In-Ch Lab

A study of the KRVIA Mumbai together with the BUAS Bern is to analyze buildings from 1940-60 with public function and to show how those can be restored, altered and added to with respect.
We are looking for the financing of the collaboration.

Congratulations and all the best for Viral and Devika from Mumbai. To work in intercultural teams creates friendships. We look back to several IN:CH couples, Indian-Indian, Swiss-Swiss and Indian-Swiss.

The CAS (Certificate of Advanced Studies) has concluded successfully. The three-week workshop had participants from Japan, Ukraine, Spain and Switzerland. After the first week of excursion around Auroville, participants were introduced to the scenario in Bangalore with two tasks- the first was the design of residences on a typical plot size available in Bangalore, with a dense neighbourhood; the second was designing a public space for a small area center. A panel of jurors that included eminent architects like Smaran Mallesh, Monalika Nanda and Monica Nair evaluated the concepts.

The process to find good project ideas for an eco report in the Western Ghats has started with an NGO with a good progress. To work with bamboo, mud and lime, to integrate houses in a beautiful landscape, to combine tourism and village activities is a challenge and a chance. The project at Waynad is for an NGO called URAVU. The task is to create an eco resort and design the cottages, restaurant and reception spaces in bamboo and other sustainable material with an integrated master plan. The site is an extremely beautiful abode of nature.

A student team from IN:CH 2011 has won the award for sustainable architecture at Bern University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland, Department of Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineering. The project, a high rise apartment building in Bangalore with opening, gardens, terraces and breathing spaces. The concept of sustainability in design, management and technology were involved.
The students who won this award are

Project Title: Sustainable, healthy and safe housing in the city

sarah diggelmann | pradnya mahajan

shifa saudagar | sharan suresh babu

jitka vancurova | gionatan vignola

The shape of the first cottages are visible at the sustainable tourism project for URAVU. How beautiful is it to build with local materials like bamboo, in a forest surrounded by bamboo, with local skill men who live around the site ? All buildings are integrated into the fabric fantastic landscape of Wayanad, Kerela.

IN:CH studio students have received four awards for their work this year at Bern University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland. Award for “Sustainable Architecture” best Thesis 2012, Award for Architecture+Management best Thesis 2012, Award for best of all Students Work, Award for “Sustainable Architecture” best Intermediate 2012

IN:CH completes 10 years of international collaboration between India and Switzerland and we are celebrating it on 5th July 2013 at Bern. Students and associates from the last 10 years will join us for this special event. Juerg Grunder, Yatin Pandya, Chitra Vishwanath and Priya Joseph would speak to the gathering. They would speak about the the process and progress in the last 10 years and what would be the future of this studio.

The IN:CH 2012 studio commenced 29th Feb in India.
The intermediate students from Bern University of Applied Sciences stay and work on a live project in India till May 31st 2012. The task is to design a community activity centre, in combination with hotel, restaurants and senior center for a settlement in the south of Bangalore understanding the social, environmental and technical requirements from the investor and the end-users.

The task is to create a space that is environmentally sustainable with least environmental footprint and design for an enhanced social interaction of the residents. The essence of the task is to create a place that has the Indian identity but is also a hybrid of the traditional and modern. Sustainability is the overriding design factor for the task.

A shade and play equipment with colourful recycled flex banners, old tyres and bamboo for a school is what the IN:CH Studio 2014 students created for the children of this school. The children in making these structures alongside the IN:CH Studio students.