AT A GLANCE
Namrata Toraskar
Area of Practice:
OVERVIEW
Namrata Toraskar is an architect, illustrator and an academic at Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology Using the medium of illustrations, photography and writing, she constructs narratives related to build-environment, dwelling rituals and visual culture of Indian settlements. A recipient of the Distinguished Student Award 2019, Namrata graduated from CEPT University, Ahmedabad with a major in Crafts and Technology. Her multi-disciplinary pursuits have been supported by Sahapedia Frames 2018 and Sahapedia UNESCO 2018 Fellowships to pursue research and documentation in the domain of Indian crafts and heritage, particularly in the rural areas of Himachal Pradesh and Maharashtra.
EDUCATION
Masters in interior architecture and design with specialisation in Crafts and Technology, CEPT University, Ahmedabad. Bachelor of Architecture, Rachana Sansad’s Academy of Architecture, Mumbai
WORK EXPERIENCE
Co-founder of Vanamu- a forest of learnings on dwelling and building(From September 2020-current)
Illustrator, India’s Composite Heritage: A workbook for Children and Parents (Aleph Book Company, 2022)
Assistant Professor at WCFA, Mysore & ASD, Bangalore
Planned and executed several built environment-based studio and research modules as part of architectural-design curriculum at Wadiyar Centre for Architecture, Mysore and Acharya School of Design, Bangalore.
Art Director for the Bombay Review magazine, India
Graphic Designer at CEPT Communications Office
Project Architect at Sathya Consultants, Bangalore
The architectural practice involved conceptual designing, design development, producing drawings for site execution, regular site inspection for quality checks, design evolution and detailing while designing houses in alternative technologies using natural materials like clay blocks, mud, and stone.
INTEREST AREAS
Vernacular and traditional dwelling systems, visual culture, conscious architecture design;
Observation studies of natural systems and cultural landscapes;
Community-driven Participatory design processes.
CURRENT PRACTICE AT SRISHTI
Design-Build Vernacular Practices, Context-community-culture Studies, Building craft and art design projects, Research Administration
TEACHING PORTFOLIO
CREATIVE PRACTICE & OUTREACH
Co-founder of Vanamu- Researcher and workshop coordinator at Vanamu, Bangalore in the domain of traditional building and dwelling systems. https://vanamu.org/
Maker at designEarth lab. https://srishtimanipalinstitute.in/centers-and-labs/design-earth-lab
