Shreya Kothawale
SMEF’s Brick School of Architecture | Pune

“In Status Quo- Architecture of Collaboration” 

Architecture does not only reflect its identity through its form but also expresses the cultural, social and emotional identity. It plays the role of carrying positive and negative messages depending on the individual identity. Architectural identity can be associated with the intangible aspects of memory and experiences. Each individual associates the identity reflecting back to their memories or future perspectives. A positive architectural message needs to be understood by the collective whole of society, and with the careful use of meaning and memory, it will carry identification for all. Urban landscapes and the built environment have the power to nurture citizens’ public memory and encompass shared meaning in the form of shared territory and identity. The built environment needs to incorporate elements of social relevance in order to achieve a more successful, and prosperous building. Architecture is perceived as an expression of society and culture at a certain time. In the thesis,” Conflict-zones: Perspectives & Future” the aim was to create an architectural impact in the conflict affected zones by creating an emotional, physical and cultural impact on the affected people of war. The thesis focuses on Jerusalem as a divided city as a key site in territorial conflict. The objective is to analyse how the city has been shaped by ethnic, religious and national conflict and the potential the city has in transforming the territorial conflict. The thesis aims to understand the conflicted city has an arena of intensified conflict, particularly with respect to the role that architecture and the urban fabric play as a setting for everyday activities and events. In the case of Jerusalem, in the presence of a strong religious impact it has on the world, it was necessary to portray this facet through architecture. The proposal looks at creating experiential spaces for individuals to recollect, reconnect and re-evaluate at personal and social level. Here the build form helps in achieving an identity of Jerusalem and the entire scenario of war. The proposal is very contextual and true to its surrounding. However, the form is trying to be subtle in order for the users to reflect upon their own identity through memory. The aim was to create a social cohesion, sense of belonging and security through architecture.