De Earth, a renowned architecture firm based in Calicut, Kerala, recently concluded its highly anticipated exhibition, “Belong,” which ran until May 24th. The event celebrated the firm’s two decades of architectural practice, exploring the pivotal role of architecture and design in shaping urban culture, maintaining ecological balance, and fostering happiness.
Project Name: Belong
Studio Name: De Earth
The exhibition took visitors on a captivating journey through various project typologies, from modest single-family dwellings to expansive public spaces, master plans, and parks. Models, videos, and cutting-edge trends in architecture, including AI and virtual reality, were showcased to illustrate the firm’s philosophy and its application across different scales.
De Earth’s practice is rooted in a strong philosophy that permeates diverse projects, addressing architecture’s impact on cultural equity, contextual balance, and resident happiness. The exhibition highlighted the firm’s commitment to nature-sensitive and culturally responsive designs, showcasing projects like the award-winning Freedom Square and the Thalassery Heritage Project.
A significant highlight of the exhibition was the virtual reality presentation of the upcoming Lions Park in Calicut, alongside models of several residences, the design competition entry for Tagore Hall, and a unique education hub in Pinarayi. The master plan for the Government Arts & Science College, Calicut, offered insights into the future of architectural typologies, particularly institutions.
The event also featured discussions and debates with several prominent architects on the future of architectural practice and its role in nurturing healthy communities. Ar. Vivek PP, Co-Founder of De Earth, emphasized, “Architecture of public spaces should be open, interactive, and engaging, not gated. ‘Belong’ highlighted architecture’s importance in maintaining ecological equilibrium and societal happiness. We aimed to communicate how good design positively impacts everyone’s lives, whether in public spaces, small residences, or social housing schemes.”
De Earth’s exhibition underscored their commitment to creating architecture that is open, interactive, and engaging, not gated, and emphasized the importance of good design in maintaining ecological equilibrium and societal happiness.
De Earth’s “Belong” exhibition successfully engaged both young architects and the general public, emphasizing the relevance of architecture in nurturing a happy, healthy, and peaceful society.
