work
DesignAware’s portfolio cuts across a range of typologies, scales and contexts, including architecture, urbanism, interior and spatial design, object, furniture and lighting, and wearable design.
DesignAware is highly-selective of work, and each new project is seen as a puzzle to be solved with an exploratory, inquisitive and adventurous approach.
process
Our work is process-driven and every design is a version, which can undergo tweaks and improvements during the process, and afterward. Recognizing this allows us to see each project as exploratory design research. All our methods are open-source: we like to share techniques and concepts that allow users and other designers to understand our work process.
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Design is an essential component of many overlapping fields, ranging from art and product design, to furniture and interiors, to architecture and urbanism. We aim to address pressing issues in the world through architecture and design, and by embracing all kinds of projects and delivering unique and unconventional design solutions.
Click here for a backend view of the DesignAware studio!
awareness
DesignAware focuses on a community-oriented approach to teaching. We conduct workshops not only for design and architecture students, but also aim to bring design thinking to schools and professionals from other fields. We believe in collaboration and pluralizing the studio by creating a virtual network between individuals with different areas of expertise, no matter where they are located.
the Fractals Workshop is a generative and computational design workshop that combines logic, geometry, natural systems and structure. Since 2011, the Fractals Workshop has been taught to people of all ages, backgrounds and skill sets across the Indian subcontinent and the Middle East.
Click here to learn more about the Fractals Workshop series.
If you’d like to engage us to organize a workshop, click here.
_studio to site_
a hands-on, comprehensive long-term program in which you will be able to learn how a design concept evolves, becomes buildable and is ultimately realized in the form of a building, by interacting with award-winning architects and designers, and experienced engineers and construction team on site
What?
The importance of getting your hands dirty!
As students of design, architecture or civil engineering and often as young professionals, there is a disconnect between the design studio and the construction site. Architecture is a slow process, and it may sometimes take years for a young architect to experience the site and see their first designs built. Certainly, starting out, we experienced this urge to get our hands dirty by immersing ourselves in the construction process, participating in making our ideas a reality.
At DesignAware, we are driven by creating awareness about design and sharing our knowledge and experience. We have done so in the past through our Join the Movement initiative, various Fractals Workshops and now we open up our live construction sites to students and young professionals who are keen on learning by experiencing.
Starting with a design presentation about architecture and design projects that are under construction, we will take you to visit our construction site in Hyderabad. Site visits to the will be scheduled at key stages during the construction process so that students and young professionals have a first-hand experience of the site and the different stages during construction. You will learn about the makeup of the execution team, materials and technicalities, the connection between design and reality, as well as how we respond to unforeseen challenges and issues on site. Thinking on your feet is key!
This is an experiential program which will be led by different members of the multiple award-winning DesignAware team: experienced architects, designers, civil and structural engineers, and the execution team on site, who each have a high level of expertise and experience to introduce you to the Design + Build process first-hand.
When?
Site visits of 30 min- 1 hour duration will be scheduled weekly on Saturday mornings, a total of 20 site visits in all. A design presentation will be made online to understand the concept before visiting the site. The program is a combination of online sessions and site visits, with a strong focus on site visits and hands-on learning on site.
Applications are open and accepted on a rolling basis!
Where?
A small residential project located near the Qutb Shahi Tombs. Two stacked duplexes have been designed on a very tight site sharing walls with neighboring houses. The design seeks to preserve existing trees on site and create ventilation opportunities from within and above. A low-budget project, the entire construction process will take 9 months and interior execution about 3 months.
A temporary structure in dry construction that will serve as a restaurant in Madhapur. This site has two existing trees that will be preserved and the building has been designed around these trees. The minimum lifespan of the building will be 2 years. The materials used in this project are dismantle-able, recyclable and reusable. The entire execution is scheduled to be done over a period of 9 months. Construction for this project is scheduled to begin in July 2022.
Who?
The workshop can be attended by students of architecture, interior design and civil engineering, as well as young professionals. Participants may apply in groups or individually. Participants must be based in or around Hyderabad.
How much?
Course fee per individual: ₹20,000/-
Early-bird fee per individual (before March 20): ₹18,000/-
Applying in groups of 3 or more will entitle you to a discounted group fee and will also make the workshop more enjoyable!
Course fee per individual applying in a group of 3-5: ₹16,000/-
Course fee per individual applying in a group of 6-10: ₹15,000/-
Anything else?
Each participant will receive a Participation Kit containing a Fractals Are Everywhere pin badge, a _studio to site_ notebook, pencil, and measuring tape, a _studio to site_ T-shirt, a digital Workshop Manual, DesignAware stickers and a DIY GeoDesk 2022 calendar.
On completion of the workshop, you will receive an official participation certificate signed and stamped by the international award-winning architecture firm, DesignAware.
Good to know:
_Participants must be based in or around Hyderabad and able to visit the sites as needed.
_This is not a design, computation or software workshop. Online design presentations will be followed by site visits.
_Attendance is the responsibility of the participant, and they must arrange to be available in Hyderabad during the scheduled site visits. Transport must also be arranged by the participant.
_Participants must take all safety precautions as instructed by the tutors. DesignAware shall not be held responsible for any incident due to lapse in safety procedure or disregard of instructions by participants.
_All participants must be fully-vaccinated and submit their vaccination certificate before joining.
_Attendance is the responsibility of the participant, and they must arrange to be available in Hyderabad during the scheduled site visits. Transport must also be arranged by the participant.
_Participants must take all safety precautions as instructed by the tutors. DesignAware shall not be held responsible for any incident due to lapse in safety procedure or disregard of instructions by participants.
_All participants must be fully-vaccinated and submit their vaccination certificate before joining.
_Participants are required to have closed shoes (flat-soled sport shoes or safety shoes) and white safety hardhats for site visits. Hard hats are not provided by the program due to ongoing health and safety precautions.
_All participants must wear face-masks to every session at all times.
_Fee once paid will be non-refundable under any circumstances.
_In case of halting of site work on the site due to any reason not under the control of DesignAware, another site will be selected for visit in the future, or site visits may be rescheduled to cover other stages of work.
_If you require more information before paying the fee, email us at info@designaware.org with “Studio to Site” in the subject line.
_Fee once paid will be non-refundable under any circumstances.
_In case of halting of site work on the site due to any reason not under the control of DesignAware, another site will be selected for visit in the future, or site visits may be rescheduled to cover other stages of work.
_If you require more information before paying the fee, email us at info@designaware.org with “Studio to Site” in the subject line.
Click here to see previous Fractals Workshops by DesignAware.
The program will be led by Architect and Director of DesignAware and the Fractals Workshop, Takbir Fatima.