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The Grid Architects Going Global: Finalists for World Architecture Festival

World Architecture Festival (WAF), a global all-live festival, combines awards, seminars, and networking. However, INSIDE, its sister festival, celebrates the world’s finest interiors, fostering creativity and knowledge. Despite a few Indian architects making global marks, others attempt to establish a global presence through the World Architecture Festival. In addition, the World Architecture Festival—Singapore 2024 honored only one architecture firm from India as a finalist in five categories.

India’s Growing Influence in Global Architecture

In picture: Bhadri Suthar and Snehal Suthar

tHE gRID Architects, a multidisciplinary design firm based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, was founded in 2002 by Snehal Suthar and Bhadri Suthar. They focus on contextual design, simplicity, and creating structures connected to the earth. GRID architects participate in worldwide competitions and contribute to architecture, landscape, interior, and furniture design. As part of the World Architecture Festival (WAF), the festival shortlisted two of their innovative projects: AGRItecture Home and TARANG in five categories. The categories are:

  • FUTURE project EXPERIMENTAL (AGRItecture Home)
  • FUTURISTIC HOME (AGRItecture Home)
  • FUTURE EDUCATION (AGRItecture Home)
  • DISPLAY (Tarang)
  • Inside Public building (Tarang)

The architecture community should familiarize themselves with the World Architecture Festival’s categories to understand the objectives and goals of gaining recognition in the appropriate field.

The Grid Architects
In picture: Bhadri Suthar & Snehal Suthar

1 FUTURE project EXPERIMENTAL

The focus is on exploring innovative concepts, materials, technologies, and design philosophies that challenge traditional architecture, with a focus on experimentation and forward-thinking ideas that could shape the future of architecture.

2 FUTURISTIC HOME

In the dynamic environment with aspiring homeowners, residential design is about to make a new shift, and the concept incorporates advanced technologies, innovative materials, and cutting-edge principles to anticipate future needs and trends. The growing trends include smart homes, adaptive spaces, and more.

3 FUTURE EDUCATION

Innovative educational designs focus on architectural and spatial design techniques to enhance learning experiences, exploring innovative approaches to educational environments. Key themes include adaptive learning spaces, future-focused design, and more.

4 DISPLAY

It describes architectural installations that use visuals to express novel ideas and concepts, emphasizing artistic and creative presentation over mere structural or practical elements.

5 Inside Public building

In the World Architecture Festival, this category judges projects based on their interior design inside public buildings, emphasizing the interior space design and use of public buildings. The highlights are aesthetic appeal, user experience, and more.

10 Reasons Why Each Project Fits the Categories

AGRItecture Home & School

  • Addressing the Gap: This greenhouse living bridge addresses socio-economic divides.
  • Intent of the Hour: It aims to redefine sustainable urban living and incorporates architecture into agriculture through versatile habitats.
  • Materials: Recycled wood, mild steel, and polycarbonate sheets are used for daylight and structural stability.
  • Low Embodied Carbon: Utilizes locally sourced and recycled materials.
  • Resilience: Incorporates urban resilience to boost economic viability.
  • Applications: Features hydroponic systems and greenhouses; polycarbonate sheets are combined with solar panels.
  • Enhanced Occupant Comfort: Provides improved air quality, sufficient daylight, and acoustic comfort.
  • Design Approach: Integrates classrooms and recreational areas with an educational and innovative twist.
  • Flexibility: Scalable units that can be replicated and adapted.
  • Sustainable Pillars: Focuses on ecological balance, economic viability, and social equity.

World Architecture Festival
Picture credit: worldbuildingsdirectory.com

AGRItecture HOME is a revolutionary architectural design that promotes sustainable living by reducing carbon footprint, improving indoor air quality, and enhancing mental well-being. It represents a symbiotic relationship between humans and the environment, advocating for integrated urban living that combines architectural creativity and agricultural practicality.

Picture credit: worldbuildingsdirectory.com

School prototype is an innovative educational twist that aims to create green living and learning. Having 6 scalable units, 3 units include classrooms, and the remaining consists of a staffroom, hydroponic system, and exhaust fans. Brick and charcoal wall segments between 6 m that sit on the midpoint as a solid barrier to enhance acoustic comfort. Three sustainable pillars—ecological balance, economic viability, and social equity—sink well with the architectural design.

Tarang

  • Addressing the Gap: In the evolving environment, this public space strives to adapt and evolve with environmental needs.
  • Intent of the Hour: Transforming a public space into a dynamic and versatile pavilion.
  • Materials: The vault structure is formed using thin brick tiles and mortar.
  • Techniques: Employs multiple layers of overlapping tiles interwoven with fast-setting mortar, creating a laminated shell nearly as robust as reinforced concrete.
  • Low Embodied Carbon: The materials used to support a circular economy through reuse and recycling.
  • Climate Responsive: This Catalan vault, distinct from the urban context, responds to the hot and arid conditions of the southwest.
  • Biophilic Design: An adaptable project based on biophilic design principles.
  • Structural Design: The curvature and geometry of the vault ensure structural stability and distribute thrust. It functions like a thin masonry shell.
  • Inclusivity: This public space promotes sustainability and fosters community engagement.
  • One of Its Kind: Currently, India’s largest arched vault structure is made of terracotta brick tiles.

WAF
Project by: The Grid Architects
World Architecture Festival

World Architecture Festival
Project by: The Grid Architects

The public project creates a dynamic pavilion using thin brick tiles and mortar to form a Catalan vault. The design is climate-responsive, suited to hot, arid conditions, and incorporates biophilic principles. It is India’s largest arched vault structure made of terracotta bricks, fostering community engagement and sustainability and promoting low-embodied carbon and a circular economy.

Why World Architecture Festival Important for Indian Design Community?

  • To mark an increased global presence
  • To attain more recognition
  • To foster worldwide collaboration.
  • To learn about innovative practices from around the world.
  • To present Indian designs from their roots.
  • To inspire young architects to push boundaries.

As a design community, architects and designers can consider the milestones of tHE gRID architects. You can strive to go all out beyond this and achieve much more. The World Architecture Festival happens worldwide under different names and themes. As much as we learn from global practitioners, we can also stay informed by keeping track of the World Architecture Festivals across the globe.

To wrap up, the World Architecture Festival (WAF) and INSIDE play a crucial role in showcasing global architectural innovation. At WAF 2024, tHE gRID architects received recognition for their projects AGRItecture HOME and TARANG, highlighting their dedication to sustainable design and India’s expanding influence in the field of architecture. This acknowledgment signifies a promising future for Indian architecture.

Content Writing By: Ar. Baarat Krishna

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