Interactive meeting discusses Sustainable Mountain Architecture

GANGTOK, 08 Oct: Lok Sabha MP, PD Rai today pointed out the possibility of the last of the REDRH [Reconstruction of Earthquake Damaged Rural Houses scheme] houses in the State being constructed following sustainable designs using locally available material and involving local architects.
He was speaking at the Sustainable Mountain Architecture event, which was organised at the Forest Conference Hall today in collaboration with three agencies WWF-India, Forest Department along with Arch i [a collective platform for exploring design].
The MP was present as chief guest along with the Gangtok Mayor, KN Tobgay and Deputy Mayor, Shakti Chaudhary.  Arch i was represented by Anne Feenstra who has recently been awarded the Laureate of the Global Award for Sustainable Architecture in Paris.
A press release informs that the event traveled for the first time to India from Nepal where it was initiated in December last year at the knowledge park of ICIMOD and earlier this year at the Tribhuvan University, Nepal. It consisted of an exhibition showcasing the work undertaken by Arch i in Afghanistan and in East Sikkim in collaboration with WWF–India, followed by expert presentations and a panel discussion.
The programme was attended by various government departments, personnel from the Sashastra Seema Bal and GREF, NGOs and civil society members, representatives of various associations and Deorali School teachers and students.
The programme started with the inauguration of the Sustainable Mountain Architecture exhibition by the chief guest and interpretation of the posters showcasing Arch i’s work by Master Architect Anne Feenstra.
The second part of the programme consisted of expert presentations which began with a welcome address by Priyadarshinee Shrestha [Coordinator of WWF – India’s Sikkim office]. In her address Ms. Shrestha stressed on the need for sustainable building in Sikkim, in the face of recurring natural disasters.
Presentations were made by RP Gurung [CEO of ECOSS] on the changing face of rural Sikkim and what it means for eco tourism in the state and by Echostream and Sanctum Architecture on conserving heritage through community participation. Lastly, Mr. Feenstra gave a presentation on involvement of local people in the planning and building process, and the difference it makes to the process from his experiences of working in Afghanistan.
The panel discussion that followed was chaired by MP, PD Rai and moderated by Anne Feenstra. The audience got an opportunity to interact with the panel members consisting of the presenters, the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor. Critical questions were raised by participants on the need for conserving vernacular architecture, what vernacular architecture meant for Sikkim, the lack of mountain specific architectural knowledge and how students could learn more about the values of traditional architecture through the normal school curriculum. Students were also keen to participate and get more involved in these dialogues and the processes of conservation that followed.
Mr. Rai in his address to sum up the event talked about maintaining continuity of programmes like these, and linking the dialogue initiated on sustainable architecture to the ongoing Indian Mountain Initiative. He also stressed on the need for and possibility of having a planning and architecture school in the recent future in Sikkim.