From portable habitat to recreation site, architecture students show their mettle

Final year students of Architecture College of Chandigarh showed the final display of their unique architectural innovations on Thursday evening. The designs consist of a portable habitat, an institution for physically challenged persons and a recreation site.

The cost-effective temporary shelter, designed by Gurpal Singh Dhaliwal, came into being due to his empathy for displaced people. The shelter is of two modules, and lasts for two or more months according to the materials used. Module A is of 4.5 m X 4.5m and it can be constructed in three hours by two persons. It has the space to provide habitation for four members. Module B is 3.5m X 7.5 m with the freedom to expand as required. The structure is portable and flexible.

"The design of these temporary shelters has come during a time when it is much needed, when people are in fear and are displaced. This design is very practical and cost effective," said Harsh Narang, co-founder and chief architect of Modern India Architects Private Limited.

In a country like India, where the physically challenged are unsupported by the kind of buildings and roads that are constructed, there is a strong need for disabled-friendly building structures. It is this need that inspired Shani Kumar, a physically-challenged person himself, to bring forward a building design that incorporates elements to accommodate the orthopaedically disabled, blind, deaf and persons incapable of using speech.

A deserted 8-acre area in Ludhiana is where Kumar aims for the design to be constructed, and he has given the proposal to Delhi-based NGO Amar Jyoti."The perception of architecture for a blind or any other differently-abled person is based on the touch, fragrance, temperature and shapes of the buildings and paths. My design is non-symmetrical and its area consists of flowers and trees in varying fragrances at different intervals. The whole area is comfortable to traverse on a wheelchair too," said Kumar.

Shewa Sethi has redesigned a deserted building near Indra Prastha, Delhi. The new design aims at transforming the whole area around the building into a recreational area consisting of a multipurpose building with a capacity of 2,000 seats.

"The ideas pertain to the current environmental issues and the students have carried through the process with good guidance. All the designs are extremely good in terms of architecture and are very sensitively derived," said Karan Dev Singh Mankotia, Principal, Indo Global College of Architecture, Abhipur.


Source :  The Indian Express , Chandigarh ; 5th July 2013