DESIGNING WITH PEOPLE

Course number: S14FA005Credits: 5Fees: ` 20,000 /- Field Visit Expense: approx. ` 4,000/- Dates: 12th May - 31st May 2014Duration: 3 weeksInhabitation: Faculty of ArchitectureNo. of students: 25

Prerequisites: 4th year UG onwards (including PG) (Mandatory for the 1st year M. Arch Sustainable Architecture(17 seats))Schedule & Location: 12th May : CEPT Campus: (10:00 - 18:00) 13th - 31st May: Nirona, KutchStudent Deliverables: A design response and a design intent note based on their experiences.

Architects have often arrived at what are known as ‘alternative processes’ of design that empower, include or guide the inhabitants of a place to design a built environment that is humane, resilient and thus sustainable. Some often argue that these processes always existed in the villages and have mostly managed to fulfil the said objective. Nirona, Kutch is one such village that is rich with history, cultural diversity and indigenous processes resulting into a place that people value. Like all settlements, it also is experiencing the effects of development and is changing at a pace that is thus far unknown to its people.

This Design workshop engages in this place through a design process that is collaborative and inclusive. Apart from arriving at a process that is appropriate, it also expects to raise discussions on the role of an architect as a socially responsible collaborator or a consensus builder.

The students will develop design a response for one place for the village in collaboration with various cultural groups

predominantly involved in agriculture, cattle rearing and crafts. This will be done through a series of individual and group discussions and is expected to result into an interactive exhibition of the design for the entire village. The design processes will be supported through interim exercises and lectures by the local and subject experts on crafts processes, social grouping, biodiversity, water system, communities and agriculture.

Hunnarshaala has implemented building practices that provide livelihood and access for regional artisans and has worked towards environmentally sustainable towns and villages that promote local control and empower the local community through design processes that are inclusive. Khamir works to enable better crafts habitat and to strengthen and promote the rich artisanal traditions of Kutch district and has a vision of a vibrant, sustainable Indian craft sector in which crafts and artisans alike are highly valued by people worldwide.

Neelkanth ChhayaJigna Desai

In Association with Hunnarshaala and Khamir