Vill-age: From Kitchen to Community
My final project, ‘Vill-age’ is grounded in two fundamental questions - ‘Who Am I?’ // ‘Who Are We?’, discussing the necessity of celebrating identities, individual stories and personal narratives to strengthen communities.
‘Vill-age’ realises the acts of the everyday as pivotal tools of care to reach inclusive spatialities. Through the development of an Anglo-Indian vernacular, and exploration of personal histories, the scheme cultivates the notion of social dining as a reflection of cultural commons to slow and connect people, as well as co-housing that provides independence and community to those aged 65+, of a South-Asian background. By exploring sketching, model-making, 3D modelling, and collage, the proposal has been consistently iterated to be a responsive and reflective scheme. A true celebration of culture, heritage, and shared place, ‘Vill-age’ is curated to be inclusive and accessible.
More widely, I have a deep passion for place-making that is rooted in explorations of identity and culture. My design process consistently refers to collaborative and inclusive practices that encourages people-led change. Within the PRAXIS atelier, I have been able to truly challenge myself to question the positionally and role of architecture, particularly in a fast-paced, constantly changing world, through critical engagement with feminist ideologies. My subsequent explorations, across the course and beyond, have investigated conventional architectural methodologies and practices to ensure equitable access. Throughout my three year at the Manchester School of Architecture, I have gathered a wide set of skills that have allowed me to effectively communicate and deliver innovative and engaging proposals that are politically, socially, and environmentally grounded.
