Architects of Baroda–Vijay Matai

This article was published in Indian Architect and Builder in February 1997

Vijay Matai, A Baroda based architect, Graduated from MSU, Baroda and a Post graduate from the Academy of Architecture at London, has a valid point to state. He says, "All architectural work should have an in built consistency and its own character. Buildings should complement their surroundings within and without." Matai believes that architects should be as responsible as any other professional and are not subject to extra pressure in this era of Developerism. "There have been limitations in any age but within that resistance one has to try and go beyond one's own limits. The situation is never perfect and even then there are architects who do exceptional work in these situations. Some architects are naturally talented and creative, some are lucky. But whenever the opportunity presents itself, one should do something for his own satisfaction and creativity - Other limitations will always be there but within that resistance one has to try and go beyond one's own limits." As if trying to prove his point, Matai expresses his point through his architecture. Most of his buildings, except when he purposely makes them that way, are never pompous and dominating.

His buildings establish a firm relationship with the terra firma seemingly growing out of the ground. Creating a friendly atmosphere and inviting the onlooker, his buildings deftly negotiate the threshold between the inside and the outside. His peculiarity is in the way he weaves some "outside" within the overall building form by the way of a courtyard or a garden. His distinctive sense of the human scale asserts itself inside the building in terms of overlapping levels. This visually connects the spaces and gives a sense of proximity to the people occupying the building.

After he has achieved this basic quality in a building, he is open to the question of "style". "Stylistic preferences are governed by various aspects like client's preferences, personal preferences, location etc. An architect should be able to achieve a suitable and proportionate whole. Personally I like to look forward and evolve into a futuristic direction rather than pick up elements from the past. It is essential to develop a system and set the goals in terms of the quality of the environment, image and spaces one would like to achieve. A general discussion within the staff members with regard to the client's needs, aspirations, our own perceptions is generally discussed first and subsequently alternatives are developed." He says.

For this particular house for Mr. Subhash Khurana at Baroda, Matai was given complete design freedom. In Matai's words the brief of the client was "The family consists of four members. The client is a builder and civil contractor for the past twenty years. It was the desire of the client that the entrance vestibule should be such that all vertical movement should be from there without disturbing the other activities. He gave complete freedom as far as the building form and the elevation was concerned. He was more particular about the specifications and detailing."

While designing, due to the less width of the plot, Matai has tried to achieve a sense of depth visually, by using diagonal and curved surfaces. The curved surfaces on the exterior and the stark white finish, triangular pergola elements and the railings are reminiscent of the American architect Richard Meier. To this Matai shrugs and says "Maybe." He adds, "Due to the limitations of site, the objective was not to create a very massive solid structure, so that spaces such as the garden etc. do not seem cramped and hence external features have certain slender elements and diagonal curved surfaces and also the use of only one colour to give the exterior a neat and clean effect along with a certain degree of porosity."

Inside, the spaces are linked in a way so as to exploit the diagonal thereby achieving a balance in the interrelationship of spaces. Had it not been for the diagonal, the depth-width ratio would have seemed out of proportion. The juxtaposition of the diagonal on the plan also aids in visually separating the family spaces from the public spaces. Another compelling feature in the design are the double height spaces which visually connect the two floors. This also helps in regulating the temperature of the house. He says, "All spaces of general use like - formal living, family living, dining, staircase, study/bar etc. have larger volumes and are visually continuous, but at eye level they don't overlook. This was also to maximise human comfort as all these areas are connected to the staircase cabin which is located to exhaust the hot air."

He uses various elements like the staircase or the triangular column frame to lend the Interior some richness like the exterior. He says, "The interior too has certain elements and materials to enhance the internal spaces and their continuity, so that the width is emphasized in relation to the depth of the structure."