This article is a tribute to Dr. Stephan Harding, co-founder of Schumacher College and a proponent of Gaian science. It reflects on his teachings, which bridged science, spirituality, and nature. Through personal anecdotes, it highlights his profound impact on students, especially his use of the Deep Time Walk and his philosophy of Gaia as a living organism. Harding’s influence extended beyond the classroom, connecting life, death, and Earth’s natural cycles.

This webinar explored holistic eating practices and designing food spaces rooted in place. The session covered seasonal diets, mindful consumption, and ecological awareness. Participants engaged in interactive exercises, learning about closed-loop nourishment and preserving cultural food traditions. Chaitali discussed integrating traditional ad ecological wisdom with modern design principles to create spaces promoting mindful eating and local food production. The webinar offered valuable insights on sustainable eating habits and their environmental impact.

This session introduced a holistic approach to place-based design through creative mapping. Students and teachers of 2nd year B.Arch. engaged in exercises that were complementary to the conventional mapping techniques, aiming to reveal the subtle rhythms and implicit character of site landscapes. By integrating progressive design theories with intuitive observational methods, students discovered novel approaches to connect with their study sites on a more profound level. This interactive experience was an invitation to students to enrich their perception and response to place in architectural design. The session offered an opportunity to explore the nuances of essence mapping, providing tools to develop a deeper resonance with site contexts.

Read Chaitali’s dissertation on Goethean approach to architecture – An exploration into landscape for place based architectural intervention.

Take a look at Chaitali’s work portfolio while she worked here.

Take a look at Chaitali’s work while she interned here.