Nari Gandhi
Encyclopedia
Nari Gandhi was an Indian architect known for his highly innovative works in organic architecture
.
to a Zoroastrian Parsi
family from Bombay, he was one of the six children with three brothers and two sisters.
Nari completed his schooling at St. Xavier's High School, Fort
, Mumbai
, and studied architecture at Sir J. J. College of Architecture
, Mumbai
for five years in early 1950s. He traveled to USA to apprentice with Frank Lloyd Wright
at the Taliesin
and spent five years there. After Wright's death in 1959, Nari left Taliesin and studied pottery at the Kent State University
for two years.
. Nari returned to India
in early 60s. He taught at the M.S. University, Baroda and at the Academy of Architecture, Mumbai
for a brief period. He passionately worked on as many as 30 projects over a period of as many years. He died in a tragic accident in 1993 near Khopoli, while he was on the way to one of his project sites at Kolgaon.
While working in India, Nari continued to work on Wright's ideology of organic architecture
and further developed his own unique style with a subtle influence of local climate and culture. He ceaselessly continued to work on Wright's idea of 'flowing space'. Nari worked without an office and rarely made any drawings for any of his projects. Nari spent a lot of time on his sites and worked closely with the craftsmen and often participated in the construction process himself.
. He used to say that Silence and Void are synonyms of the word God.
Insensitivity towards (his) work would disturb him. He used to get very angry at times. He often had disputes with his clients when they disregarded his ideas and works. He used to also get angry with the workers on his sites at times. It is very unfortunate that this aspect of Nari's life has attained more significance in people's minds rather than his creative genius.
His work reflected more intrinsic element of nature , which affected consciously
Nari rejected conventional ideas and paradigms and introduced his own through his work. Through his work, he started 'rethinking' about standardised practices and set up his own. When you visit any one of his houses, you will notice an evident 're-thinking' of the arrangement of various functions within the house. Each building designed by Nari is as an example of unconventional thinking in architecture.
He created built spaces that remained forever connected to their un-built surroundings allowing sunlight and wind to interact with the inside and animate the space with time. Each house is a series of dialogs between the built and the unbuilt.
Organic architecture
Organic architecture is a philosophy of architecture which promotes harmony between human habitation and the natural world through design approaches so sympathetic and well integrated with its site that buildings, furnishings, and surroundings become part of a unified, interrelated...
.
Early life and education
Nariman (Nari) Dossabhai Gandhi was born in 1934 in SuratSurat
Surat , also known as Suryapur, is the commercial capital city of the Indian state of Gujarat. Surat is India's Eighth most populous city and Ninth-most populous urban agglomeration. It is also administrative capital of Surat district and one of the fastest growing cities in India. The city proper...
to a Zoroastrian Parsi
Parsi
Parsi or Parsee refers to a member of the larger of the two Zoroastrian communities in South Asia, the other being the Irani community....
family from Bombay, he was one of the six children with three brothers and two sisters.
Nari completed his schooling at St. Xavier's High School, Fort
St. Xavier's High School, Fort
St. Xavier's High School, Fort is an English medium school for boys in Fort, Mumbai, India.- History :St. Xavier's was established in 1869 by the Jesuits in the neo-gothic building it occupies to this day. Fragments of its history are visible in the corridors of the primary section in the form of...
, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, and studied architecture at Sir J. J. College of Architecture
Sir J. J. College of Architecture
Sir J. J. College of Architecture is the premier Architecture institution in India. It is located in downtown Mumbai and is affiliated to University of Mumbai.-History:...
, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
for five years in early 1950s. He traveled to USA to apprentice with Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
at the Taliesin
Taliesin (studio)
Taliesin , near Spring Green, Wisconsin, was the summer home of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright began the building in 1911 after leaving his first wife, Catherine Tobin, and his Oak Park, Illinois, home and studio in 1909. The impetus behind Wright's departure was his affair with...
and spent five years there. After Wright's death in 1959, Nari left Taliesin and studied pottery at the Kent State University
Kent State University
Kent State University is a public research university located in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university has eight campuses around the northeast Ohio region with the main campus in Kent being the largest...
for two years.
