Engaging with Heritage : Some of our Work

ENGAGING WITH HERITAGE

The Busride Design Studio is a group of Architects, Industrial designers, Interior and Build professionals who pride themselves in designing solutions from the macro to the micro, and looking for engaging solutions for high-visibility venues across the country.

The Busride Lab explores the intersection between Art, Theory and Practice and incubates ideas and experiments for translation into practice.

SOME WORK

PRECINCT STUDY & MAPPING

In what is typically the first step towards working in Heritage precincts, detailed documentation and mapping becomes critical, to create an accurate time capsule.

The documentation spans across media, with photography, conjectural maps based on resident interviews, age of buildings maps, pedestrian maps and change of scale forming a large part of the mapping work.

Data gathered from this mapping can then be put to productive use, with overlays showing correlations between dierent observed criteria, such as percentage of green cover and age of buildings which seem to have a direct correlation in Bandra. This mapping aids in generating data sets to support any future design intervention.

Photosynths of Ranwar village : Time capsule 2010 Thesis Project : Vivek Sheth. Guide : The Busride

Conjectural maps : Ranwar through the ages Thesis Project : Vivek Sheth. Guide : The Busride

Listing of significant structures : Ranwar 2010 Thesis Project : Vivek Sheth. Guide : The Busride

Individual built-form documentation

Pedestrian map of Ranwar : World Environment Day 2010 Thesis Project : Vivek Sheth. Guide : The Busride

Criteria for Mapping Bandra : The Bandra Project 2013 Thesis Project : Neelam Das. Guide : The Busride

Bandra overlays : studying inter-relationships Thesis Project : Neelam Das. Guide : The Busride

The Bandra Project : Public review and Exhibition Thesis Project : Neelam Das. Guide : The Busride

SIGNAGE & WAYFINDING

Over various involvements with Heritage precincts we have converted our documentation into maps and navigation tools, to be used in various ways. Signage can be symbolic of an active responsive ecosystem, one which creates value for a larger network of stakeholders.

Signage systems range from the formal to the informal, commissioned to citizen generated, and can use symbology and design detail to offer up additional information to it’s users, and create a subtle coding for it’s system of artefacts. We have worked on systems for Bandra’s churches, as well as a recent proposal for the Commercial Street signages in Panjim, Goa.

Thesis Project : Akhil Mistry. Guide : The Busride

Installed Village Directory : The Bandra Project

Thesis Project : Akhil Mistry. Guide : The Busride

Experiments with Guerrilla / Citizen signage : The Bandra Project

Signage system for the Churches of Bandra

Signage system for the Churches of Bandra : Installed sign at Mount Mary Church

Re-imagining Re-imagining Commercial Commercial City City Signage Signage for for Panjim Panjim

Who’s to gain?

Retaining brand identity

Bright, bold signs

Shopkeepers/ Brands

Visibility

I n c re a s e i n re a l e s ta te value

Who’s to gain?

Less visual clutter, more heritage architecture

Community Building

The City

Conservation of heritage

StreetSafety caused by an increase in footfall

Who’s to gain?

Recognition

Support

Gain of Regular Clientele

Visibility

Craftsmen Conservation of craft

Novelty in craft

Capital

Creative Stimulation

Creating an active eco-system Signage is a main-street requirement of the capitalist city, one that fulfils current requirements of commercial activity on the streets. Rather than apologising for it’s mis-use, or imposing tight regulations on the system that tend towards greater violations, we aimed to create a meaningful ecosystem out of which Harmonious products and artefacts could emerge.

By reconnecting the crafts community with mainstreet patronage models, we can conceive of a street that is a celebration of local craft, a visible reminder of their presence, and a continued patronage model.

The active ecosystem then produces all the artefacts required for main-street commerce to thrive, in a more contextual fashion.

Selected Crafts ( relevant for signage applications )

Terracotta

Kashta kari : Wood carving

Traditionally made by the Kumbhar community, for utilitarian purposes of storage. Today decorative items are made out of terracotta such as flower garden pots, pen holders, ashtrays, bowls, statues of saints and goddesses. Makers also draw inspiration from religious or historical themes.

Wood carving was traditionally done by the Suthar and Badhai communities for temple interiors, doors and exteriors, palanquins and temple chariots. Teak was used for constructing buildings and making furniture, doors and windows, and rosewood for decorative carving.

Region Mapusa, Bicholim, Calangute

Region Mapusa, Bicholim, Calangute

Selected Crafts ( relevant for signage applications )

Otim Kamm- Brass Ware

Azulejos

The Kansara community made brass lamps that were used for religious ceremonies and festivals in temples.

Today brass is mainly used mainly for casting decorative items like oil lamps, church bells, candle stands, ashtrays and temple towers. The most famous piece is the lamp Samai that is a tree like oil lamp with flower motifs.

These blue floral tiles introduced to Goa by the Portuguese depict name plates, or various religious, historical, or town scenes.

Region Mapusa, Sanquelim, Bicholim

Region Bicholim

The process

Signage variants

Re-imagined facades : MG Road, Panjim

PEDESTRIAN EXPERIENCE MAPPING

One of the most critical areas of work involves pedestrian experience and it’s upgrade. The domain of the street aspects every citizen, and creating upgrades to walks becomes one of the most important areas for design intervention.

Most city issues can be framed by augmenting the pedestrian experience, and through addressing this we create a large host of interventions, including understanding architecture by setbacks, the importance of street response by facades, and using walking as a way of understanding and decoding the city.

