The guest house for  Dayalbagh University, Putlighar Campus, Amritsar, was built in a shortened time span of just 18 days from foundation excavation to hanging the curtains. A Charrette Project with Bamboo, Mud, and Waste the project promoted a participatory nature of implementation. All the stakeholders interacted directly with each other to participate equally in both the Design and the Construction process, including the interiors. 

The project helped in raising awareness at the community level on the importance of Bamboo and was crucial in kickstarting the Bamboo courses at Dayalbagh University.  With active involvement from university staff, students, and the local community the end users were themselves actively involved thereby creating a sense of shared ownership. The project by its unique construction approach also showcased how local talent, often dormant can be leveraged at times of need to achieve a socially relevant cause. The entire process was carried out in a dynamic manner, viz Design – Check feasibility – Aesthetics – Material availability – Training – Execute, so that the challenging deadline of just 18 days could be met.

Hence,  this project not only pioneered construction technologies but also a unique socially driven approach toward construction management. This blueprint of management can be leveraged at times of need to create facilities varying from quick-build disaster relief shelters to common public amenities that often lie neglected. Any construction can be successful only with active involvement and this project was a testament to the same.

ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES

• The guest house was built using prefab bamboo walls, bamboo columns, and recycled materials like mud, bricks, and steel bars from demolished buildings on the site. 

• The entire project was built in a rapid span of 18 days from start to finish

• Close to 100 volunteers and participants were involved in the project at a given time. The strength of this community mobilization was despite the sweltering heat sweeping across North India at that time illustrating how strong social causes can mobilize us from all walks of life.