Conference Presentations by Lakshmi Priya Rajendran
Papers by Lakshmi Priya Rajendran
Journal of Architecture and Urbanism, 2021
With rapid changes in urban living today, peoples’ behavioural patterns and spatial practices und... more With rapid changes in urban living today, peoples’ behavioural patterns and spatial practices undergo a constant process of adaptation and negotiation. Using “house” as a laboratory and everyday life and spatial relations of residents as a framework of analysis, the paper examines the spatial planning concepts in traditional and contemporary Iranian architecture and the associated socio-cultural practices. Discussions are drawn upon from a pilot study conducted in the city of Kerman, to investigate ways in which contemporary housing solutions can better cater to the continually changing socio-cultural lifestyles of residents. Data collection for the study involved a series of participatory workshops and employed creative visual research methods, participant observation and semi structured interviews to examine the interlacing of everyday socio-spatial relations and changing perception of identity, belonging, socio-cultural and religious values and conflict. The inferences from the study showcases the emerging social and cultural needs and practices of people manifested through the complex relationship between residents, the places in which they live, and its spatial planning and organisation. For a better understanding of this complex relationship, the paper argues the need for resituating spatiality as a socio-cultural paradigm.
Journal Paper, Sep 2013
The increasingly mobile society of this global era is facing a
plethora of issues pertaining to ... more The increasingly mobile society of this global era is facing a
plethora of issues pertaining to identity constructions studied by various disciplines in social sciences. From an architectural perspective, comprehending identity constructions in urban environment has become increasingly complex as cities are largely characterised by diversity, deterritorialsation and displacement. In this context, the paper argues that identity construction in urban environment needs to be addressed through an interdisciplinary perspective that allows a deeper understanding of the multifarious factors that influences it. These factors and their interrelationships with social, cultural and personal aspects defining identity
processes remain difficult to capture, often due to a parochial disciplinaryapproach to identity studies. Identifying significant concepts in humangeography, social psychology and phenomenology, this paper examines howthese concepts, when synthesized, prove instrumental in studying thecomplexities of identity construction in relation to the urban environment.
The paper explains that meaning, experience and place-relation are threemain aspects which play an important role in understanding the identityconstructions of people. The paper suggest that this triadic interdisciplinary lens enables the constructive bringing together of these three aspects for
identity research, which otherwise remain incoherent or loosely connecteddue to disciplinary boundaries .The paper concludes by highlighting how the integration of relevant concepts from the three disciplines complement each other and offer new disciplinary insights in understanding identity concepts
and theories.
Architecture and Environment, Jan 2014
This paper conceptualizes landscape from a temporal and spatial perspective which emphasizes peop... more This paper conceptualizes landscape from a temporal and spatial perspective which emphasizes peoples’ interactions and activities as an inherent part of understanding the landscape itself. Today, peoples’ interaction with the landscape has become more complex, largely owing to the changing notions of place in contemporary urban living. In this context, the paper examines the role and significance of the landscapes of everyday life in urban environment and delineates how it (re)constructs ordinary human and social meanings that are necessary conditions for our existence. The paper is presented in three sections. In the first section, it discusses the concept of everyday life and its relevance in the contemporary urban living. In the following section, it examines the complexities encountered in urban landscapes today .The third section of the paper discusses how meaningful interaction experienced with everyday landscapes offer valuable insights for addressing the challenges posed by the complexities of urban city living. The paper concludes by highlighting the need for attention towards the largely neglected or overlooked domains of ‘ordinary’ everyday landscape by designer professionals, which plays a crucial role in creating meaningful relationship between people and place.
"This article takes as its context the pollution of speed that is pandemic in contemporary urban ... more "This article takes as its context the pollution of speed that is pandemic in contemporary urban living that is frequently taken to cause a sense of self-displacement and alienation in people. The article argues that an experiential awareness of time enabled through places provides personal restoration for people amidst the alienating urban environments. Discussions in the article stem from a broader research that aims towards understanding everyday urban spatial experiences of international students in Sheffield. Data collection involved in-depth semi-structured interviews of the student participants. Analysis and inferences of the study are utilized to comprehend the notions of time in the participants’ spatial experiences in Sheffield. The conclusion of the article highlights the significance of experiencing time through places and its ability to establish meaningful relationship with the physical world.
"
Proceedings Volume, Symbols in the History of Art and Culture, pp. 68-78., Oct 2013
With individualist and materialist lifestyle flourishing and our cities today enhancing these att... more With individualist and materialist lifestyle flourishing and our cities today enhancing these attitudes, we are facing an invisible threat, what I will refer to as, and ‘self-displacement’. Studies on human settlements throughout history and across cultures demonstrate the subconscious need for the reflection of self in the environment one inhabits either symbolically or physically. In this context, the paper strives to understand the complex notion of identity in the built environment through a case study of an 150 years old housing settlement of the Brahmin community in Triplicane , Tamilnadu India.
