Nikita Teli THESIS 2020-21 01FA16BAT027

PROJECT: BANJARA COMMUNITY CENTRE

AT BAHADUR BANDI, KOPPAL DISTRICT KARNATAKA

CONCEPTUAL BRIEF

Architecture in all its forms, must help give meaning to everyday lives.

In this light, it is imperative that good architecture and design be accessible to all. There exist many under-
served communities which often, do not have access to basic services and infrastructure. For architecture to be
meaningful in such a context, affecting social change must be one of the objectives.

This thesis is an attempt to understand how ‘social architecture’, as it has come to be known, can affect the
social change. It attempts to understand how, with the right program and the right environment, architecture may
act as social agency to help uplift under-served communities.

COMMUNITY

NEED AND SCOPE OF PROJECT:

Karnataka has the second highest population of banjaras in the country at an estimated 1.1 spread all over the
state. Lambanis have one of the richest and most vibrant cultures in Karnataka. Their intricate art work and
artisans’ skills are extremely popular among international tourists. There are opportunities to showcase their
skills and convert them into source of livelihood.

Banjara original tribal art is the pride of the nation. This art has been passed from generation to generation, due
th
to globalization and development in the 19 century, changes have been made in the livelihoods of all people
including lambani. This resulted in change of traditional costumes along with traditional handicraft including
banjara hand embroidery. With all this vast skill knowledge still the community people lacking the
employment opportunities and also the basic facilities in the Thanda. There is need for revival of this traditional
art form.

AREA OF CONCERN:

There are two major areas of concern;

1. Bringing back the identity of the banjara community which is diminishing and this is can be done by
creating a platform where they can celebrate their life, heritage, art and culture.
2. Planned growth of the social and economic living condition of the this served community.

OBJECTIVES:

1. To create an environment that fosters community engagement and hence strengthens community ties.
2. To create spaces and experiences the inspire action and creativity and those leads to self-growth at an
individual level.
3. To act as social hub for the community, over which the members feel a sense of ownership.
4. To strike a balance between the aspirations of the community and the environment that they are
familiar with, to create a new environment that is suited to their needs.
Nikita Teli THESIS 2020-21 01FA16BAT027

PROPOSAL:
The proposed project is a MIXED-USE INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT which seeks to, with the insertion of
meaningful spaces, uplift the served community and improve their quality if life. It is meant to be a space that
they can call their own, over which they feel a complete sense of ownership.
Thus, the name of the project – BANJARA COMMUNITY CENTRE
describes the two main goals of the project –
1. Strengthening of community ties, thus development of community as a whole.
2. Development of individual members of the community, spanning all ages, and providing them with
necessary tools and spaces for self-growth.

SITE SEELECTED:
The site allocated for upcoming government project in koppal by Karnataka Thanda development corporation
limited.

CONCEPT:
The sprawling 12 acres of land is divided by the Natural divider 4m wide Naala, the architecture of the naala
become part of the landscape with the hope that those, who are on the site will have a greater enjoyment of
beautiful environment.

Study of the Thanda settlement – KUNIKERI THANDA

Closeness to Artisans is the main focus

Conceptual development

Network of spaces

Language of their art

and work pattern

The concept is derived from the cluster study of the Kunikeri Thanda – To understand their network of
spaces the work environment where they practice art and materiality and textures in order to follow the design in
their own language of art.

The site planning and the zoning is based on the Network of spaces in kunikeri thanda settlement, the organic
development of the settlement. i.e.

1. HEIRARCHY OF OPEN SAPCE (every space has some view to larger one)
2. PLACE OF INTERACTION AND LEISURE
3. GREEN SPACE

The plan focusses on enhancing the area as a social node with community activities, conserving and enhancing
natural features, strengthening the traditional economic activities and improves the quality of life of the
community.