont need or want to know dont crowd the architectural sights leaving them for us architects or history enthusiasts then, for architecture, places or spaces is my only reason as such to travel! Learning architecture through textbooks is a joke, the learning of architecture happens through understanding and that is felt only in realtime in the real place, no AI can make up for the reality of it. The way the light falls, the time of the day, the person in question, their perception, perspective, all of it matters and cannot be replicated in 8k with Dolby Atmos too. Otherwise why bother the environment with fuel and the un-sustainability of travel.

    6. The Port towns of Greece.

      For a country that has in its count 6000 islands, Greece is more of the sea than the land. As the Greeks Simply dive into water from any island, Land, taking a swim in the salty water of the agency, they fried themselves on their bronze look baking in the glory of the sun. While he helps them with their tan, they cool off by staring into the blue waters that surround all their islands. On the mainland, the port towns of Greece have a story of their own to tell, Galaxidi is a pretty little town, that is marked by yachts, boats and extremely pretty houses that have within them courtyard filled with bougainvillea. The azure blue waters play host to several sea creatures, but also to the ultimate land creature that loves to swim, man. The safety is of the agency makes man fearless to die from any of the rocks of not just the island, but also the coastal port towns to dive into the waters. Diving into the waters at Galaxidi made my day or should I say the trip, the balmy salty waters of the sea provide the best cure for the tons of walking that the rocky terrain in Greece! While coasts are plenty in Greece, what with over 6000 islands, the coast of the mainland is very different from those of the island. In Galixidi, the hotel accommodations are very quaint and cosy, if not for beautiful. Our hotel had an award-winning breakfast spread and we could see why, the table set with the choicest of fruits, juices, cheeses, sourdough bread was a vision to watch. It reminded me of the Russian painting, the Girl with peaches, by Valentin Serov, for its light quality. It is my favourite painting and the setting was also just a favorite.

      Nafplio on the other hand is a port town, but it also was the first capital of Greece, yes the first capital of Greece after it’s liberation from the Turks. When the Turks left Greece in 1830 Naz plier became the capital. It’s a beautiful city which is quite vanishing in its outlook because of in national, and one can find rare colours and combinations which are quite stunning to look at olive green paired with a pistol pink on a building is quite rare but red and white is quite classic and you’d find all of this in this beautiful coastal town of Nafplio, the way its buildings are built and pay still colours that are that are used on its elevation. Each of the colours on the elevation are handpicked, the windows and doors complement the elevation beautifully in national and one can find rare colours and combinations which are quite stunning to look at Olive green, paired with a pistol, pink on a building is quite rare, pets red and white, white, classic and you find all of this in this beautiful coastal town of Nafplio. Today it is mainly a tourist town, functioning for six-months in a year in full swing as the cruise ships dock bringing in hordes of tourists. Our hotel owner is a hotelier half of the year and a carpenter the other half! Seasonal professions as the climate or the season demands, and its interesting to note how tourism affects the city or rather country in totality.

      Tourism is seen to be the main source of the GDP, one into which every town of Greece is seen contributing into, every person’s livelihood is somehow connected to the tourists who visit, and sometimes in throngs! The tourists buy, eat, pay for experiences and that runs the economy of Greece, the cruise ships are a main source of Income. Athens also a port town, and the capital is sprawling, it is a megapolis. When standing atop the Acropolis the city stretches far and white, mostly in white in literally all directions. The city, also nicknamed, “the city of protests” sees a huge number of protests, mostly on Fridays so the weekend can be claimed. However hard the Greek ancestors worked on their bodies seems to be lost over the years, including weird ways of marrying in the family, yet what remains is the atrociously beautiful genes that the Greeks still have to this day. Golden haired, sun-kissed, evenly proportioned, the pharmacies and beauty stores dole out a myriad of products, for before-sun, during-sun and after sun exposure. Why even the clothing retailer Zara had an entire hair product range for after sun exposure! While Athens main forte is its patron Goddess Athena, it has the Temple of Athena, and those of several other Gods and Goddess that have crumbled in time.

