Transforming cultual idiosyncrasies into spatial experiences

A look into how a derelict, industrial landscape of a Kattha factory was transformed into a dynamic educational campus, with a vision for the present and an aspiration for the future

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TDV - The design village interdisciplinary industry centric institute - decided to move its exisitng campus to a larger permises to accommodate the growing number of students at the design school. However, reluctant to leave its exisitng eco-system of five years in its parent company studio archohm - an architecture and design studio in Noida - TDV began scouting for room in the neighborhood itself. Owning to the strigent environs, TDV looked no further than the neighbor across an old abandoned Kattha (catechu) factory and saw immense design and renewal potential. Therefore, within days, the deal was struck and the plot across was ready to be revitalised before the students came back late in July. Two months was all the time that was given by fate, to the turn fate of this old manufacturing unit in a desolate state of urban decay. The team at Studio Archohm and students from the village, helped convert this former nightmare facility into a dream village - retaining its inherent character while injecting new life. Narratives of the past were kept intact while giving the campus a new meaning.

By the means of a photographic exhibiton by award winning architecture photographer Andre Jeanpierre Fanthome, they transformed this space - from a polluting factory to an inspiring institute - the daunting journey of what it took to bring it to life, with the excruciating constraints of time, budgets, context and its rather challenging spatiality.

'Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.' -Hippocrates