Testimonials

From discussions with industry experts to observing the sites visited on the trip, here’s what our alumni have to say about our courses. A small step towards a sustainable future!

The Architecture Experience

The trip allowed me a very holistic experience of the cities, which is a first for me despite having been on quite a few “study” trips. It encompassed everything from contemporary and historically relevant site visits to vibrant day and night markets, offering insights into various aspects beyond architecture- food, culture, history, and so on. To our surprise and joy, the lively local New Year celebrations added a dynamic dimension, revealing various facets of the city's essence. It was encouraging to see studios and practices using sustainability and adaptive reuse as forefront agendas in a relatable urban context. I enjoyed seeing the variety in the typologies and languages of architecture within the same city. Would definitely want to explore more into the observations and learnings from Vietnam. Having been a small group, there were a lot of spontaneous discussions encouraged and initiated by Atul Sir, that made me look a few more steps beyond just the surface and helped me catch onto certain aspects in a much more simplified way. He was really a great mentor to have on this trip!

Ayushi Madan

4th Year, Wadiyar Centre For Architecture, Mysore
(Participant - Vietnam, February 2024)

I loved the Bawa site visits(especially Lunuganga) and meeting with Palinda. The fact that we could closely experience Bawa's works would definitely add to our designs and projects. All the important spots were thoughtfully covered and personal attention was given everywhere. Guidance from Rachita, on not only the project but also on architecture as a field, was really helpful. She is amazing and is an excellent mentor. She answered all our questions patiently and is a very sweet and friendly person. Overall planning and organizing of the tour was amazing. We were allowed to explore on our own and make changes to the itinerary if required, which gave us more exposure. Lastly, it was an extremely fun trip where we enjoyed 24x7 and made unforgettable memories. Kudos to Ankit and The Happy Llamas!

Chirag Betgeri

2nd Year, MMCOA, Pune
(Participant - Sri Lanka, October 2023)

10 out of 10! The Galleries we visited were really innovative with excellent technology and the neighbourhood with its unique character and vibrancy.I loved the lecture with Ar. Neo Sei Hwa. It gave me an insight into the evolution of Singapore as a city as well as the master's programme and practice opportunities there. Having learnt a lot about Singapore’s energy-efficient buildings, organised human settlement patterns, comfortable climate and rich culture in the previous semesters of our UG, it was really insightful to be able to see and experience them in person. Ar. Rachita was an excellent guide and mentor and guided us perfectly throughout the trip so that we didn’t miss out on the major architecture-rich hotspots, every typology ranging from heritage to contemporary structures, as well as the major tourist attractions in Singapore. Overall it was an amazing experience with lots of learning and fun that got me so attached to Singapore’s culture, architecture, diversity and improvised automation.

Rithika Ragunath

4th year, CARE school of Architecture, Trichy
(Participant - Singapore, February 2024)

We learned a lot about urban planning, city-scale development, and how planning and sustainability go hand in hand. We visited exhibitions which reinforced those ideas and later got time to explore our own ideas in the form of projects. The trip was a balance of both fun and academics. Rachita made the entire learning process more fun and carefree, which allowed us to explore more around the core concepts. Overall, I had an amazing time with her and am glad that she was our mentor. An Amazing experience, I understood new ideas and concepts from a new perspective. Site visits were the best, I got to learn a lot and also saw real-life applications of concepts related to urban planning.

Tanushree Murkibhavi

3rd Year, BNCA, Pune
(Participant - Singapore, February 2024)

The overall experience was really fun. I personally got a lot from the trip in terms of architecture and interiors. I learnt a lot not only from the site visits but also from all the cafe hopping we did. Especially how every architectural element was articulated in the certain sites (actual projects by various architects, cafes, restaurants, and public spaces) of the city that we went to. I personally enjoyed the fact that we stayed in hostels, it allowed us to interact with others staying there as well. Genuinely had fun in the Hanoi hostel. The experience with Atul sir made all the difference as he was extremely approachable and we could clear all of our doubts with sir (both site-related questions to what it is like to be an architect in today’s day and age). Plus, the short discussions we had in the van also personally helped me process the site visit. He always gave us clues to look for in the buildings that we visited which helped us analyse and read the building better.

Niharika Harinath

4th Year, Wadiyar Centre For Architecture, Mysore
(Participant - Vietnam, February 2024)

10 out of 10! Visiting Japan was one of my dreams and it finally came true. It was a wonderful experience, everything was perfect and I had a lot of fun. The group, Ankit Sir and Rachita Ma'am were all wonderful people and I'm glad I got to spend my days in Japan with them. One of the best experiences in my life which I'll cherish forever. Rachita Ma'am was a wonderful guide. She explained all the details of the area and buildings in a way that everyone could understand and learn. To be honest, I loved everything about the trip but the one which I'll remember the most was walking around in the streets of Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo.

