A House of Motifs

Lall said, a motif is not centripetal, it is always centrifugal…it sticks out so as to connect to the ether of the space. His motifs connect much more- childhood, genealogy, traditions, philosophy, family, guests, and the makers of the house and its history. A quest for the joy in making. This house has many a tell-tale. Enter Lall’s House…

Text: Ar. Jinisha Jain
Photography: Courtesy Rohini Nair

As I sat in the naturally lit-up space in the centre of Lall’s office, I looked at the dancing dragon- a suspended exposed aluminium cooling duct coiled with red LEDs - swerving lithely across the length and the silver origami cranes, as they spangled in the luminous space underneath the accented clerestory on the western wall of the basement to his house. The elastic space fostered engaging discussions as I met Architect Ashok B. Lall, the first time. This was to seek some direction on my dissertation. A skewed subject that endeavored to establish the role of intuition in the processes that lead to architectural production. We discussed the ‘joy of beauty’ that comes by way of venerating the absences of people, places and events. In routine and in design, Memories, Tales and Motifs are easy examples.  As a forerunner of sustainable, eco-friendly architecture, I expected a scientific and technical drone, but in my odd countable meetings conferred under this naturally charged space with artificial lights off most times, I have heard Lall often sing or dance in words, thoughts and reflections. Last time he was a quasi-poet and this time an amateur potter. Each time we sat under this receptacle of light and energy to his office, I wanted to go up and see it from the top, but I knew it was part of HIS HOUSE. This time when he showed me his house around, instantly a breezy, lively and earthy affair, I saw the galvanic element that bound it. There was a simplicity that enamored in the presence of nature, eminence of human skills, the clear definition of spaces, and the choice and economy of materials, as there were questions to the standards and merits of architecture paraded in the tableau of styles, brands and energy intensive merchandise which floor and clad most buildings now. But there was more to the house… wizardry of diminutive motifs and symbols - those which celebrated and at times even played pranks on the people, places and events- those present, and those not.