By Ângelo Gomes
Vastu-Shilpa Foundation is a non profit organization registered with the Registrar of Societies, Government of Gujarat. It has been approved as a ‘Scientific Research Institute’ by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, New Delhi.
The Foundation sees itself as an effective link between academics and practice, and conducts several workshops and seminars for sharing expertise and training. One such activity is the annual Vastu Shilpa Design Studio, which is a habitat design exercise that has seen participation from international students of different universities, since it began in 2003.
While the actual projects vary every year, the emphasis is on contextually relevant design with focus on sustainable development and re-interpretation of traditions. The residential studio usually hosts about 30-35 students over 9 weeks, with an intense orientation programme, site analysis, design evolution & resolution, and involves several guest lectures & in-house presentations culminating in expert reviews and documentation.