Limhachan Patton

1st Year, SPA Bhopal
(Participant - Japan, January 2024)

10 out of 10! It was a Superb and auspicious experience with Ankit and also Rachita. It was learnable, enjoyable, and I have never had an experience since now. The way that Ankit and Rachita handled students in a polite manner, we could learn more from both of them! If possible, I would also attend the future trips conducted by The Happy Llamas!

Praveen Kumar R

4th year, CARE school of Architecture, Trichy
(Participant - Singapore, January 2024)

I've always wanted to visit Japan during winter and this Architecture Experience Winter School - Japan gave me a chance. The overall organisation of the experience trip was really good and the site visits we had were well planned. Rachita's way of giving a brief description of the buildings and structures before experiencing them excited me. We were also allowed to explore the cities on our free days, which I liked.

Davidson Andrews J

2nd year, Architecture, NIT Tiruchirappalli
(Participant - Japan, January 2024)

The overall 14-day experience was well thought out and the selection of cities also helped to understand the magnitude of Architecture and Design Japan has to offer. The hotels were accessible to metros and bus stations which made the travel easier. The interactions with the Architects practising there helped to understand their approach and understanding in terms of planning and design.

Mohammed Irfan

Architect
(Participant - Japan, January 2024)

This trip was a very good exposure on how architecture has manifested due to natural factors and circumstances like earthquakes, from traditional to present-day contemporary buildings using examples. Rachita was very approachable, and I liked the meeting with Ar. Florian Busch.

Khushi Mahesh Shirur

3rd Year, SPA Bhopal
(Participant - Japan, January 2024)

The trip in total was a memorable experience to say the least. We learnt a lot. Learnt to be free. Learnt to be independent. Learnt to explore. The experience with Rachita ma'am was knowledgeable and enriching and the visits with architects helped me learn a lot about the country. All in all, I hope I get to have more such experiences ahead in my life.

Maosami Tatiya

3rd Year, BNCA, Pune
(Participant - Singapore, February 2024)

The trip was insightful and informative. The trip overall was very relaxed and well-managed. As far as mobility and logistics go, because Singapore's public transport system is so well designed there wasn't any problem in that regard. Rachita was an eager guide at all times so it all went smoothly.

Sibi George

Architect
(Participant - Singapore, February 2024)

The experience was really good, and the sites we covered were amazing, It was really experiential and educational, we got to learn a lot of new things, and the knowledge we gained was for a lifetime. Rachita gave us a lot of information about everything and she was very friendly too.

Sakshi Kulkarni

3rd Year, BNCA, Pune
(Participant - Singapore, February 2024)

10 out of 10! As this is our current urban design semester, this trip has helped in a lot of other ways. The galleries we visited and the sites, how this country developed, the urban structures, roads and transportation, etc. Furthermore, I had a lot of fun as well while learning.

Krishna Kumar

4th year, CARE school of Architecture, Trichy
(Participant - Singapore, February 2024)

Overall it was a well-planned and comfortable experience. I could see the amount of effort and energy that went from The Happy Llamas to make sure we had a memorable trip and I am very grateful for it.

Satvika Kedia

3rd Year, SPA Bhopal
(Participant - Japan, January 2024)

10 out of 10! Having this experience was truly remarkable – it's undoubtedly the best trip I've ever been on. Every aspect of it, from the breathtaking scenery to the wonderful people I met along the way, was simply fabulous. From start to finish, everything exceeded my expectations and left me with memories that I'll cherish forever. Rachita's guidance provided a positive experience.

Abhishake Adapala

Architect
(Participant - Singapore, January 2024)

I really loved the shrines and old heritage sites more compared to the new buildings as they had the richness which was beautifully preserved all over the years and I really loved meeting Ar. Anna and get her perspective on architecture and ways of approach. Rachita's study materials were actually very interesting and helped me create more interest in the subject. Overall it felt like a great place and I would really want to visit it again and look out for other things as well.

Erin Dinacious

3rd year, Architecture, NIT Tiruchirappalli
(Participant - Japan, January 2024)

Overall the experience was good and extremely fun. My takeaways especially were from the URA and HDB museums and it really broadened my perspective on urban planning as well as group housing. Rachita was extremely passionate about explaining the various aspects that we could take away from the tour. She led the tour in a well-planned manner and it was a very good experience having such interesting conversations with her.

Pranesh R U

3rd Year, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Chennai
(Participant - Singapore, February 2024)

The visits to the museums were very helpful in terms of making us understand the functioning and development of Singapore very well. The fact that most of the places/sites of Singapore were covered in the itinerary was great. Overall, it was a different experience, the part of the day that we had to spend by ourselves made the tour even more exciting and adventurous.

