Chandigarh : Speaking at the PHDCCI INS & OUTS conference in Chandigarh, Ar. Gita Balakrishnan, Founder, Ethos, Bengaluru, shared her vision of taking architecture beyond conventional boundaries and connecting it more closely with society, communities and heritage.Balakrishnan highlighted the need to make architecture more inclusive, socially responsible and responsive to the needs of communities. Her approach has taken her beyond conference halls and design studios, encouraging her to travel across the country and engage directly with people and places.In 2022, Balakrishnan undertook a remarkable 1,700-km journey from Kolkata to New Delhi, covering the distance in around 70 days across seven states. The initiative, titled ‘Walk for Arcause’, aimed to create awareness about the role of good design and architecture in improving lives and bringing architecture closer to communities. During the journey, she interacted with students, villagers, construction workers and professionals while exploring local building traditions and the relationship between people and their built environment.Taking this idea forward, Balakrishnan is now planning a 100-km Punjab Run focused on heritage and architecture. As part of the proposed initiative, she plans to travel across Punjab with college students, visiting heritage sites and exploring the state’s rich architectural traditions.The initiative aims to encourage young students to view Punjab’s heritage not only through the lens of history but also through its architecture, traditional construction practices, settlements and cultural identity. The journey is intended to provide students with an opportunity to experience heritage sites first-hand and understand the importance of preserving historic structures and traditional architectural knowledge for future generations.Her Walk for Arcause also focused on the social responsibility of architecture, including interactions with construction workers and efforts to support architecture students. The campaign sought to demonstrate that architecture can play a meaningful role in addressing social challenges rather than being limited to aesthetics and buildings.The proposed Punjab journey represents a continuation of Balakrishnan’s belief that architecture can be better understood by walking through communities, meeting people and experiencing places first-hand. The initiative will also seek to create greater awareness among young people about Punjab’s architectural and cultural heritage.Through the Ethos Foundation, Balakrishnan has been working to build stronger connections between architecture, education, society and the professional community. Founded in 2002, Ethos focuses on connecting students and professionals in architecture, construction and design while creating greater awareness about developments and challenges in the sector. The organisation has engaged with students across architecture and civil-engineering colleges through educational programmes, events and initiatives.The proposed Punjab Run is therefore envisioned as more than a journey—it is an effort to connect young minds, heritage and architecture, while encouraging a deeper appreciation of Punjab’s built and cultural legacy.
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