Smriti Saraswat
Smriti Saraswat is trained as an architect and interior designer. She was awarded the Letter of Merit for academic excellence in Master of Interior Architecture and Design, by the CEPT University, Ahmedabad. She has a work experience of fifteen years. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture and Planning at IIT Roorkee (Uttarakhand, India), and a joint faculty member in the Department of Design, IIT Roorkee. She is passionate about Architectural Heritage; Tangible and Intangible Cultural Heritage; Traditional Building Practices, Indian Knowledge Systems; Indigenous Communities; Interior-Architecture; Craft and Technology; Material Culture and Design-Build Procedures; Creative and Cultural Industries; Skill Development; Entrepreneurship, Trans-Disciplinary Explorations and Cross-Sectoral Collaborations; Narratives; Anthropological Quests and Ethnographic Approaches in Architecture; Women Empowerment; Curriculum and Pedagogy Development; Research Methods.
She has worked on – prestigious projects focusing on museums and conservation while doing internship with the Development and Research Organisation on Nature, Arts and Heritage (DRONAH), Gurgaon; projects and events discussing craft & technology, design innovation and interior-architecture during her tenure as a senior researcher at Design Innovation and Craft Resource Centre (DICRC), CEPT University, Ahmedabad, with a focus on conducting workshops, prototyping, developing monographs based on these, and creating material inventories; projects and events focusing on indigenous communities (especially women artisans), art-craft-interior-architecture traditions of Uttarakhand and visual and cultural narratives from the Himalayan state with IIT Roorkee and Ministry of Culture; and, a joint project (Co – PI with Prof. Harshit Lakra, IIT Roorkee) on Model Village Development for the Juang Tribe of Odisha, funded by HUDCO. She has taken initiatives to promote the role of craftspersons, especially women artisans, in the non-traditional sectors like education and encouraged their participation in varied courses, workshops, exhibitions and events at IIT Roorkee. She got a Research Grant “Experimental Architecture and Material Culture (EAMC)”, under the Scheme ‘A New Passage to INDIA’ (2019-2022), sponsored by DAAD, Germany, in collaboration with Prof. Axel Sowa, RWTH University, Aachen that focuses on architectural heritage, material culture, building crafts and experimental architecture. The project EAMC has received an extension of duration and funding, until Dec. 2023. Currently, she is involved in the capacity of a co-investigator, in the Project “Traditional Principles of Settlement Planning in Heritage Temple Sites of Odisha/ Erstwhile Kalinga Region”, along with Prof. Rabi Mohanty, IIT BHU, sanctioned by AICTE, under the Scheme ‘Indian Knowledge Systems’. She is also working with MoC, MoE, UTDB, MoT on diverse projects, primarily focusing on promoting tourism, culture and IKS.
Her Ph.D. is an attempt to explore and investigate material culture, traditional architecture and building crafts of the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in India, with a focus on community-based knowledge systems. She has received several grants and scholarships; organized varied national and international workshops; training programmes; short term courses, including GIAN and SWAYAM NPTEL under the aegis of Ministry of Education; trans-disciplinary academic workshops at IIT Roorkee that focus on materials; heritage; craft and technology; interior-architecture; and, design innovations.; set up collaborations with National and International schools and organisations; conducted FDP courses; contributed in training and capacity building programmes; and authored several publications. She loves to travel; document; read; create photo essays; and tell stories.
OUTREACH
Contact: smritisaraswat@gmail.com ; spacefap@iitr.ac.in ; +91 75000 611 99
Faculty Profile: https://iitr.ac.in/Departments/Architecture%20and%20Planning%20Department/People/Faculty/100600.html https://iitr.ac.in/Departments/Department%20of%20Design/People/Joint%20Faculty.html https://ir.iitr.ac.in/MajorProjects
https://ir.iitr.ac.in/blog/posts/961/
Google scholar id: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=0Jj-c5oAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID id: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6133-1979 ;
SCOPUS id: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56739028300
Academia: https://iitr-in.academia.edu/SmritiSaraswat
Supervisors: Dr. Seema Khanwalkar, Prof. Axel Sowa, Prof. Kapil Kapoor, Dr. Shikha Jain, Prof. Jay Thakkar, and Dr. Arif Kamal
Phone: 01332 - 284770
Address: Department of Architecture & Planning, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee - 247667, Uttarakhand
She has worked on – prestigious projects focusing on museums and conservation while doing internship with the Development and Research Organisation on Nature, Arts and Heritage (DRONAH), Gurgaon; projects and events discussing craft & technology, design innovation and interior-architecture during her tenure as a senior researcher at Design Innovation and Craft Resource Centre (DICRC), CEPT University, Ahmedabad, with a focus on conducting workshops, prototyping, developing monographs based on these, and creating material inventories; projects and events focusing on indigenous communities (especially women artisans), art-craft-interior-architecture traditions of Uttarakhand and visual and cultural narratives from the Himalayan state with IIT Roorkee and Ministry of Culture; and, a joint project (Co – PI with Prof. Harshit Lakra, IIT Roorkee) on Model Village Development for the Juang Tribe of Odisha, funded by HUDCO. She has taken initiatives to promote the role of craftspersons, especially women artisans, in the non-traditional sectors like education and encouraged their participation in varied courses, workshops, exhibitions and events at IIT Roorkee. She got a Research Grant “Experimental Architecture and Material Culture (EAMC)”, under the Scheme ‘A New Passage to INDIA’ (2019-2022), sponsored by DAAD, Germany, in collaboration with Prof. Axel Sowa, RWTH University, Aachen that focuses on architectural heritage, material culture, building crafts and experimental architecture. The project EAMC has received an extension of duration and funding, until Dec. 2023. Currently, she is involved in the capacity of a co-investigator, in the Project “Traditional Principles of Settlement Planning in Heritage Temple Sites of Odisha/ Erstwhile Kalinga Region”, along with Prof. Rabi Mohanty, IIT BHU, sanctioned by AICTE, under the Scheme ‘Indian Knowledge Systems’. She is also working with MoC, MoE, UTDB, MoT on diverse projects, primarily focusing on promoting tourism, culture and IKS.
