Rāgamālā: a garland of architecture and music

Abstract

Hindustānī classical music is a universe of its own; fascinating, daunting, magical and with unlimited possibility. The same can be expressed about an intentional community. Both have certain frameworks and rules in rendition and design but allow for boundless improvisation and creativity within. This thesis is a multidisciplinary research exploring the possibilities of translating music into architecture. The Sikh holy scripture of Srī Gūrū Granth Sāhib contains poetry that has been classified with rāgas (melodic frameworks) of Hindustānī classical music. As part of the author’s Sikh upbringing, she has been learning Hindustānī classical Indian music from a young age. Music is therefore the backbone of my thesis, inspiring this project so that the design outcome gives an emotional response to users as a beautiful rendition of a rāga would to listeners of Hindustānī classical music. Part of the rich history of Hindustānī music, and the narrative, musical and emotional characteristics of rāgas (melodic framework) in the form of a rāgamālā (a garland of rāgas) has been explored in this thesis. Together, these explorations have led to the composition of a harmonious co-housing community, with particular emphasis on the courtyard as a threshold space, to cater for and encourage people coming together to foster their passion of music, . Co-housing is can be viewed as perhaps a modern, more democratic version of the traditional haveli compounds of aristocrats and noblemen during the Mughal rule in India. The author proposes that the ideas of togetherness and having a similar purpose in life that were inherent to these havelis can be translated into a co-housing community in a way that gives rise to a modern paradise of people from different backgrounds living peacefully in a harmonious musically enriched environment within the context of Auckland city. This thesis touches on several interconnected theories and precedents, historical and modern, as part of and complimentary to the primary investigation. The theoretical make up and technicality of rāgas in Hindustānī classical music have been the driving force, naturally leading to the study of the Laud Rāgamālā Album. Ancient organisational tools and archetypes from the Indian subcontinent have been pivotal, with their symbolic and functional roles influencing the scheme. Central to the thesis is the observation of the patterning and symmetry of the momentous Anūp Talāo, Sri Harmandir Sahib, Mughal gardens, and haveli typology. The more modern design and ideas of Earthsong Eco-Village, the courtyard house, as well as the translation of music into architecture in the Daeyang project amongst others have also motivated this thesis project.