26/08/2021
(22)
When I was in school, I read something by Ruskin Bond that has stayed with me all these years. I don't remember it verbatim, but here is the essence.
Somewhere in the mountains, a young man once remarked, 'The view is terrific, but the trees get in the way!' and so Ruskin Bond exclaimed, 'Oh! But the trees are the view!'
While working on Amrit Bhawan, we added a new floor on top to increase the number of rooms. But it was pushed back from the front of the building in order to avoid disturbing the facade as well as to humanize the scale.
This provided us with the opportunity to design rooms with large, shaded terraces overlooking the river. But here's an interesting thing that happened. These terraces are at tree top level, which means that one is a constant spectator to the rhythmic dancing of the seasons. A changing landscape of leaves and birds and mango flowers turning into fruit! Isn't that lovely?
And so I am reminded again.. the trees don't block the view of the river, for it is the trees that make the view! :)
all pc
