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10  INSITE ICON  Dean D’Cruz
Master Stroke
An insight into the works of Mozaic Architecture reveals the sensitivities and sensibilities
of Architect Dean D’Cruz towards his clients, environment and society which make him
not only a legendary architect but also a respectable human being
TEXT: Kruti Choksi Kothari | PHOTOS COURTESY: Mozaic Architecture
A true
interest in
architecture
began only
in my third
year of
architecture
when I
began to
look at
buildings
without the
blinker of a
curriculum
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“I believe that the role of an
architect is not just catering to a
client’s brief but guiding them
and at times going against the
brief if our conscience dictates.
For this, we must realise that we
are responsible primarily to the
society and the environment. The
financial ability of a client to build
in a certain way that goes against
these two is no justification to the
design,” these words of Ar. Dean
D’Cruz reflect his sensitivity and
consciousness towards his work.
No, these are not just words! He
means them. Dean’s works are
devoid of any pomp or razzledazzle. It is purely humane.
Something about his places truly
touches the heart and radiates
soulful innocence.
In 1983, Dean graduated from
Sir J. J. College of Architecture,
Mumbai. About his early years,
Dean recalls, “A true interest in
architecture began only in my
third year of architecture when I
began to look at buildings without
the blinker of a curriculum.
Seeing the way people use them,
the way they really look at eyelevel and the way they suffer the
climate.” He further adds, “I was
trained for a year in a small firm
called Architects’ Combine in
Bombay. Here, I probably learned
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more about the essential ethics
than frivolous aesthetics. It is
more essential that our practices
are principled and inclusive rather
than just creating pretty pictures.”
1–2. Dean designs spaces that have a
timeless aura and evergreen freshness to it
In 1985, he joined Architect
Gerard Da Cunha as an assistant
in Goa. Enamored by the soft and
human scale of Goa’s architecture
and lifestyle, he decided to stay.
In 1986, he became a partner
in the firm called Natural
Architecture, working on the cost
effective housing in a very Laurie
Baker approach by using waste
building materials and innovative
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3. Kingfisher Villa has been designed
to create a friendly space, meant for
entertainment and to impress the guests
4. The beach house is made up of stone
piers that house the bedrooms with the
transparent living areas connecting them.
5. Nilaya is an earthy structure built from
stone excavated from the hill behind and
uses a renewable timber (coconut rafters) for
its roofing.
6. The Mahua Kothi Lodge in Bandhavgarh
adopts the spirit of local methods of building
and materials.
7–8–9. Dean ensures to avoid designing
fairly typical looking buildings and interiors
design. In 1994, he expanded the
base of design work, taking on
small hotels, large houses and
institutional work as principal
architect of Dean D’Cruz &
Associates.
In 2001, Dean D’Cruz and
Reboni Saha co-founded their
design firm ‘Mozaic’. The term
‘mosaic’ refers to a design that
is created by the combination
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4
5
of different tiles, each of which
is independently beautiful but
co-existing as a part of the whole
forming an alluring pattern.
The underlying concept is that
richness and maturity of thoughts
comes from the interaction
between different genres of
design like architecture, interior
design and product design.
Today, Dean has become
synonymous to the charming
Goan architecture and its
conservation. He is truly looked
upon as a source of reference for
the upcoming designers. One of
the rare contemporary architects,
Dean has successfully conjured
every facet of architectural designs
such as hospitality, institution,
mass housing, private residence,
conservation, urban planning
as well as eco-spaces. A few
to name, his projects include
Hotel Laguna Anjuna, Hotel
Taj Fisherman’s Cove, Hotel
Sharanam Green, Taj Holiday
Village, Tito’s Beach Retreat, Reni
Pani Jungle Lodge, Flameback
Lodges, D’Penha Residence, Jain’s
Residence, Saldanha’s Residence,
Kingfisher Villa, Mendes’ Villa,
Beck’s Residence, Jhaveri’s
Residence, Pallotti Institute,
Karwar Cathedral, Sheila Factory
and a long list to go on.
