ASSIGNMENT.

Q. How did Professor Chhaya go about the Rehabilation process in

different areas with different techniques? And how effective was the
palette of materials evolved?
What was the process to create a temporary structure, immediate to the
disaster and how it was aimed to create a more habitable space over the
years?
In 2001, An Earthquake had hit Bhuj that is in the kutch region of Gujarat. There was
a need to build with new and traditional techniques and technologies and use
materials that were able to supplement the requirements of a seismic zone 5, which is
a very vulnerable area for calamities. Various rehabilitation programs were started in
the effected region and were trying to rebuild the region in a systematic manner for
the people who were the victims. Natural disasters and the measures to build
techniques to prevent them was taken up by tem of architects and engineers with the
help of the skills of the local artisans in the region ,everyone had come together to
face the crisis. Hunarshala project was a project started with a holistic approach to
promote traditional and eco-friendly construction practices. Low-energy consuming
building designs and technologies were used which were validated through research
initiatives ,and the knowledge of which was passed to the local artisans who would
use there skills to develop new technologies traditionally. They hadnt forget to keep
in mind the environment, dignity of labor and sustainability. Hunarshala was built 2
years after the earthquake, in 2003 comprising of school, library, dormitories, houses
with local cost effective materials like stone, mud, timber, thatch, lime and
technologies like sewage recycling. They also used traditional features like verandahs
and courtyards to conserve energy and provide ventilation and methods to harvest
rainwater and decentralized waste water recycling. They have also used stabilized and
non-stabilized earth blocks and rammed earth. It had made efforts to use various green
approaches at a large scale. It worked for and with the people. It helped people to get
together to develop solutions and articulate their plans. They worked as a community
and every one had a chance to voice out their ideas. This had helped the people
affected by the calamity to gather courage and provides a habitat that nurtures and
enriches the lives of the people living in it. Amalgamating the technology with
cultural needs the foundation had developed a simplistic space, which was tested for
its safety and environment friendliness. In conversation with one of the member of the
project taking care of it, we were told that it was a hit and trial method of
construction. We were also told about their new experiment of trying to use mud to
build a dome, which wouldnt be possible if it rained but since it rains really less in
the area it was able to stand.
There was a mixture of usage of thatch and Mangalore tiles for roofing supported by
primary secondary and tertiary beams. Rammed earth walls with resistance bands
reminded that we were in a high seismic zone. Truss roofs, interesting window
patterns, and staircases was commendable. Measuring 6.9 on the Richter scale, the
earthquake in Gujrat on 26 January, 2001. 15,000 dead and more than 150,000
injured. Vavaniya, a village in Maliya, Rajkot district of Gujarat having a population

of 3962 was affected badly during the January 26th killer quake of 2001. Vavaniya
district in the Rajkot region, with 1200 families was one of the more prosperous
villages in Gujrat before the earthquake left it in ruins, the first step taken by various
organizations was the reconstruction of shelters for the majorly affected zones.
Afterwards, the process was designed as such as to keep the community involved at
every level, and developing basic infrastructure such as water and sanitation, roads,
street lights and other environmental improvement, education, agriculture and animal
husbandry, forest and wasteland development, health, and livelihood. Planning from a
long-term perspective, CEE starting with the construction of shelters, schools and
primary healthcare followed by planning of core units with the peoples participation.
As to how the infrastructure should be developed, the decisions were took with the
coordination of village level institutions such as Gram Samiti, Mahila and Yuvak
mandals.
In the same area of the Hunarshala, karigarshala was built which provided a one year
course of walling systems and carpentry for the youth who havent been showered
with the opportunity to gain knowledge. This space was created as a preventive
measure and precautions to reduce the damage and uplift the community as a whole.
After the earthquake, Rehabilation programs in the effected areas especially the kutch
region, rebuilt in a systematic manner has several transitions in terms of materials and
the way it is used. The way the artisans used old and traditional techniques to build
something out of the box. Because what they built for a earthquake prone area is done
with a holistic approach. They've tried to create something different adapting
technologies and techniques developed over a period of time. Along with skill and
creativity. Materials like timber stone mud concrete have been used together to create
spaces. With beams, secondary beams tertiary together in a truss roof. It's also how
materials effect The structural system; for example the thickness usage and technique
depends on the choice of material too. Various NGO's like Hunarshala and CEE have
built shelters and provided with facilities and basic ammenities like schools, hospitals,
banks. The way it's changed over time from the Vavania district which was built right
after the earthquake in the area where debris where found with bricks, stone concrete
and waste material like terracotta tiles which was found in bulk. Then much later
came the Hunarshala and Khamir craft factory which was not just a transformed
version of materials used in a systematic way but also a a step forward in the ever
growing process of learning from traditional techniques; like a hit-and trial method.
Also how domes, arches, low ceilings, mezzanines double height structures overhangs
have been built with thought in terms of how stable and durable it is, is commendable.
So these Rehabilation spaces are a preventive measure and a safety precaution so that
the damage or loss during an uncertainty is not extensive.
But how exactly do we design a Rehabilation space for different purposes, i.e.
Residential, institutional or multipurpose? And that too in such a short span? So when,
we asked Mr. Chhaya, about how we went about the entire process and how the team
gave a home to people whove lost their families, houses and everything they ever
owned got destroyed. So the land they got was the area where the debris were formed.
They used whichever possible material available, reused material, doors, windows or
any structural unit from their old house which survived the tremors. Also the houses
needed to be built quickly, so they discussed it with each family as to how they
wanted their house to be planned. Women, especially were asked to attend these

meetings and played an important role, as they knew how functional each space was.
So the people got to decide how small or big their bedroom, washroom or common
public area or where the window is placed. This was further taken a step further, as
the people themselves were indulging in the construction of the houses, helping the
team of architects to evolve the different techniques, processes and labourwork. The
process was a quick aftermath and was built within a short span with the foundation
laid.
Also, permanence something which has been kept on separate platforms, one
Pakka and the other, kachcha has been existing since the Britishers period. A
home for being permanent need not be made of Glass, Steel or Concrete. The word
Pakka, which means permanent should be used not in terms of materials but how
durable the structure could be. For example: Families have houses which have been
run by their ancestors and they all have a tradition of putting up a wall filled with
family pictures. The room in front of it is where the new born stays, hence this
tradition goes on, breaking all norms and barriers of permanance. It means that
designing a home is much more than building a few walls, its about how individuals,
families grow together in the same space. So designing a house would be a much
bigger challenge for someone who just lost their family with the house.
To build in a Seismic Zone 3-5, Gujarat has had an immense development. Also
structures which were built 150 years old, which were of timber or of other stable
materials yet exist. So studying these built structures, and how techniques and
processes used back then are functional and in use even till today, is whats interesting.
The structural systems and how they have survived all weather conditions, natural
calamities, and other disasters over a period of time.
So, all the places we saw, Vavania district where immediate housing was done,
Khamir workshop where skill development and craftsmanship was begun and then
finally they work as professionals at Hunarshala. So all three places were built post
the earthquake but for different purposes, with changing technologies but yet the basic
built form was the same. Roofing and Foundation systems has been given
consideration. The discussion with Prof. Chhaya broadened our horizon and inspired
us as to what all architecture can do. That architecture is not just to merely build
persay but actually designing something which is linked and connected so intensely
with the humans. The relationship with the environment and how it plays such a
crucial role in architecture.