Vayanashala is a reading group that builds its discussions around books on architecture

The lines are drawn and the stage is set for a lively discussion as the members of Vayanashala, a city-based reading group on architecture, kick off their monthly meetings, once again. “Vayanashala’s sessions are all about understanding architecture,” says Abrar Ali, a fourth year student of architecture, who has been attending the discussions since he was in second year of college. “The sessions have been an eye-opener to the world of architecture through the world of books, in which you end up either reinforcing your ideas and visions or reconstructing your views about the subject. It has also got me re-interested in reading,” he adds.

Members of Vayanashala get together for a discussion
Members of Vayanashala get together for a discussion

Vayanashala (literally, reading rooms, a nod to those once ubiquitous vayanashalas that used to dot the city), was started with just a handful of participants on December 25, 2011, as an outreach programme of the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) – Trivandrum Centre. In each session, a book on architecture is taken up for discussion and sessions are presided over by senior architect Thomas Oommen, former Head of the department of architecture, College of Engineering, Trivandrum, while architect Rajshree Rajmohan holds the fort. The group now has over 400 members (on their Facebook page), namely students of architecture, architects and enthusiasts of architecture and built heritage.

Vayanashala’s primary focus is on students of architecture. “Our aim is to get students to think out-of-the-box by reading books outside of their prescribed syllabus,” says Shaji T.L., chairman, IIA – Trivandrum Centre. Architect Jayakrishnan, one of those who have been active in the group since the beginning, explains: “Today’s generation have grown up communicating visually and lacks the reading habit. This is an attempt to get them back on track. Also, architecture is a topic that needs to be discussed in the public domain. It is as much a part of our culture as art, literature and mass media yet it is not being given its right of discussion.”

...

Over the years the group has discussed various topics and concepts such as architecture and aesthetics (The Anaesthetics of Architecture by Neil Leach), the connect between designing and emotion with the help of Peter Zumthor’s Thinking Architecture, minimalism as explored in Mark Linder’s Nothing Less than Literal, the fanciful (read pointless) side of architecture in Gautam Bhatia’s Punjabi Baroque, even feminist approaches to architecture through Jill Stoner’s Towards A Minor Architecture, many of them relevant to the city and times. “I have to read 10 books to zero down on one. But, I do try to include a broad variety of themes into the discussion list. When choosing books, I also have to factor in the fact that people are put off by the thought of reading thick tomes,” says Rajshree, wryly.

Vayanashala is re-starting its activities today at Kallarackal Hall, Trivandrum Tennis Club, 5.30 p.m. with a discussion on Richard Rogers’ Cities For A Small Planet. It’s a book that delves into the concept of ‘tropical urbanism’, essentially designing urban landscapes in such a way that it’s inextricably linked to the surrounding natural environment. “It’s a relevant topic, especially because of the news surrounding Amaravati, the new capital of Andhra Pradesh, the foundation stone of which was laid recently. In fact, the next three sessions are a continuation of the topic, in which we will be taking up other books. As for Rogers’ book, I personally don’t agree with a lot of what he has said and expect a lively debate for I have a feeling many feel the same way. We want participants tolet their inhibitions lose and speak their mind,” she says.