The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Images of architectural marvels on display

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Thursday, Jan 31, 2008
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Images of architectural marvels on display

Staff Reporter

Expo showcases brilliance of Kumamoto Artpolis project

— PHOTO: S. THANTHONI

AweSTRUCK: Consul-General of Japan in Chennai Kazuo Minagawa (extreme left), SRM University Vice-Chancellor P. Sathyanarayanan (centre) and Anna University registrar K. Jayaraman at the exhibition held in Chennai on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: Architectural marvels need not necessarily be mammoth buildings or structures of great importance. Architectural precision can even be reflected in a toilet constructed as part of an existing building. An exhibition of panels of 70 such marvels that have come up in Japan over 18 years opened on Tuesday.

Simple local buildings such as nursery schools, public community halls, the village centre, local products manufacturing centre, health centre and even a restaurant that specialises in local cuisine were designed and constructed by architects of Kumamoto Artpolis, a movement started in 1988 in Japan.

The panels at the exhibition, which was inaugurated by the Consul-General of Japan in Chennai, Kazuo Minagawa, are a treat for students of architecture.

The exhibition showcases photographs, plans, sections and other details of the buildings, which include a puppet theatre, museum, public housing complex, bridges and dams. The architects have emphasised the importance of form, space and structure, and have also taken into consideration the importance of the lay of the land. The exhibition titled ‘Kumamoto Artpolis: Architecture through Communication’ at the Lalit Kala Akademi on Greams Road is on till February 4. The expo is being organised as part of the Indo-Japan Friendship Year.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Kazuo Minagawa said, “The movement was started to improve the architectural culture of Kumamoto Prefecture, and contribute to the improvement of architectural culture of the contemporary world as a whole.”

He said the exhibition would be another step towards cultural exchange between the two countries.

In his address, Vice-Chancellor of SRM University P. Sathyanarayanan stressed the need for more interaction between private and public universities.

Detailing the similarities between Indian and Japanese cultures, he suggested that architecture students from SRM and Anna Universities be sponsored to visit Japan to study the contemporary architecture there.

The event is being organised by the Consulate-General of Japan at Chennai, the School of Architecture and Planning of Anna University, and the School of Architecture and Interior Designing of SRM University; in association with the Japan Foundation.

K. Jayaraman, Registrar, Anna University; and Ranee Vedamuthu, head of the Department of Architecture of Anna University; spoke on the occasion. The exhibition will be open between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

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