You might not hear an engineer talk so poetically! Manjunath spoke of structures of banana leaves, branches, folding slabs, ornament, weaving, and expressing nature as forces. Interestingly, Manjunath has worked on projects that I have always (and we all have always) enjoyed as structures. He has worked with the architects we have been looking up to in India!
Here are some of his anecdotes from the lecture that keep you thinking of how beautifully structure can be thought about as life:
"Different forms of structures in nature should be used to create new languages."
"I like to express the forces...as jewellery, as delicate ornamentation of the building."
"The strain is always taken by the engineer, so I have shown it on the top."
"When we work with a good architect, the gift we give is always a nice 'detail'."
"Craft is beyond engineering."
"Gravity is the best adhesive [in structures]."
"Gravity is the hidden geometry of space. We have to learn from gravity and see what are the different forms it takes."
"If you are an engineer, you cannot craft."
(Meaning, if you have become a engineer merely by degree, you cannot craft. If you are not crafting, you are not engineering)
Nothing is more exciting than a lecture that brings a smile to your face and tickles your mind long after it's over. SEA City has had a good lecture after a really long time!
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Unfortunately I have gotten so busy that there is no way I can write any longer posts...I have been learning, thinking and there is no more space to sit silently and write... nevertheless, perhaps the posts now on shall take a new turn?
