AR3596- Directed Research Projects

Faculty: Aditya Singh

The project focuses on various traditional craft practices in the region of Kutch, practiced by the local communities here, and their applications- existing or possible, in architecture. Kutch has a unique culture, density and richness of community-based traditional crafts. However, many of these face extinctions due to various market pressures, including changing demand patterns and lifestyles, and coming of mass-produced cheaper products. Efforts have been made to revive and sustain these crafts through various governmental and non-governmental agencies (Khamir and Hunnarshala). This project explores the existing building crafts present in the traditional dwellings, and additionally, possible applications of other non-building crafts in the realm of built habitat as various functional or aesthetic elements. It will include documentation of selected crafts, including historical trajectories, resource cycles, and any design modifications- in close association with the artisans, to develop possible applications in contemporary buildings as functional or aesthetic elements. Students will be required to travel to the workplaces of the artisans, and also document old structures with craft significance. The final thesis will produce documentation of existing craftsmanship in the traditional community-based architecture and of other crafts with possibility of application in contemporary contexts