NARI GANDHI ( 1934 – 1993 )
Nariman Dossabhai Gandhi ARCHITECT , ARTIST and SCULPTOR
: January 1, 1934
Surat , India. : Indian : Sir J . J . College of Architecture, Mumbai. : Worked for the American Ar. Warren Weber.
FAMOUS WORKS
Mountain Lodge for Jal Gobhai .Lonavala Residence for Rustom Mehta at Korlai, Alibag
Residence for Kishore Bajaj at Karjat
JAIN HOUSE at lonavla
oResidence
for Asha Parekh at Juhu, Mumbai
oFarm
house for S H Daya at
Alibag oGateway oTejani oPatel
to mosque at Kolgaon
house at Lonavala
residence at Surat
His works display a distinctive organic character.
Nari's works display highly skilled craftsmanship and structural ingenuity.
His architecture seeks inspiration from NATURE while accepting nature as his guide.
Most of Gandhi’s buildings in the countryside are exercises in balancing acts to hold roofs up and unique ways in ferrying loads down to the ground.
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The fusion of interior spaces to create Transparency within a structure are obtained by the means of geometry.
Geometry was used not only as a means of organizing materials and spaces but also in the third dimension to give dynamism to form and tension to the space . Geometry was the underlying discipline of structure , a primary tool for ordering an architectural form.
Beach House at MADH ISLAND Plot size 800 sq m. Vaulted stone arches rising 10m in ht. Each stone is around 3m in length and 5cm thk , used for the arches. each stone is selected by Nari himself. no doors were used. It has three cave like cells First cell has a living , dining and bedroom. Second has kitchen and bathrooms. The third has garage and servant quarters.
1980-1993
Stone is found in the form of broken chips, glued to cement-coated surfaces.
Unusual materials and design touches appear throughout the building: the garden's glass skylight domes were made from broken glass chips, marbles, stained glass, and broken beer bottles
The house also contains several terracotta sculptures and pots, as well as art works in media ranging from earthenware to metalwork.
This house has rustic surface treatments and almost primitive, cave-like interiors.
1989-1992
It has a total of 9 rooms: a prayer room, a living room, a card room, a kitchen, a dining area, and four bedrooms.
structure consists of stone masonry walls of varying sizes and colors
A single large roof plane, dotted with dormer windows and covered with Mangalore tiles
Internal courts on different levels are covered in transparent corrugated roofing sheets
Dormer windows overlooking the landscape around the bungalow also serve to visually unify these rooms
Exterior view of the approach road to the bungalow from the gate
Interior view showing the play of light against a rough stone wall
Exterior view of the steel trusssupported roof that follows the terraced landscaping on site
Korlai Bungalow in Maharashtra 1986-1988
Nari Gandhi selected the waterfront lot and designed an elevated open arched pavilion facing the sea.
Two parallel arches form the structural frame of the pavilion and support the large pitched roof.
These brick (wire-cut hollow brick) walls have punctures that were later filled with stained glass.
lower levels of the pavilion contained service spaces, bedrooms, and kitchen areas.
The upper level dining and living areas have spectacular views of the sea.
Interior view of the living space Exterior side view of pavilion
Interior view of upper level of pavilion
The only sketch that Nari has done for Rustom Mehta
“
Inspired by Yesterday Aspired for Tomorrow”
Simplicity , gentleness and purity are the words that describe Nari Gandhi aptly , and also very appropriate for his architectecture. He is one the great architects of his times . He was unique in his own way and has his own understanding for architecture.
