THESIS 2021 - SYNOPSIS // HIMANI

Transformable spaces for Community Living Celebrating the Divine Journey Submitted by : Himani_11/17 Thesis Guide : Prof. Prafulla Janbade Tarachand

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Brief A brief description of the proposed project, including details of its functional Components and the selected site 2

PANDHARPUR WARI The Pandharpur Wari is a 21-day one-way Rath Yatra is undertaken in the months of June and July, from Alandi and Dehu to Pandharpur and people walk for a distance of around 250 kms to meet and worship Lord Vithoba since last 800 years, carrying the Padukas of Saint Dhyaneshwar Maharaj and Sant Tukaram Maharaj in a palkhi.

The devotees comes from all parts of Maharashtra and Northern Karnataka, bringing together the true essence of Marathi Culture. There are no restrictions in terms of the accessibility to all. The Wari unites devotees beyond cultures, economic classes, languages, geographies, communities, age and professions.

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STRUCTURE OF WARI

2 processions = 6 lakh devotees from across the state

History Both of the saints to have started the pilgrimage. They used to perform journey to Pandharpur by foot for fifteen days, reaching Pandharpur Vithoba temple on Ashadhi Ekadashi. The tradition of carrying the paduka (sandals) of the saints was started by the youngest son of Tukaram, Narayan Maharaj, in 1685.

The wari is undertaken four times a year, in the Hindu months of Chaitra, Magh, Ashadh and Kartik, it is the Ashadh pilgrimage that has come to be the largest and the most prominent one.

devotees are divided into groups

called dindis

Each dindi = 50 to 1,000 warkaris Each dindi = leader

as well as other members, who are assigned specific responsibilities

Sant Dhyaneshwar’s Palkhi = 250 dindis Sant Tukaram’s Palkhi = 330 dindis 2 processions = 68 Palkhis joined the wari over the years

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PATHWAY FOLLOWED The pilgrims start from Alandi in Pune district carrying the Palkhi (palanquin) of Sant Dnyaneshwar and reach Pandharpur via Pune, Saswad, Jejuri, Lonand, Taradgaon, Phaltan, Natepute, Malshiras, Velapur, Shegaon and Wakhri.

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AIM To learn the lessons about how to touch the ground lightly, about reversibility, about disassembly, about impermanence and most importantly seamless integration of the temporary, partially completed and the permanent buildings.

So. I will be providing with some portable, transformable, temporary and ephemeral spaces which will ultimately ease the wari for warkaris.

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SITE - VELAPUR, MH Velapur, a small agricultural town in the Malshiras Tehsil of Solapur district, serves as a place for rest for the Warkaris. Velapur is the one of the last stops on the Pandharpur Wari, and is situated just about 24 kms away from the nearest railway station at Pandharpur.

People collectively engage in Kirtan, welcoming the Palkhi, chanting Bhajans, apart from cooking, sleeping and other rudimentary activities. ● ● ● ●

Pune - 179 kms Mahabaleshwar - 170 kms Pandharpur - 30 kms Sangli - 140 kms

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TODAY’S SCENARIO The Wari culture has become popular beyond the traditional Warkaris. The movement has received publicity and mention on global platforms. The media attention and coverage has invited more and more people to participate every year and also follow the journey closely. Artists such as photographers, musicians, choirs, painters become a part of the festivity to capture the exuberance and make it timeless. Last year and this year, in the wake of the COVID catastrophe, the venerable tradition came to a standstill. Instead of the customary huge processions, the Palkhis were taken to Pandharpur in a special vehicle escorted by a few aides.

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11.3 Acres

500-800

8.7 Acres

2.6 Acres

Site Area

Unbuilt

Footfall

3531

No. of Households

Built

17082

Population of Village

56%

Working

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ABOUT THE SITE Two land parcels with a connecting road and existing temples of historical significance form an important layer and backdrop for the proposed activities.

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One of the land parcels is a temple complex off the Pune-Pandharpur highway, with an access from the highway and the main village road measuring 7,271 sq.m. It comprises of an open ground, and an existing old Khandoba Temple which is worshipped by the residents of Velapur. The Warkaris and the residents of Velapur perform rituals here during their TWO-day halt.

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The second land parcel has an area of 38,481 sq.m. with a strong historical presence of a ruined temple and a temple Tank (Kund), which was built in the Hemadpanthi style, c.1300 during the reign of Devagiri Yadava king Ramchandra (1271-1310).

The site has a few existing trees.

The path connecting both the land parcels is sacred in nature with the plaza being the point of pause. Intervention along this pathway should only enhance the sacredness.

Velapur – Warkari Arrangements Palkhi reaches Velapur on Ashadh Saptami in the night and leaves the second day morning. The night halt at Velapur requires arrangements for stay and food for the countless Warkaris that have travelled a long distance to reach Pandharpur within few hours. All the supplies which the devotees require need to be present and stored such as clothes, ingredients for food, tents or bedding and other essentials. Locals also contribute or make arrangement of food and water for Warkaris.

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PROGRAMME To design a systematic, open, semi open or partially built structure forms which will include the adaptive living spaces for warkaris, community kitchen, ringan rings to harness the connection between warkaris, villagers and the two shrines and festival grounds.

It will also try to adapt the activities of the inhabitants of Velapur and will be converted into a shanty market, a festive square or a multipurpose facility with temporary additions.

