Assistant architect with Prof. Louis I. Kahn in Ahmedabad. Since 1976 professional work and academic assignments at various levels; history of architecture, building construction, lightweight structures, architectural design and issues related to social culture of towns in historic context including involvement in the areas of heritage conservation and restoration of historic buildings. 1976 - 1998 teaching posts (as Assistant and Adjunct Professor) at Schools of Architecture, Ahmedabad, Bombay, Delhi, Vallabh-Vidyanagar and at the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. (since) Guest Faculty positions from various schools - national and international, Project Consultant with INTACH.
email: rabin.vasavada (at) gmail (dot) com Tele-Fax: + 91 79 2663 4787
Born 1944: Junagadh, India
Academic and Professional career and Appointments:
| |
|
| 1960-69: |
Baroda School of Architecture, Bachelor Degree in Architecture with First Class |
| 1969-73: |
Assistant
architect with Prof. Louis I. Kahn in Ahmedabad (working on design and
execution of the Indian Institute of Management Campus in Ahmedabad |
| 1973-74: |
National
Scholarship award For P. G. Studies at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine
Arts, Copenhagen (P. G. Studies in architecture and planning) and
travel in Europe and Russia |
| Since
1976, professional work and academic assignments at various levels;
history of architecture, building construction, lightweight structures,
architectural design and issues related to social culture of towns in
historic context including involvement in the areas of heritage
conservation and restoration of historic buildings. |
| 1976
- 1998, Teaching posts (as Assistant and Adjunct Professor) at Schools
of Architecture, Ahmedabad, Bombay, Delhi, Vallabh-Vidyanagar and at
the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad |
| Guest
Faculty positions from various schools - national and
international.(1976-1998) Also worked at the Light-weight Structures
Institute at University of Stuttgart, Germany, and became Guest
Faculty, for visiting German students in an academic program
'Architecture of Himalayas'. |
| Since
1981, Project Consultant with INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art
& Cultural Heritage). In recent past worked on formulating
guidelines for heritage conservation in historic towns of Junagadh,
Jamnagar, and also involved as Advisor for the AMC-French Government
collaboration project for Walled city Conservation in Ahmedabad since
last several years. |
| After the recent Earthquake in Saurashtra and Kutch, undertook an
extensive survey of heritage property and reported on the damage to the
heritage properties of the erstwhile princely states for INTACH, with
support from INTACH (UK) Trust and Charles Wallace Trust (UK). The
survey was conducted with Mr. Edmund Booth, Civil Engineer UK, in
consultation with Sir Bernard Feilden. Invited by INTACH (UK) Trust and
Charles Wallace Trust to visit UK in May 2001 to finalize the Report on
Damage to Heritage Properties in Gujarat. |
| Invited
to visit France, in connection with Museum of Indian Culture ‘Asiatica’
Biarritz (recently established by Franco Indian Pharmaceuticals) and
Germany, in connection with the Research Project on Orissa Research
Programme. |
| Invited to
the World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan (2003) along with the delegation
from the city of Venice and the School of Architectural Conservation,
Venice to present the work on Step wells in western India. |
| Seminar
and Conference participation in India - Ahmedabad, Bombay, Delhi,
Gauhati, Goa - and abroad - Stuttgart, Sydney has emerged through
contributions historic conservation, architectural theory and
lightweight structures. |
Publications:
- In journals, conference proceedings, and publication of
monographs and books on historic architecture from time to time from
India, Australia, Germany, Sweden arising out of and culminating in
publication of Books and Monographs on important temples in western
India, Madhya Pradesh (Khajuraho) and Orissa.
- Senior
Research Fellowship as a Principal Investigator, Indian National
Science Academy, NewDelhi. Monograph on Step Wells in Western India
(unpublished)
- American Institute for Indian Studies, Varanasi Studies on Temple Architecture at Osian
- Retained Scholarship from Franco-Indian Research, a private sponsor.
Temples of Badoli, to be published by Project for Cultural Studies,
Rajasthan Research Project
- Project Director Project on
Studies of Indian Temple Architecture, at the L.D. Institute of
Indology, Ahmedabad Monograph on Mahavir Temple at Osian, published by
the L. D. Institutre of Indology, Ahmedabad.
