5 Minutes.

‘Atom is the reason I can’t work.’

Someone said this is the garage the other day and all of us automatically had a smirk on our faces. Almost everyone who has worked here has probably thought this at least one time.

If you’ve met Atom, you know what I’m talking about.

It can be the sad droopy eyes he looks at you with every time he wants your attention (which is all the time, by the way), the way he makes these noises when he’s trying to communicate with you or even the fact that he is the friendliest great dane you will ever meet; something about this gentle giant will draw you to him.

Of course, all isn’t always good. He can be over enthusiastic while running around, can knock you ever if you’re in his way and worst of all can stamp your feet or semi-crush your shoulders with his paws. But all in all, if atom wants attention, chances are that he’ll get it- if not from you, then someone else.

While this might occasionally disrupt your focus or even annoy you once in a blue moon; the fact that such an energetic and quirky creature is around you automatically makes you feel more at ease, usually irrespective of how stressed you are.

Sharing an office with Atom and Coco has shown me the reason dogs are often chosen as therapy animals- they don't need to try very hard to help you calm down; you just spend 5 minutes with them and that's almost all you need.

Thank you, boys.

See you soon,
Namitha.

Create or Destroy?

Beauty is a term that is commonly used in an architect's vocabulary. Almost all of our conversations and debates are about or would lead to beauty. Our careers are made out of these debates and conversations.

But today, a conversation in the car led to another discussion about beauty. What do architects do to beauty?

Once upon a time, not so long ago - Bangalore was referred to as a very beautiful city. "The city of parks", it was called. The landscape, the weather, everything about Bangalore was beautiful. People spoke about the green avenues, great canopies and amazing trees. After reading about this pretty Bangalore, when I got here, I frankly didn't see the beauty everyone was taking about. All I saw was the dust, the traffic and rapid construction in all parts of the city. Even the heat and the climate wasnt what I heard about.

Have we ruined the Bangalore that nature gifted us? Probably yes.

This probably sounds like a very negative viewpoint towards Bangalore. But as Architects, I think we have a lot of the changes the city is undergoing in our hands. We can take the responsibility - to understand and perserve the beauty around us.

As an architect my self, I think it's time I ask myself this question every time I get a new project. Am I creating beauty? Or destroying it?

What do you guys think? Have Architects added to nature it taken away from her?