Architecture students take studio work to make ‘worthy waste’
- Vol.87(11), Nov
- Mumbai Indian Institute of Architects 2022
- 20-25p.
The Architecture, Engineering, Construction (AEC) industry impacts not only the stakeholders and occupants, but also the environment, economy, humanity, social aspects, cultural aspects, and others of the present and for years to come. The AEC industry partakers should be sensitive, sensible, and solicitous. In the words of Frank Lloyd Wright, "All fine architectural values are human values, else not valuable." Construction and demolition waste contribute to close to 25% of the national waste stream and almost 75% of it goes to the landfills. Almost 30% of all building materials delivered to a typical construction site can end up as waste. Keeping these aspects and concerns in mind the Material workshop – Elective was curated for the 2nd year students of Balwant Sheth School of Architecture with an intent that the students explore, engage and experiment with construction and demolition waste to design & develop sustainable, creative, enjoyable, educative, and innovative toys for a target audience. This course was curated to unleash creativity and material knowledge of the students, to inculcate and develop social responsibility amongst students, and become sensitive professionals. The target audience had to be underprivileged children. An in-depth understanding of the needs of the target audience (by way of interviews, interactions, and research) and knowledge of the materials and their properties (by way of class learnings, market study, site visits and research) were assembled, and explored to create a toy hamper for the selected target audience.