IAPNU conducted a RSP (Study tour called Related Study Programme) at Kerala from 8th Jan. to 21st Jan. 50 students accompanied by 3 faculty members visited Kochi, Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram as a part of this tour. Activities included visits to historically important monuments and urban areas, the Kochi Biennale, and a hands-on construction workshop at the Laurie Baker Centre, Costford. Historically important monuments visited were: the St Francis CSI Church, Paradesi Synagogue, Mattancherry Palace, Chembitta Mosque, Colonial bungalows and warehouses, Padmanabhapuram Palace, Padmanabhaswamy temple, Kuthiramalika, Napier Museum and Shree Poornathrayeesa temple. Students learnt to appreciate the architecture of this region as an outcome of the socio-economic and cultural history of these coastal places. Climatic response to warm & humid climate and appropriate use of material technology to create a comfortable indoor environment was also understood. Highlight of the tour was the 5-day hands-on brick construction workshop at LBC, Costford at Thiruvananthapuram wherein students constructed brick and stone masonry walls, wattle and daub partitions, arches and a dome. The workshop was supplemented by theory lectures which gave them an overview of appropriate technologies to use building materials like stone, mud, brick, lime, bamboo, wood and RCC. Experience and study of buildings made by Laurie Baker made them realize the social responsibilities of an architect for a country like India and how affordable and cost effective housing, resource efficient construction technologies and sustainable approaches to design can be adopted by them. Visit to the Kochi Biennale also introduced students to the Art Scene in India amidst the highly experiential exhibits and installations in Fort Kochi.