Existing harmoniously amidst the rapidly changing environmental images, these settlements offers valuable insights on how built environment manifests, negotiates and adapts to the dynamic concept of identity in urban living. The simple linear form of dwellings (fifty-two families) and hierarchy of open spaces within the settlement are intrinsically linked at various levels to the socio-cultural life of the residents presenting itself as a rich, interesting and compelling case study for a deeper understanding of people and place relationships.
The study employs creative visual research methods, photo documentation, participant observation and semi structured interviews for data collection. Further the spatial design of the house form is comprehensively studied and analysed based on Roger Trancik’s (1) figure-ground theory; (2) linkage theory; and (3) place theory .The inferences of the study will provide significant design guidelines which will facilitate architects, urban designers and planners towards designing environment that encourages people emplacement, creating a meaningful relationship between people and the physical world.
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Conference Presentations by Lakshmi Priya Rajendran
Papers by Lakshmi Priya Rajendran
plethora of issues pertaining to identity constructions studied by various disciplines in social sciences. From an architectural perspective, comprehending identity constructions in urban environment has become increasingly complex as cities are largely characterised by diversity, deterritorialsation and displacement. In this context, the paper argues that identity construction in urban environment needs to be addressed through an interdisciplinary perspective that allows a deeper understanding of the multifarious factors that influences it. These factors and their interrelationships with social, cultural and personal aspects defining identity
processes remain difficult to capture, often due to a parochial disciplinaryapproach to identity studies. Identifying significant concepts in humangeography, social psychology and phenomenology, this paper examines howthese concepts, when synthesized, prove instrumental in studying thecomplexities of identity construction in relation to the urban environment.
The paper explains that meaning, experience and place-relation are threemain aspects which play an important role in understanding the identityconstructions of people. The paper suggest that this triadic interdisciplinary lens enables the constructive bringing together of these three aspects for
identity research, which otherwise remain incoherent or loosely connecteddue to disciplinary boundaries .The paper concludes by highlighting how the integration of relevant concepts from the three disciplines complement each other and offer new disciplinary insights in understanding identity concepts
and theories.
"
Existing harmoniously amidst the rapidly changing environmental images, these settlements offers valuable insights on how built environment manifests, negotiates and adapts to the dynamic concept of identity in urban living. The simple linear form of dwellings (fifty-two families) and hierarchy of open spaces within the settlement are intrinsically linked at various levels to the socio-cultural life of the residents presenting itself as a rich, interesting and compelling case study for a deeper understanding of people and place relationships.
The study employs creative visual research methods, photo documentation, participant observation and semi structured interviews for data collection. Further the spatial design of the house form is comprehensively studied and analysed based on Roger Trancik’s (1) figure-ground theory; (2) linkage theory; and (3) place theory .The inferences of the study will provide significant design guidelines which will facilitate architects, urban designers and planners towards designing environment that encourages people emplacement, creating a meaningful relationship between people and the physical world.
plethora of issues pertaining to identity constructions studied by various disciplines in social sciences. From an architectural perspective, comprehending identity constructions in urban environment has become increasingly complex as cities are largely characterised by diversity, deterritorialsation and displacement. In this context, the paper argues that identity construction in urban environment needs to be addressed through an interdisciplinary perspective that allows a deeper understanding of the multifarious factors that influences it. These factors and their interrelationships with social, cultural and personal aspects defining identity
processes remain difficult to capture, often due to a parochial disciplinaryapproach to identity studies. Identifying significant concepts in humangeography, social psychology and phenomenology, this paper examines howthese concepts, when synthesized, prove instrumental in studying thecomplexities of identity construction in relation to the urban environment.
The paper explains that meaning, experience and place-relation are threemain aspects which play an important role in understanding the identityconstructions of people. The paper suggest that this triadic interdisciplinary lens enables the constructive bringing together of these three aspects for
identity research, which otherwise remain incoherent or loosely connecteddue to disciplinary boundaries .The paper concludes by highlighting how the integration of relevant concepts from the three disciplines complement each other and offer new disciplinary insights in understanding identity concepts
and theories.
"
Existing harmoniously amidst the rapidly changing environmental images, these settlements offers valuable insights on how built environment manifests, negotiates and adapts to the dynamic concept of identity in urban living. The simple linear form of dwellings (fifty-two families) and hierarchy of open spaces within the settlement are intrinsically linked at various levels to the socio-cultural life of the residents presenting itself as a rich, interesting and compelling case study for a deeper understanding of people and place relationships.
The study employs creative visual research methods, photo documentation, participant observation and semi structured interviews for data collection. Further the spatial design of the house form is comprehensively studied and analysed based on Roger Trancik’s (1) figure-ground theory; (2) linkage theory; and (3) place theory .The inferences of the study will provide significant design guidelines which will facilitate architects, urban designers and planners towards designing environment that encourages people emplacement, creating a meaningful relationship between people and the physical world.