Reinvigorating the genius loci of indian handloom clusters: an integrated handloom production center, Fatehabad, Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh

Abstract

Handloom weaving is a technique of weaving unstitched fabrics, and a handful of Indian communities like the one at Chanderi, Madhya Pradesh, have been skilled in this craft for centuries and continuing. The Chanderi handloom cluster, owing to its stature on a global level has even been listed under the UNESCO World Heritage Site. This handloom cluster, like many others, abound with a prolific number of centuries-old-handlooms that are engaged in weaving cotton, silk, and other natural fibers into fine unstitched cloth. This venerable craft is perceived more like a family legacy that is passed from one generation to the other. However, in the recent past, the adroitness of the Chanderi handloom weavers is failing to yield favorable outcomes, resulting in a degenerative flux in which the adept weavers are forced to find other ways to earn their living. The younger generation is finding it an onerous task to continue this family occupation due to a number of factors like lack of recognition, aberrantly low wages, abhorrent built-environment, and a highly competitive market. Adding to these hardships, they also face cut-throat competition from the products manufactured through power looms which easily imitate and produce similar designs in a fraction of time. The Ministry of Textiles (GoI), as well as the State Handloom Department, has taken various initiatives to safeguard this tradition of handloom weaving; although their efforts seem limited to the craft and its enhancement, and not to the associated spaces and the built environment. Hence, there is a compelling need to study and understand the imperative association between Chanderi’s handloom business-model canvas, handloom weaver’s intangible craft, and their tangible built-environment, which is central to their efficient working and living environment. This Thesis is a design solution to the proposal put forward by the Madhya Pradesh Hastashilp Evam Hathkargha Vikas Nigam Limited, which aims to develop a handloom village for about 150 Weaver households in the city of Chanderi. Although the proposed project brief primarily asks to develop a housing cluster, the brief has been tweaked a bit to incorporate imperative social infrastructure to support and further develop the community. The project is envisioned to be one of the future landmarks of this historic city, which accentuates its weaving tradition. The proposed project is envisaged to be a precedence of sustainability for various other communities across the country which are engaged in a similar craft. The Intervention proposed aims at Recapturing and augmenting the ‘Genius Loci’ of the Indian Handloom Weavers’ clusters, by designing a state-of-the-art handloom production village in Chanderi. The conceived proposal demonstrates Avant-Garde spatial planning while taking forward the vernacular language of the region. The Thesis aims at breaking down the silos that impede better livability. By amalgamating the disciplines of design/architecture, technology, and business, impactful solutions can be created that hold real value for people. Especially with a community like the one this Thesis targets, architecture has to be backed by the other two domains, which are equally critical for the community’s sustainable growth. Hence, along with fulfilling the fundamentals of architectural thesis by providing a design solution pertaining to the built environment, the proposed thesis aims to take a step further by conceiving a viable business model along with innovative technological advancements and integrate it with a compatible built environment. Keywords Cultural landscapes,