My tryst with natural construction began in the summer of 2010 with an apprenticeship workshop organised by Open Space in collaboration with Aman Setu School, conducted by Sourabh Phadke. We were a team of ten that built a classroom using stone, earth, straw, husk and bamboo. The concept of the space was based on the visualizations of the students. They had had in mind round windows and walls they could keep their things in. We added our own touch with bottle skylights and a little ‘rabbit-hole’ reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland. The campus already had its share of fun structures for classrooms. We’d stay overnight sometimes, watching sunset and moonrise, singing and playing under the night sky.
This is a blog recording our progress: http://whatsortofbehaviouristhis.blogspot.in/
And a video recording the fun we had: http://youtu.be/z-RMw2_w0m
Building a structure right from the first foundation stone to near completion gave me a sense of satisfaction that is hard to express, and probably rare to come by. People from varied backgrounds had come together for the workshop and our interaction included a lot of thought-provoking discussions and debates. We formed a very unique bond- a combination of friendship and kinship that I deeply cherish and am immensely grateful for. We had unimaginable fun while at work. The hours of work also helped me realise my potential and strengthened me, both, physically, as well as mentally. I gained tremendously from this experience, and am very thankful to all the people involved in this amazing endeavour.
In 2012, I had the opportunity to help on Sourabh’s Sukalatti, a house that was built using a single bag of cement. For more, http://soarhub.in/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Sukalatti.pdf
That summer I also got to volunteer on a build for a tribal residential school in Dahanu. We were a team of five guiding the local teachers to construct a cob classroom. I was also taken by the lovely little wattle and daub dwellings of the tribals there.
Currently I am itching to get back on a build!
This is a blog recording our progress: http://whatsortofbehaviouristhis.blogspot.in/
And a video recording the fun we had: http://youtu.be/z-RMw2_w0m
Building a structure right from the first foundation stone to near completion gave me a sense of satisfaction that is hard to express, and probably rare to come by. People from varied backgrounds had come together for the workshop and our interaction included a lot of thought-provoking discussions and debates. We formed a very unique bond- a combination of friendship and kinship that I deeply cherish and am immensely grateful for. We had unimaginable fun while at work. The hours of work also helped me realise my potential and strengthened me, both, physically, as well as mentally. I gained tremendously from this experience, and am very thankful to all the people involved in this amazing endeavour.
In 2012, I had the opportunity to help on Sourabh’s Sukalatti, a house that was built using a single bag of cement. For more, http://soarhub.in/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Sukalatti.pdf
That summer I also got to volunteer on a build for a tribal residential school in Dahanu. We were a team of five guiding the local teachers to construct a cob classroom. I was also taken by the lovely little wattle and daub dwellings of the tribals there.
Currently I am itching to get back on a build!
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