Career
He also briefly worked for the American Architect Warren Weber. He was a good friend of Bruce GoffBruce Goff
Bruce Alonzo Goff was an American architect distinguished by his organic, eclectic, and often flamboyant designs for houses and other buildings in Oklahoma and elsewhere.-Early years:...
. Nari returned to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in early 60s. He taught at the M.S. University, Baroda and at the Academy of Architecture, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
for a brief period. He passionately worked on as many as 30 projects over a period of as many years. He died in a tragic accident in 1993 near Khopoli, while he was on the way to one of his project sites at Kolgaon.
While working in India, Nari continued to work on Wright's ideology of organic architecture
Organic architecture
Organic architecture is a philosophy of architecture which promotes harmony between human habitation and the natural world through design approaches so sympathetic and well integrated with its site that buildings, furnishings, and surroundings become part of a unified, interrelated...
and further developed his own unique style with a subtle influence of local climate and culture. He ceaselessly continued to work on Wright's idea of 'flowing space'. Nari worked without an office and rarely made any drawings for any of his projects. Nari spent a lot of time on his sites and worked closely with the craftsmen and often participated in the construction process himself.
Personal life
Nari lead a very simple life. He never married and had no children. He was a very religious man and believed in the Zoroastrian way of life. The simplicity of his life reflected in his work. The strong creative force behind his work also shaped the way he looked at ordinary things in life. In the later years of his life, Nari was greatly influenced by the ideas of the Indian philosopher Jiddu KrishnamurtiJiddu Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti or J. Krishnamurti or , was a renowned writer and speaker on philosophical and spiritual subjects. His subject matter included: psychological revolution, the nature of the mind, meditation, human relationships, and bringing about positive change in society...
. He used to say that Silence and Void are synonyms of the word God.
Insensitivity towards (his) work would disturb him. He used to get very angry at times. He often had disputes with his clients when they disregarded his ideas and works. He used to also get angry with the workers on his sites at times. It is very unfortunate that this aspect of Nari's life has attained more significance in people's minds rather than his creative genius.
His work reflected more intrinsic element of nature , which affected consciously
At Taliesin
During the five years that Nari spent at Taliesin, he would spend more time working with his hands on stone and wood rather than on the drawing board. Nari left Taliesin with an ever-lasting mark, which is known amongst fellow apprentices as Nari's rock. The rock remembered after him is actually a huge boulder, which Nari had pulled down from a nearby hill and which, still stands today near the entrance to the Taliesin.Architectural style
Nari's ideologies and works were in sharp contrast to the mainstream architectural thinking. His works display a distinctive organic character. They appear to have evolved as a response to the context, remaining strongly rooted to the site and being very well connected to the surroundings. Nari's works display highly skilled craftsmanship and structural ingenuity. He has stacked earthen pots to construct arches out of them and built stairs out of brick arches. Throughout his works you see extraordinary use of stone, brick, wood, glass and leather.Nari rejected conventional ideas and paradigms and introduced his own through his work. Through his work, he started 'rethinking' about standardised practices and set up his own. When you visit any one of his houses, you will notice an evident 're-thinking' of the arrangement of various functions within the house. Each building designed by Nari is as an example of unconventional thinking in architecture.
He created built spaces that remained forever connected to their un-built surroundings allowing sunlight and wind to interact with the inside and animate the space with time. Each house is a series of dialogs between the built and the unbuilt.
Selected works
- Mountain Lodge for Jal Gobhai at Lonavala
- Residence for Asha Parekh at Juhu, Mumbai
- Farm house for S H Daya at Alibag
- Residence for S H Daya at Versova, Mumbai
- Residence for S H Daya at Madh island, Mumbai
- Residence for Kishore Bajaj at Karjat
- Residence for Rustom Mehta at Korlai, Alibag
- Residence for Shreya and Kishor Dalal at Awas, Alibag
- Mausoleum at Kolgaon near Ahmednagar
- Gateway to mosque at Kolgaon
- Tejani house at Lonavala
- Patel residence at Surat
- Jain house at Lonavala