Assembling his experience over
the years through the spectrum
of works, Dean elucidates,
“Every type of project has a
different scale, material based
on its location and a varying
style approach based on our
experimentation over the years.
Every five years or so, we switch
styles to avoid getting into a
formula design and also to bring
freshness to our work. The
constant factor is envisioning
an experience without any
architecture in mind and then
putting form and materials to it.”
Having designed for dignitaries
and corporate giants like Alcon
Victor Group, Club Mahindra,
Prestige Group, Taj and many
more, Dean has never opted
for the usual tacky outcomes
as slaves of the sheep – like
timely trends or fashions. His
spaces have a timeless aura and
evergreen freshness. They let
you be engrossed in the context
and surrounding. It is more of
an experience to rejoice than a
sculpture to admire. “The most
striking element in our designs
is the connection with nature
either through the use of earthy
materials or through the visual
interface with the outside,” avers
the architect.
While the hullaballoo of Green
Ratings gains momentum, Dean
opts for a rather noble path. In
his views, while these ratings
are quite new in concept, the
traditional Indian architecture
has always been green. “For
most people, sustainability is
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The constant factor
is envisioning an
experience without any
architecture in mind
and then putting form
and materials to it
about sensible materials and
appropriate technologies. We,
however, urgently need to look at
the social aspects of community
building and equitable design.
We try to include all stakeholders
in the design and execution
process to achieve this,” explains
Dean. He adds, “My philosophy
is to be sensible and as local as
possible by using materials and
building techniques available
close to the site. We also try to
keep the costs minimum and this
works well in introducing self
checks on sustainability.”
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10. Laguna Anjuna has been built in Goan
Portuguese style and with local eco friendly
materials.
11. Samudra Darshan are large villas in Goa
for the Prestige Group
12. The Taj Holiday Village has been
designed to keep the Goan-Portuguese
heritage in sync with tropical rusticity
When inquired about his
views on the present trends
in the field of architecture,
Dean reacts, “While there are
a few inspirational pieces of
architecture being constructed
around the world, the general
present trend is in fancy forms
and flashy materials that
make good photographs. Very
little architecture today truly
addresses some desperate social
needs.” He continues, “Material
manufacturers now determine a
good deal of our choices and this,
at times, reduces the efforts made
in detailing or refinement, relying
mostly on the manufacturers
palette of choices. This leads to
fairly typical looking buildings
and interiors where, at times, the
architect’s intervention is just in
space moulding!”
Not only as an architect but
also as a responsible human
being, Dean’s efforts go beyond
the tangible boundaries of his
practice. He is an active member
of the Goa Foundation involved
in fighting environmental issues.
He is also involved in the Green
Goa Works which undertakes
the environmental cleaning
and environmental awareness
projects. Moreover, Dean is a
member of the Gubbi Group,
an informal group of architects
concerned with the issue of
sustainability and freely sharing
thoughts and realisations on it.
Having been a part of the State
Level Committee for making of
the Regional Plan 2021 for Goa,
his current emphasis is on the
urban interventions, sustainable
principles and conservation.
He is presently engaged in
self-made proposals for lowcost housing, senior housing,
education, healthcare along
with village based planning and
design interventions. While
Dean believes in his own journey
as his teaching, he feels free to
share his knowledge with the
newer generation of designers as
the Visiting Faculty at the Goa
College of Architecture.
Eager to share with equally
inclined people, his thirty
seven odd years of architectural
experience from an enthusiastic
student to at times a frustrated
professional, Dean has recently
downsized his office considerably
to allow him a renewal of
direction. “Far too often, we
zoom along in our practice and
fail to see the changing needs
and approaches. Only a pause
can give us the space and time
to look back at where we have
come from and where we intend
to go,” adjourns Dean D’Cruz
with his ever promising smile and
bright eyes.
•
Mozaic explores the prospects of
symbiotic growth of its clients with
nature and encourage sustainable
practices in architecture as well as
industrial products.
[email protected]
www.mozaic.in
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