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An Interview with the Third Winner of Tree House 2021 Architecture Competition-Pushkar Sharma - Avinash Chakravorty

Interview

Q-How would you introduce yourself / Team /Firm? (50-100 words)

We would like to introduce ourselves as a firm- EarthBender Architects. Essentially, we try to work on our projects with sensitivity towards the natural environment of the site. It is our effort to use materials provided by the immediate surroundings for building as far as possible, with earth being the primary and most extensively used material. In a way, the idea is to sculpt the space out of the natural surroundings so that the built environment feels very much like an integral part of that place instead of it feeling like an alien implant.

02-Give us brief information on your previous projects/ works/ research/achievements?

This is the first competition that we have done as a firm. Previously, we had been working separately. Here's what we did individually:

Ar. Pushkar Sharma.

So far, I have worked with 2 firms since passing out in 2016. Both the firms specializing in Earth construction01-How would you introduce yourself / Team /Firm? (50-100 words)

We would like to introduce ourselves as a firm- EarthBender Architects. Essentially, we try to work on our projects with sensitivity towards the natural environment of the site. It is our effort to use materials provided by the immediate surroundings for building as far as possible, with earth being the primary and most extensively used material. In a way, the idea is to sculpt the space out of the natural surroundings so that the built environment feels very much like an integral part of that place instead of it feeling like an alien implant.

From 2016 to 2018 I worked with ‘Wallmakers’ in Kerela under Ar. Vinu Daniel is an award-winning architect with 2 of the residences-‘The Pirouette House and ‘Shikhara’ designed by him featuring in Archdaily’s 50 Best houses in 2020.

After that, I worked with ‘Sans Studio’ in Dehradun from 2019 to 2021 under Ar. Swati Negi and Ar. Dhruv Batra. At Sans studio we designed 2 projects using sustainable techniques- ‘Kari Village’ in which we have used Cobb Walls and Bamboo roofs; ‘Nilam Residence’ where we used Rammed earth walls and stones mined from the site.

Ar. Avinash Chakravorty:

And I also worked with two firms, first as a Creative Head at 'DC STUDIO' in Ghaziabad (they are an Architecture Consultancy and specialize in interior and workspace design) and second as an Architect at 'FM ARCHITECTURE' in Doha, Qatar (they primarily design private villas, beach resorts, etc.)

From 2017 to 2019, I worked under Devarshi Chakrabarti (DC STUDIO), who has rich experience in workspace design both in Indian and international projects, and has been published in several magazines (such as Indian Architects and Builders) and journals, and been awarded at the NCR Leadership Award summit in 2019. After that, from 2019 and 2020, I worked as a freelancer.

From 2020 and onward, I'm working with Fernando Martin, an architect known for his work in Spain and Qatar. His projects include Candamo City Hall, Gaita Museum, and several office buildings all in Asturias, Spain. He also received First Prize for designing the Weekend Market, Qatar Museum, and MIA Park in Doha.

Q-What advice would you give to individuals who struggle to decide whether it would be beneficial for them to participate in architecture vision competitions?

If an individual is caught up in such a struggle, the best way out of it would be to just participate. Firstly, there is nothing to lose whether you win or not. Secondly, these competitions are a great way to expand your horizons as a designer, as you might not get similar freedom in your live projects, but these visions do get reflected in your projects in some form or the other.

Q-What were the challenges you faced while designing for such architectural space?

The main challenge that we faced while designing for such an architectural space was keeping all the utilitarian aspects of the projects without making the form too bulky/dominating over the tree so that the tree retains its identity.

Q-What was your thought process while designing for the Tree House Architecture Competition?

For this competition, we worked through a process of elimination. Firstly, we did a lot of sketches independently. Then we tried to establish common grounds between our ideas and what the brief demanded. After a few iterations, we decided on the final form and the placement/stacking of functions with one another.

Q-What attracted you to this competition?

A friend had recommended it to us upon learning that we were looking to participate in an architectural competition. We liked how the project was intimately connected to nature.

Q-Where does your interest in design come from?

The best part about the field of design is its vastness and potential to enhance and enrich user experience. From a small product like a safety pin to huge multi-storeyed skyscrapers, whether we realize it or not, we live in a designed environment. If we extrapolate the same idea, we will realize that Nature itself is the one and only original designer. All our inspiration in some form or the other is from nature. These opportunities to learn from nature and to better understand it are what capture our interest in the ever-evolving field of design.

Q- What design fundamentals do you believe in?

Design basics and principles taught during the first year of the Architecture course, coupled with our experience, are the fundamentals that we believe in.

Q-What were your references/ inspiration?

We studied various types of nests made by different kinds of birds. Specifically, two birds inspired us the most: the weaver bird and the swallow bird.

Q-Which aspects of a design do you focus on more during designing?

We treat every design problem differently as a response to its context. So the site, context, and the brief determine which aspects of the design are going to be important.

QWhat according to you is the key to making your design a success?

How well a design responds to its context holistically is an indicator of its success.

Q-Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration, etc.?

Firstly, a lot of both traditional and digital sketching. Then, depending on how simple or complicated the form is, we use Sketchup or Rhino for 3D form resolution. Then AutoCAD for 2D drawings and Lumion/Twinmotion for 3D renders. Finally, Affinity Photo for sheet composition.