Her Ph.D. is an attempt to explore and investigate material culture, traditional architecture and building crafts of the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in India, with a focus on community-based knowledge systems. She has received several grants and scholarships; organized varied national and international workshops; training programmes; short term courses, including GIAN and SWAYAM NPTEL under the aegis of Ministry of Education; trans-disciplinary academic workshops at IIT Roorkee that focus on materials; heritage; craft and technology; interior-architecture; and, design innovations.; set up collaborations with National and International schools and organisations; conducted FDP courses; contributed in training and capacity building programmes; and authored several publications. She loves to travel; document; read; create photo essays; and tell stories.
OUTREACH
Contact: smritisaraswat@gmail.com ; spacefap@iitr.ac.in ; +91 75000 611 99
Faculty Profile: https://iitr.ac.in/Departments/Architecture%20and%20Planning%20Department/People/Faculty/100600.html https://iitr.ac.in/Departments/Department%20of%20Design/People/Joint%20Faculty.html https://ir.iitr.ac.in/MajorProjects
https://ir.iitr.ac.in/blog/posts/961/
Google scholar id: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=0Jj-c5oAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID id: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6133-1979 ;
SCOPUS id: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56739028300
Academia: https://iitr-in.academia.edu/SmritiSaraswat
Supervisors: Dr. Seema Khanwalkar, Prof. Axel Sowa, Prof. Kapil Kapoor, Dr. Shikha Jain, Prof. Jay Thakkar, and Dr. Arif Kamal
Phone: 01332 - 284770
Address: Department of Architecture & Planning, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee - 247667, Uttarakhand
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Profile by Smriti Saraswat
She has worked on – prestigious projects focusing on museums and conservation while doing internship with the Development and Research Organisation on Nature, Arts and Heritage (DRONAH), Gurgaon; projects and events discussing craft & technology, design innovation and interior-architecture during her tenure as a senior researcher at Design Innovation and Craft Resource Centre (DICRC), CEPT University, Ahmedabad, with a focus on conducting workshops, prototyping, developing monographs based on these, and creating material inventories; projects and events focusing on indigenous communities (especially women artisans), art-craft-interior-architecture traditions of Uttarakhand and visual and cultural narratives from the Himalayan state with IIT Roorkee and Ministry of Culture; and, a joint project (Co – PI with Prof. Harshit Lakra, IIT Roorkee) on Model Village Development for the Juang Tribe of Odisha, funded by HUDCO. She has taken initiatives to promote the role of craftspersons, especially women artisans, in the non-traditional sectors like education and encouraged their participation in varied courses, workshops, exhibitions and events at IIT Roorkee. She got a Research Grant “Experimental Architecture and Material Culture (EAMC)”, under the Scheme ‘A New Passage to INDIA’ (2019-2022), sponsored by DAAD, Germany, in collaboration with Prof. Axel Sowa, RWTH University, Aachen that focuses on architectural heritage, material culture, building crafts and experimental architecture. The project EAMC has received an extension of duration and funding, until Dec. 2023. Currently, she is involved in the capacity of a co-investigator, in the Project “Traditional Principles of Settlement Planning in Heritage Temple Sites of Odisha/ Erstwhile Kalinga Region”, along with Prof. Rabi Mohanty, IIT BHU, sanctioned by AICTE, under the Scheme ‘Indian Knowledge Systems’. She is also working with MoC, MoE, UTDB, MoT on diverse projects, primarily focusing on promoting tourism, culture and IKS.
Her Ph.D. is an attempt to explore and investigate material culture, traditional architecture and building crafts of the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in India, with a focus on community-based knowledge systems. She has received several grants and scholarships; organized varied national and international workshops; training programmes; short term courses, including GIAN and SWAYAM NPTEL under the aegis of Ministry of Education; trans-disciplinary academic workshops at IIT Roorkee that focus on materials; heritage; craft and technology; interior-architecture; and, design innovations.; set up collaborations with National and International schools and organisations; conducted FDP courses; contributed in training and capacity building programmes; and authored several publications. She loves to travel; document; read; create photo essays; and tell stories.
OUTREACH
Contact: smritisaraswat@gmail.com ; spacefap@iitr.ac.in ; +91 75000 611 99
Faculty Profile: https://iitr.ac.in/Departments/Architecture%20and%20Planning%20Department/People/Faculty/100600.html https://iitr.ac.in/Departments/Department%20of%20Design/People/Joint%20Faculty.html https://ir.iitr.ac.in/MajorProjects
https://ir.iitr.ac.in/blog/posts/961/
Google scholar id: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=0Jj-c5oAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID id: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6133-1979 ;
SCOPUS id: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56739028300
Academia: https://iitr-in.academia.edu/SmritiSaraswat
She has worked on – prestigious projects focusing on museums and conservation while doing internship with the Development and Research Organisation on Nature, Arts and Heritage (DRONAH), Gurgaon; projects and events discussing craft & technology, design innovation and interior-architecture during her tenure as a senior researcher at Design Innovation and Craft Resource Centre (DICRC), CEPT University, Ahmedabad, with a focus on conducting workshops, prototyping, developing monographs based on these, and creating material inventories; projects and events focusing on indigenous communities (especially women artisans), art-craft-interior-architecture traditions of Uttarakhand and visual and cultural narratives from the Himalayan state with IIT Roorkee and Ministry of Culture; and, a joint project (Co – PI with Prof. Harshit Lakra, IIT Roorkee) on Model Village Development for the Juang Tribe of Odisha, funded by HUDCO. She has taken initiatives to promote the role of craftspersons, especially women artisans, in the non-traditional sectors like education and encouraged their participation in varied courses, workshops, exhibitions and events at IIT Roorkee. She got a Research Grant “Experimental Architecture and Material Culture (EAMC)”, under the Scheme ‘A New Passage to INDIA’ (2019-2022), sponsored by DAAD, Germany, in collaboration with Prof. Axel Sowa, RWTH University, Aachen that focuses on architectural heritage, material culture, building crafts and experimental architecture. The project EAMC has received an extension of duration and funding, until Dec. 2023. Currently, she is involved in the capacity of a co-investigator, in the Project “Traditional Principles of Settlement Planning in Heritage Temple Sites of Odisha/ Erstwhile Kalinga Region”, along with Prof. Rabi Mohanty, IIT BHU, sanctioned by AICTE, under the Scheme ‘Indian Knowledge Systems’
Her Ph.D. (submitted in Nov. 2022) is an attempt to explore and investigate material culture, traditional architecture and building crafts of the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in India, with a focus on community-based knowledge systems. She has received several grants and scholarships; organised varied national and international workshops; training programmes; short term courses, including GIAN and SWAYAM NPTEL under the aegis of Ministry of Education; trans-disciplinary academic workshops at IIT Roorkee that focus on materials; heritage; craft and technology; interior-architecture; and, design innovations.; set up collaborations with National and International schools and organisations; conducted FDP courses; contributed in training and capacity building programmes; and authored several publications. She has a work experience of fifteen years. She loves to travel; document; read; create photo essays; and tell stories.