Shruti Bhandari

2nd Year, MMCOA, Pune
(Participant - Singapore, January 2024)

I learned a lot and was fascinated by the day-to-day life of the people, also the planning of the city gave me a lot of insight. Even meeting with the architects Florian and Anna has been an eye-opening experience.

Reena Maria Jepegnanam

3rd year, SRM University, Chennai
(Participant - Japan, January 2024)

During the trip, we had a very good experience of how the projects are executed in Singapore. I loved the contemporary site visits. We had a good interaction session with the architecture professor who gave a brief on Singaporean architecture, in all it was a great experience.

Aditya Tatiya

3rd Year, Civil Engineering, PCCOE, Pune
(Participant - Singapore, January 2024)

10 out of 10! Everything was planned out for students to interact and experience Singapore. Rachita explained every site, locality, and also development strategy put in the city as per the trip's learning purpose. This is one of the best opportunities to get better knowledge on all the other types of city architecture and many other things such as planning strategies, and sustainability techniques of various regions, cultures, etc. Everything was planned out very efficiently and well-executed. Looking to join in for more courses.

Tharun Chukka

Architect
(Participant - Singapore, January 2024)

10/10! The course was amazing and very well-planned. Not too rushed but also not too relaxed, and the project brought us all together and helped me understand how to work in a team, especially with seniors. I loved our meeting with Dominic in Barefoot Gallery. We were given enough freedom and time to explore every place, which made it 10 times better. Both Ankit and Rachita are the best organisers and curators we could have asked for. The game nights were my favourite part of the trip!

Navodita Goel

1st Year, SPA Bhopal
(Participant - Sri Lanka, October 2023)

This was a productive trip, and everything was enjoyable and worth it. Especially the Heritance Kandalama and Lunuganga site visits, and the meetings with Ar. Palinda and Dominic. I feel my planning and design approach has refined, and service-oriented concepts have become clearer - like how a balance between landscape and built environment has to be maintained. I can say I can implement all of what I learned here in Sri Lanka! It was a fun learning process! Thank you, Ankit - your company was pleasing! I had a good time. And Rachita - will always want to learn from you!

Kriya shah

4th Year, Appasaheb Birnale College of Architecture, Sangli
(Participant - Sri Lanka, October 2023)

Studio and site visits were very well organised but what I loved the most were the interactive sessions that we had with various artists and architects in Sri Lanka. Conversations with them were an extremely enriching experience. I got a better understanding in material selection, and the integration of nature in the landscape was eye opening. Prithy and Kshitija curated the experience extremely well and I got to learn a lot from them. About the places as well as the field in general. It was a great experience altogether! Very well planned especially keeping in mind the fact that we were here for a decent number of days and have almost covered everything ranging from the historic places to the modern ones. This trip was worth the money and will definitely influence my design in the future.

woman with glasses and red shirt smiling

Shhrruti Jain

Architect
(PARTICIPANT - SRI LANKA, OCTOBER 2019)

The learning experience was not only with regards to architecture, it also included learning about the social and cultural environment. I loved how the trip was very social wherein I got to experience both contemporary and traditional cultures in parallel and also get the opportunity to interact with architects like Florian Busch as well as with the locals. Hats off to Rachita for being so patient and positive in every situation. She made me feel very comfortable and that helped me to have a good time. She was great in studying about the place before the visit and explaining every detail gathered. The team was very enthusiastic and comfortable to work with. The accommodation, transportation and every other basic need was very comfortably organised with the cost in consideration.

Sarah Sulekha

ARCHITECT
(PARTICIPANT - JAPAN, JULY 2023)

The Architecture Experience Sri Lanka was amazing. Prithi and Kshitija were amazing mentors. They explained things really well, making us observe and question every small detail. Meeting the architects and artists like Laki Senanayake made us step out of our comfort zone. These interactions helped us understand the importance of sustainability and modernism and how they go hand in hand in today's time. How Sri Lanka incorporates so much of nature in their design. I also saw live interpretations of landscaping. Meeting new people and working with them helped me gain their perspective and experience. I am going back with loads of memories of culture, food, new friends, mentors and lastly of an amazing architectural experience. Definitely 10 on 10!

Shivika Sharma

4th Year, JAMIA MILIA UNIVERSITY, DELHI
(Participant - Sri Lanka, October 2019)

I had wanted to visit Sri Lanka for a while now and see some of the Tropical Modernism examples that I had always read about. So coming on this trip was a dream come true. The visit to the Heritance Kandalama hotel and Lunuganga estate were the highlights. I also got to see the sustainability measures taken at the Cinnamon Bey hotel. Both the curators were very friendly and humble. I got to meet a lot of interesting and cool people and I am gonna leave with a lot of memories but even better than that is the experience I have had.