This design proposal is invited for redeveloping the ruined temple complex and the temple Ghats for the use of various rituals and for tourists to halt while travelling on the highway along with a small museum or gallery for the display of collection of sculptures and ruined elements of temples.

Adaptive Living

Compact & Transformable Housing Community Kitchen Community Hall Area for Langer

Basic Amenity

Public Toilets Sanitation Provision Medical Provision Storage Spaces Parking for Trucks, Horses, Cars, Scooters, Buses

Festive Square & Leisure

Divine & Spiritual

Festival Market Festive Square Ringan Grounds Public Spaces for Bhajan and Kirtan

Redevelopment of shrines Redevelopment of Water Tanks introducing Ghats A small Museum Common Bathing Area Worship Area

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Validity

Architectural Significance / Challenge of the proposed project and its justification 12

NEED OF THE PROJECT Emotional Need : Pune, as well as the entire state of Maharashtra, is renowned for the ‘Palkhi’, a unique Hindu pilgrimage. Pandharpur wari is one of these rath yatra which developed the awareness of Humankind, togetherness and Celebrating divine.

Architectural Need : There are about 500-700 people who stay in Velapur for 2 days but no provision is provided to Warkaris for the various activities and rituals performed.

Historical Need : There are 2 temple shrines where Warkaris and villagers worship and perform rituals for about 800 years but they are been taken for granted and maintenance is provided. So government proposed to redevelop the temple surroundings and sacred Water Tank.

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Objectives & Scope A list of the major and minor objectives of the project and the nature of goals, lessons and conclusions that would be drawn.

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Research Questions

Objectives

Scope

How can an ephemeral architectural interventions contribute in its own way to the revitalization of a neighbourhood?

Ephemeral Atmosphere as agents of place making.

To explore various transformable spaces

How can we promote community engagement and gatherings in these neighbourhoods to create active spaces?

How can ephemerality be applied to contemporary Architecture as potentially sustainable alternative?

How impermanence can be introduce in the world of permanence through Architecture?

How can one permanent space can act as a adaptive space for 2-3 functions?

To precipitate economic development and community engagement.

To activate spaces to highlight importance of Historic Value.

the

A sustainable alternative to contemporary architecture, through design of Disassembly.

To provide different design solutions for informality to suit user adaptability.

To use local materials and craftsmanship to maximise the extent of employment and promoting local business.

To provide efficient model of ecosystem through commercial and residential Hybrid Buildings.

structural

possibilities

of

To design various possibilities of one compact space which can be used as multipurpose space To cater the target groups so that they feel valuable To provide with cost effective solutions to change the perception of low income housing To study low cost and low maintenance construction materials To study existing living scenario of such ephemeral spaces To make sustainable model of social housing To map the festival celebrated for better understanding of space making and place making To redevelop the existing heritage and providing with gallery to preserve the ruins of yadav period Community spaces for different activities

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Methodology A statement of the step by step Methodological Procedure to be followed and the scope of the work to be done at each stage.

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Adaptability Social Structure Festive Square Informality Community Living

Low Cost Ephemeral Cities Flexible Design Compact Living Transformable Space Theoretical Research

Problem Statements

Applied Research

Pandharpur Wari

Case studies* Mapping Survey

Site Base Map Historical Evolution Climatic Analysis Existing Structure analysis Water Tank Documentation Visual Distance Analysis Festival ground and pilgrims Pattern

Investigating the Current Situations

Data Collection

Site Analysis

Velapur,MH

Context Historical Analysis Village Fabric Demographics Nodes Volumetric Analysis Social Structure Figure Ground Map Land Use Map

MIND MAP

Research Objectives

Topic Transformable spaces for Community Living

Festival Grounds

Books* Prototype Studies* Research Papers / Thesis* Standards

Formulating Areas Mapping Condition Mapping Distant Amenities Circulation Pattern Drainage and water supply Pattern Activity Mapping Figure Ground Lynch MAP

Conclusions & Recommendations

Design Guidelines

Finalizing Functional Area

DESIGN CONCEPT

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BOOKS

RESEARCH PAPERS / THESIS

CASE STUDIES

Kyrjkebakken : A design proposal for the Pilgrims Center

Housing

FLEXIBLE : Architecture that responds to Change by Robert Kronenburg

Pilgrim’s Centre in Pandharpur By Jaishwarya

Aranya Community Housing, Indore

The city and the moving Image : URBAN PROJECTIONS by Richard Koek

Sacredscapes: Study of Pandharpur and its Pilgrimage by Ar. Chinar Balsaraf

FESTIVAL ARCHITECTURE by Sarah Bonnemaison

Experiential Shaping of public space during pilgrimage by Prajakta Sane

KUMBH MELA : Mapping the ephemeral megacity by Rahul Mehrotra

FLEXIBLE : Architecture that responds to Change by Robert Kronenburg URBAN CATALYST : The power of Temporary Use by Phillip Oswalt

Walking the faithscapes of Varanasi Flash Urbanism Architecture

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Ephemeral

Chembur Apartment, Mumbai Incremental Housing, Belapur Atira Housing, Ahmedabad Festive Grounds Kumbh MELA, Allahabad Pragati Maidan, New Delhi Pandals of Ganesh Chaturthi, Mumbai Durga Pooja, Kolkata

Ephemeral Architecture : Design for Disassembly

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THANK YOU 19