WOMEN TRAINING CENTRE EXTENSION PROPOSAL
May 2015- Rajastan, India

URMUL TRUST Bajju Campus

The Urmul Trust is a family of organizations working towards the social and economic betterment of people in the harsh, inhospitable and underdeveloped region of Western Rajasthan. Urmul Trust consider handicraft a potential for bringing income and changes in the region. A large number of families of high skilled craftspeople had migrated from Pakistan during the 71 war. Many of the women among them were deft embroiderers. A mass production of embroidery was originated as a strategy for survival in the refugee camps through the exploitation of middlemen. Urmul Trust started to work on 1990 on the promotion of the craft of embroidery under the name of URMUL Seemant Samiti. A training program was developed to make the women autonomus controllers through the organization of Self Help Groups. The existing Training Centre in the Unrmul Campus in Bajju has the aim to train women to develop skills associated with traditional handicraft so that they can keep generating income.

The existing single storey building consists of one working room, a showroom, a small office and two big store rooms. The main requirement for the new programme is an additional room for workshop and training session for about 30/40 women from villages around.

The proposal had to respond to the real needs of the people in the Rajasthan harsh environment: climatic comfort, technical and practical possibilities.

The vernacular architecture of the region makes use of material available in the vicinity. Houses are constructed out of stone as well as mud. All major spaces are rectangular, with flat stone slabs or rough wood roof. The walls are either constructed out of sunbaked mud bricks or undressed stone plastered with mud. Climatic considerations, local typologies, materials and techniques will determine the final look of the building. 

The design proposal was an experience of “sustainability” related to climate, geography, social habits that need more attention on the old traditional way of construction and natural resources combined together to perform bio climatic functions and earthquake proof design.

A simple rectangular block was proposed to integrate the existing one and was arranged into a geometric pattern that creates a new central court: a very important element in the Indian architecture that become the key organisational elements responding to climatic conditions as well as the cultural needs of communities. A large covered porch will guarantee new open shaded spaces and define the circulation path that leads to the back of the building. This porch will provide a shelter from harsh sun where the women activities can happen.