OUTREACH
Contact: smritisaraswat@gmail.com ; spacefap@iitr.ac.in ; +91 75000 611 99
Faculty Profile: https://iitr.ac.in/Departments/Architecture%20and%20Planning%20Department/People/Faculty/100600.html https://iitr.ac.in/Departments/Department%20of%20Design/People/Joint%20Faculty.html
https://ir.iitr.ac.in/MajorProjects
https://ir.iitr.ac.in/blog/posts/961/
Google scholar id: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=0Jj-c5oAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID id: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6133-1979 ;
SCOPUS id: "Saraswat, Smriti" 56739028300
Academia: https://iitr-in.academia.edu/SmritiSaraswat
She has worked on – prestigious projects focusing on museums and conservation while doing internship with the Development and Research Organisation on Nature, Arts and Heritage (DRONAH), Gurgaon; projects and events discussing craft & technology, design innovation and interior-architecture during her tenure as a senior researcher at Design Innovation and Craft Resource Centre (DICRC), CEPT University, Ahmedabad, with a focus on conducting workshops, prototyping, developing monographs based on these, and creating material inventories; projects and events focusing on indigenous communities (especially women artisans), art-craft-interior-architecture traditions of Uttarakhand and visual and cultural narratives from the Himalayan state with IIT Roorkee and Ministry of Culture; and, a joint project (Co – PI with Prof. Harshit Lakra, IIT Roorkee) on Model Village Development for the Juang Tribe of Odisha, funded by HUDCO. She has taken initiatives to promote the role of craftspersons, especially women artisans, in the non-traditional sectors like education and encouraged their participation in varied courses, workshops, exhibitions and events at IIT Roorkee. She got a Research Grant “Experimental Architecture and Material Culture (EAMC)”, under the Scheme ‘A New Passage to INDIA’ (2019-2022), sponsored by DAAD, Germany, in collaboration with Prof. Axel Sowa, RWTH University, Aachen that focuses on architectural heritage, material culture, building crafts and experimental architecture. The project EAMC has received an extension of duration and funding, until Dec. 2023. Currently, she is involved in the capacity of a co-investigator, in the Project “Traditional Principles of Settlement Planning in Heritage Temple Sites of Odisha/ Erstwhile Kalinga Region”, along with Prof. Rabi Mohanty, IIT BHU, sanctioned by AICTE, under the Scheme ‘Indian Knowledge Systems’
Her Ph.D. (submitted in Nov. 2022) is an attempt to explore and investigate material culture, traditional architecture and building crafts of the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in India, with a focus on community-based knowledge systems. She has received several grants and scholarships; organised varied national and international workshops; training programmes; short term courses, including GIAN and SWAYAM NPTEL under the aegis of Ministry of Education; trans-disciplinary academic workshops at IIT Roorkee that focus on materials; heritage; craft and technology; interior-architecture; and, design innovations.; set up collaborations with National and International schools and organisations; conducted FDP courses; contributed in training and capacity building programmes; and authored several publications. She has a work experience of fifteen years. She loves to travel; document; read; create photo essays; and tell stories.
OUTREACH
Contact: smritisaraswat@gmail.com ; spacefap@iitr.ac.in ; +91 75000 611 99
Faculty Profile: https://iitr.ac.in/Departments/Architecture%20and%20Planning%20Department/People/Faculty/100600.html https://iitr.ac.in/Departments/Department%20of%20Design/People/Joint%20Faculty.html
https://ir.iitr.ac.in/MajorProjects
https://ir.iitr.ac.in/blog/posts/961/
Google scholar id: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=0Jj-c5oAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID id: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6133-1979 ;
SCOPUS id: "Saraswat, Smriti" 56739028300
Academia: https://iitr-in.academia.edu/SmritiSaraswat
LIST OF PUBLICATIONS by Smriti Saraswat
Books by Smriti Saraswat
CHAPTERS IN BOOKS by Smriti Saraswat
architecture is much like the framed construction of modern times. The structural design suggests that these buildings responded well to the forces likely to act upon them during an earthquake. The paper further investigates what are the modifications that have happened in this style of architecture with respect to morphology and materials, through three case studies done in the Garhwal region. This is primarily a descriptive research based on a case study (field study) approach, which
focuses on traditional knowledge systems; indigenous building materials; community involvement; and, craft skills of Uttarakhand.
Keywords Koti Banal Architecture; Uttarakhand; Indigenous; Craft; Materials; Community; India
According to existing literature, the design culture is prominently dominated by two different approaches – ‘non-rhetoric design’ and ‘story-telling design’. This paper discusses the latter, with focus on craft and narrative (the analysis of narrative is an important branch of semiotics). Craft has the potential of becoming a strong narrative barometer for Design (here, Interior-Architecture). Narrative Barometer refers to a medium that has a potential to measure; create; carry forward and deliver narratives or Narrativity. Moreover, every craft has a narrative framework and a narrative structure (grammar) underlying it that contributes to design semantics
and visual language in Interior-Architecture. It is simpler to study the narrative framework and structure in the literary narratives. But, in the non-literary narratives like paintings, relief works, sculptures, folk performances, crafts; it is difficult to do study the same. This research focuses on the non-literary narratives, specifically stone crafts in the religious buildings of India. Very few efforts have been made to study the narrative framework and narrative structure within crafts and design. This paper is an attempt to translate various models and codes deduced from different theoretical perspectives into Interior Architecture, with narratives being the centre and stone crafts
being the medium. It aims to contribute to an inter-disciplinary research on Narratives, Narratology, Craft, Design, and Interior-Architecture.
