LIK – 2021-22 ‘SHRUJAN’ - THREADS OF LIFE BHUJ,KUTCH,GUJARAT
INDEX Introduction: • Location • History of Bhuj • Building typology • Settlement pattern • Vegetation flora About community: • 12 community • Types of embroideries • Details motifs of embroideries About site: • Justification of site selection • Infill criteria • About shrujan • History of shrujan
• Information and workmanship of shrujan • Site analysis • Soil and foundation data Designs • Concept and vegetation detail • Siography • Others Existing building details • Explanatory photographs
• Floors plans • Analytical layers of floor plans • Structure and seismic data • Service details • About elevations • Sections and material detail • Photograph panel • Onsite worked data • Sketching panel Bibliography Acknowledgment
INTRODUCTION Bhuj, a city in Gujarat, western India. It is known for its centuries-old buildings, many of which were damaged in the 2001 earthquake. It is known for its small, meandering streets, palaces and temples. It not only has numerous places of interest within the city, but also villages around it are very famous for their traditional handicrafts and embroidery. A small town, located 8km southeast of Bhuj, Bhujodi is one of the significant textile and craft hubs of the region, and an authentic draw for the tourists.
BHUNGA- A BUILDING TYPOLOGY Bhungha, a building typology recognised in Bhujodi with high earthquake risk, constructed keeping in mind Bernoulli’s effect. The construction was done on basis of Wattle and Daub technique. The exterior of wall has Mauram lipan which creates vast difference between the inner and outer temperature. For ornamentation of the walls, hand embroidery is done through mirror. Mud, thatch, wood and sometimes stone is used as its primary materials. Sloping wooden roofs are seen here.
WHAT IS INFILL ARCHITECTURE? Infill architecture usually refers to the re-dedication of undeveloped land to new construction, and it circumscribes a variety of scales, approaches and typologies. Points covered under this type of architecture are: Historic style, Heritage Conservation, Planning and Regulation, Urban Design, Environmental Sustainability, Ecological design, Connection to the Past, Connection between Context and Architecture.
SHRUJAN- A THREAD OF LIFE Shrujan (meaning Creativity in Sanskrit) is a not-for-profit organization working since 1969 with craftswomen in Kutch to revitalize the ancient craft of hand embroidery. Hand embroidery has been practised by women in Kutch as a form of personal expression and used as a symbol of community identity for centuries. Shrujan was among the first to recognize its potential as a practical means to enable craftswomen to earn a home-based, sustainable and dignified livelihood. Today it is a grassroots movement of craftswomen as well as a socially motivated enterprise. It has shown that a traditional and personal craft can transcend local boundaries and be appreciated, cherished and seamlessly integrated into urban lifestyles. Its craftswomen are proud to use the skill in their hands to stand tall on their feet. Their passion for excellence is what makes Shrujan embroidery like no other, anywhere in the world.
Shrujan presenting the work of these communities for a long time was was constructed in 1969 and destroyed in 2001 earthquake and re-built in 2004 under Indigo Architects. The building has two approaches- one directly connected to the state highway and the other through an internal road.
