Rethinking The Built Environment
On Wednesday, OP Jindal Global University launches Jindal School of Art and Architecture
Caption-L-R Dr. Annapurna Garimella, Art historian; Prof AGK Menon, Architect, Urban planner, Conservation Architect; Prof.(Dr.) Yasmeen Arif ,Social Anthropologist, Delhi School of Economics; Rupali Gupte, Architect, Curator, Artist, SEA, Mumbai; Prof.(Dr) Jaideep Chatterjee, Vice Dean JSAA; (Dr.) Anooradha Iyer Siddiqi ,Architectural Historian, Columbia University, New York and Dr Thomas Mical, Dean Designate, JSAA at the launch of JSAA in New Delhi.
With the aim of becoming one of the foremost schools of learning of the visual, material and built environments, O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) has launched the Jindal School of Arts and Architecture (JSAA).
A global panel of Art Historians, Sociologists, Social Anthropologists, Architectural Historians & Architects engaged in an intense and lively debate on the question, “When is Architecture” at the launch of the school in the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
JSAA essentially offers two courses to the students- BA (Hons.) in Built Environment Studies, a three-year design program which is unique to India and the professional five-year program, Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch). Delivering the welcome address, Professor (Dr) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice Chancellor, JGU said, “I am proud to announce the launch of Jindal School of Arts and Architecture, JGU’s seventh school. With this, we have stepped into the realm of study of architecture, design and the built environment. As this school evolves, we will draw upon the aspects of other disciplines offered by the university and will focus on international engagement from both faculty and student perspective.”
“The JSAA is not just another school and its global faculty will reflect the vision and passion to build a school which is different in its approach. I am sure that this collection will help the school to grow from strength to strength and achieve desired results,” he added.
Defining fine-grain texture of the fabric of everyday life as the locus of understanding design, Professor Thomas Mical, Dean-Designate, JSAA underlined the importance of ‘studio culture’ for design schools in his inaugural address.
“We have a brilliant opportunity to make a new design school and rethink conventional ways to transform architectural education in ways which are truly inclusive and interdisciplinary in nature. There is a global mandate for sustainability which is spread across design spectrum. JSAA is bestowed with global faculty and pedagogy and promises to design not just solutions but a value system which future generations could feel proud of.” he added.