Keywords: Design, Interior-Architecture, Craft, Stone Crafts, Narrative, Narrative Barometer, Narrative Structure, Religious Buildings, India
Monographs/Imprints/Manifestos/Reports by Smriti Saraswat
‘Dharohar’, which was under taken in July 2014. The
Project was supported by IIT Roorkee.
Smriti Saraswat is the Principal Investigator of the Project.
She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture
and Planning, IIT Roorkee. Harshit Sosan Lakra is the
Co-Investigator. She is also an Assistant Professor in the
Department of Architecture and Planning, IIT Roorkee.
Dr. Ila Gupta is a Professor and Head of the Department
of Architecture and Planning, IIT Roorkee (Uttarakhand, India).
This report was launched by Centre for Urban Design and Development, IIT Roorkee, during the Three Day National Workshop on 'Craft and Skill Development for Sustainable Design' organised and conducted during 16th - 18th August 2016.
All the sketches including the cover Sketch are done by a
dear friend and an eminent artist Shaam Pahapalkar.
All the Images are by the documentation team
(unless mentioned otherwise).
Papers by Smriti Saraswat
Abstract: The deindustrialization of colonial India had a significant impact on the development of socio-spatial frameworks for modern cities in India. The industrial buildings lost their original functions and it is often impossible to restore older buildings, even being sympathetic to history. Now these industrial buildings stand as an iconic backdrop to the urban fabric. Adaptive reuse is an alternate program to give life to obsolete structures by retaining their integrity while providing for contemporary needs. This research is an attempt to evaluate the adaptive-reuse potential of abandoned roof tile factories along the Malabar coast in India. The first tile factory (1865) established by Basel Missionaries of Germany in Mangalore, marked the beginning of one of the region’s largest industries that produced Mangalore tiles. These clay roof tiles later defined the language of pitched roof structures throughout the southwest coast of India. By the end of the twentieth century, the tile industry had declined drastically, resulting in the closure of many factories. The aim is to investigate and analyze the adaptive reuse potential of abandoned industrial buildings and understand perspectives on repurposing them. Through primary and secondary researches, a total of 106 factories were investigated and it has been established that almost 90 percent of the extant tile factories have the potential to be reused, focusing on both tangible and intangible aspects. Though this research is focused on the geographical region of Malabar and the roof tile industry, the methodology can be upscaled and implemented pan-India, concentrating on industrial heritage buildings.
Author(s): Amrutha Das, Smriti Saraswat
Publisher: Common Ground Research Networks
Collection: Common Ground Research Networks
Series: The Constructed Environment
Journal Title: The International Journal of Architectonic, Spatial, and Environmental Design
Keywords: Adaptive Reuse, Industrial Heritage, Urban Context, Tile Factories, India
Volume: 17
Issue: 2
Date: May 05, 2023
ISSN: 2325-1662 (Print)
ISSN: 2325-1670 (Online)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18848/2325-1662/CGP/v17i02/169-192
Citation: Das, Amrutha, and Smriti Saraswat. 2023. "Evaluating Adaptive Reuse Potential of Abandoned Factories in India: A Case of Mangalore Tile Factories along the Malabar Coast." The International Journal of Architectonic, Spatial, and Environmental Design 17 (2): 169-192. doi:10.18848/2325-1662/CGP/v17i02/169-192.
Extent: 24 pages
She has worked on – prestigious projects focusing on museums and conservation while doing internship with the Development and Research Organisation on Nature, Arts and Heritage (DRONAH), Gurgaon; projects and events discussing craft & technology, design innovation and interior-architecture during her tenure as a senior researcher at Design Innovation and Craft Resource Centre (DICRC), CEPT University, Ahmedabad, with a focus on conducting workshops, prototyping, developing monographs based on these, and creating material inventories; projects and events focusing on indigenous communities (especially women artisans), art-craft-interior-architecture traditions of Uttarakhand and visual and cultural narratives from the Himalayan state with IIT Roorkee and Ministry of Culture; and, a joint project (Co – PI with Prof. Harshit Lakra, IIT Roorkee) on Model Village Development for the Juang Tribe of Odisha, funded by HUDCO. She has taken initiatives to promote the role of craftspersons, especially women artisans, in the non-traditional sectors like education and encouraged their participation in varied courses, workshops, exhibitions and events at IIT Roorkee. She got a Research Grant “Experimental Architecture and Material Culture (EAMC)”, under the Scheme ‘A New Passage to INDIA’ (2019-2022), sponsored by DAAD, Germany, in collaboration with Prof. Axel Sowa, RWTH University, Aachen that focuses on architectural heritage, material culture, building crafts and experimental architecture. The project EAMC has received an extension of duration and funding, until Dec. 2023. Currently, she is involved in the capacity of a co-investigator, in the Project “Traditional Principles of Settlement Planning in Heritage Temple Sites of Odisha/ Erstwhile Kalinga Region”, along with Prof. Rabi Mohanty, IIT BHU, sanctioned by AICTE, under the Scheme ‘Indian Knowledge Systems’. She is also working with MoC, MoE, UTDB, MoT on diverse projects, primarily focusing on promoting tourism, culture and IKS.
Her Ph.D. is an attempt to explore and investigate material culture, traditional architecture and building crafts of the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in India, with a focus on community-based knowledge systems. She has received several grants and scholarships; organized varied national and international workshops; training programmes; short term courses, including GIAN and SWAYAM NPTEL under the aegis of Ministry of Education; trans-disciplinary academic workshops at IIT Roorkee that focus on materials; heritage; craft and technology; interior-architecture; and, design innovations.; set up collaborations with National and International schools and organisations; conducted FDP courses; contributed in training and capacity building programmes; and authored several publications. She loves to travel; document; read; create photo essays; and tell stories.