Thesis Project : Neelam Das. Guide : The Busride

Pedestrian ratings to arrive at criteria for Street response : The Bandra Project

Facade documentation + Pedestrian elements and scales

Thesis Project : Neelam Das. Guide : The Busride

Identifying significant pedestrian fragments

Heritage walks and Outreach

EXPLORING ALTERNATE MEANS OF ENGAGEMENT

Being a polyvalent design studio with multiple interests, we tend to involve ourselves in multiple other ways in which to contribute. These channels include writing and editing festival souvenirs, working on theatre productions, organising festivals and exploring alternate micro-economic models to build citizen pride.

Heritage precincts are alive and design can impact and aspect every part of their experience. We are extremely flexible with using any and all tools at our disposal to further the cause of the precinct, to encourage conservation and historical appreciation amongst visitors and residents alike.

This can play out in surprising and inspiring ways.

Writing / Editing the Celebrate Bandra Souvenir

Writing / Editing the Celebrate Bandra Souvenir

The Ranwar Gaothan : Christmas Decorations and Village upgrade

The Ranwar Gaothan : Christmas Decorations and Village upgrade

Digital documentation of the Cross of Santa Anna : St.Andrew’s Church compound

The Ranwar Oratory Kit : The Bandra Dollhouse project

I.N.R.I.

RANWAR ORATORY

The Saint Andrews Church Dollhouse : The Bandra Dollhouse Project

The Saint Andrews Church Dollhouse : The Bandra Dollhouse Project

The Ranwar Festival : Pedestrianisation motive + Gaothan celebration

The Ranwar Festival : Pedestrianisation motive + Gaothan celebration

RESTORATION + ADAPTIVE RE-USE

Our work as space designers allows us to conceive of alternate uses for dilapidated structures, and then adaptively re-use them to be relevant in a new landscape of uses. While the new use maybe contrary to what they were used for in their past, it allows the memory of the building to transit seamlessly into the modern city fabric.

The programming of these structures need the thrust of imagination, with a perspective on city futures heavily informing the design intent. Old bungalows become vibrant retail destinations, old mills become restaurants. The design approach is to lengthen the cycle of relevance of our shared past, so these structures can retain their place amongst us with dignity.

The RNM Galleria : Camac Street Kolkata : Adaptive re-use

The RNM Galleria : Camac Street Kolkata : Adaptive re-use

The RNM Galleria : Camac Street Kolkata : Adaptive re-use

The RNM Galleria : Camac Street Kolkata : Adaptive re-use

The RNM Galleria : Camac Street Kolkata : Adaptive re-use

The RNM Galleria : Camac Street Kolkata : Adaptive re-use

The RNM Galleria : Camac Street Kolkata : Adaptive re-use

The RNM Galleria : Camac Street Kolkata : Adaptive re-use

The RNM Galleria : Camac Street Kolkata : Adaptive re-use

The RNM Galleria : Camac Street Kolkata : Adaptive re-use

The Mathuradas Mill Compound : Adaptive re-use

The Mathuradas Mill Compound : Adaptive re-use

The Mathuradas Mill Compound : Adaptive re-use

The Mathuradas Mill Compound : Adaptive re-use

The Mathuradas Mill Compound : Adaptive re-use

NEW MEDIA ENGAGEMENTS

Our partner studio Quicksand has embarked upon an ambitious quest to digitally document and conserve large parts of our built heritage, and augment it in the digital realm with stories and layered narratives.

We partner with Quicksand closely on their new ventures, allowing the partnership to produce a rich output of reconstructed, reimagined and reformulated architecture for immersive media. This involvement is a low-impact, lowbudget way of demonstrating the potential of these buildings to both experience individually as well as build consensus for potential built projects.

With our partner Studio : Quicksand

Photogrammetry documentation for VR applications

Photogrammetry from Drone footage for Immersive media applications

Photogrammetry capture of icons and monuments to re-imagine

Photogrammetry documentation for VR applications

Navigating home of Goa in Virtual space + Storytelling narratives

CREATING OPEN KNOWLEDGE PLATFORMS

We are committed to creating open knowledge platforms to be able to spread and learn from feedback from motivated practitioners in the field. We partner with Asian Paints on a joint project called Heritage Next, which looks at reimagining the intellectual property around Heritage precincts and structures.

As part of the process, we incubated a series of Labs and workshops, to facilitate a network of like-minded individuals all doing meaningful work in the field to share processes and practices around working with Old systems and transiting them meaningfully into the New. These are multi-headed open inquiries, and we are investigating these futures constantly.

The objective of the Heritage Next Labs is to explore the intellectual landscape around contemporary conservation practice, and generate a tool-kit of informed approaches to assist eorts and initiatives in the field.

The idea is to gather like-minded yet divergent individuals to contribute to a larger understanding of progressive ideas and systems, and co-write a Manifesto for Heritage Conservation in India.

The Heritage Next Lab : Asian Paints + The Busride Lab

The Oracle 2035 : The Busride Lab

MENTORSHIP AND TEACHING

A large part of the Heritage precinct involvement is outreach, through mentorship and teaching. Through short courses we teach and mentor at design institutions and schools, we try to keep our work fresh and relevant.

Students and young practitioners ask deep insightful questions, and we try to engage with young minds to solve problems in newer and more fun ways. Through teaching at the NID, Ahmedabad and speaking at other venues, we try to build support within the student community to engage with Futures and Heritage conservation.

NID Ahmedabad : The Future Pol 2035 course

Student Work : The Vertical Pol : Future adaptive-reuse

Student Work : The Vertical Pol : Future adaptive-reuse

Student Work : A Future Newspaper with provocations

Water as Heritage : The Elixir of Life workshop

The Busride Design Studio, Ranwar Village, Bandra ( W ) Bombay 400050

The Busride Lab, Quitla, Aldona Bardez, Goa 403508

FIN