Architecture for Kutch

This book presents two aspects of an architectural project. The study of lifestyle, culture, arts and architecture of Kutch – the colorful western region of India and the architectural design and planning of new housing evolved and built in South Kutch from the study and analysis of the region. It lavishly presents the entire project with more than 300 paintings, drawings and sketches. The new housing is an interesting reinterpretation of the climate living and cultural patterns, crafts and architecture of Kutch in planning to house designs to construction details. It is evolved through the analysis of traditional architecture and architectonic evolution of forms, spaces and construction. The local crafts are used in new methods of construction to revive certain crafts and create local employment. This housing withstood, without damage the enormous earthquake occurred on 26 January 2001 in Gujarat state of India. It illustrates an approach of habitat design addressing one of the crucial issues of our times in Asia of responding the context of climate and cultures of a place and its people Architect Anand Pandit with the team of architects and Menakshi Pahurkar designed it. The project “ousing in Kutch” received the JIIA award, 1997 from Indian Institute of Architects and has been published in various art and architectural magazines.