OUTREACH
Contact: smritisaraswat@gmail.com ; spacefap@iitr.ac.in ; +91 75000 611 99
Faculty Profile: https://iitr.ac.in/Departments/Architecture%20and%20Planning%20Department/People/Faculty/100600.html https://iitr.ac.in/Departments/Department%20of%20Design/People/Joint%20Faculty.html https://ir.iitr.ac.in/MajorProjects
https://ir.iitr.ac.in/blog/posts/961/
Google scholar id: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=0Jj-c5oAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID id: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6133-1979 ;
SCOPUS id: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56739028300
Academia: https://iitr-in.academia.edu/SmritiSaraswat
She has worked on – prestigious projects focusing on museums and conservation while doing internship with the Development and Research Organisation on Nature, Arts and Heritage (DRONAH), Gurgaon; projects and events discussing craft & technology, design innovation and interior-architecture during her tenure as a senior researcher at Design Innovation and Craft Resource Centre (DICRC), CEPT University, Ahmedabad, with a focus on conducting workshops, prototyping, developing monographs based on these, and creating material inventories; projects and events focusing on indigenous communities (especially women artisans), art-craft-interior-architecture traditions of Uttarakhand and visual and cultural narratives from the Himalayan state with IIT Roorkee and Ministry of Culture; and, a joint project (Co – PI with Prof. Harshit Lakra, IIT Roorkee) on Model Village Development for the Juang Tribe of Odisha, funded by HUDCO. She has taken initiatives to promote the role of craftspersons, especially women artisans, in the non-traditional sectors like education and encouraged their participation in varied courses, workshops, exhibitions and events at IIT Roorkee. She got a Research Grant “Experimental Architecture and Material Culture (EAMC)”, under the Scheme ‘A New Passage to INDIA’ (2019-2022), sponsored by DAAD, Germany, in collaboration with Prof. Axel Sowa, RWTH University, Aachen that focuses on architectural heritage, material culture, building crafts and experimental architecture. The project EAMC has received an extension of duration and funding, until Dec. 2023. Currently, she is involved in the capacity of a co-investigator, in the Project “Traditional Principles of Settlement Planning in Heritage Temple Sites of Odisha/ Erstwhile Kalinga Region”, along with Prof. Rabi Mohanty, IIT BHU, sanctioned by AICTE, under the Scheme ‘Indian Knowledge Systems’
Her Ph.D. (submitted in Nov. 2022) is an attempt to explore and investigate material culture, traditional architecture and building crafts of the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in India, with a focus on community-based knowledge systems. She has received several grants and scholarships; organised varied national and international workshops; training programmes; short term courses, including GIAN and SWAYAM NPTEL under the aegis of Ministry of Education; trans-disciplinary academic workshops at IIT Roorkee that focus on materials; heritage; craft and technology; interior-architecture; and, design innovations.; set up collaborations with National and International schools and organisations; conducted FDP courses; contributed in training and capacity building programmes; and authored several publications. She has a work experience of fifteen years. She loves to travel; document; read; create photo essays; and tell stories.
OUTREACH
Contact: smritisaraswat@gmail.com ; spacefap@iitr.ac.in ; +91 75000 611 99
Faculty Profile: https://iitr.ac.in/Departments/Architecture%20and%20Planning%20Department/People/Faculty/100600.html https://iitr.ac.in/Departments/Department%20of%20Design/People/Joint%20Faculty.html
https://ir.iitr.ac.in/MajorProjects
https://ir.iitr.ac.in/blog/posts/961/
Google scholar id: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=0Jj-c5oAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID id: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6133-1979 ;
SCOPUS id: "Saraswat, Smriti" 56739028300
Academia: https://iitr-in.academia.edu/SmritiSaraswat
She has worked on – prestigious projects focusing on museums and conservation while doing internship with the Development and Research Organisation on Nature, Arts and Heritage (DRONAH), Gurgaon; projects and events discussing craft & technology, design innovation and interior-architecture during her tenure as a senior researcher at Design Innovation and Craft Resource Centre (DICRC), CEPT University, Ahmedabad, with a focus on conducting workshops, prototyping, developing monographs based on these, and creating material inventories; projects and events focusing on indigenous communities (especially women artisans), art-craft-interior-architecture traditions of Uttarakhand and visual and cultural narratives from the Himalayan state with IIT Roorkee and Ministry of Culture; and, a joint project (Co – PI with Prof. Harshit Lakra, IIT Roorkee) on Model Village Development for the Juang Tribe of Odisha, funded by HUDCO. She has taken initiatives to promote the role of craftspersons, especially women artisans, in the non-traditional sectors like education and encouraged their participation in varied courses, workshops, exhibitions and events at IIT Roorkee. She got a Research Grant “Experimental Architecture and Material Culture (EAMC)”, under the Scheme ‘A New Passage to INDIA’ (2019-2022), sponsored by DAAD, Germany, in collaboration with Prof. Axel Sowa, RWTH University, Aachen that focuses on architectural heritage, material culture, building crafts and experimental architecture. The project EAMC has received an extension of duration and funding, until Dec. 2023. Currently, she is involved in the capacity of a co-investigator, in the Project “Traditional Principles of Settlement Planning in Heritage Temple Sites of Odisha/ Erstwhile Kalinga Region”, along with Prof. Rabi Mohanty, IIT BHU, sanctioned by AICTE, under the Scheme ‘Indian Knowledge Systems’
Her Ph.D. (submitted in Nov. 2022) is an attempt to explore and investigate material culture, traditional architecture and building crafts of the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand in India, with a focus on community-based knowledge systems. She has received several grants and scholarships; organised varied national and international workshops; training programmes; short term courses, including GIAN and SWAYAM NPTEL under the aegis of Ministry of Education; trans-disciplinary academic workshops at IIT Roorkee that focus on materials; heritage; craft and technology; interior-architecture; and, design innovations.; set up collaborations with National and International schools and organisations; conducted FDP courses; contributed in training and capacity building programmes; and authored several publications. She has a work experience of fifteen years. She loves to travel; document; read; create photo essays; and tell stories.
