The proposal of Alliance Francaise was shortlisted for the final stage of the competition. The building is a celebration of all what we have inherited and what we are today. It has to be experienced and enjoyed. The building belongs to the century in which it will be built, spanning two cultures and two technologies effortlessly. We hope it will be enjoyed by its users who will experience its changing moods and nuances, its architectural geometry and its ethos as it entices the visitor and student into its portals of learning. We hope they will leave the richer for it as we certainly have been enriched by working on it.
Vad Gumbaj, Ahmedabad, by BandukSmith studio
This project was proposed for a competition for an iconic structure along the banks of the Sabarmati Riverfront in Ahmedabad. Given the context of a limited budget and the municipality’s small appetite for maintenance, we took the opportunity to reflect on the nature of a monument – who it serves, what it reflects, and what kind of resource it consumes.