      Due to its vast proximity to Constantinople and the various fights in the region between Christianity and then the newer Islamic religions, the architecture of Athens felt the tremors of war distinctly. While Rome is the epicentre of Catholic Christianity, Greek Orthodox Christianity is the state religion in Greece, and unless otherwise specified, every baby born in Greece is considered a Greek Orthodox child. The Unified Christian religion split due to political and cultural differences as the empires of the Romans moved to Constantinople and back. Power, a driving force in life, also was the reason why several centuries ago the various city states of Greece fought with each other, the states of Athena and Sparta for example. While the Athenians were grand in their beliefs and tastes, wanting to enjoy the rigours and splendours of life while chasing a life of value, Spartas believed in a more stark outlook, marred by less, in everything, including the number of purposes. There are mythological tales on how Spartan babies were eliminated in their sole purpose of wanting to only retain strength among their kind, one that could fight for their land unrelentingly. When 300 spartans faced the Persians and died fighting, the epitaph read, “here lies a spartan!”. It meant to show how dedicatedly and bravely they fought, faced the enemy and lie in valour. Known for their terse and brief behaviour in language and life, another instance read that King Philip of Macedon sent a message to the Spartan army in 345BCE: “You are advised to submit without further delay, for if I bring my army into your land, I will destroy your farms, slay your people, and raze your city.” The Spartans sent back a reply: “If”. Their Laconic reply is also what Laconia is known for. Greece is the centre of the classical western world in more ways than one. Its not just the language, it is their philosophy and outwardness, since the land was infertile, they had to look outwards to the sea. Their mythologies are filled with stories of courage and provide a pensive into the ways of the human mind.

      Every part of the country, however small it is, is known for a diverse set of stories or Gods, who are relatable. Nafplio boasts of a castle, as does Mycenae, as does Nafpaktos, these citadels or forts so to speak overlook the sea and were centres of Naval power. But these forts built on top of hills overlooking the sea are just what we would find everywhere in the world as centres of security. The sculptures in Brass and Gold, the Mycecean gold are extremely beautiful from what we see through literary descriptions, yet they have been melted and used by the Christians in the buildings that their built later in their times, like that of the Hagia Sofia and others. Therefore what remains in the Mycenean tombs are the terracotta ones that may not have been of any use to the plunderers. Atop all of these buildings, the bastions of Nafpaktos, Nafplio, one is treated to extravagant scenes of the azure blue Mediterranean sea with the clear blue sky and its perfect luminousity. The glitter of beaten gold of the Myceneans shine bright, as does the soft feel of the beaded Komboloi in Nafplio, the stark pastel cotton cloth that is breathable against the harsh sun the country receives, the terseness of the olives and the gaiety of its oil makes this part of the Mediterranean so effortless and utterly natural. With no need of adornment and rich in its personality of the stories of its past or its legends, Greece has no place or space for pretence. The starkness of nature and truth in Beauty is not for the tales but in full-bodies blue blood in the oh-so-blue country!

    7. Olympia – let the games begin!

      While ancient Greece was divided into several colonies or city states. It also meant that the city states were parent fighting with each other. These city states traded with each other for Essentials but also help together when faced with a foreign opponent. Yet in spite of their number of fights, they would all pause. Stop all wars to play games every year. There were four games held in the region. One was the pythian games which were held at Delphi, the other and the most popular one is that of the Olympics, which is even played till today. While Olympic games in these modern times have changed a lot from the games in antiquity, they still hold on to the spirit of sportsmanship. When translated from Greece, the Olympics does not have an annexe of games, instead, it was annex by a word that meant an ordeal. Because men were expected to fight with great determination, resolve discipline, and grit to fight for their place among the athletes of their time to dedicate themselves to something greater than themselves to finally reach a place that would bring them closer to their creator, thank God.

      As the Greeks believed that a beautiful body is a whistle for a beautiful soul, they expected their bodies to be the best version of themselves. Athletes would come from all over Greece to take part in these games, pausing their lives, even wars if any, that were fought during that time were paused, only to be resumed once the games were finished. Almost 40,000 people would come from where is regions in Greece to participate in these games to bring glory to their place of birth to bring met to themselves and their families inactive aspiring to have a statue of theirs erected in the Olympic campus. The participants and spectators would camp around the Olympic campus and prepare in the gymnasium that will allow them to practise their sport of running, which was the first sports introduced in the Olympic Games. Thereafter, several other games were introduced like javelin wrestling, boxing et al.

