In the constantly evolving realm of architecture, there are some whose creations transcend ordinary structures and become everlasting representations of culture, craftsmanship, and human connection. One such genius is Ar Bijoy Jain, an Indian architect who emerged from the busy streets of Mumbai to the international stage of innovative design. Bijoy Jain graduated from the University of Washington in St.Louis with a Master’s in Architecture in 1990 and later worked in London at Richard Meier’s office, immersing himself in diverse cultural landscapes. Returning to India in 1995, Bijoy Jain embarked on a transformative journey after creating Studio Mumbai, a sanctuary where architecture blends effortlessly with culture and craftsmanship. His influence extended through teaching roles at Yale University, the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, and Università Della Svizzera Italiana, imparting wisdom to budding architects worldwide.
Creation of a Fluid Workspace
At the core of Ar Bijoy Jain’s practice lies Studio Mumbai, a dynamic workspace that operates more than just as an architectural firm. The practice comprises a diverse collective of architects, artisans, craftsmen, and thinkers. Jain emphasizes his practice as something that taps into making things. His ideologies of a workspace make it into an agile, fluid, malleable structure that expands and contracts to the rhythms of nature and seasons, changing and adapting along the way. Jain developed this workspace as a laboratory for iterative experimentation and research. These experimentations may not necessarily look for a specific answer, they are to observe without intentions and enter into a dialogue of testing, researching, and exploration.The studio is a space where creation has the utmost importance, and ideas are explored through the production of models, objects, sketches, material studies, and drawings, all with a hands-on approach to understanding the local context. Major projects by Bijoy Jain and Studio Mumbai include Copper House, Ganga Maki Textile Studio factory building, and Yamashiroya Community Centre. At present, Studio Mumbai is creating projects across nations, working solely with clients who appreciate and devote the necessary time and that they would be collaborating with a group of regional artisans.
Jain has exhibited his work worldwide. Notable venues include the Alvar Alto Symposium, the Architectural League of New York, and the Canadian Centre for Architecture where his project archives are held. Additionally, Jain’s works were exhibited in 2016 at the Venice Architecture Biennale and in 2017 at the Chicago Architecture Biennale. The Danish Architecture Centre in Copenhagen hosted his monographic exhibition “Between the Sun and the Moon,” which explored the working methods employed by his architectural practice, Studio Mumbai. His latest collection of structures and furniture made from natural materials has been exhibited at the ‘Breath of an Architect’ exhibition at Paris’s Fondation Cartier Gallery.
Expanding the Notions of Architecture
Bijoy Jain puts forward the notion of architecture as being more than just buildings. For him, architecture is in between things. It is primarily about creating a space, which means everything one does with that space falls under the umbrella concept of architecture. This would imply that everything ranging from music, paintings, and literature will eventually be included in architecture. Jain does not regard architecture as a confined space; rather, he sees it as a cellular entity that transcends past bricks, glass, and steel, which are simply materials used to construct things. Architecture therefore describes an equilibrium of the inside and outside.
Craftsmanship and Collaboration
Jain’s regard for traditional construction methods and craftsmanship is evident in his work. Jain disagrees with the conventional divide between artisans and architects and instead promotes a collaborative atmosphere where ideas arise from shared knowledge and dialogue. His projects are completed through an iterative process in which expert artisans closely collaborate with him to precisely construct each component. This method not only gives his art an authentic experience but also strengthens his ties to the region and community. Studio Mumbai, therefore functions as a stage for such collective thought exchange among different professionals, including architects and artisans, each bringing their unique perspectives to the discussion.
Sustainability and Regional Sentimentality
Bijoy Jain is well-known for his material sensibilities and his approach that bridges the gap between modernism and vernacular construction. Jain uses local materials, labour, and expertise, drawing from the traditions skills, and building techniques in his projects. However, in an interview, Jain asks to scratch out everything one might have read about him about his use of natural materials, rooted design language, tradition and modernity, and his methods for sustainability. For him, these statements are limiting and state his methods as sustaining himself and his environment. Jain redefines these statements as just using what is readily available. Jain further emphasizes his purpose, which is to move lightly. Resources accessible around the building could reduce the distance and make it feel more intimate. There is an appreciation for the regional designs being simply sentimental. Rather than considering it as an approach to saving a craft or saving the world, he views it as being more cost-effective in all aspects, including funds, energy, and human resources.
Bijoy Jain’s architectural endeavours reveal a genuine dedication to going beyond the basic construction, seeking instead to create places that connect with cultural authenticity and creativity, instilling the notion of ‘presence’. Through Studio Mumbai, Jain continues to push the frontiers of architecture, inspiring future generations with his ideas, with an aspiration for works to have the potential to leave something behind that enables other cultures to overlay on and use as a life source as a place to nourish. Rather than trying to transform the world, Jain’s purpose is to highlight the infinite possibilities inherent in architectural expression, highlighting how thoughtful planning can enrich the human experience. His method challenges existing systems not through opposition but by identifying gaps and fostering chances for upward movement and progress. In doing so, he designs physical environments while encouraging a spirit of curiosity and exploration that extends well beyond the boundaries of conventional design.
Bibliography:
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Wainwright, O. (2024) From shamanic huts to papier-mache chairs: The Cosmic Creations of Architectural mystic Bijoy Jain, The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2024/jan/12/cosmic-creations-architectural-mystic-bijoy-jain-mumbai (Accessed: 23 March 2024).
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