Craft
Craft is the kind of activity or a job that requires a particular skill or skill set. The difference between art and craft is utility. Craft is something that can be decorative, aesthetically pleasing, and functional. In India, the craft is regional. Factors like location, traditions, culture, and age-old occupations drive the specific craft to take shape, because of which they may offer local solutions to region-specific problems. In many parts of India, people have been honing particular skill sets and using them as their occupation for generations. They also pass it down to their children and the narrative continues.
Craft is generational and occupational. It has been spread over a particular region where it grew, so it remained exclusive. As industrialization and mass production took over the market, these region-specific crafts started fading. New generations started migrating to different locations for better opportunities and many art and crafts got lost over time since they were not passed down. Modernity brought modularity also, which offered one solution to many problems and it became way more affordable and accessible to everyone, something regional crafts couldn’t do.
History
Before British rule, people were dependent on local craftsmen and their work for construction, decor, and products of daily use. The fundamental understanding has always been to utilise the local availability, be it materials, utensils, food, crops, decorative art pieces, artisans, or craftsmen. Geography dictates the kind of crop that will grow on the land and the kinds of food that can be cooked from it. In the same way, it also indicates that the local materials available for construction are best suited for the specific region. People, for generations, have been familiar with the locally available materials and have mastered working with them, which makes them the best artisans, craftsmen, or labourers to hire.
“A building should not only serve a functional purpose but also be socially and culturally relevant.”
– Brinda Somaya
Architecture of Community, For Community, By Community
Few architects have tried to intertwine local crafts and craftsmen into architecture and interior design works. There are such organisations also that are entirely based on local crafts and artisans. For example Hunnarshala Foundation. The organisation was established after the 2001 earthquake in the Kutch region of Gujarat. Their aim is to make the communities capable of reconstructing their habitat.
After the earthquake, many local communities joined in the movement and they came bearing knowledge of local materials and earth construction, which helped the foundation and the people to co-educate and teach locals to re-construct their homes. The realisation came along the process that these traditional construction methodologies and materials are not only useful for rebuilding in a post-earthquake scenario, it can also lead to sustainable construction overall. So, Hunnarshala continued working with the villagers and artisans from nearby communities. They started educating hands-on laymen and also refined the skills of existing craftsmen. As they moved forward with earth construction, they started in-depth research on the scope and limitations of the same. Hunnarshala has been part of the kind of projects that included processes controlled by people themselves. The foundation has three themes in its roots: empowering people capable of building their habitat, making solutions more environmentally friendly, sustainable, and disaster-safe, and utilising local artisanal knowledge and the skills to the maximum. They have undertaken post-disaster reconstruction work in Gujarat, Bihar, Kashmir, Iran, Indonesia, and Afghanistan.
Shaam-E-Sarhad Village Resort
This resort is built in the grassland of village Banni, by the community itself. With the help of the Hunnarshala Foundation, the people of the village built the resort to attract tourists and visitors, making them aware of their ways of living and crafts. This helped the so-called ‘backward’ community to come forward and re-introduce themselves to modern society.
The resort portrays their belief that commons make a better economy than privatisation. Their art and craft are not separate from their occupation. As the design and construction happened in partnership with the community, it showcased their traditional arts and crafts. The construction materials majorly used are mud, earth, and thatch.
TSUNAMI REHABILITATION IN ACEH, INDONESIA
The tsunami which took place in December 2004 highly affected coastal regions of India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Somalia, Maldives, and Malaysia. To approach rehabilitation in Indonesia, a plan was made for village infrastructure, community spaces, historical sites, housing options, and vegetation.
The people were asked to come up with house design options as per their requirements. Two main design categories were used: on-ground and the stilt house. Stilt house is an adaptation of a traditional Chinese house. House owners had to choose from typologies of on-ground house design options and stilt house design options. Later on, as per the family’s individual needs modifications were made.
Workshops were held to train locals in wood, steel, and earth construction. A wood workshop for making door windows by recycling available materials was held by a local entrepreneur.
Bhunga Reconstruction, Kutch
After the earthquake when guidelines were still not there for better seismic construction, it became crucial to figure out how to build the traditional Bhungas with earth again. Hunnarshala with the help of government professionals took the initiative to come up with stabilised earth construction guidelines. They prepared manuals in Gujarati for masons to educate them before starting the construction. This movement enabled more than 100 villages to rebuild itself. They also trained villagers in Bhunga construction with earth in a way that didn’t compromise their traditional Bhunga living and also ensured better protection from earthquakes.
References:
Kutch earthquake rehabilitation (no date) Hunnarshala Foundation. Available at: http://www.hunnarshala.org/kutch-earthquake-rehabilitation.html (Accessed: 25 August 2024).
Rooftop (2024) Modern interpretations of Indian art in architecture and design – rooftop – where India inspires creativity, Rooftop. Available at: https://rooftopapp.com/modern-interpretations-of-indian-art-in-architecture-and-design/ (Accessed: 25 August 2024).
15 modern spaces that celebrate Indian handicrafts (no date) Houzz. Available at: https://www.houzz.in/magazine/15-modern-spaces-that-celebrate-indian-handicrafts-stsetivw-vs~147515063 (Accessed: 25 August 2024).
Gupta, N. (2024) Building with Indian craftsmen, The Hindu. Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/building-with-indian-craftsmen-architecture-museum-of-meenakari-heritage-krushi-bhawan-iit-bhilai/article68152753.ece (Accessed: 25 August 2024).