SHRUJAN- A THREAD OF LIFE The village famous for it’s embroidery is operated by women, and this is how it connects the village to Shrujan. The Shrujan campus is situated in Bhujodi, 10 kms from the city of Bhuj in Kutch. In contrast to the arid desert vegetation around, one encounters a well tended orchard with varied fruit trees reminiscent of the ‘wadis’ or the orchards in the south-western region of Kutch. The client brief demanded a sustainable architectural response taking into account seismic stability and the harsh desert climate. The building is yellow ochre in colour depicting the desert and a single wall painted in madder red depicting the earthen pots. Shrujan plays a small role in empowering the women and binds the communities together. It supports regional communities by providing them a platform to showcase their work at an international level. Building has expansion joint details due to Bhijodi and nearby area being an earthquake prone zone. It also has provision of air shafts, south and west facing for ventilation due to desert in surrounding. Coconut, Chikoo, Bottom Palm, Neem, Malabar Plum, Fig Tree and Hibiscus are the trees surrounded in this area. After collapse of Shrujan, the client had 3 requirements in mind: 1) Climatic conditions: Wind waves from sand dunes were quite heavy due to which cuts the mass of the building. Wind towers facing south and south west direction were placed for wind catchment and located where retail and workspace pinpoint (maximum footfall). 2) Seismic stability: The foundation being pad footing runs beam grid which are inverted. The building was divided into 5 parts having expansion joints. 3) Sustainability: The points following are Free air quality, material, natural light view and surroundings. Symmetry, Axis, Emphasis, Movement and Hierarchy are the principles followed here. The spaces were designed with a good functional connectivity, with all climatic environment and light taken in consideration. Heirarchachy of spaces were clearly visible with approachable pathways and staircase. The entrance had a ramp being the main approach which bifurcated all the spaces. The first view of Shrujan having a large window of a retail store, which clearly displayed the mannequins inside and gained the attention of the tourists. The spaces inside were designed in such a way that the first block which was a public area, had a retail store along with the waiting area having mezzanine flooring in the west direction. While the east of the building had the admin block being a semi-private area. In between had the work space which was restricted for all the tourists, totally dedicated to the communities that worked there.
The three blocks were aligned in a manner that it created a courtyard in the centre of the blocks combined. The courtyard solved the climatic and light conditions, giving the building a proper ventilation and enough sunlight. Keeping climate in mind, the south facing wall was designed with massing and windows with small openings and grills to cut the harsh sunlight. Maximum north, soothing light spread all over the building due to the courtyard in the centre. The windows were pivoted in order to control the sunlight, the window could be opened as much as wanted per requirement. Cylindrical windows and rectangular horizontal slit windows were given for light purpose and to let all the warm air out. The Admin Area was well managed with good ventilation and functional approach. The Workspace had three divisions one being a designing team, second having a team that created pattern on the fabric, and the last one was the stitching team which gave the final finishing to all the clothings. The workspace continued on the first floor too having designing team working digitally and stores. The terrace had spaces defined specially for rain water harvesting. All the tree blocks were constructed having inverted beams and the auditorium had a sloping roof. The rain water collected on the terrace was brought down to underground water collecting tank with a capacity of 1 lac litre, right below the courtyard. The water collected in the tank during the rainy season was preserved and used in other seasons. Only when the water from the tank was finished, water from the bore was used. They have no privilege of panchayat or corporation water set-up due to which they had to have private means to get water. A manhole outside and inside the site is connected to all the drainage water pipes. Building materials used were sun-dried bricks and plaster. Flooring had a polished kota and nonpolished kota. Mezzanine floor had wooden flooring, stonecrete. Admin area had vitrified tiles. The courtyard had brick flooring with circular pattern while the parking had bricks with linear pattern. Site having exsisting bhunga and staff quarters near the building.
Embroidery is the art or process of forming decorative designs with hand or machine needlework, the skilled technique of embellishing and decorating a garment by hand. Embroidery was practiced by communities, different communities prepared different embroidery. There are total of 12 communities:1. Aahir: location are Pranthad Morbi Dhaneti Ranta Samrasar. Motifs:- Dhunga, Tunaaro phool, Sedh phool, Chaatudiyo phool and Mochiya phool. 2. Dhebariya Rabari: Location is North Western parts of India (Kutch, Rajasthan). Motifs:- Tree of life, Half moon, Floral animal, Bird. 3. Sodha:location is Jadeja-Kutch, Sodha (from Sindh) Motifs:- Pakko, Neran and Huramjee Bharat. 4. MeghwadMaru: Location is Tharpakar (Sindh) war refugees. Motifs:- Soof, Khaarak, floral and leaf. 5. Meghwadmarwada: Location is Maarwaad, Rajasthan. Motifs:- Khudi-Tebha, Kambiro, Pakko Mukko, Kachcho Kharak. 6. Jat: Location is originally from Medina, Arabia, now in Juraand Sumrasr. Motifs:- Jat-Garaasiya, Jat-Fakiraani, Jat-Haajiyaani, Jat-Daneta. 7. Soof: Location is Kutch, Banaskantha. Motifs:- Aari 8. Mutva: Location is originally from Sindh now in Banni area of Kutch. Motifs:- Chopad, Pakko-Pakko, Dhoran, Kaaro Bhaarat, Pakke Jo Golado. 9. Halepotra: Location is Maarwaad, Rajasthan. Motifs:- Khudi-Tebha, Kambiro, Pakko-Mukko, Kachcho Khaarak 10. Jadeja: Location is Jadeja Kutch, Sodha, (from Sindh). Motifs:- Pakko, Neran, Huramjee Bharat. 11. Harijan: They migrated from Rajasthan. They live in Banni area. Motifs:- Mirror sparing, Buttonhole Stitch 12. Mochi: Location is Kutch, Banaskantha. Motifs:- Aari, Floral tree of life Peacocks, Parrot trellis.
