Understanding Vernacular Heritage and Engaging in Design

Prof. Pratyush Shankar is an Architect by profession and is presently the Provost and the Dean of School of Environmental Design and Architecture (SEDA), Navrachana University in Vadodara, India. Previously, Prof. Pratyush was the Acting Dean of Architecture and Head of the Undergraduate Program at CEPT University where he had taught for more than two decades. He was recently honored as the International Ambassador for the University of Bonn, Germany and was also awarded the Alexander Von Humboldt Senior Fellowship in 2015 -17. He was hosted at the University of Bonn, Germany. He is the author of several books: “History of Urban Form” (India Oxford university Press). “Himalayan Cities: Settlement Pattern, Public Places and Architecture” (Niyogi Publishers, New Delhi, 2014). He is also a Guest Professor at the Mundus Urbano Program at Architecture Faculty, TU Darmstadt, Germany. Pratyush runs a design practice along with his academic work. He was awarded the 22nd J K Cement Architect of the Year award 2013 in Residence Design Category, and has designed and built a large number of residential and commercial buildings in India. He was the Architect of the Year National Award for “Residence for three Artists”, by J K Cement, 2012. In fact, in his early career, he won the ‘Young Designer of the Year’ award in 2000. A Competition by ‘Indian Architect & Builder’, Mumbai, India. He is also the founder of CityLabs India, an initiative to improve urban research, training and raising awareness of the Indian Cities. He was the Creative Lead – Humboldt Residency Program 2023 – Our Precious Resources and Delivered the Humboldt KOSMOS LECTURE in September 2023, Berlin, He has been Honored as the International Ambassador for the University of Bonn, Germany in 2022. He has been Awarded Alexander Von Humboldt Fellowship, Germany in Experienced Researcher category in November 2014-17. He has also been hosted at the Universitat Bonn, Germany and has been Awarded Ford-Asia Fellowship 2008-09 by the Asia Fellowship Foundation, Bangkok for the study titled “Is there something like a Himalayan City” in Nepal. Prof. Pratyush Shankar has been a member of the ISVS Advisory Board since 2005, and has been involved in organizing the ISVS seminars in India, Turkey, Bali, SPA Bhopal, Navrachna, India, Thailand and Sri Lanka.

Hoang Thuc Hao leads the 1+1>2 Architects, practicing in Vietnam. He is also the Vice President of the Vietnam Institute of Architects. Hoang Thuc Hao is the first Vietnamese architect to win the 2016 SIA-GETZ Award for Outstanding Architect in Asia, and also the first Vietnamese to be awarded 02 major awards (organized once in every three years): The Vassilis Sgoutas Prize for Implemented Architecture Serving the Impoverished 2017 & The Robert Matthew Prize for Sustainable and Humane Environments 2023 by the International Union of Architects (UIA). UIA has said: "Hoang Thuc Hao pays special attention to rural areas and poor communities, highlighting the role of architects in the process of social construction and renovation. Deeply understanding and adapting to local conditions, Hoang Thuc Hao has pioneered innovations. People participating and being an integral part of the construction process are empowered to improve their living environment. Not only does he aim for sustainability in construction, but more importantly, he respects and promotes cultural value in his works - an aspect often overlooked in developing economies." In fact, Hoang Thuc Hao is one of the few Vietnamese architects with a clear community mindset in combining the natural and living environments with strong community and cultural connections. His architecture focuses on the practical support of cynical communities through diverse projects such as community houses, workers' houses, schools for disadvantaged children, new rural villages, etc. An effective approach, combining academic knowledge and folk experience, natural elements, and core indigenous culture, his work is an effective testament to the preservation and promotion of local identity. in a contemporary context. He has proposed the philosophy of 'architecture of happiness' suggesting that architecture is not simply about designing and creating space but can bring about justice and happiness.

Based in Kathmandu, Nepal, Nripal Adhikary runs a socially and environmentally committed research, design and construction practice ABARI. Through ABARI, he promotes the idea of owner-driven reconstruction taking inspiration from resilient vernacular practices, perfected over centuries. ABARI is dedicated to developing contemporary ways of utilising vernacular knowledge. He also delves into extensive research and material testing, as well as the demonstration of these findings via tangible projects showcasing the strength, scale and flexibility of natural materials. The architecture firm essentially operates on the belief that a healthy, sustainable, creative and prosperous life can be lived by utilising the natural resources around us. They believe that these natural resources bear the potential of being moulded into entities embodying strength and flexibility comparable to industrial materials, whilst also remaining ecologically sound, easily renewable, cheaper, lighter and easy to transport and dispose of, especially in Nepal, which is home to more than 50 bamboo species that cover more than 60,000 hectares. Through ABARI, he focuses on understanding and examining vernacular architecture to utilise these practices to build structures that are more contemporarily styled, encompass modern services, and also make use of modern provisions. The firm primarily employs local natural materials such as bamboo, stones, reed and adobe as opposed to concrete and steel. ABARI has created supply chains for the materials that they use, most of which are obtained locally. In fact, ABARI also seeks to build structures that are earthquake resistant and offer a healthy, energy-efficient and sustainable alternative to conventional building practices. In fact, Nripal Adhikary and his Nepalese architecture studio undertakes research and experimentation—to redesign several traditional materials in order to cater to extant aesthetic sensibilities and functional needs. Further, the studio particularly focuses on material experimentation and testing and develops ways to utilise household and construction waste for reuse and energy generation. ABARI also hosts training sessions for individuals keen on learning traditional building techniques. Nripal Adhikary will share with us his vast knowledge and experience about understanding vernacular and engaging in design in creating a better word.