Microeconomies through Artisan Handicraft Industry- Design of Heritage Market Spaces

Idea projektu

The project goal was to create a new economic zone to empower the handicraft industries in this heritage princely town of India, Kolhapur. Two of the most important handicrafts being the "Kolhapuri Chappal" leather shoes and the "saaz" a jewelry item worn by married women have a geographical indication and hence preserving the process is important for the Indian heritage. It aimed at creating a promenade that would facilitate pedestrian movement and give a chance for all the handicrafts in the area to be showcased at one place.

Popis projektu

The project consists of a pedestrian promenade and design of a open space with a auditorium and cultural center. It also consists of a kit of parts for reviving the traditional architecture through facadism. Policies regarding the maintenance and repair of the facilities are also provided.

Technické informace

The facade construction is done in kit of parts of traditional stone and wooden elements. Structural steel members and Corten steel panels is used for construction of the auditorium.

DHRUTI MUZUMDAR, KOMAL KARALE, TANVI LOYARE, ISHWARI PATIL, AAYUSH KAPADE

SMEF's Brick school of architecture, Pune

India

Urbanismus

Projekt odevzdán

14. 07. 2024

Tag

Urbanismus Exhibition Center Pop Up Retail Hall/Theatre Other Public spaces Public transport

Rada studentům

Microeconomies through Artisan Handicraft Industry- Design of Heritage Market Spaces

This project delivers a socially valuable and regionally grounded proposal aimed at revitalizing Kolhapur’s handicraft industries—specifically the Kolhapuri chappal and traditional jewelry (saaz)—through an architectural and urban intervention. The strategy to create a pedestrian-friendly promenade, accompanied by a cultural center and open-air auditorium, is well-aligned with the project’s goal of preserving heritage while boosting local economies. The use of a “kit of parts” approach for facadism is both technically and culturally sensitive, drawing on traditional stone and wood construction while incorporating modern materials like structural steel and Corten panels for the auditorium. The zoning and programmatic decisions reflect an inclusive and community-oriented design strategy. However, while the urban gesture and technical choices are strong, the architectural expression could benefit from greater coherence. The visual identity of the various programmatic elements, particularly their integration into the promenade, would benefit from more spatial hierarchy and differentiation. The project also hints at policy integration for maintenance, but this remains underdeveloped in architectural terms. Overall, this is a context-aware and socially impactful project that balances heritage preservation with economic regeneration, and with further spatial refinement, it could become a replicable model for similar heritage towns.
20.03.2026

Tamer ElSerafi

Kategorie

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