      It is also in the Olympia that the temple of Zeus is housed and the ancient Olympic games were held once every four years in honour of the greatest of the gods of the Greek. The spectators and participants who would come from great distances would also bring with them several offerings, the best that they had in gold, silver or precious jewels. These offerings were stored in the temple of Zeus into which only the highest members of the society at that time were allowed. Today, walking to those ruins, it is important to know that the original structures have been greatly destroyed and covered by sting of rivers that changed its course over time. Yet after years of escalation archaeologist found the temple of the temple of Hera, administrative centre, the hotels or guest houses and finally the stadium of Olympia. The great stadium that hosted over 45,000 spectators looks pretty paltry and simple compared to the stadia we have today. This stadium measured about 190 m in length, and this is the length that the athletes would run during the games in antiquity. Dousing themselves in olive oil, the athletes within cover themselves with mud of the soil and participate wholeheartedly in the games in nude. The man who wins would be awarded. A wreath made with olive leaves collected by a golden haired boy from the vicinity.

      A lot different from the modern games. The ancient Olympic games that were organised by the Hellanodikai were held for 1169 years from 776 BC to 393 AD and were stopped before it re-began in 1896. German archaeologists are said to have unearthed and excavated major portions of Olympia following scriptures and text that they found overtime of travellers who visited this region. The ancient site of the Olympic Olympics still holds modern relevance as it is the light of Olympia that is captured to ignite the modern Olympic torch that travels from state to state city to city all across the world as the games are continued to be held once every four years. the concave mirror that captures the light of Olympia ignites the Olympic torch in a ceremony that is held at the start of the Olympic games once every four years. The winners are hugely decorated awarded the wreath of olive leaves and given a reputation that exceeds the life of the wreath. the winners bring glory to their city, whose name is inscribed forever as a city that produced such great athletic heroes. Today, Site is all inspiring by the magnitude of its scale and its share ingenuity of providing water through aqueducts to the participants.

      The museum of Olympia holds the most spectacular statue that remains, which is the statue of the messenger of gods that of Hermes. the East pediment of the temple of Zeus holds Zeus with his followers while the West pediment holds the statues of Apollo with Centaurs fighting, a reminder for the visitors to not behave like centaurs losing their head while at the games. The men who cheated out of greed or pretended to lose and let others win, and they found guilty were also falsely glorified by having to pay a bronze statue of Zeus for every time they made an error. the games that were a brain. Child in antiquity are widely regarded as one of the greatest sporting events of mankind today. As the Romans took over the Greeks, the Greeks are said to have not resisted instead, letting the Romans come and build a layer of their thinking and their way of one thing, an architecture to look on their existing structures and hence Olympia has a layer of Roman contribution. in fact, the workshop that was used to make a huge 12 foot statue of Zeus sitting had been later transformed into a church. While the Greeks knew to build in straight lines in squares and hardly used any arches with the know how to make a roof without the need of a keyStone, there are a few arches visible in the Olympic campus, which were later built by the Romans. The Olympic games were also the first of the games to be held in the cycle of the four years. When every year a different game was held in the region. It was perhaps because of that the Olympics has survived while the other games have slowly lost their relevance. that is not to say that the modern Olympic games look a lot different from that which was practised in the ancient times. The spirit of the games of sportsmanship of community of belonging is still harboured in the present day games. The world still looks at the winnings as how many medals each country won in a particular year, making the country beam with pride!

      The reality of the Olympic Site is insurmountable, the fact that the games where we people would find themselves to their countries and bond with other countries is a brilliant idea of the times. The Romans are said to have opened up the games to beyond the Greek border,  just as they took several creek concepts, Mehta and spread it all across the world as they conquered the world. The archaeological sites in Greece also demonstrate the greatest offerings of the Greeks to the world of architecture, the golden ratio the orders of architecture, ionic, Doric and Corinthian, and the matter of scale and proportion.  The Doric and ionic columns built at the Olympia site, were built in parts and assembled one on top of the other, just like the 12 foot high statue of Zeus. The human spirit is greatly exhibited from the ancient times through the modern at this glorious site of Olympia  that finds itself at the base of the Mount Kronion and is wedged by a huge retaining wall to retain the Olympic complex.  Like all Greek locations it is also swathed in stories of legend, of pride and of valour.

    8. The Sanctuaries of Ancient Greece.

      Beautiful bodies are vessels for beautiful minds and are where strong moral compasses dwell. So believed the ancient greeks, as a corollary good minds only live in good bodies, hence a lot of effort was made to maintain strong, healthy and beautiful bodies chiselled to perfection. If a person was beautiful externally, with ripped abdomen or shapely curves, it was believed that they had a beautiful mind too, and also a very sound morality. Therefore a lot of work was done to keep the physical body highly attractive, today we see a huge number of statues peppered across the Peloponnese and Greece in general in nude, even Leonidas the Spartan has his statue all equipped with his arrow, shield and helmet, in utter nude. Clothed statues with the ripple of cloth were introduced by the Romans and are the proponents of the Greco-Roman period in art and architecture when Greece and Roman influences overlapped. The body in nude was to display its beauty. Sanctuaries or places of healing were important centres that people would travel to to heal their bodies and perhaps minds, keeping themselves healthy and in turn beautiful.

