Reinvigorating Himalayan Heritage

Abstract

Aim of the project The aim of the study is to design a Craft Resource Center for artists practicing traditional handicrafts of Himachal Pradesh mainly weaving and while doing so revive and promote the indigenous Kath-Khuni construction technique. Objectives of the project 1. To provide better facilities to the weavers and understand the economic and cultural contribution of handicrafts and handlooms in the Himalayas. 2. To build a sense of kinship among the weavers and craftsman and have an open, living and pragmatic setting for collective growth focusing on the idea of "think global an act local". 3. To understand the Himalayan contemporary lifestyle with respect to the settlement patterns and existing cultural and ecological landscape. 4. To conserve and promote the indigenous construction and weaving techniques of Himachal Pradesh. 5. To identity traditional practices of ecologies and sustenance of Himalayan communities. 6. To explore transformative impacts of socio-economic interplays on Himalayan landscape. 7. To provide the tourists and craftsman with an authentic Himalayan experience of the built environment. Scope of the project The research is conducted based on two aspects of the the Himalayan culture the handicraft and the construction technique as a result the regions covered are specific to these two cultural elements and the proposal covers the functional ,social and aesthetic requirements of that particular craft and valley system. The project also focuses on integrating landscape as a major element with respect to the functional and social aspect of the design. The project explores relationship between materiality, craft and tectonics in the Himalayan landscape.