In-Ch Lab

The course of advanced studies CAS ‘ Sustainable Architecture in India’ starts in Nov 2012. More information is available on www.in-ch-studio.com

We’ll be doing a study trip for the Bern University of the Arts Switzerland. To learn art and architecture we’ll meet art galleries, schools, institutions, art cooperatives in Mumbai, Delhi and Cochin. Highlights in the program are the India Art Fair in Delhi and the Kochi Muziris Biennale.

As you enter this school it smells of Jasmine. How can you help people who don’t have a roof on their head, a livelihood, clean drinking water and toilets? This was the question before 4 young students from Switzerland, Spain and India. With multiple problems and limited time and resources the students built a school for the children of the slum. They used pet bottles filled with earth as the foundation and bamboo and thatch for the walls and roof. This small intervention has provided a school for the children of the community. This design will be implemented in the future by an institution called Roshini in other slums in Mysore.

This phase is the last part of the studio. In Bangalore the students work on 3 campus projects and use the influences and learning from Auroville, Excursion, Ahmadabad and Mumbai phase. The studio is intercepted with lectures from famous architects and coaching from a team of four coaches. The four coaches were Chitra Vishwanath, Juerg Grunder, Saina Nicolet and Priya Joseph. The highlight of this phase has been to work on real projects with client and stakeholder inputs. This gives the students a unique opportunity to work on a live situation and present their work to stakeholders.

To continue planning and realisation of dwelling and commercial buildings in Thoraipakkam Chennai we are searching for investors. We are ready for a responsible and professional collaboration.

Through analyses and research, the building for low income people in Wayanad has become a specific design and construction. Workers have started the execution process.

The furniture has arrived from Switzerland to Bangalore. Now we are combining the swiss design and the transformation of the premises by Indian contractor and his work force, which is an interesting moment for all involved.

IN:CH architects and planners have started the renovation for the Swiss consulate and Swissnex India office. The work involves many teams of electrical, carpentry and IT professionals who work with us. As architects we are transforming the place to be more open, with abundant light. The space would also represent Swiss and Indian design sensibilities. It was interesting to see the process involved so many teams with different specializations for the project to take shape. The challenge in this project has been to work in an existing building, which is occupied by different residences and offices. Another challenge was to renovate the place to Swiss standards but with only Indian companies and counterparts.

We’ll learn to know about bamboo as a material and to work with bamboo as a building material. The summer school in July will bring students from India and Switzerland together for a two week hands on workshop.