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Achyut Kanvinde-The Functionalist Architect

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  Achyut P. Kanvinde (1916 –2002), the Indian architect with functionalist approaches with elements of Brutalist architecture. He was born in Achra, in Konkan region of Maharashtra in 1916. He believed that a grid of columns forming a matrix giving structural and spatial aspect would turn a design more sophisticated and faceted. ·        1935: Studied architecture under Claude Batley in Sir J. J School of Arts ·        1945: Completed Masters from Harvard, student of Walter Gropius (Thesis on Science Laboratories) ·        1947: Chief Architect of CSIR (Council of Scientific and Industrial Research) ·        1955: Formed Kanvinde and Rai LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENTS ·         1976: Received the Padma Shree ·         1974-75: Became the president of IIA (Indian Institute of Architects) ·         1985: Winner of IIA “Baburao Mhatre Gold Medal” ·         1993: Awarded the Great Masters Award from JK Industries Ltd ·         Part of the jury on the competition for Indira
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IS BAMBOO BETTER THAN STEEL?

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Before the metal age, bamboo was used as a core construction material. But with time, steel has replaced bamboo in almost everywhere. Now you can also find steel scaffolds instead of the age-old bamboo ones. But are we doing the right thing by replacing bamboo? Is steel more efficient than bamboo? Or is it just in our minds, that we don’t consider bamboo modern enough to match our high standards?                           HOW BAMBOO SURPASSES STEEL? Yes, you read it right. Bamboo is actually stronger than steel in terms of tensile strength. The tensile strength of steel is 420MPa whereas for bamboo, it is 930MPa. Tensile strength is basically the resistance offered by materials to break under tension. And yes, bamboo is stronger than steel in this case due to the tightly-packed molecular structure. OTHER PROPERTIES OF BAMBOO ·        One of the greatest things about bamboo is, we can use all the parts of the plant for different purposes. ·        Certain bamboo species are the fastest
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Bamboo - Building Construction Material

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  Since time immemorial, bamboo has played an impo rtant in the development of mankind. Bamboo is a natural composite material with a high strength-to-weight ratio, which is generally similar to strong softwood or hardwood. They are the fastest-growing plants, certain species growing up to 35 inches in 24 hours. HISTORIC USE The regions traditionally associated with the use of bamboo as a building material are South and East Asia, South Pacific and Central and South America. In China and India, bamboo was used to holding up simple suspension bridges by making cables of split bamboo or twisting whole culms of bamboo together. In Japanese architecture, it was used as supplemental and/or decorative elements like fencing, fountains, grates and gutters. To date, most high profile bamboo construction projects are in Vietnam, Bali, China and Columbia. BAMBOO HOUSING ·        FOUNDATIONS 1.       Bamboo in-direct ground contact 2.       Bamboo on rock or perforated concrete footi
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