OUTREACH
Contact: smritisaraswat@gmail.com ; spacefap@iitr.ac.in ; +91 75000 611 99
Faculty Profile: https://iitr.ac.in/Departments/Architecture%20and%20Planning%20Department/People/Faculty/100600.html https://iitr.ac.in/Departments/Department%20of%20Design/People/Joint%20Faculty.html
https://ir.iitr.ac.in/MajorProjects
https://ir.iitr.ac.in/blog/posts/961/
Google scholar id: https://scholar.google.co.in/citations?user=0Jj-c5oAAAAJ&hl=en
ORCID id: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6133-1979 ;
SCOPUS id: "Saraswat, Smriti" 56739028300
Academia: https://iitr-in.academia.edu/SmritiSaraswat
architecture is much like the framed construction of modern times. The structural design suggests that these buildings responded well to the forces likely to act upon them during an earthquake. The paper further investigates what are the modifications that have happened in this style of architecture with respect to morphology and materials, through three case studies done in the Garhwal region. This is primarily a descriptive research based on a case study (field study) approach, which
focuses on traditional knowledge systems; indigenous building materials; community involvement; and, craft skills of Uttarakhand.
Keywords Koti Banal Architecture; Uttarakhand; Indigenous; Craft; Materials; Community; India
According to existing literature, the design culture is prominently dominated by two different approaches – ‘non-rhetoric design’ and ‘story-telling design’. This paper discusses the latter, with focus on craft and narrative (the analysis of narrative is an important branch of semiotics). Craft has the potential of becoming a strong narrative barometer for Design (here, Interior-Architecture). Narrative Barometer refers to a medium that has a potential to measure; create; carry forward and deliver narratives or Narrativity. Moreover, every craft has a narrative framework and a narrative structure (grammar) underlying it that contributes to design semantics
and visual language in Interior-Architecture. It is simpler to study the narrative framework and structure in the literary narratives. But, in the non-literary narratives like paintings, relief works, sculptures, folk performances, crafts; it is difficult to do study the same. This research focuses on the non-literary narratives, specifically stone crafts in the religious buildings of India. Very few efforts have been made to study the narrative framework and narrative structure within crafts and design. This paper is an attempt to translate various models and codes deduced from different theoretical perspectives into Interior Architecture, with narratives being the centre and stone crafts
being the medium. It aims to contribute to an inter-disciplinary research on Narratives, Narratology, Craft, Design, and Interior-Architecture.
Keywords: Design, Interior-Architecture, Craft, Stone Crafts, Narrative, Narrative Barometer, Narrative Structure, Religious Buildings, India
‘Dharohar’, which was under taken in July 2014. The
Project was supported by IIT Roorkee.
Smriti Saraswat is the Principal Investigator of the Project.
She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture
and Planning, IIT Roorkee. Harshit Sosan Lakra is the
Co-Investigator. She is also an Assistant Professor in the
Department of Architecture and Planning, IIT Roorkee.
Dr. Ila Gupta is a Professor and Head of the Department
of Architecture and Planning, IIT Roorkee (Uttarakhand, India).
This report was launched by Centre for Urban Design and Development, IIT Roorkee, during the Three Day National Workshop on 'Craft and Skill Development for Sustainable Design' organised and conducted during 16th - 18th August 2016.
All the sketches including the cover Sketch are done by a
dear friend and an eminent artist Shaam Pahapalkar.
All the Images are by the documentation team
(unless mentioned otherwise).
Abstract: The deindustrialization of colonial India had a significant impact on the development of socio-spatial frameworks for modern cities in India. The industrial buildings lost their original functions and it is often impossible to restore older buildings, even being sympathetic to history. Now these industrial buildings stand as an iconic backdrop to the urban fabric. Adaptive reuse is an alternate program to give life to obsolete structures by retaining their integrity while providing for contemporary needs. This research is an attempt to evaluate the adaptive-reuse potential of abandoned roof tile factories along the Malabar coast in India. The first tile factory (1865) established by Basel Missionaries of Germany in Mangalore, marked the beginning of one of the region’s largest industries that produced Mangalore tiles. These clay roof tiles later defined the language of pitched roof structures throughout the southwest coast of India. By the end of the twentieth century, the tile industry had declined drastically, resulting in the closure of many factories. The aim is to investigate and analyze the adaptive reuse potential of abandoned industrial buildings and understand perspectives on repurposing them. Through primary and secondary researches, a total of 106 factories were investigated and it has been established that almost 90 percent of the extant tile factories have the potential to be reused, focusing on both tangible and intangible aspects. Though this research is focused on the geographical region of Malabar and the roof tile industry, the methodology can be upscaled and implemented pan-India, concentrating on industrial heritage buildings.
Author(s): Amrutha Das, Smriti Saraswat
Publisher: Common Ground Research Networks
Collection: Common Ground Research Networks
Series: The Constructed Environment
Journal Title: The International Journal of Architectonic, Spatial, and Environmental Design
Keywords: Adaptive Reuse, Industrial Heritage, Urban Context, Tile Factories, India
Volume: 17
Issue: 2
Date: May 05, 2023
ISSN: 2325-1662 (Print)
ISSN: 2325-1670 (Online)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.18848/2325-1662/CGP/v17i02/169-192
Citation: Das, Amrutha, and Smriti Saraswat. 2023. "Evaluating Adaptive Reuse Potential of Abandoned Factories in India: A Case of Mangalore Tile Factories along the Malabar Coast." The International Journal of Architectonic, Spatial, and Environmental Design 17 (2): 169-192. doi:10.18848/2325-1662/CGP/v17i02/169-192.
Extent: 24 pages
Keywords: Design, Interior-Architecture, Craft, Stone Crafts, Narrative, Narrative Barometer, Narrative Structure, Religious Buildings, India
Keywords: Pedagogy, Interior-Architecture, Art, Craft, Design, Inter-disciplinary, Explorations
Keywords: crafts, tradition, existing knowledge systems, empirical skills, culture, technology, innovation, social change, conjunction, wood turning and lacquer craft
consumer of energy which utilized huge amount of resources
and materials; produce massive volumes of waste discharge
into the environment and more often called as unsustainable
buildings. Building materials such as steel and cement with
high intensities of embodied energy are required to create the
skeletal framework and lay the foundation for their long
lasting structures. The growing global pressure to reduce
carbon footprint and concerns for creating sustainable
habitats, have also greatly ignited the quest to delve for
innovative solutions and emerging trends in tall building
designs. This paper discusses environmental sustainability in
tall buildings with special reference to the application of
renewable energy technologies. Further the paper also
validates the application of renewable energy technologies
by two detailed case study namely Bahrain World Trade
Center, Bahrain and The Pearl River Tower, Guangzhou.
