Alternatives in urban architecture through materials: Material exploration centre

Abstract

India, most of the cities (urban fringe) have lost or losing their traditional usage of materials & architecture. Cities such as Delhi, Jaipur, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, & Mumbai have lost their essence of traditional architecture in the past. Konkan region which also includes Mumbai as a major city also acts as a financial hub of country, stretches from Palghar (North of Mumbai) to the sindhudurg & some parts of Goa. Although, Konkan has some great traditional architecture, local artisan’s skills & its natural materials, it has not been blended into the urban frame of konkan divisions. Konkan is also associated with a very native local, common craftsmanship of people. Conserving the traditional method & merging or implementing with contemporary architecture into urban fringe, it will not only resemble traditional values but also give a characteristics to a city (urban area) lowering down carbon emissions in a sustainable way. By creating a research centre & a learning hub which not only encourages local building craft but aspire enhancement of traditional & cultural domain through architecture. In this thesis, emphasis has been given to the exploration of materials & how the prevailing condition of urban fringe can be developed with the help of alternative method in architecture & encouragement of participatory design process. This has also originated to provide a platform for urban & traditional artisans (labourers), developers, consultants, green building professionals, researchers, environmentalists, students & common public to allow development & interaction at local, national & international levels & celebrate native building craft. This alternative centre will also generate the awareness about the materials in urban & traditional context and also create healthy scepticism towards what is happening & what should have happened. This centre will also help in conservation of material palette knowledge & its applications also giving a sustainable development in this region.