      The centres of healing that are very impressive in their remains today are those at Delphi and Epidauraus. In Delphi, the stunning sloping landscape embraces in its midst the temple of Apollo, where the famous Oracle would dish out her prophecies, the theatre and a stadium. in Epidaurus, also a major centre of healing the theatre’s stunning acoustic properties are still keenly felt and enjoyed. The ancient Greek theater was a sacred space that allowed audiences to overlook the city, countryside, and ocean, and encapsulate the sky. The sky was the most prominent feature in the visual field of the spectator, and the Greek terms for sky were interchangeable with the word for heaven. Though the stage buildings do not remain, considering they were built in the 5th century, it is a marvel that the theater with its stepped seating still stands today. In Delphi, an Agora sets the tone to journey up to the hill top where the stadium sits, while in Epidaurus, the lay of the land is more flattened and all the parts of the sanctuary are laid out with some buildings still a lot more intact. These sanctuaries are the most beautiful remains of the ancient Greek architecture.

      While Roman architecture follows rules stringently, we see such spectacular and proportionate architecture all over Rome and Italy, they also came in much after the Greeks in the timeline of history, they have the rulebook fine-tuned and applied. But in Greece where it all began, the golden ratio, the optical illusions in building design, they embraced nature and the tenet that the site is everything and the architect seeks answers from the site in its landscape, using nature for inference and inspiration. Nature and site are two things that the Greeks widely embraced. For if the site is sloping, the Greek buildings are built embracing the lay of the land as we find in Delphi or even in Oia, while in the buildings of Rome, the human spirit and enterprise were valued as prime and sites were even razed to make way for enormous spirited architecture. But in Greece the building always married the site, in tandem, flowing with it effortlessly. The beauty of nature is never surpassed in these beautiful buildings, that sometimes frame, sometimes encapsulate, sometimes perch onto the site, like we see in the temple of Apollo, or the monasteries of Varlum and Holy Trinity among the others, but for the most part, in Greek architecture, nature is the wind beneath the wings of architecture, nature is the sanctuary, and then beauty is the consequence.

    9. Kalambaka & Meteroa

      Meteora is a rock formation in Northwestern Greece, that holds atop it, Eastern Orthodox monasteries. Kalambaka is a city at the foothills of these monasteries that makes access to the monasteries easier for the tourists, it has a dessert by its name that is a pudding of sorts with walnut cake and condensed milk! Yet the monks of the monasteries built them during the times of the prosecution of the Christians by the Turks, the Ottoman empire. The monks fled to Meteora and built their monasteries on top of the over 500 m high rock formations who’s tops are unconnected to any part of the land, soaring into the sky. The sight of these rocks with the monasteries atop them is stunning to say the least, and the climb up to the monasteries, lets say is quite a hike. The way the monks went up is too interesting though as they did not climb by foot, or use cable cars like they use now, they would be airlifted through a rope cage, a net cage, not every different from how fishes are pulled out of water! The net cages would pull up a bunch of monks every once in a while through an elaborate turnstile pulley system. Thankfully we trekked up to the monastery!

      Today the monks use a cable car to reach atop to the monasteries, some of the monasteries have been converted to nunneries, yet their schedules remain gruelling as they embark on a journey to look inwards. The monastic cells have tiny windows, though with a spectacular views to encourage the monks to look inwards. Every monastery or nunnery has a church of the Greek Orthodox type that looks stunning with art in gold covering the walls. The art is filled with symbolism to tell a story to even those who could not read or write. The cross around the halos were used to depict Jesus Christ across his different ages, while the hand gestures of the monks painted gave away whether the monk was a saint or a martyr. While the monasteries today are a huge tourist attraction they continue to remain centres of worship. The beautiful elevations of these centres of internal reflection make for a stunning view during the golden hours of the day, of sunrise and sunset.

