__Construction Materials__

We had 'Construction Materials' as our subject for one year in our five years of architectural coursework - and wasn't that the most boring subject one could think of! It was for me at that point. I have not been able to figure out whether it was due to lack on my part or the teachers. 

I start my first day of internship and Mr Kalhan Mattoo (principal architect of Planet 3 Studios) asks me to fetch carpet samples from the material library and I was a transformed person. It was a click and everything fell in to place - materials, detailing and designing. The link was established and strengthen at 44 Design. Ms Dhruti Vaidya (ex-founding principal of 44D and my mentor) loved detailing. It was a joy to work with her as the materials were explored so minutely and loving that it was difficult not to fall in love with them.The textures, thicknesses, joinery, expansion joints, look, feel, colour , technology, its procurement - all these and more were explored and studied. We made visits to quarries, met the craftsmen, hunted down shops and showrooms, read books, searched for Indian suppliers - it was a process of designing. She also taught me to work closely with different craftsmen like carpenters, fabricators and how to use their expertise to make architecture more elegant. My four and half years with her were equally formative as my five years in school - it taught me to implement what I learnt.