This project was undertaken with the intent of solving the problems of today and tomorrow. As per the Global Risks Landscape Survey 2018 issued by the World Economic Forum, Natural Disasters fare as a problem with the 2nd Highest Odds of Likelihood and Impact; right after extreme weather events due to climate change.

We (Ar. Priyanka Thakur, Ar. Vicky Achnani, Ar. Alisha Raman, and Ar. Sarvesh Singh) conducted a Design + Build Resilience Workshop in May 2018. Through this initiative, we built a full-scale resilient architectural model that responds to the local context of floods, soil erosion, and high-intensity earthquakes, in the river island of Majuli, Assam in India.

As for the cultural impact, we conducted sketching exercises to gauge what kind of materials would resonate best with the aspirations of children. Although brick seemed to be the primary material of choice, it was mutually understood that bamboo remains socio-culturally inclusive and sustainable, due to its high rate of replenishment and potential as a carbon sink. The model is built with bamboo, cane, timber, concrete, burnt bricks and steel, all constituting a locally-sourced, regenerative material palette, that facilitates sustainability through principles of circular economics. More importantly, the tectonics and processes evolved feed-back into conventional design pedagogy – material know-how, assembly techniques and resilience. The island’s local architectural systems adapt to enhanced structural response, increased shelf-life and add to the community’s loci of relief and retreat, while also providing seamless education for the children there.