      From the ground up Kalambaka has all the makings of a small greek town and serves up delicious fare of almost all cuisines, while up at Meteora, the priests each a largely what I term a spiritual fare. Today the monks also make their own merchandise and products including honey, cheese and mysterious beeswax that they claim can cure any issue of the body and mind, simply by rubbing some onto the skin or ingesting it to cure a common cold! The monks are in black for their day to day dressing and wear white and golden robes during important events. Even today children receive communion from these monks. In Greece every baby born is considered to be in the Christian fold of Greek Orthodoxy. Monks voluntarily enter the fold abiding to the tough diktats, giving up all their possessions to the church and are free to leave if they wish to. The higher purpose of their lives, to be closer to their Gods is vastly cherished and chased in their lifetime!

    10. Its Greek to Me!

      The Greek Gods are mythical legends, with epics and stories that display their grand values, a lot like the Indian Gods, yet unlike the Indian Gods, worship to the Greek Gods have been long lost to the advent of the Romans, then the Christians and then the Turks, now becoming a tale in the chaos of the ruins in Greece. With enough on their plate, the economic crises, the unemployment crises, Greece also now has to deal with the crippling effects of global warming, environment change and over-tourism. The day we were at the acropolis, 18000 people were said to be visiting and slotting people into different times also did not seem to help. Present day Greece is probably a lot different from that of the antiquity, yet many phrases and even ideologies of the present, if I may say even philosophy come from the times of Ancient Greece. The idea of the individual and views of the individual, hence democracy came from the country that had to look seaward as the land was untenable. The azure blue waters of the Mediterranean connects Greece and its over 6000 islands to different countries and cultures, a confluence of many parts that were as different as ever.

      The Greek revolution cemented its form and created a basis for a republic in the 18th century, yet it was one of the first countries in Europe to become a republic soon after the Industrial revolution. Early civilisations were found even under the archeological site of Olympia and by the looks of Greece, digging under its untenable lands a whole new world could easily be found anywhere in Greece, and an expensive task at that, the government stops excavations more due to the lack of funds rather than a lack of content! Greek philosophers like Socrates, Epictetus, mathematicians like Pythagorus, thinkers Plato, physicist like Aristotle, are a few of the many that have laid foundations of the way we derive and experience the modern world. The modern Olympic games that happen once in 4 years finds its base from the land of the Peloponnese, the mainland of Greece, that began in great earnest and even had the power to pause wars as the people of the land prepared to compete earliest for running followed by wrestling, boxing, javelin and discus. Over the centuries it was paused by early Christian emperors before being revived in the 18th Century by historical enthusiasts.

      My journey across the Peloponnese brought me up close with the ancient and the modern Greek culture, to its Gods, who apparently threw rocks at each other bringing forth the make of the land, with its modern day architecture and its ruins of the past, with concepts in architecture like those of the golden ratio, the use of light in architecture, the significance of white in architecture and the stories that its culture weaves. The modern day country is juxtaposed against its past, having lost most of its mythology, unless for the sake of tourism, Zeus isn’t worshipped, yet his stories of valour and pomp surround the world. The Romans are said to have adopted the Greek Gods, and Indian Gods are some where likened to their Greek counterparts, yet many of the major Greek impressions are in ruins or ruined by the advent of the following centuries and its rulers who imposed new religions and wiped out the past not just in reality but also from the minds of the people. While the ancient Greek states fought for power against each other, the Athenians against the Spartans, the Ionions against the Corinths, they finally united against the Turks, expanding their Naval power. Yet the Byzantium empire ruling from Constantinople extrapolated a branch of Christianity that now is known as Greek Orthodoxy paving its way all across the east of Europe and all the way to Russia.

      While the Gods may have their stories of eating stone, marrying each other and then the mortals to form a web of Gods, Titans and Demi-Gods, all scripted in the Greek epics of Iliad and the Odyssey, they are rather confusing and hugely complicated, just try reading one of the Homer’s epics and you would know what I am talking about, beautiful faces still dot the country rich in its culture and heritage, faces that could still launch a thousand ships! The rather handsome country is beautiful in its people and also the landscape at large. Th idea of beauty is something even the ancient greeks took very seriously, for a beautiful body is a vessel containing a beautiful mind, a beautiful soul and hence a strong moral compass. Each of the 6000 islands have their own distinct quality apart from the mainland, the white buildings of Mykonos and Santorini are the most popular, but even Naxos, Paros and the mighty of them all, Crete have their beauty intact. While Athens, the capital is notorious for its protests, Athens is also called, “The City of Protests”, it is home to the mighty Parthenon, that every architect would want to visit. Even with it’s roof blown off by the Turks, its Doric columns still stand towering and a plenty to give a glimpse of what it would have been like. From on top of the Acropolis, Athens looks wild and mighty, yet all white till where the eyes can see. In the past the great Greek temples were all painted in vibrant colours in reds, blues, greens that contrasted with the shite of the building stones or stuccos, many of the islands and towns delectable pastel combinations that truly work today. The idea that buildings look best in white against the blue sky is not lost on the people today of Athens but mostly of Mykonos and Santorini, an architectural insight that totally resonates with me. The beauty? Well, its Greek to me!

