The devastating earthquake measuring 6.9 at Richter scale struck the state of Gujarat in India on 26th January 2001, leaving more than 20,000 persons dead and millions homeless. The worst hit was the region of Kutchchh. Virtually the desert, it has limited natural resources for basic sustenance. However, people are full of resilience and sustain through handicraft and skills. The hamlets have circular adobe dwellings with a conical thatch roof, which are richly embellished with clay and mirror work relief. Thus, it is a complete milieu where art, culture and architecture are symbiotically interwoven and cannot be separated. It was therefore important to recognize that any redevelopment effort sho...
The devastating earthquake measuring 6.9 at Richter scale struck the state of Gujarat in India on 26th January 2001, leaving more than 20,000 persons dead and millions homeless. The worst hit was the region of Kutchchh. Virtually the desert, it has limited natural resources for basic sustenance. However, people are full of resilience and sustain through handicraft and skills. The hamlets have circular adobe dwellings with a conical thatch roof, which are richly embellished with clay and mirror work relief. Thus, it is a complete milieu where art, culture and architecture are symbiotically interwoven and cannot be separated. It was therefore important to recognize that any redevelopment effort should be holistic and should not disrupt the established chain of sustenance. Continuum of long set traditions yet introduction of the element of "new" for progressive change was the need of the situation.
The devastating earthquake measuring 6.9 at Richter scale struck the state of Gujarat in India on 26th January 2001, leaving more than 20,000 persons dead and millions homeless. The worst hit was the region of Kutchchh. Virtually the desert, it has limited natural resources for basic sustenance. However, people are full of resilience and sustain through handicraft and skills. The hamlets have circular adobe dwellings with a conical thatch roof, which are richly embellished with clay and mirror work relief. Thus, it is a complete milieu where art, culture and architecture are symbiotically interwoven and cannot be separated. It was therefore important to recognize that any redevelopment effort should be holistic and should not disrupt the established chain of sustenance. Continuum of long set traditions yet introduction of the element of "new" for progressive change was the need of the situation.