- Research
Scholar, (Orissa Research Program), German Research Council
publications undr preparation on Ranpur-The little kingdom of Orissa
and Sacred Topography of Keonjhar, both joint publications with Dr.
Niels Gutschow and Dr. Herman Kulke respectively of the Orissa Research
Programme.
Current Professional involvements include;Building Projects:
- Development of Tourist facilities for Somnath Temple Trust near Veraval, Gujarat.
(Approach area Development and upgrading, riverfront development for Pilgrims and a Tourist complex) (1992-ongoing).
- Crafts centre at Sumrasar near Bhuj (1995-96) enlarged now into a Design School.
- Cultural Complex for Government of Gujarat, Sanskriti Kunj Pratishthan, with reconstruction of an old Haveli. (1998- onwards)
- Design of a memorial to a Vedic Scholar-saint in Vrindavan near Mathura (1999)
- New Information Gallery for District Collector, Kothi, Baroda (1999-2000).
- District Rural Training Center, for DRDA, Ahwa, Dangs(south Gujarat)
with focus on the use of indigenous materials and participation of the
local crafts. (2001)
- Re-organization of the Secretariat Block-1, 5th floor and official Residence for CMO for R & B Dept.
- School buildings in Jamnagar and Khajuraho (Projects)
- Private small residences in Gandhinagar ( Designing Stage)
Restoration Projects:
- Restoration of an old Bungalow at Baroda for Faculty of Fine Arts. (1995)
- Restoration of an old Secretariat Building housing Collect orate for District Collector, Kothi, Baroda (1999-2000).
- Restoration Proposal for Amar Vihar Palace at Halvad, to be redeveloped
into a Regional Cultural Resource Centre. (1999-onwards), Restoration
of Tanka Villa, Dhrangadhra (2001)
- Restoration of Baroda College and addition of new Language Institute, for the M. S. University, Baroda (2000- Project).
- Commissioned as INTACH's Project Consultant for post-earth quake Restoration of Ayna Mahal at Bhuj, Kutch (2002)
- Restoration of Darbargadh at Devpur, Kutch (2001)
- Restoration of Bunglow of District Superintendent of Police, Bhuj, Kutch(2001)
- Restoration of Amar Vilas Palace, for RGK Educational Trust, Jamnagar (2002)
- Restoration of Bhujio Kotho for Department of Archaeology and INTACH (Project), Jamnagar (2002)
- Development for Ranaki Vav precinct for the Archaeological Survey of
India, ASI consultation for the same through the Supdt. Archaeologist,
Baroda
- Appointed as Consultant by ASI under their
scheme to involve consultants on Projects for my studies on Khajuraho
and Atru (Dist. Baran) near Kota, Rajasthan.
- Restoration of Gandhi Sangrahalaya (designed by Charles Correa)and
Hrdaya Kunj for the Sabarmati Asram Preservation and Memorial Trust,
Ahmedabad (currently working)
- Restoration of Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation Head Quarter buildings, Ahmedabad. (current)
- Restoration of M. J. Library Complex for Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. (current)
Affiliations:
- Member, Advisory Board, National Commission on History,
Indian National Science Academy, Dept. of Science and Technology,
Government of India, New Delhi.
- Technical Expert, Regional Technical Committee, HUDCO, Ahmedabad.
- Technical Expert on the Evaluation Committee, GIDB, Gandhinagar.
- Member, Board of Studies, Architecture, Saurashtra University, Rajkot.
- Life Member, Saurashtra Itihas Sabha.
- Researcher, German Research Council, South Asia Institute, Heidelberg/Bonn Germany on Orissa Research Program.
- Retained Scholar, Project for Cultural Studies, Franco-Indian Research, Bombay
- Project Director, Studies in Indian Temple Architecture, L. D. Institute of Indology, Ahmedabad
- Research Fellow, National Institute of Design, (Design and Research Area). Ahmedabad
- Adjunct Professor, School of Architecture, Ahmedabad.
- Life member, GEER Foundation gandhinagar.
- Registered with the Council of Architecture, India, New Delhi.
- Fellow of the Indian Institute of Architects, Bombay.
- Member, Ahmedabad Management Association, Ahmedabad.