As we progress and build better structured lifestyle for ourselves, we tend to forget that there is always a chance for an alternate lifestyle. A talk on Design decisions towards an alternate living held at the SPACES Fest, featured G. Shankar, Dr. Soumini R, Dr. Kasthurba, anthropologist and writer Indu Menon moderated by Pradeep Panangad.
Dr. Soumini pointed out the unapologetic attitude of today’s style of construction which doesn’t focus on the need. Most people are unaware of the effective reuse of buildings.
“The Napier Museum and Kanakakunnu Palace are probably the most beautiful expressions of Kerala architecture,’’ Shankar noted with pride while explaining the growth of architecture and infrastructure in Kerala.
"Homes are a temporary concept for nomads and semi-nomads. They burn their huts when someone dies," said Indu Menon who has worked among the tribals and flood affected regions of various parts of the state and shared her concern about how the new living conditions were not reaching them.
The talk concentrated on how to use materials from broken down buildings to make new ones for more sustainability. Dr. Soumini also pointed out how we are all so used to talking about a house as a product alone. But a house is a physical manifestation of cultural and political conditions. A house is not just a product, it is also a process.
Using local materials to build houses without harming the environment is the only means to sustainable infrastructure. An adoptable way to an alternate living.