レンガと伝統工法で生み出す流線形の空間

©︎ Vinay Panjwani

©︎ Vinay Panjwani

ヒンディー語で波を意味する、流れる水のような〈TARANG〉は、梁も補強材も使用しない、テラコッタ・レンガタイルのアーチが生み出すインド最大のヴォールト構造のギャラリースペースです。

ソフトウェアやデジタルツールを用いず伝統的な建設技術で構築されており、素材も地域のものを使用することで、その地に根差しつつも革新的な空間をつくり出している建築です。

インドの建築事務所 tHE gRID Architectsが設計しました。

（以下、tHE gRID Architectsから提供されたプレスキットのテキストの抄訳）

©︎ Vinay Panjwani

©︎ Photographix India

デジタルツールではなく伝統技術で構築する流線形

ソフトウェアやデジタルツールを用いず、インド南西部で育まれてきた伝統的な建築技術により構築された〈TARANG〉は、職人の芸術性を讃えるとともに時代を超えた環境を育んでいる。

環境に優しく、豊かな文化と魅惑的な建築環境をつくり出すこのデザインは、持続可能な建設という業界の抱える差し迫った課題に取り組むための革新的なアプローチを示している。

©︎ Vinay Panjwani

©︎ Vinay Panjwani

〈TARANG〉は、建物内外でのさまざまな活動に対応できる、多目的でダイナミックなギャラリースペースとして設計されている。

注目の商品を紹介する際には、内部空間はキャンバスとなり、没入感のある展示プラットフォームとして機能するのである。

©︎ Vinay Panjwani

©︎ Vinay Panjwani

環境的なサステナビリティへの取り組み

建物のCO2排出量を最小限に抑えるため、このプロジェクトでは主に地元で材料を調達しつつ、製品の生産にかかるエネルギーが少ないものに重点を置き選定した。

そうして選ばれた天然石やテラコッタタイルを使用しつつ、アーチの強度を上げるために一般的に用いられる鉄骨や補助構造体を必要としない工法を採用し構築されている。

さらにこのプロジェクトでは、持続可能な建築手法をさらに推進するため、石工職人のスキルアップにも重点を置いている。

©︎ Vinay Panjwani

©︎ Vinay Panjwani

かつてインド全土で広く使われていた伝統的な建築技術について深い知識をもつ熟練の職人たちは、材料、道具、技術に関する豊富な知恵を蓄積しており、それが熟練した職人技に反映されている。

ゆるやかにうねる、インド最大のテラコッタ・タイルのアーチ型ヴォールト建築〈TARANG〉は、バイオフィリック・デザインのアプローチに根ざしたそのフォルムにより、光と風のパターンが変化する、重厚かつエレガントな雰囲気を生み出しているのである。

©︎ Vinay Panjwani

©︎ Vinay Panjwani

©︎ Vinay Panjwani

©︎ Vinay Panjwani

©︎ Photographix India

©︎ Photographix India

以下、tHE gRID Architectsのリリース（英文）です。

Project: TARANG (means waves in Hindi language) fluid like water

Area: 75’ X 40’ approximately 3000 sq ft
Location: Ahmedabad, India
Design firm: tHE gRID Architects
Designers: Snehal Suthar and Bhadri Suthar
Photo credits: Vinay Panjwani & Photographix India
Film credits: Vinay Panjwani
Completion date: 2023

Technical Guidance and structural form finding by – “Sankalan.”
A Centre of Alternative Learning
Constructed by Artisans of – “So Hath-100 Hands” Foundation for Building Artisans, Bhuj, Gujarat.

Tarang film:
YouTube link: https://youtu.be/wOZqQUauTUI
Vimeo link: https://vimeo.com/816635406/75ca373036

Presently the largest terracotta Brick tile arched vault structure in India one of its kind: without beams, reinforcement & any shuttering system.

Ethos
“TARANG” fosters a timeless environment, promoting a meaningful dialogue between different eras. Its design evokes a sense of continuity and connection that transcends the present moment, encouraging a dialogue that spans across time.
Tarang’s design takes into account the specific context of the South West location and incorporates a remarkable construction technique. The design showcases an innovative and thoughtful approach to address the pressing challenge of sustainable construction, creating a built environment that is environmentally friendly, culturally rich, and visually captivating. By employing traditional construction techniques without software or digital tools, Tarang celebrates the artistry of the workers.

Intent
The intervention aims to create a versatile space that accommodates various activities, both within and around the building. Tarang was conceptualized as a dynamic gallery space, meticulously designed to adapt and evolve seamlessly. Its purpose is to serve as an immersive exhibition platform where the interiors are transformed into canvases, showcasing the featured products.

