VISION

The Mahila Samajam building was first built in 1941 and has since seen several additions. However, it has been in a state of dereliction for years.

We saw parallels between the dire architectural situation and the need for economic empowerment of the women of this region.
We decided to retain and work with the strengths of what existed to create a nurturing social environment. In this way, the design envisions a desire for a new life.

The adaptive reuse of the existing buildings introduces a F&B shopfront, training centre for women entrepreneurs and various workshop spaces along with an open-air social space within this urban campus.

DESIGN

Aarti Women’s Centre is located in the heart of the city and houses a number of the NGO’s important functions. It is a centre for rehabilitation and training; but it is also an exhibition centre for the arts and crafts of the women. Most importantly, AWC is cultural venue for discussions on empowerment and social impact.

Kadapa experiences some of South India’s harshest summers. Our effort here is mainly focused on passive cooling through careful design of roof & openings to create a comfortable interior space with minimal dependence on active air conditioning.

Most of the material used in this project is sourced locally and we are exploring ways to involve the women from the NGO in producing the arts and crafts required to complete this space.