Urban Ooru

Flooring is a major feature that sets the mood of a home. The selection of the right kind of flooring involves thinking at multiple levels - the most important being the kind of aesthetic disposition that one has, besides durability, safety, hardiness, and the tactile feel of the floor. While imported marble, wooden floors and vitrified tiles are quite popular, there is a growing trend of using Indian marble, granite and other stones. Types of Indian Stones Stones available in India can be classified broadly into the following categories: 1). Marble; 2). Granite; 3). Sandstone; 4) Limestone; 5). Slates and Quartzite. Most stones go by the name of its source. Marble: Most marble comes from Rajasthan followed by Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. The current varieties from Rajasthan include Rajnagar Marble and Abu Black. Gujarat produces a variety called Ambaji White while Madhya Pradesh yields the popular Katni marble. Granite: Most granite quarries are found in Tamil Nadu, A...

Most of us write technical articles when we have answers to a problem. Usually, technical articles will have an introduction, the description of a problem and then the possible solutions. Good articles will even give a road map of how solutions could be prioritised and put into action. However, this article is definitely not technical and will raise more questions that it can answer. It is the description of a dilemma – that of a mainstream architect in a metropolitan city. It is also a dilemma that most of us face – irrespective of our backgrounds and the trades that we follow; we suppress these thoughts to the back of our minds. It has been almost two decades since I graduated as an architect. My interest has always been in the area of environmentally contextual architecture along with an interest in social housing. While my first job as an architect was to engage in a tribal housing project with a participative approach, I gradually got involved in other projects that were mor...