Reimagining Urban Infrastructure:
Mudit Tikmani
Summer Winter School 2023
Tutors: Sankalpa, Neel Jain
Location: Khamir, Bhuj.
Date: 11.12.2023 - 17.12.23
Brief: This course centers on the practical utilization of natural materials like bamboo in urban infrastructure. Students will design and construct a bus stand, while incorporating bamboo, steel, and complementary materials to illustrate the synergy and potential between these elements. The workshop aims to impart precise detailing skills while leveraging load testing applications and models for prototyping before on-site implementation. In a way; it intends to open up possibilities of using natural material in contemporary infrastructure projects.
The work would be done in collaboration with AABHAT - KUTCH.
CEPT University
Life at Khamir
Established in 2005, Khamir, derived from ‘intrinsic pride’ in Kachchhi, nurtures the artisanal traditions of Kachchh district. A collaborative initiative of Kachchh Nav Nirman Abhiyan and the Nehru Foundation for Development, Khamir promotes traditional crafts, cultural practices, and environmental preservation. It fosters a democratic space for stakeholder collaboration, aiming to elevate the cultural value of crafts globally.
Khamir, a craft and resource centre located on the outskirts of the city of Bhuj. The space just wasn’t our designated place of stay, but also served as the ideal location to set up our prototype structure which could serve as a 2-wheeler parking facility at Khamir.
Designed by Neelkanth Chaya, the space is conceptualised as a contemprary village. The organisation, scale and the material palette generate a warm and inviting space. The people who run this place, the food cooked and served, the pride in their craft, each element adds to the richness of the space.
Focus Group: Migrants
The question, “Whom does the city belong to?”, arises as displaced civilians move without ownership. To comprehend migrant living conditions, we visited a settlement on debris-filled lake land. Interacting with residents, we aim to address their needs through thoughtful design.
AABHAT helped us form a brief wherein a bamboo struture was to be designed which could be assembled and disassembled with ease and would have nominal cost. After understanding the basic anthropometric and spatial requirements of the community, we began to design, keeping the primary question on the back of our minds.
Prototyping and Testing
Embarking on the design challenge of a bamboo pavilion with a 1.8 m module and a 3.6 m cantilever at a 22° angle, our process began with crafting small-scale prototype models at a 1:20 scale.
The agenda was to create a half of what, if mirrored, would create a full dwelling at the unservices areas of the city.
Numerous iterations were explored and tested, drawing on collaborative discussions with skilled artisans for valuable insights into structurally sound designs. Employing hands-on techniques and digital tools like Karamba, a Grasshopper plugin, facilitated efficient structural analysis and iteration comparisons.
Deflection: -1.1cm upto -8.2cm
Initial models, understanding the geometry and forces.
Trial 02:
Deflection: -0.49cm
2D geometry, wouldn’t support bamboo construction. Trial 03:
Deflection: -0.58cm upto -0.68cm
This resolved geometry is taken forward for construction.
Displacement -0.49 cm Displacement -8.2 cm Displacement -3.3 cm Displacement -1.1 cm Displacement 0.68 cm Displacement 0.58 cm
Trial 01:
At Hunnarshala
Established post-2001 Kutch earthquake, focuses on empowering communities in habitat reconstruction. Bridging traditional artisanal knowledge with modern science, it emphasizes people-managed processes for sustainable development. Registered in 2003, its board comprises professionals from diverse fields. Hunnarshala, driven by a vision beyond financial gains, engages shareholders committed to its ideals. With around 80 shareholders, it offers expertise in building design, settlement planning, disaster reconstruction, and sustainable infrastructure development.
The upcoming bamboo roof struture at the campus served as a great point of inspiration. Prof. Sankalpa along with Neel Jain and Gaurav Dinodia of AABHAT helped us decode the clues to harness advantageous properties of the material and guided us on how to deal with its imperfections while constructing.
Making
Working with bamboo proved to be challenging at the beigninng but as the workshop progress, we started to understand the behaviour of the same, the tolerances we have to work with and the techniques to be applied.
As a group of 24 students and 3 artisans and endless guidance, we were able to put up 3 varying truss systems connected by purlins. While each system sightly varying line of forces, the assembly of it was achieved by threaded bolts and nuts acting as pin joints across the entire structure.
While reveling in the glory of our recently completed structure, a profound encounter with Kutch Mahila Vikas Sangathan (KMVS) members prompted reflection. Shared life narratives underscored women’s struggles and triumphs, liberating themselves and assisting others. This discourse revealed societal intricacies, emphasizing the fusion of personal growth with societal contribution. The experience deepened our awareness of privilege, a vital aspect in crafting inclusive spaces for those outside our usual spheres of interaction.
