The way cultures tell stories shapes the nature of their physical surroundings. Architecture is not only about building physical structures, but also about letting spaces come to life and tell their own stories through the dynamic interchange of people, culture, and ideas. For my Fulbright project I propose to work in Udaipur, in India’s western state of Rajasthan to research how the act of storytelling can inform the architectural design process and be used as a tool to get people involved in imagining, dreaming, and creating the future of their communities.
Storytelling within the built environment happens in various forms ranging from murals to live performances to cinema. As an American, I have a different understanding of how public and private spaces relate to the telling of stories than many other cultures around the world. India, for example, is a rapidly emerging T.V. society, but the way Indians watch T.V. is different from the way Americans do. In the United States, there is a strong emphasis on individualized spaces whereas in India, especially in rural regions, watching T.V. becomes a very social activity and families will often invite friends and neighbors over to watch a show. I am interested in how communities can engage in the act of telling their own stories as a way to exchange knowledge, and how this new form of collaboration and sharing can influence how spaces are designed and constructed. Storytelling has the capability of bringing together different generations and stimulating imagination, creative thinking, and dialogue.
My decision to work in the city of Udaipur is based on the fact it is home to the Shikshantar Learning Center and the West Zone Cultural Center, which are two organizations that I hope to work closely in collaboration with. Shikshantar was started over 7 years ago by Manish Jain, Vidhi Jain, and Wasif Rizvi and has been active within the community of Udaipur by hosting dialogues, developing learning parks, and offering children and families festivals and workshops on creative expression and cooperative games. I met Manish in 2007 when I attended a gathering of Berkana Learning Centers. The Berkana Institute forms partnerships with a diversity of communities around the world in response to the current global crisis. It believes that problems can be tackled by working with the wealth and wisdom already present in the people, traditions, and environments of communities. Shikshantar’s ideological foundation is built on the concept of Swaraj, or rule over oneself, and is a call for people to lead and create their own models of development that are holistic, pluralistic, sustainable, collaborative, just and anticipatory. My hopes are to work with Shikshantar and learn how they engage people in community collaboration and action in challenging outdated systems and patterns of behavior.
The Indian Government created the West Zone Cultural Center in 1986 to help preserve India’s rich cultural heritage in the face of a rapid trend towards westernization. The WZCC is part of seven cultural centers throughout India and contains facilities for the development of traditional folklore, performing arts, visual arts, and tribal artforms. It strives to create links between cultural institutions ranging from the local to national level. The WZCC will be another institution that will act as a mentor to me by providing access to the region’s colorful folklore and rich tradition of craftsmanship as well as connections with local communities.
My architecture education over the past five years has prepared me in many ways to initiate and carry out a project such as the one I am proposing. I have been trained to envision what is possible and to translate these ideas into drawings, models, and physical forms in order to communicate to others. I am well versed in computer programs and concepts needed to design structures as well as compose visual and written materials. Another set of valuable skills I have acquired is an understanding of the functional aspects of building such as ventilation and water systems, structural behaviors, and how light and climate act on buildings.
By participating in Fulbright I hope to act as a cultural ambassador and in doing so provide a fresh perspective to inhabitants of Udaipur as well as gain a rich understanding of how people in Udaipur and India tackle problems at a variety of scales. The project I am proposing will be about exchanging knowledge and skills, as well as building something alongside the community that stimulates cultural sharing and strengthens local connectivity.
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