CLIMATE: • • • • • • • • • • •
Hot and Dry Climate 49°C Max. Summer temperature 19.5°C Max. Winter temperature 12.45 kmph Wind movement 912 mm Rainfall With an average of 30.4°C May is the warmest month and January has the lowest average temperature of the Year. The month with highest relative humidity is August and with lowest is March. The precipitation varies from 139 mm between the driest and wettest month. During the year the average temperature varies by 10.7°C where orientation is North and South. There is open space for brief penetration but protection from hot and cold wind are achieved. There is permanent provision for air movement openings.
• In Bhujodi, the summers are short, sweltering, muggy, and windy; the winters are short and comfortable; and it is dry and mostly clear year-round. • The average hourly wind speed in Bhujodi experiences extreme seasonal variation over the course of the year.
• Layout – orientation north and south (long axis east and west) • Spacing – open spacing for breeze penetration, but protection from hot and cold wind • Openings – medium opening • Walls – heavy external and internal walls • Roofs – heavy roof
SITE LAYOUT: The site revolves around 2 acres of area with 2000 sq.mt. of built up area. There are two approaches for the site where the primary approach has the main entrance. Foyers are placed at the entrance with Retail store followed by a series of workshops. Corridors are placed maximum for circulation of people balancing the footfall. Main focus is created by the Courtyard which forms at the centre. The southern side of the site has Bhungas for residential purpose. At the rear side of the building, massing is largely seen which also acts as shading devices. These kind of devices are used to avoid direct sunlight let in the building and also provide ventilation. Hence, southern side has these devices as largely hot winds would move in that direction. Shadow analysis is done for the idea of fall of shadows. Three times are considered to study the shadows: 10 AM, 12 PM and 6 PM.
SITE LAYOUT
GROUND FLOOR LAYOUT
RAIN WATER HARVESTING
MEZZENINE FLOOR DETAIL INDIRECT LIGHT IN WORKSHOP AREA
BRICK FLOORING
BRICK FLOORING PATTERN OF COURTYARD
ROUGH SQUARE KOTA STONE POLISHED SQUARE KOTA STONE
KOTA STON FLOORING OF BUILDING RAMP
BIBLIOGRAPHY • •
https://www.gujarattourism.com/kutch-zone/kutch/bhujodi.html https://www.dsource.in/gallery/habitats-kutchbhunga#:~:text=Bhungas%20are%20traditional%20houses%20unique,and%20for%20being%20clim ate%20responsive.&text=Structurally%20the%20roof%20is%20placed,placed%20across%20the%20 circular%20walls.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT The completion of this undertaking could not have been possible without the participation and assistance of so many members whose names are not all be enumerated. There contributions are sincerely appreciated and gratefully acknowledged. However the group would like to express their indebtness to the following Staff, at Shrujan for providing their precious time and helping in every possible way. Ar. Shailesh Patel and Ar. Parita Jani, the faculty who guided us in the right path. Also, the group members for their support.