http://web.mid-day.com/news/city/2004/december/99252.htm
Building has the design of a charkha
By: Gigil Varghese
December 12, 2004
The new Textile Committee building in Prabhadevi, next to Tata Press
might be the only symbol of the bygone days of the mill era in Mumbai.
The new building, designed by architect Hafeez Contractor is in the form
of a charkha.
“We wanted the architecture to reflect the tradition of Indian textiles,
so the charkha, the atrium is the nucleus of the building which connects
to all the different activities in the building similar to the charkha
and the fabric emitting out,” said Contractor.
The atrium structure is in the essence a steel frame and it is in the
form of a crown. It symbolises the charkha with eight spokes and the
same is replicated on the floor.
Recalling the way it was installed Pushyamitra Londhe, the associate
architect for the project said, “It took two months to install the
atrium. It was lifted from 70 feet height and weights 22 tonnes.”
With the spokes in the form of black and grey granites place next to
each other on the floor it gives a spinning effect to the charkha. The
spokes have a thin aluminum wire running through the spokes, symbolising
the thread.
The six floor building houses the Laboratory and research centre of the
Textile Committee in addition to the administrative, accounts, seminars
and conference