Episode 56: Revathi Kamath
Revathi Kamath was born in 1955 in Bhubaneswar, India. Her father was a civil engineer who worked on the Hirakud Dam on the Mahanadi River. She read about engineers and architects growing up and went to study at the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) in Delhi. She received a bachelor’s degree in Architecture in 1977 and a master’s in Urban and Regional Planning in 1981. She worked at several firms in Delhi including GRUP (Group for Rural & Urban Planning) where she met her husband, Vasant Kamath. In 1981, she and Vasant opened their own architectural firm, Revathi & Vasant Kamath Architects, in Delhi. Revathi was determined to remove stigmas from using mud as a building material. She became a leader in mud architecture and used mud in the design of most of her work including some luxury resorts. Revathi also worked at the National Institute of Urban Affairs in 1981, and also taught at her alma mater, SPA, from 1984-1991. In 2005, Revathi & Vasant’s son joined their firm and it was renamed Kamath Design Studio. In 2006, Revathi designed a stainless steel gateway which is the tallest stainless steel structure in India. In 2018, she received the World Women in Arts, Architecture and Design Sustainability Award, and three of her projects were nominated for the Aga Khan Award. Revathi passed away on July 21, 2020 at the age of 65.
Interview with Revathi:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dkrnr1W_cNA&ab_channel=EinLall
Caryatid: Anna Heringer
Anna grew up in Laufen, Germany. When she was 19, she went to Bangladesh for a year to volunteer with the NGO Dipshikha where she learned about sustainable development. She studied architecture at the University of Arts and Industrial Design in Linz, Austria. In 2005, her thesis project was built in Bangladesh — the METI Handmade School. The project was built with the help of the local community using mud and bamboo, traditional materials from that area. Anna’s projects continue to focus on local craftsman, materials, and methods. Anna teaches the method of Clay Storming, or brainstorming through clay, at various universities.
Clay Storming: https://www.domusweb.it/en/architecture/2019/09/23/-clay-storming-is-the-new-brain-storming-.html
Agora: Reema Kadri
Congratulations to Reema Kadri for her exceptional design for the new Dentique Smiles location! A beautifully designed dental office with state-of-the-art equipment and a focus on superior patient care is a significant achievement. The emphasis on high-quality finishes and attention to detail ensures a pleasant experience for patients during their visits to the dentist. Reema Kadri's talent and dedication have resulted in a welcoming and comfortable environment for dental care.
References
“About Anna Heringer.” Anna Heringer, www.anna-heringer.com/about-anna-heringer. Accessed 16 July 2022.
AR Editors. “Interview: Anna Heringer.” Architectural Review, 8 Nov. 2021, www.architectural-review.com/films/interview-anna-heringer.
Guernieri, Marianna. “Clay Storming Is the New Brain Storming.” Domus, 2 Oct. 2019, www.domusweb.it/en/architecture/2019/09/23/-clay-storming-is-the-new-brain-storming-.html.
Kapoor, Swanzal Kak. “Swanzal Kak Kapoor Recalls Revathi Kamath and Her Passion for Earth Architecture.” Stir World, 24 July 2020, www.stirworld.com/think-opinions-swanzal-kak-kapoor-recalls-revathi-kamath-and-her-passion-for-earth-architecture.
Khanam, Madiha. “Remembering Ar. Revathi Kamath.” RTF | Rethinking The Future, 22 Nov. 2021, www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/know-your-architects/a1355-remembering-ar-revathi-kamath.
Mehta, Meghna. “Revisiting the Life of Revathi Kamath, the Torchbearer of Vernacular Architecture.” Stir World, 24 July 2020, www.stirworld.com/think-opinions-revisiting-the-life-of-revathi-kamath-the-torchbearer-of-vernacular-architecture.
Suneja, Pappal. “An Obituary: ‘Mud Architecture’ Pioneer Revathi Kamath Passed Away at 65.” World Architecture Community, 26 July 2020, worldarchitecture.org/article-links/efvpm/an-obituary-mud-architecture-pioneer-revathi-kamath-passed-away-at-65-.html.
Wikipedia contributors. “Hirakud Dam.” Wikipedia, 6 July 2022, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hirakud_Dam.
