Sharanam\u2014meaning \u201crefuge\u201d\u2014includes a multipurpose hall, meeting rooms, offices, a journalism studio, community radio station, kitchen, and an amphitheatre nestled into the landscape. The total built area is 2,572 m\u00b2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Extensive landscaping has transformed the once-barren five-acre plot into an inclusive space of beauty and serenity, accessible to all local communities regardless of religion, caste, gender, or attire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unique in form and process, Sharanam was constructed from local resources: over 200,000 hand-pressed earth blocks made from the site\u2019s own red soil. A self-supporting 520 m\u00b2 superstructure forms a sequence of slender 9.5-meter-span vaults over flexible communal spaces, offices, and intimate galleries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The main entrance hall is anchored by a monumental Tamil granite\u00a0thinnai<\/em>, designed as a setting for conversation, meetings, workshops, and performances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Responding to the region\u2019s hot and humid climate, open galleries channel coastal breezes, maximizing natural ventilation. Deep verandas seamlessly merge with the landscape and lead to minimalist-walled offices, full-height sliding windows, cool-to-the-touch finishes, and green roofs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Constructed by hand using rudimentary tools and without a general contractor, the entire building process was conceived by the architect as a social development initiative. Over 300 local workers and artisans were hired on full wages and trained step by step\u2014under the architect\u2019s guidance\u2014in new precision and sustainability techniques. Construction funds were thereby invested in long-term livelihoods rather than contractor profit margins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This collective effort proved socially empowering and transformative: unskilled workers became masons, and masons became contractors. Traditional techniques were revived. The trust built between client, architect, and workers reduced errors and costs, often resulting in workmanship that exceeded British standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without a contractor and with limited consultants, I personally oversaw full cost and construction management, ensuring quality, ethical practice, and financial transparency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The community-led approach exceeded client expectations, delivering higher-quality construction at 50% lower cost (\u00a3145\/m\u00b2) than conventional local building (\u00a3281\/m\u00b2), debunking the myth that \u201cgood design is expensive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sharanam reveals the creative potential and social value of human architecture where design knowledge is needed most. Architects can create something from nothing\u2014designing projects that directly address local challenges while building high-quality, technically ambitious architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Project<\/strong><\/strong>: Sharanam Centre for Rural Development. Jateen Lad is an award-winning architect based in Manchester and Pondicherry (India), with over 20 years of experience in the UK and abroad. His work is grounded in the belief that good architecture and ethical construction practices can be a force for social change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, he committed himself to sustainable community development projects, earning recognition for his recent work on the Sharanam Centre with the Sri Aurobindo Society in Pondicherry. His current projects span Manchester, Ireland, Germany, the United States, and across India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He brings a holistic approach that integrates bespoke architecture, master planning, environmental design, construction management, and socially empowering delivery\u2014often in difficult contexts where design skills are most needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jateen collaborates closely with private clients, non-profits, NGOs, schools, communities, and funding bodies, ensuring that projects exceed expectations and deliver lasting value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n His practice is defined by a strong commitment to both environmental and social sustainability. From the ground up, his work fosters meaningful community participation, capacity-building, and improved livelihoods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jateen studied at the University of Cambridge, MIT, Harvard, and the Architectural Association. He is regularly invited to speak at leading institutions and universities on the social value of architecture and alternative modes of practice. He is a chartered member of the Royal Institute of British Architects, a UN-Habitat consultant, and a technical reviewer for the prestigious Aga Khan Award for Architecture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Source: Jateen Lad Architect<\/p>\n\n\n Jateen Lad Architect<\/strong> Sharanam exemplifies the creative potential and social value of human-centered architecture in communities where design expertise is most urgently needed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13235,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","editor_plus_copied_stylings":"{}","footnotes":"","_ppma_block_editor_authors":""},"categories":[624],"tags":[910,911],"ppma_author":[249],"class_list":["post-17085","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-architecture","tag-india-en","tag-jateen-lad-en"],"authors":[{"term_id":249,"user_id":1,"is_guest":0,"slug":"amoratinos","display_name":"Ex\u00e1gono","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/95418ef5af1f1a520d5386cfe82ba253c88665f94a4343ec69a36d8df034ab4b?s=96&d=mm&r=g","author_category":"","first_name":"","last_name":"","user_url":"","job_title":"","description":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/exagono.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17085","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/exagono.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/exagono.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exagono.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exagono.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17085"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/exagono.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17085\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exagono.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13235"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/exagono.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17085"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exagono.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17085"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exagono.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17085"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/exagono.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=17085"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/exagono.es\/revista\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/JATEEN-LAD_Sharanam_Pondicherry_05_Granite-steps-leading-down-into-main-hall.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Architect<\/strong><\/strong>: Jateen Lad<\/a>.
Location<\/strong><\/strong>: Puthurai Village Road, near Usteri Lake, near Pondicherry. 605111. Tamil Nadu. India.
Built Area<\/strong><\/strong>: 1.776 m2<\/sup>.
Client<\/strong>: Sarvam, una unidad de la sociedad Sri Aurobindo.
Contract Type<\/strong><\/strong>: Construcci\u00f3n comunitaria con gesti\u00f3n completa de la construcci\u00f3n y formaci\u00f3n a cargo del arquitecto.
Award<\/strong><\/strong>: RIBA International Award for Excellence 2024 winner.
Text<\/strong>: Jateen Lad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nJateen Lad<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Clarence Arcade, Stamford Street
Ashton-under-Lyne
Manchester OL6 7PT
+44 (0) 7905 042464
mail@jateenlad.com<\/a>
jateenlad.com<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n