The Charles Correa Foundation sought solutions from Kamal Hadker, Chairman and Managing Director, Sterling Engineering Consultancy Services, Mumbai. Hadker is a structural engineer and consultant to some of the largest civil projects in the country. His father, NB Hadker, advised Correa on the Kala Academy.
Statement from Kamal Hadker: “To the best of my knowledge, the initial structural design for this extraordinary building was prepared by Central PWD. In the very first monsoon – after completion of the auditorium structure – Charles received shocking news from Goa. It was reported that the auditorium raft had failed and groundwater had flooded the auditorium. This was the time when Charles called my father for advice. On scrutiny of the available drawings, it was seen that the raft was not designed for any uplift pressure. Perhaps, the design engineers were guided by the soil investigation report, which showed the level of the groundwater table well below the auditorium floor. The important factors like the close proximity of the Mandovi river, the variation in tide levels, and the heavy flow of groundwater (which flows from the hill to the river) through the sandy subsoil – especially during the monsoon – were not taken into account by the CPWD designers. As I recollect, after considering all the pros and cons, a decision was made to lay a new raft over the old damaged raft with additional dead-weight on it (to counteract the uplift pressure). This called for major revisions in the architectural plans. It was not easy when the structural framework was already in place. I am sure Charles worked very hard to make sure that the original design intent was not compromised.
Kala Academy is a monumental structure by any standards – a structure that fascinates every architect, artist, and lover of art. I am shocked to hear that some people are advocating for the “demolition” of this building just because there are some leakages through the roof and signs of corrosion of reinforcement at some random locations. These are probably construction defects – which have occurred as a result of neglect and lack of maintenance. Such defects are easily repairable even now. Needless to say that the repair work should be entrusted only to an experienced and reliable agency.”
