Endangered Wooden Architecture Program ( EWAP )

CHC has been awarded the grant EWAP, Endangered Wooden Architecture Program. The program is hosted by Oxford Brookes University, England, and delivered in collaboration with CyArk.

Dr Jigna Desai is the principal investigator for the program. Dr Gauri Bharat, Brinda Pancholi Shah, Mrudula Mane, Ashna Patel, Shriraj Gohil, Shaily Gandhi, and Fulchand M. Suthar are the research collaborators for this program. Saatvika Pancholi (Conservation Architect) is the project coordinator and research associate, Drashti Nakrani (Architect), G.R. Sreeram (Architect), Nishra Shah (Architect), Vidisha Purohit (Conservation Architect) are the research assistants for the project. Mrudula Mane heads the digital documentation work, whereas Saatvika Pancholi heads the reconnaissance survey and research.

The grant includes an in-depth study and digital documentation of the wooden havelis across Gujarat. It aims to record the representative typologies, building techniques, construction systems, ornamentation ideologies and histories of communities. Through the extensive reconnaissance survey in five regions of Gujarat, the team identified more than 750 wooden structures representing residential typologies and other buildings such as temples, vadis, Upashray, schools and other institutional buildings. The project aims to digitally document and study 60 wooden havelis from the comprehensive list. Digital documentation is done using 3D Lidar scanning technology and photogrammetry techniques. 

The project will impact how scholars, academics, administrators, and communities view the domestic architecture of Gujarat.