Case Study (Autosaved)

HUNNARSHALA
Learning from the Past to Build Future

Case study
Hunnarshala today helps regions across the world build sustainable homes in the wake of
natural and manmade disasters
was formed after the massive earthquake of Kutch in 2001 with objectives to construction practices
& technologies which are scientifically valid. It has focus to rebuild sustainable habitats using
traditional knowledge in contemporary architecture.
The Hunnarshala Foundation has three main areas of the work :

– Community Empowerment including both Rural and Urban areas.
– Artisan Empowerment including Artisans Enterprise, Training Program and Technological
Intervention.
– Artisan School
Three themes have emerged for Hunnarshala for its direction and works:
1)The way in which people are empowered to shape their own habitats
2)The habitat solutions that are more environment friendly, sustainable and disaster safe
3)The local artisanal knowledge and skills that deliver high quality products.
STUDY AREA AND DATA COLLECTION

Hunnarshala promotes that it is essential to stress on technologies and materials that not very
energy consuming as well as recycling the waste our environment generates. The campus explores
earth, wood, stone and several interpretations of climate and solar passive architecture
Hunnarshala employs an earth-based technique is the use of the stabilized rammed earth technique.
Stabilized rammed earth is an in-situ wall built using natural soil, or earth, with only 8–10 %
cement for added strength.
Hunnarshala’s office, with its rammed earth walls and tall wooden ceiling, even without air-
conditioning, the space was cool in the sweltering summer heat of Bhuj.
APPROACH , APPEARANCE AND SEMANTICS OF BUILDING

Hunnarshala built in 2008 and accepted as‘Bhunga’ (traditional Gujarati circular huts) by the
locals. Its form is cohesive with other buildings, and coherent in the arid climate of Bhuj. The
building has evolved over the time with inputs coming from artists, artisans, local sand architects.
The parking of the complex also acts as a bus stop for the residents of the nearby area
THE OFFICE
Building roofs hang low, mix thatch and Mangalore tiles both supported by slender space frames;
walls are rammed earth, interlocking blocks and stone with visible seismic resistance bands. They
also have the age-old wattle & daub as both exposed and plastered with lime.
THE CLASSROOMS
In their classrooms, blackboards are replaced with frosted glass panels that double as a light source
as though representing that knowledge is enlightening
THE KITCHEN
The kitchen walls were simply precast walls made out of the debris left after 2001 earthquake
and pouring concrete along with it. Bamboo was added to give strength to it . Construction was
made such that an existing tree was saved. The whole plan of kitchen was prepared such that
there would be no harm to the tree
KARIGARSHALA:THE ARTISIAN SCHOOL

Hunnarshala set up an artisan school Karigarshala or artisan school where they train dropouts
aged between 16 to 18 in carpentry and masonry. At the end of their yearlong training, they help
them find work as artisans
MATERIAL AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS
Stone dust, industrial waste, construction debris is mixed in soil to build rammed earth walls that
give it a white color. Best of all, the variety of architectural elements are tastefully synthesized,
saving the campus from becoming a mish-mash.
SHALLOW MASONRY DOMES

The tradition of building these domes is passed through the ‘Ustaad-Chela’
There are two types of shallow masonry domes; dish type and the tray type. Two distinct methods,
one with shuttering and one without shuttering are used to build these domes. Shallow Masonry
domes can be a possible sustainable alternative to R.C.C slabs, which use more steel and cement.
They are an excellent example of a roofing system that is stable and has low carbon footprint.
THATCHED ROOFS
The Balinese thatching technique is incorporated in the roof which is inspired by the work in
Indonesia. Along with rice husk from inside, the roof consists of mud rolls made out of local mud
which help in temperature controlling of the structure.
SPACE FRAMES
Research started on using materials other than steel to construct space frames for usage in high
salinity conditions where steel is susceptible to corrosion. The final product was a combination
of concrete filled PVC pipes and Bamboo supported on the edges In grid pattern
CONCLUSION
Such innovative sustainable practices exhibit a greater model of design, which can be applied
through various scales.
Hunnarshala involves a participatory approach to bridge social distance and empowered the
ignored ones
The buildings designed should be transparent and usefull by implementing the concept of
sustainability.
The practice should include the communities involved in the making and also care about the
creatures without voices- the Environment and the Biodiversity
Bibliography
http://www.hunnarshala.org/hunnarshala-campus.html
https://issuu.com/hunnarshala/docs/hunnarshala_a_d
https://www.thehindu.com/society/hunnarshala-going-back-to-earth/article29799738.ece
https://www.google.com/search?q=hunnarshala+case+study&tbm=isch&rlz=1C1CHZN_enIN955I
N955&hl=en-US&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj7t6T6ybT2AhVhx6ACHck

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HUNNARSHALA

Learning from the Past to Build Future

The Hunnarshala Foundation has three main areas of the work :

STUDY AREA AND DATA COLLECTION

APPROACH , APPEARANCE AND SEMANTICS OF BUILDING

KARIGARSHALA:THE ARTISIAN SCHOOL

SHALLOW MASONRY DOMES

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