Bangalore: LISAA School of Design, Bengaluru organized a transnational workshop on Sustainable Design and Urban Geography in collaboration with LISAA, Rennes, and LISAA, Paris. The workshop, supported by the French Consulate, aims to foster exchange of ideas between the students of France and India. It commenced at LISAA, Bengaluru, on 26th February, and then moved to Auroville, Puducherry, where it continued until 5th March 2018. The workshop concluded with a grand exhibition at Alliance française on 5th March wherein Honorable Consulate General, Madame Catherine Suard, and Governor of Puducherry, Kiran Bedi and M. S. Ramesh, Municipal Commissioner were the guests of honor.
The participants showcased concepts about the future possibilities for developing Pondicherry as a smart city. While the technical theme of the workshop was bamboo, the conceptual theme was ‘Pondicherry’ – the architectural, environmental and cultural relation between the heritage city and the new town.
The Indo-French workshop kicked off with a conference on the use of bamboo in art, design and architecture by Shanthamani Muddaiah from Bengaluru-based social enterprise Bamboo Pecker. She is a sculptural artist who uses bamboo as one of the ephemeral natural materials in her visual art. The workshop moved to Puducherry on 27th February with a study reportage on Puducherry at the French Research Institute (IFP). The session was lead by Frederic Landy, Director, IFP, geographer and professor at the University Paris ouest Nanterre.
The workshop covered a session on the techniques of using bamboo in design and architecture. Students were mentored by Vanessa Farnot, Head of Graphic Design Studies, LISAA Paris, Lena Riaux, Interior Architect, Teacher at LISAA Rennes; and Francois Camard, Freelance Art Director, Graphic Designer and Web Designer, UI and motion design, Teacher at LISAA Rennes. The students attended the workshop as well as showcased their work on 3rd and 4th March with a grand public display on 5th March 2018 at Alliance française.
