Remembering Didi Contractor
Ethos Foundation is delighted to invite you to a special event on the 9th of August, 2024 as we commence the 15th Sense N Sensibility lecture, dedicated to the inspiring legacy of Didi Contractor.
Session Highlights
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A Call to Return: Exploring the Wisdom of Didi Contractor. Join us for a discussion on Didi's remarkable journey through her celebrated book, led by Ar Lakshmi Swaminathan. Discover the philosophies and works of our beloved designer who seamlessly blended traditional and sustainable building practices.
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Discussion with Naresh Bhai: In celebration of World Indigenous People Day, engage in an insightful conversation between Ar Lakshmi and Naresh Bhai. We will explore the significance of indigenous wisdom in contemporary architecture and lifestyle
About the Speaker
Ar. Lakshmi Swaminathan
Lakshmi Swaminathan is an architect based in Tiruvannamalai, India, where she undertakes projects on Earthen Building Techniques. In 2017, she visited Didi Contractor in Himachal Pradesh for a day and spent the next four years with her. Recently, she compiled and edited a book titled 'A Call to Return: A Journey with Didi Contractor' published by Banyan Tree, India. Lakshmi also focuses on disseminating Didi's works through different mediums.
Naresh Kumar Sharma
Builder who worked closely with Didi Contractor
Naresh Kumar Sharma is an independent builder specialised in Earthen building techniques in the Kangra Valley in Himachal Pradesh. Naresh comes from a Bhatt Gaddi community. He began his training under Didi Contractor in 1994 and continued to work on her projects for more than two decades. As an experienced builder, he now trains young masons in the valley in the tradition of Earthen Building techniques. Naresh is also a facilitator for the Natural building workshops at the Dharmalaya Institute of Compassionate Living.
About Sense N Sensibility
Sense N Sensibility (SNS) is a lecture series by ACEDGE, to allow access to expert viewpoints, from across the globe. These experts would demonstrate, through their choices, experiments and lessons, multiple vantage points for developing and exploring design.
Sense N Sensibility is about integration and the big picture. We seek to dishevel the older notions of compartmentalisation of knowledge and introduce learners across the country to collaborative and interdisciplinary studies. Many of our speakers are experts from varied fields- a mayor, a grassroots social worker who works towards community empowerment, an engineer working to resolve water-crisis, sustainability experts, social scientists, travellers, industrial entrepreneurs, and many others.
The inaugural lecture for the SNS series was delivered by Architect George Ferguson, Past President RIBA (2003/5) and first elected Mayor of Bristol UK (2012-16). On the other side of the globe, Architect Ferguson, fought for the rights of a neighbourhood to remain ‘mixed’, against the monoculture promoted by developers.
The second lecture by Amit Pasricha celebrates the lesser-known built heritage of India and his Journey of the 'India- Lost and Found' Campaign.
The third lecture was by a Pritzker Jury member, André Aranha Corrêa do Lago, also Brazilian Ambassador to India. He spoke about Pritzker winning Laureates from the countries of India, Brazil and Japan.
The fourth lecture was by Ar. Rafiq Azam of SHATOTTO Architecture of Green Living on Phenomenal Practice and Thought-provoking Explorations on the field of Architecture and recent Urban Interventions.
The fifth lecture was by Ar. Yasmeen Lari, Pakistan's first female architect. She spoke on lowering the Carbon Footprint: Humanistic Architecture for Post-COVID-19 World.
The sixth lecture by Ar. Krishna Rao Jaisim and Ar Narendra Dengle iterated the relevance and applicability of the underlying concepts of the Gandhian philosophy.
The seventh lecture conducted by Ar. Shirish Beri talked about the importance of architecture in shaping human behaviour.
The eighth lecture by Ar. Prasanna Desai and Ar. Amit Gupta elaborated on Design Research in Practice and Pedagogy.
The ninth lecture by Dr. Anupama Kundoo talked about the social and environmental duties of an Architect.
The tenth lecture by Prof. Neelkanth Chhaya was an edition to commemorate the Teacher's Day as he shared anecdotes and insights on Learning and Teaching in Architecture.
The eleventh lecture by Prof. Habeeb Khan, former president of CoA, was a deliberation to discuss NEP, Admission and, Exit test and much more.
The 12th lecture by Poonam Natarajan and Ar. Shivani Shah shared how Universal Design can be the guiding principle to shape our spaces inclusively.
The 13th lecture was by Jugadopolis, Ronojoy Sen and Shyamal Datta on Traditional Wisdom and Vernacular Architecture.
The last lecture focussed on Construction workers under the ShramA-Project Dignity. We spoke with Nari Puraskar winner Rani Mistry, Sunita Bhagat- a conversation of resilience, teamwork, and the skills of construction workers.
Institutional Partners