      The places featured in this journey are Kalambaka, Meteora, Delphi, Olympia, Nafplio, Galaxidi, Mycenae, Epidaurus, Athens, Mykonos and Santorini.

    11. Using HI in a world of AI

      ‘Where are the renders?’ is a very often heard statement in the world of interior design and architecture. My Lighting vendor to pop the question at me, very vehemently, in fact, he wouldn’t just let me go. He wanted me to tell him what it exactly looks like! What are lights like? How’s the feel of the space? But if I knew exactly what I wanted, and then where is the question of collaboration of bringing forth something that was not there before? Everybody from Lighting vendors to clients to carpet layers want to see what the final look will be even before the process is started. As done now this wasn’t always how things were done in the earlier times when the architect would be the director with the vision in his or her head, directing the site and how people would flawlessly completely trust the designer or the person whose vision it is, but today that has changed quite a bit when everybody wants to know what is it going to look like because nobody has the patience or even the trust to wait till it is complete. Everybody wants to know how is it going to look and then once you give them how is going to look then the scramble begins to find the exact same lights that look exactly like the picture, to find the carpet that can be put, which looks exactly like the picture, the picture is not worth 1000 words it’s worth 1000 lives when that is being replicated into what spaces in a world of AI. In fact, it’s getting more and more pristine, exact to the point that all that the person has to do once the Artist impression is done is to follow it to the team, the process of Design is no longer a process anymore. It is an endpoint you have the endpoint in the picture in mind and everybody works collectively to bring that picture to life now that is a normal that is how architecture works that is how the interior design world works.

      I tried to do one project a little differently this time, the final 3D was not in anybody’s head, including not even mine as the architect as a director of the project, the final picture was not in my mind too, and as the days went by and selections kept happening, the process evolved. What aligned stayed and what didn’t didn’t make the cut. Considering I have been trained as an architect trained to make these full proof, bullet-proof plans, elevation and renders well, it took a heavy dose of HI or human intelligence to bring this project to fruition. Taking things by the fly of the seat of my pants required a whole different mindset though. The need to be present at every moment on site is what it takes to employ human intelligence as against artificial intelligence. When things are not planned and there is no endpoint in sight, then the whole point is in the now. And to trust that what it will be, will be something that what it is meant to be. This way of employing human and on the site as work progress as things came together, required a teeny bit of planning but not to the point of excess with every stitch has been thought of, of course, every stage has been thought of, but when it was meant to be thought of not way in advance. Using human intelligence over artificial intelligence or rather employing human intelligence when it is necessary when it is a call of the day is a very liberating experience and instead of planning way in advance and knowing exactly what something is going to be when you can trust and be open to what it could be, it also feels very freeing and hence liberating. it is the state of not knowing and being okay with not knowing that brings us to places which we could have never imagined. It is the place for human intelligence come to the forefront, and we stopped relying on intelligence that we have built through artificial means. in fact to create content to write about what I am thinking is so easy to use Meta, to use these various platforms that use AI to construct a world of words, but without the human element in it, it is quite nothing. Without a render or a 3-D in hand, it has been quite an experience without a goal post. I’m sure life is also going to be quite interesting when we take each day as it comes and move forward, knowing what we are going to have at the end of the day is a combination of a multitude of tiny decisions that were made in a state of being present.

      It is then a win of the human intelligence, of humanity, of the human being rather than the human doing. The world that celebrates achievement that celebrates a state of doing that celebrates a state of achieving should also balance the state of being of being present of being so that what is done is done through complete mindfulness, through a state of being, that taps into intelligence born of humour, the human mind, which is more than intelligence, and one that starts to be intuition.

      The biggest lesson of working with human intelligence versus artificial intelligence has been the idea of not setting goals of not having any end points, treating the very moment as an end in itself. Of course, every moment is worked with great sincerity, it is not about not having an idea of where to go, but about allowing the moment to show up with decisions of what to do next.