Environmental sustainability effort.
In an effort to minimize the carbon footprint of buildings, the project primarily sources materials locally, with a focus on those that have low embodied energy. The key materials utilized include natural stone, terracotta tiles, and a technique that involves spanning without steel and shuttering or ancillary structures that are typically used to bear the weight of an arch during the building process. Additionally, the project places emphasis on upskilling the masons to further promote sustainable building practices.

NOTE:
Gentle upswells. Soft swoops. Harmonic waves that birth an ambience of evocative silence, where the light speaks, the wind sings, and the earthenware roofing produces melody. This is “TARANG”, presently one of the largest terracotta tile arch vault structure in India. Its rising arched interiors are pleasantly intimate and familiar, thanks to its form rooted in a biophilic design approach. The resultant atmosphere, profound and simply elegant, is animated by the changing patterns of light and wind.

The formed undulations bring a varied Aspect to the viewers eyes. The organic structure contradicts the existing edifice of the project. The light and the shadow from the voids and the in between spaces playfully tease the user, brushing past the cornerless realm of walls. The structure engulfs the space, the undulations become the walls, the walls become the enclosure.

It makes one realise that it’s the parts of the voids and the exposed terracotta tiles in between that make the edifice as one. It makes one sway along the meandering shape and smell the natural exposed terracotta tiles. It merges us with nature as if the built form didn’t exist but was born from the core of the earth itself.

This film is a remarkable documentation of the beauty of human creativity, featuring the impressive shapes that elevate the work of art. tHE gRID Architects – the designers Snehal and Bhadri have deftly blended nuanced design with form and functionality to capture the freedom of movement within the structure.

The dancers in the film skilfully embody the rhythm of the undulating swells, encapsulating its fluidity and grace with their every move. As the film progresses, it immerses the viewer in an ever-evolving emotional journey, offering a tangible story of an introverted desire for connection that is both visceral and compelling.

The creative process behind this film was very organic, evolving into a deeply personal narrative that explores the intrinsic human desire for connection. Through its poetic portrayal of this universal theme, the film serves as a poignant portrait of that particular moment in time.

Truly great works of architecture have the power to evoke strong emotions and transfer them from the architect to the visitors who experience them over time and across generations. Within these architectural marvels, the transfer of feeling occurs through the terracotta material itself, while the interplay of light and shadow animates the interiors, creating pockets of diffused light that are truly unique.

Remarkably, even harsh climates fail to diminish the mood of the volumes within these structures. Instead, they continue to inspire awe and wonder, connecting people to the past and the present while imparting a sense of timelessness that endures.

The structure is a perfect example of traditional opulence, embodying a design philosophy that seeks to elevate and dignify space and nature in equal measure. It is a meditative structure that fosters a sense of calm and contemplation, where the walls themselves exude a palpable sense of power.

The interplay of sunlight and shadow within the space is nothing short of mesmerizing, imbuing the simplicity of the terracotta brick tiles/ bricks with a quality that is truly remarkable. Indeed, the structure itself is the finished product, where the rawness of the materials is transformed into something sublime and transcendent.

The designers’ motivation for the project is threefold: aesthetic, ethical, and divine. They sought to create a structure that not only looks beautiful but also reflects their values and beliefs. Their efforts produced a set of light beams that offer an element of surprise and beautiful reflections, making the structure that resonates with all who behold it.

The design of the space was intended to draw inspiration from nature and emulate its organic shapes. Throughout the design phase, the interior spaces remained an enigma, and it was uncertain how they would behave or what their dimensions would ultimately be.

It was only through daily observation of the shifting light and sun movements that we discovered how the space would shape-shift, creating a harmonious and dynamic surrounding.

The design process was driven by intuition and a deep desire to understand what the space and nature needed to truly elevate and dignify the structure. As a result, the interior spaces just fell into place, perfectly complementing the overall design.

One of the great joys of experiencing this structure is the ability to enjoy it in different spaces, during different times of the day with different moods and intentions. The space has a tranquil quality that encourages peaceful contemplation, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in its beauty and energy.

Skilled artisans who possess in-depth knowledge of the traditional building techniques that were once widely used across India have emerged. These craftspeople have accumulated a wealth of wisdom pertaining to materials, tools, and techniques, which is reflected in their skilled craftsmanship.

The values of the project are centered around three key principles: a deep respect for Mother Earth and the need for sustainability; a genuine appreciation for the art of craftsmanship and the value of working with one’s hands; and a profound reverence for history and the preservation of cultural heritage.

Tarang’s design offers several benefits that are both people-centric and environmentally considerate. The building serves as a valuable asset to society, meeting the principles of inclusive design and promoting sustainability, fostering community engagement and interaction for art and culture.

tHE gRID Architects 公式サイト

https://thegrid-arch.com