Deakin students lend a hand to childcare design in India

DEAKIN architecture students will this month present proposals for a series of Indian maternal care and children’s early learning centres, designed in collaboration with local stakeholders during a study tour of the southwest city of Udupi.

The 16 students from Deakin’s School of Architecture and Built Environment worked earlier this year with students from the Manipal Academy of Higher Education and International Islamic University of Malaysia to create the design proposals, as part of the Deakin-led lntercultural Dialogue through Design workshop (iDiDe).

The iDiDe built environment study tour program included intensive design studio work informed by cultural immersion activities, visits to architectural sites of interest and dedicated lecture seminars.

Senior lecturer Susan Ang, who led the three-week program in late January, said Deakin students worked closely with local community stakeholders to create seven designs for maternal care and children’s early learning centres, known as “Anganwadis”.

“We strongly believe in the objective agency role universities can play in facilitating the architectural expression and articulation of sustainable building needs of under-privileged communities with these Anganwadi centres, in this case through iDiDe’s architectural design contribution.

During their time in India, the students collaborated with academics, architects and built environment professionals who offered local expertise and mentorship.

“The students also held a children’s workshop to expose them to the fundamental needs, ideals, characteristics and behavioural attributes of the local children who would most benefit from the Anganwadis,” Ms Ang said.

She said the transcultural study tour prioritised cultural immersion and sustainable design solutions, and was so successful that a cohort of iDiDe students will travel to India later this year to work on more community-led Anganwadis.

Deakin School of Architecture and Built Environment student Ben McKenzie, who took part in the iDiDe study tour, said it had inspired him to think differently.

“The iDiDe journey was a life-changing experience for me, showing me a whole new world of architecture and cultural diversity.

“In designing the Anganwadi centres, I was encouraged to explore unique architectural styles, and I was exposed to different methodology and ways of thinking through and working with colleagues from cultures other than my own.”

The iDiDe Anganwadi Exhibition 2018 will be presented from July 12 to 26 at the Deakin Geelong Waterfront Campus Gallery.