Dean D’Cruz, co-founder and principal architect of Mozaic writes about his learnings from a three-decade long tryst with the landscape of Goa and the way in which its biodiverse terrain became the foreground of a practice in environmentally responsible architecture.
It has been 32 years since I came to Goa. In the beginning, I worked for Gerard D’Cunha and in time entered into a partnership with him which was then called Natural Architecture. This was interesting and a change for me; since my college days I was intrigued by technology, which I loved. Earlier, as a student of architecture, I was inspired by Mies, and Corbusier for their mastery of forms. But then slowly, I began to appreciate the level of detailing in the work of architects like Gaudi. Gerard had worked closely with Laurie Baker who was always very hands-on, maintained a down-to earth approach to architecture where one actually builds oneself! So, it was a very interesting learning – this integration of technology and the Baker-approach to architecture. As I grew, I was influenced more by the humanistic approach to architecture rather than the final sculptural form.
Initially the practice was experimental. Back in the day, the word ‘sustainable’ was not yet in the ‘architectural dictionary’ and it was really just about being direct in your approach. I realise now that maybe that mind-set that resulted in such simple design solutions. Influenced by Baker’s principles, for years now, we have tried to maintain an approach which is direct, simple and low-cost. When people talk about sustainability, one immediately thinks of technology, and new materials. But I think it is more about the simplest way to keep things low-cost. A mix of these approaches was our way of perceiving good design.
Mozaic came up much later into the practice in partnership with Reboni Saha, who is a product designer from NID Ahmedabad. As a collaboration between an architect and a designer, we would look at the broader aspects of how interdisciplinary practices could offer holistic solutions. We believe that all design disciplines have a common thread and that is how we decided to name the practice ‘Mozaic’- a collection of different pieces in a design puzzle that we could bring together in some form. Our expertise here is to offer a comprehensive solution.
BUILDING LIGHTLY
For me context is not necessarily responding to the building next door but responding to the needs of the people and the project. It does not necessarily have to be local in terms of a visual language. It could be a subtle gesture of connecting the inside and outside for one. It is important to me that the building is fluid without being functionally fixed but also to be able to see how it can morph over time. The fact that Goa is among the rich biodiverse spots in the world, one does feel the need to connect with the outdoors and create buildings that are as transparent as possible. In our practice we strive to keep this in mind. We try to incorporate the outdoors into the indoors, with a limited footprint.
Most of the traditional architecture that one sees in Goa often does not perform well climatically. I feel like a hybrid response to some of the characteristic features of traditional architecture is critical in creating a space that is climatically sound. As designers, we often tend to slip into trying things without much realisation of the consequences. I think it is very important to assess one’s building post-occupancy and see how much of what we have tried has actually paid off.
When a client approaches us, we try to get behind their façades as much as possible and understand their true aspirations. I think it is fundamental to understand the client as a person and their real needs. Once you have achieved this, you try and offer as many possibilities as feedback.
Working on jungle lodges was in fact a new revelation for us because here we had an opportunity to change the typical approach to hospitality of serving and being served. We explored a system where this does not happen anymore, and you are at par with the people serving you in a way. I think traditionally it is in the field of hospitality that people talk of indulgence, and luxury. Breaking down these conventional hierarchies was relieving because now hotels felt like homestays where one had to actually respect the host in a way. I think that it is very important to provide this dignity to people who work for and with you.
PEOPLE
There is a famous Australian Architect who said, “Buildings don’t interest me anymore, people do.”, and I think it is extremely important for every architect to realise this eventually. Architecture is about creating a safe haven for people to interact in. At the end of the day your building is just a backdrop for human interaction. Very often we look at a house in isolation while in a larger context it is actually a conglomeration of houses that need to respond to each other. You can see this happening in local Goan villages- the little streets with people in the ‘balcao’ in front, the chapel forming a focal point for the village to gather – there is a traditional response. Today with the way urbanisation is taking place, everything seems so defined.
I think it is very important that we recreate these opportunities of interaction drawing from the past like the slow food movement and slow city movement. Unfortunately, what is happening today with gated communities and development is a sorry state of affairs – they are disconnecting people by creating insulated communities with a limited diversity of people. It is important that integration is encouraged wherein people actually get a chance to meet new people, understand new cultures and realise there is value in diversity. A demographic change is inevitable, but it is important to maintain public platforms for dialogue.
RESEARCH IN PRACTICE
We are now definitely looking to get involved in projects that could make a big social difference whether it is in the field of education, or healthcare because these are areas which are least looked upon. We need to change this paradigm of what is good architecture from being visual to effective. Our awards do not have the rigour of Aga Khan or Currystone which involve visiting or assessing projects in-depth. I love the Aga Khan projects and the fact that they have such great community contributions. I look at architecture not as isolated buildings but as community efforts.
LEARNING(S)
I feel it is time for architects with substantial experience to give back their learnings in some way because there is a real drop in the standard of education. I think professional practices need to step in and maybe accommodate a longer internship period wherein part learning (skill) happens in the college and part of the learning (implementation) is hands-on in good offices. Today, we see an extremely superficial approach to architecture with the speed of execution demanded from the practice. That said, the youth are energetic and have great potential in their hands – with new tools of software for design, prototyping and assessing knowledge from around the world. These are great assets that we did not have but must be used carefully.
While specialisation in architecture is reaching new levels of proficiency, there can still be possibilities of a fresh interpretation and I think the idea of brainstorming on bigger platforms, where architects could meet, and discuss projects is essential. At the moment architects are extremely possessive about their own projects and don’t like criticism or analysis beyond a point. The print media also needs to change that in certain ways – they need to be able to dissect buildings critically and analyse them in a constructive way. This can really help people in their design process and be more sensitive and careful in the future, because what is important to realise at the end of the day is that our work impacts a lot of lives. Thus, as a fraternity, it is important to realise the serious nature of our interventions and our responsibilities to make a positive difference in people’s lives⊗
DEAN D’CRUZ leads Mozaic – an architecture and design firm based in Goa. After graduating from Sir J.J. College of Architecture, Bombay, Dean joined architect Gerard Da Cunha as an assistant in Goa. Enamoured by the soft and human scale of Goa’s Architecture and lifestyle he decided to stay. In 1986, he became a partner in the firm Natural Architecture where he worked on cost effective housing through a Laurie Baker approach using waste building materials and innovation in design as well as construction technology. In 1994, he expanded base of design work, taking on small hotels, large houses and institutional work as principal architect of Dean D’Cruz & Associates. In 2001 he co-founded Mozaic with Reboni Saha, a product designer from NID. Mozaic was established with creative collaboration between disciplines as the core ethic. Having been part of the State Level Committee for the making of the Regional Plan 2021 for Goa, his current emphasis is on environmental architecture, urban interventions, sustainable principles and conservation.