(This article was published in INSITE, the periodical of Institute of Indian Interior Designers (IIID) in April 2012 - Text & Images by Author, unless specified otherwise)
It is a material, which has witnessed all the eras and narrates a timeline. It is available in abundance, and its use could be found all across the places in various products of daily use,
objects of arts and crafts, and architecture, all of which tell a story of their respective epoch. Stone has the potential of telling such a vast history because it is long lasting and could
easily stand the test of times.Earlier, stone crafts and architecture were considered two sides of the same coin.Large number of built forms can be traced in the areas which had easy access to the raw material. It was the wisdom in the ‘shilpi’ tradition that allowed the craftspersons to understand the composition of stones, their material properties, have expertise in quarrying techniques and exploit the potential to the
best. The most intriguing aspect is this vast repertory of information and knowledge was not just by experiences passed on from generations, but a completely scientific approach. With
the passage of time, this relationship has changed. Contrary to the previous picture, where stone found extensive use right from village constructions to urban dwellings, palaces to temples, today, the focus is shifted mainly to temples, folk products and masonry for urban areas. By allowing interventions on various levels, these traditional knowledge systems can be revived in contemporary times in efficient ways.
The Radhasoami Samadh at Agra, India is chosen as a thorough case study. It is a shrine constructed in the memory of Param Purush Puran Dhani Huzur Soamiji Maharaj, the
revered founder of the Radhasoami faith, who was born at Agra in 1818 AD. Conceived in the form of an architectural model by Soamiji himself, with the help of a British architect,
Frizoni, the building has been under construction for more than 100 years now. Although the building is still incomplete, it continues to spread the Radhasoami philosophy, with its ever
going construction. The building stands apart as a case study because of exquisite use of building crafts (stone carving, inlay, and several other space making elements), and the
process of its construction that gives an understanding of how crafts become integral to space making. Till date, most of the work in this building is done with hands, except the
cutting of stones and some electric hammer work. The idea of construction using hands, laborious detailing, intricate motifs and the pure craftsmanship has made the Samadh a perfect example of how traditional knowledge systems are innate with craft skills.
“The word narrative goes back to the Sanskrit word “gna”, a root term that means to “know”, and that it comes down to us through Latin words for both “knowing” (“gnarus”) and “telling” (“narro”) (Abott 2002).” Narrative simply means saying something or to construct the meaning of something, through the act of “telling”. “Telling”, literally means saying or to make known. It can be explained as a way in which the story is constructed.
Stone Crafts for a long time now have enhanced the value and the language of Interior Architecture. Carvings, inlays, motifs, arrangement of patterns, recurrent patterns; all of these, can be considered as narratives. Every stone is a piece of communication, and can be like a word. Stone Craft has an inherent possibility of being integral to the grammar of the structure, forming a discourse, and structuring or creating a narrative, just like human language. Hierarchy in elements within a formal pattern, presence as well as absence of any element, are all aspects and techniques that create a narrative. Functionality of the construction of stone crafts itself can be a narrative.
The process of Crafts and Interior Architecture can be interpreted through the medium of Narratives in order to fill the gap between the age old master mason tradition or “shilpi” tradition as popularly known in India(that is, craft skills with the backdrop of belief system and ethos) and today’s designer tradition. Moreover, Narratives can also help in giving a better understanding of other nuances of Crafts – Methodology, Pedagogy and Research.
“It stuns me that our architectural crafts – stone carving, inlay work, wood turnery, marble, terracotta, mural painting, and tile-ware – the glory of Indian buildings through the centuries, find no place in contemporary public architecture or interiors.” (“Indian Crafts in the age of Technology”, Indian Architects and Builders, Mar 2011, p. 156)
Though designers and craftspeople are getting aware of space making attributes of crafts, but still, lots of efforts are required to disseminate this knowledge, bring it into contemporary crafts education and design practices. Design Innovation and Craft Resource Centre (DICRC), at the faculty of Design, CEPT University, India, where I currently work as a research associate, is one such initiative. It is a centre for research, study, documentation, and organizing programs and projects related to Space Making Crafts (SMC) of vernacular and traditional built environments of India.
The gap between the craft skills (the age old master craftsperson and traditional methods) and the designer skills seems ever-increasing. It is crucial to understand the craft skills (crafts with the backdrop narratives of ethos) as well as the design implications, and bridge the two of them. Moreover, there is a need to understand crafts beyond production of objects for various purposes. There are lots of untapped possibilities, which the added dimension of crafts offer, especially to space making. Combining crafts and technology in contemporary times for conceptualizing space design can result in new paradigms and design solutions.
What is required on our part, as the designers, is the consciousness and the careful reinterpretation of the traditional and regional aspects, existing well within the parameters of contemporary times. Going back to the roots does not mean we start building like our ancestors, but, it is not totally out of the context, if we do go back in times, to rekindle our lost values, which were not just visible in the ethos, but also the functional aspects of the buildings.
https://static.daad.de/media/daad_de/pdfs_nicht_barrierefrei/infos-services-fuer-hochschulen/projektliste_anpti.pdf
Course Coordinator: Smriti Saraswat, IIT Roorkee
International Faculty: Maarit Salolainen, Aalto University, Finland
Few experts of National repute will also join.
