Israel in India: developing traditional craft techniques, a group of Israeli architects helped restore focus to a devastated Indian community - who gave their efforts entirely free

Architectural Review, The, Sept, 2002

Kutch was devastated by the earthquake of January 2001 which caused havoc in much of north-west India. Traditionally a very poor desert area, Bhopani Vandh lost many of its houses and its social centre.

Israeli archiects Lavie-Amir offered to help the Kala Raksha Trust to create its southern home, replacing its rented accommodation. The Trust was founded in 1990 by Indian artisans and an American anthropologist, Judy Frater, to preserve local artistic traditions (particularly embroidery) and to offer lessons in literacy. A four-hour bus journey separates Bhopani Vandh from the Trust's centre, so the new building can expand the association's activities greatly. Working with local people and learning from their history and craft skills, the architects adapted the local tradition of circular bungas (huts -- the origin of the word bungalow). Two bun gas had to be created with an innovative covered terrace between them for communal activities, and an outdoor washing area. Only local materials and building skills could be used.

Beautifully dressed women constructed the earth walls in groups, but from eaves height upwards, the men took over, making the roofs from eucalypt poles and thatching them with palm leaves and grass. The Israeli team decorated the bungas with earth paints, techniques imported from the village of Ludia, the headquarters of the Trust. Traditional decorations and kothlas, mud benches, finished the work. The task may seem simple, but its resolution was a triumph of teamwork and intercultural co-operation over great adversity. E.S.

Architects

Architecteam Lavie-Amir, Tel-Aviv; TalBashan, Jerusalem; Rajabahi & Lachuben Pachan Vandh, India

Project team

Tal Bashan. Yuval Amir, Lilach Strul, Avigail Sachs, Yoav Egozi, Mick Elkan MD, Gilat Parag, Dan Nir, Arnon Nir, Daphna Yalon, Daphna Hadar, Lital Shtrum, Sarit Alfasi, Ella Yungman, Michal Ottolenghi, Michal Sagie, Pamela Ulman, Roni Ulman, Vered Russ, Betty Salinger, Neomy Altman, Miriam Nemazof, Alina Ashbel. Naama Uri, Orit Ram, Cohen Michael, Sides Nira, Tali Moutner

Village team

Rajabahi, Lathuben, Vankabahi. Mongiben, Ramiben Pachan, Waluben Bima, Waluben Deva, Kanyabahi, Sangahbahi, Devabahi, Visabahai, Rajuben, Lachuben, Lakiben, Lako, Deva, Mega, Hira

Local collaborators

Judy Frater, Kala Raksha, preservation of traditional art

Israeli collaborators

'Masa Acher', Nirlat, Lili Films, Avi Egozi El-Al, Amir Israeli Foreign Ministry, cultural department, cultural attache Indian embassy Tel-Aviv, Rami Arnold and www.archijob.co.il

Photographs

Tal Bashan, Avigail Saths, Yuval Amir, Raml Arnold