KOCHI

*National Study tour Report KOCHI, KERALA 8th to 14th December, 2023* Students of B.Arch_II-Semester-4, B.Arch_III-Semester-6, B.Arch_IV-semester-VIII B.ID._II- Semester-4, B.ID.-III_Semester-5 along with a team of six Faculty members Prof. Nikunj Patel, Prof. Chintan Shah, Ar. Micky Solanki, Ar. Asumi Zaveri and Mrs.Sangita Gamit has visited Kochi from 8th to 14th December-2023 for a Study tour which is situated in Kerala state. Kochi also known as major port city along with Malabar Coast. Day: 1 & 2 (8th & 9th December-23) Departure from Surat at morning 7:00 am by Kochuvelli superfast train and reached to Ernakulam railway station around 12:30 pm next day. The entire Kochi study tour groups to Starlit Suit Hotel, Ernakulam by buses After having delicious lunch at hotel around 2:00 pm, the leaders of all 10 groups along with some students started journey as to identify and to understand unique features of various buildings, streets, cafes, houses and village settlement of Kochi The final study areas like Urban street (Princess Street), important building like Hill top palace, 4 cafes (Mocha art café, Lila art café, Loafer café and Tea pot cafe) , an old houses(Niyati & Hemera), Housing settlements (Gujarati Brahmin housing & Agraharam housing settelement) were identified for in-depth study and documentation. These study areas were specially documented as they had a distinctive Dravidian Architectural building style, characteristics, construction techniques and building materials & typology. The students studied clusters, individual housing units and the settlement pattern. Ended a day with delicious dinner followed by group discussion Day-3, 4 & 5 (10th, 11th, 12th December-23) Detailed documentation of identified study areas have been carried out throughout the day on basis of following parameters. 1. General study: o Basic study/History/evolution/importance(past & present) of Kochi o Introduction of the identified study areas with key map o History and past context o Present context and status o Demographic study (population, casts, religious,..) o Climate study o Natural resources study o Religious places o Commercial places(occupations, economic activities) o Educational places o Public places o Identification of Important landmarks 2) Architectural Aspects study: • Housing level: o Street identification for study o Street analysis & Settlement pattern (plan, width, length, total houses, density, cast, religion, occupation, street elevation, orientation,…) o Response of houses towards street o Activity mapping (time wise, age wise) o Locating important buildings with its detail o Built v/s open area & ratio o Public spaces with its detail (temple, garden, gathering space, play area,…) o Kachcha & packka house(with construction materials) o Landscape & climate analysis (shadow, orientation,..) • House level: o Identification of house o Detail study of house (typology, family structure, occupations, floors, activity mapping,..) o Plan, sections, elevation with furniture o orientation, Climate, wind direction o Construction & finishing materials o Relationships: - Building to context - Inside to Outside (Building and site) - Plan to section (Spatial planning, Activity layering) - Circulation to use (Movement pattern in horizontal and vertical) - Unit To whole o Ordering Ideas: -Symmetry/Balance -Grid/Geometry -space Hierarchy -Layering o Expressions: -Massing -Construction & joinery detail -Natural light -Structure -Services o Use of materials(construction & finishing) o Construction Technology o Architectural elements: -Column -Wall -Floor -fenestration -Stairs -Roof -supporting elements -façade The faculty members also visited these study areas as to give guidance, suggestions and inspect to the students working in the groups. The visit created an opportunity to study the organic settlement pattern in Urban & rural areas and to understand linkages between human livelihood and biodiversity in culturally rich areas. Images shows the students working for documentation: Day 6 & 7 (13th, 14st December-23) The entire study tour group was departed at 9:30 am for return journey to Surat from Ernakulam railway station by Kochuvelli-Amritsar Expess. The group has reached Surat at 3:30 pm on 14/12/23. It was indeed a great experience to enjoy and study the Kochi city. The students are currently working on documentation of the study on the various aspects covered during the study tour.