Objectives:
1. To explore new paradigms focusing on Architecture & Visual Communication
2. To establish collaborations between industry and academia
3. To create a steering group, which would develop collaborative platforms to aid these explorations
4. To expose students, academicians and professionals to varied core and peripheral subjects related to design
APPLICATIONS ARE INVITED
India were designed or constructed by ‘shilpis’ (master masons), artists and guilds of craftspersons till the advent of the modern era. The modern discipline of architecture is, therefore, relatively young. This paper attempts to study the role and significance of art works in Interior-Architecture with specific reference to City Palace Udaipur. The palace is very famous for the use of glass, mirror and mosaic work. The use of such arts and crafts in Mewar was observed from around the late 18th century through Mughal and European influence. The most prominent example of this is the Sheesh Mahal, or Palace of Mirrors, in the City Palace Udaipur. Apart from Rajasthan; Gujarat, Agra, Delhi, and Tanjore (Tamil Nadu) have also extensively used mirror work in space making. Lot of examples of the same age as Udaipur are also available in Orccha, Indore and Mathura regions. There are many examples of mirror work
in temples of Ahmedabad and other regions all over Gujarat as well. Many Jain temples have mirror work. Harij, beyond Mehsana and Patan, has a glass decorated temple. The
Borij Jain temple, located near Gandhinagar town, also has beautiful mirror work. Kanch Mandir, Indore, is a Jain Temple. Built in the 20th century, it is basically constructed from
glass cuttings. The glass is coloured and displays rare originality and splendour. Significant amount of thematic art work (paintings) can also be seen in many other parts of this palace
like Chitram ki Burj. It is important to understand the significance (historical and cultural) of Art works in Interior
Architecture; document exemplary illustrations like City Palace Udaipur; study the role of art in space making; and publish reports, monographs as pedagogical tools for the students
and teachers of architecture that could be used by designers, artisans, craftspersons and professionals as well.
Keywords: Arts, Interior-Architecture, Inter-Relationship, City Palace, Udaipur, India, Ethos
This article concentrates on the above inquiries, specifically taking the example of using ‘bottle bricks’ in interior-architecture. ‘Bottle bricks’ refer to the sand filled plastic bottles, which are used as units or modules for construction. Plastic bottles and sand are present in opulence. Use of these low cost materials; and the involvement of indigenous communities for construction may be quoted as a good example of sustainability; but, what is equally important is the aesthetics of these designs that is nurtured by the community’s expressions, motifs and day-to-day activities.
well as placement of stone crafts also reflects upon various principles of space making. In India, one specific reason for its acceptance other than the availability is the material
property and quality of stone suitable for carving and inlay. Large number of built forms can be traced in the areas which had easy access to the raw material. It was the wisdom in the
‘shilpi’ tradition that allowed the craftspersons to understand the composition of stones, their material properties, have expertise in quarrying techniques and exploit the potential to the
best. The most intriguing aspect is this vast repertory of information and knowledge was not just by experiences passed on from generations, but a completely scientific approach. With
the passage of time, this relationship has changed. Contrary to the previous picture, where stone found extensive use right from village constructions to urban dwellings, palaces to temples, today, the focus is shifted mainly to temples, folk products and masonry for urban areas. By allowing interventions on various levels, these traditional knowledge systems can be revived in contemporary times in efficient ways.
The case presented was Radhasoami Samadh, Agra. It is the Holy Samadh of “Param Purush Puran Dhani” Huzur Soamiji Maharaj, the august founder of the Radhasoami faith.The model was proposed by Soamiji It is an exemplary illustration that builds up through narratives..
The research aims to investigate inter-relationships between craft and interior architecture, and recommend inter-disciplinary perspectives linking them. A sparse number of researches done to bridge the gap between disciplines like craft and interior architecture, especially in India, make this research stand out for contributing to this discourse. This is one of the earliest researches done in India, linking craft and interior architecture, focusing on Uttarakhand. It emphasises on establishing the importance of documenting and studying the identified crafts, with an emphasis on the quintessential role played by them in space-making - at a surface level; structurally (including furniture); and, as an object of use (both utilitarian and decorative). Moreover, it is not easy to reconcile informal approaches adopted by craft-based studies with formal research training, focusing on interior architecture.
The major objectives which are formulated to achieve the aim are – to deduce theoretical inter-relationships between craft and interior architecture; to document and collect data on the crafts and interior architecture of Uttarakhand; to analyse space-making elements (SME) and space-making crafts (SMC) in the interior architecture of Kumaun region, and develop a system of classifying them, based on their roles and applications in interior architecture; and, to recommend inter-disciplinary perspectives linking craft and interior architecture, and propose practical applications of space-making crafts of Uttarakhand in contemporary interior architecture.
It is observed that the Kumaun region (especially, Almora) offers a better opportunity for interventions in the craft sector (both utilitarian and space-making). The analysis of the six cases studied during the main study, showcases that the most prominent likhai kaam is seen in the façades, and aepan is mostly seen in the interior spaces. The major findings of this research highlight that likhai kaam, once an integral part of the cultural history of this region, is endangered today (also validated by a recent study done by the Uttarakhand Handloom and Handicraft Development Council (UHHDC) in 2020). The research also showcases that aepan has a low earning potential. But, both these crafts are scalable. The study further offers new information and perspectives on craft, which go beyond cultural boundaries. It brings to light that crafts do not have to be understood in terms of non-economic activities only. They are capable of contributing to a wider economy. Crafts explored within the milieu of interior architecture (space-making) can create opportunities for employment in the craft sector as well as building construction industry. This could ensure continuity and revival of a languishing craft such as likhai, and rekindle a low-earning craft like aepan. The above-mentioned aspects have not been addressed by previous studies, which largely focus on the two identified crafts bereft of space-making attributes.
To conclude, the key significance of this research is in terms of the contribution to the global body of literature, emphasising on inter-relationships between craft and interior architecture, which is substantially sparse, let alone focusing on developing countries of the global south. Secondly, complimenting the earlier studies focusing on other parts of India, this research delves into a new dimension of understanding and studying crafts of Uttarakhand, in relation to space-making. Thirdly, the key methodological strengths of this research centre around narrative enquiry; participatory research; and case studies, which can be replicable in other parts of the country. Lastly, the study assists in establishing that Uttarakhand being a Himalayan state, can lead by example, in creating linkages between craft and interior architecture, which could be employed in the contemporary building construction industry, to generate craft-based ecosystems and livelihoods in the mountainous regions. Moreover, the recommendations and perspectives presented, could also be applied on other crafts and craft clusters, across India. This research may be useful to a diverse group of people and open a window towards a more informed enquiry into traditional crafts.
Keywords: craft, interior architecture, space-making, Uttarakhand, India