Abstract:
The connections people make with their land are made manifest through their art,
architecture, and cultural practices. In Tharparkar Desert, the people explore their familiarity
with their land through the tactile nature of their surroundings and give the land and all its
inhabitants the due respect by living harmoniously. The aim is to explore the role of a
community gathering space, 'Otaq', and how it acts as the driving force for the social cultural
and economic growth of the locals. The key themes that have been explored include the
untapped tourism potential in the desert depending on historic architecture, local festivals
and desert related activities, along with the role of handicrafts in Thar as a source of
livelihood and an expression of their culture. The project titled Sangit is a Cultural Retreat
and Handicraft Center. It is a dual program, and both programs exist symbiotically and benefit
from each other. The project is rooted in the local context, for which a thorough analysis of
vernacular construction and materials was conducted. Sangti is designed keeping the lack of
resources as a focus, and hence rain water harvesting and passive cooling and ventilation
strategies were employed to ensure that the project, just like the people of Thar, does not
take away but gives back to the community and tourists without increasing the burden on
the already over-burdened infrastructure and resource system.
