Deakin architecture students will this month present proposals for a series of Indian maternal care and children's early learning centres, designed in collaboration with local stakeholders during a study tour of the southwest city of Udupi.
Sixteen aspiring architects from Deakin's School of Architecture and Built Environment worked earlier this year with students from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education and International Islamic University of Malaysia to create the design proposals, as part of the Deakin-led lntercultural Dialogue through Design workshop (iDiDe).
The iDiDe built environment study tour program included intensive design studio work informed by cultural immersion activities, visits to architectural sites of interest and dedicated lecture seminars.
Senior Lecturer Susan Ang, who led the three-week program in late January, said Deakin students worked closely with local community stakeholders to create seven designs for maternal care and children’s early learning centres, known as "Anganwadis".
"We strongly believe in the objective agency role universities can play in facilitating the architectural expression and articulation of sustainable building needs of under-privileged communities with these Anganwadi centres, in this case through iDiDe's architectural design contribution," Ms Ang said.
During their time in India, the students collaborated with academics, architects and built environment professionals who offered local expertise and mentorship.
"The stakeholder meetings were an informative means of gaining critical experience and information through face-to-face interaction and feedback," Ms Ang said.
"The students also held a children's workshop to expose them to the fundamental needs, ideals, characteristics and behavioural attributes of the local children who would most benefit from the Anganwadis.
"Immersing themselves through craft, games and interactive programs allowed our Deakin architecture students to understand how the local children operate and what they value."
Ms Ang said the transcultural study tour prioritised cultural immersion and sustainable design solutions, and was so successful that a cohort of iDiDe students will once again travel to the Indian state of Karnataka in Trimester 3 of this year to work on more community-led Anganwadis.
"There are more than 1.3 million Anganwadis in operation across India today, with plans to build even more as part of a significant Government-led national public health and welfare scheme to reach remote, rural and poor communities," she said.
"It's vital that the community is involved in the design process, to ensure proper design considerations and regard for cultural values and practices of the local community are respected.
"The strength of our students' work was in facilitating that meaningful contribution and bringing the community and end user stakeholders into the process."
Deakin School of Architecture and Built Environment student Ben McKenzie, who took part in the iDiDe study tour, said it had inspired him to think differently.
"The iDiDe journey was a life-changing experience for me, showing me a whole new world of architecture and cultural diversity," Mr McKenzie said.
"In designing the Anganwadi centres, I was encouraged to explore unique architectural styles, and I was exposed to different methodology and ways of thinking through and working with colleagues from cultures other than my own."
Mr McKenzie and his fellow students' designs are now under consideration by the Indian Government as part of the Integrated Child Development Services scheme, with indications all seven designs could soon be built as real Anganwadis.
The iDiDe Anganwadi Exhibition 2018 will be presented from 12 to 26 July at the Deakin Geelong Waterfront Campus Gallery, John Hay Building (D), 1 Gheringhap Street, Geelong.
