ABOUT THE ARCHITECT

Kiran Vaghela, founder member of

Hunnarshala Foundation for Building
Technology and Innovation, is a civil
engineer by education and a self-taught
architect. He has been extensively
working in Bhuj post the massive
earthquake for rehabilitation of rural
areas, involving various crafts people.

Nizya Noushad
M.Arch, Sustainable Architecture, MES SOA

INTERVIEW-AR. KIRAN
VAGHELA
Hunnarshala Documentation
 Kiran Vaghela- Interview Questionnaire

1. Being a founder member of Hunnarshala what was the moto behind setting up
Hunnarshala?
2. While setting up an office design for Hunnarshala what was the major criteria which
you have followed, is there any pre planned concept like the office itself speak about
what Hunnarshala will give for the community as standing itself as an icon of what
Hunnarshala team offers??
3. Hunnarshala campus concept portrays the spontaneity and diversity of an Indian
Bazar- Can you elaborate?
4. What are the climatological aspects focused while designing a campus like this??
5. Since Bhuj is having a desert climate (hot arid climate) what was the major design
manifestations to be done while designing over here? (for example, small openings
with chajjas to get rid from harsh sun and drive in dusty winds, operable shades to let
in winter sun etc;)
6. So many earthen techniques have been used in the campus for construction, what
was the idea behind choosing different techniques at different spaces??
7. From 2001 onwards its now 20 years the journey of Hunnarshala has been happening-
in this journey in your point of view what are the milestones that the team has
achieved and what is to be achieved?
8. Concrete and steel structures are ruling the building markets now a days, discarding
the same what factor drives you to experiment with locally available and vernacular
materials for setting up the campus??
9. Do you believe that concrete structures can’t withstand the natural disasters or the
vernacular and olden earthen techniques have more ability to withstand the same??
If yes how?
10. “The Carbon footprint of the entire campus is very low compared to a normal
architectural solution campus”- Is this statement true?? If yes how you have achieved
the same? Right from the initial stage of deign formulation itself what all aspects have
you focused to reduce the carbon foot print.
11. In this modernised society with high rate of climate change, global warming etc which
is the result of human activities what do you think that the role of designers in cutting
down the disasters and what should we do??
12. Can you define sustainability in your point of view, Is Hunnarshala campus is a
sustainable campus?? How a building is being sustainable?? What all factors are there
to add on to make a building sustainable?
 Kiran Vaghela- Interview Questionnaire

13. Being a designer cum architect what do you feel about the future of architecture??
14. In India we have no much standards and codes of practises to be followed for
earthen constructions like Steel and concrete structures, for uplifting the same what
could be done, does awareness classes or workshops on the possibilities, usage and
techniques of earthen constructions alone will help or communities like Karigarshala
of Hunnarshala, auroville, uravu etc has to be come up to the forefront in order to
uplift the vernacular and earthen techniques??
15. The future of India Lies in its Villages- Gandhiji- Hunnarshala focus on this Gandhiyan
concept, if it’s true please explain.