Govind Dinesh

Graduate, TKM College of Engineering, Peroor
(Participant - Sri Lanka, October 2019)

If I had planned a trip to Singapore with my family, I wouldn't have seen places like Tiong Bahru, Queenstown, and Toa Payoh. This Experience was truly informative and will be very helpful for our semester Urban Design project. We were able to think and analyze the planning, living, needs of people, sustainability, etc. from a different perspective. Reena was able to guide us all the course and was very helpful and approachable. The walking tours were very informative too!

Mohanapriya M J

4th Year, SRM SEAD, Ramapuram, Chennai
(PARTICIPANT - SINGAPORE, DECEMBER 2019)

10/10! I was inspired by the Lunuganga Estate in Sri Lanka. Rachita was more than just a curator, she was like one of us - our friend. This was my first international trip and I enjoyed it a lot!

Davidson Andrews J

2nd year, Architecture, NIT Tiruchirappalli
(Participant - Sri Lanka, October 2023)

The overall experience was excellent. In all the places we visited, the learning experience was highly intuitive. The credits for that could be given to the technological advancements in Singapore, and also to the amazing people who accompanied us on this trip. We got to dive into the Urban development and housing aspects of Singapore. My experience with Reena was amazing. She helped and guided us about everything, and helped us in understanding all the aspects. All the experiences were actually very well integrated, and they complimented each other. So personally, I liked the entire experience. Definitely a 10 on 10!

Krashang Goswami

4th Year, DIT Dehradun
(Participant - Singapore, December 2019)

To read and attend lectures about urban development is one thing but to actually witness it in person is incomparable. Visiting the URA Centre and the HDB Hub, with their interactive, ultra-informative exhibits and proposals, showed me just how multi-disciplinary and collaborative urban study really is. The knowledge gained through the long, interactive heritage walks made up for the exhaustion we had to endure in the process! I'd definitely recommend The Architectural Experience trips to my friends and peers.

Tejesvini S R

4th Year, SRM SEAD, Ramapuram, Chennai
(Participant - Singapore, December 2019)

Coming as a student to learn and coming as a tourist are completely different experiences. As a student, in the past few days we covered nearly the entire planning of Singapore. We visited a lot of informational places associated with urban planning which gave us a better understanding of the by-laws, thought process, innovation & technology, sustainability and future planning of Singapore. We got to see how Singapore is a good example of urban planning and sustainability. Our interactions with Reena were also so informative. She shared a lot of resourceful information and experience which was really helpful for us. Definitely a 10 out of 10!

Nadia Alfia Solomon

4th Year, SRM SEAD, Ramapuram, Chennai
(PARTICIPANT - SINGAPORE, DECEMBER 2019)

The planning of the whole trip was great. Commuting from one place to another was also easy for us. Each and every place visited was very useful and informative, specially the URA and HDB hubs. The flexibility we got was also a huge plus. On the whole the trip was both fun and a great learning experience.

Arijeet Roy

3rd Year, Sathyabhama University, Chennai
(PARTICIPANT - SINGAPORE, DECEMBER 2019)

Mohanapriya M J

4th Year, SRM SEAD, Ramapuram, Chennai
(PARTICIPANT - SINGAPORE, DECEMBER 2019)

This study trip was great as an experience. It was so informative. Visits to the URA and HDB hubs were the highlights. I got to see how sustainability is considered as main approach in each and every design in Singapore, and got a lot of exposure. Reena was also very friendly. And now I'm leaving with a lotta memories along with knowledge. 10 out of 10!

Aishwarya Ramesh

4th Year, SRM SEAD, Ramapuram, Chennai
(PARTICIPANT - SINGAPORE, DECEMBER 2019)

Shhrruti Jain

Architect
(PARTICIPANT - SRI LANKA, OCTOBER 2019)

Govind Dinesh

Graduate, TKM College of Engineering, Peroor
(Participant - Sri Lanka, October 2019)

Shivika Sharma

4th Year, JAMIA MILIA UNIVERSITY, DELHI
(Participant - Sri Lanka, October 2019)

I loved the interaction with Takashi Niwa about parametric bamboo. In terms of places visited, I liked Naman Retreat the best, the way it was designed, their use of bamboo in a contemporary and urban style, the usage of green, vernacular architecture in the entire resort was nice. I could find similarities in what I saw and the subject of history of western architecture (buddhist architecture). Even the cafe 43 factory coffee roaster was similar to the project I am working on for the design subject. Observing so many similarities and what we could take home from them was the best part, like the design on the lines of sustainable architecture, usage of natural light in Terra Cotta studio, all this gives me an idea on what my masters in sustainable architecture might entail. I really loved the way how this tour turned out in understanding sensibilities of the place and how they influence architecture, and would definitely give this course a ten on ten.

Mohammed Irfan

3rd Year, GITAM School of Architecture, Vizag
(Participant - Vietnam, July 2019)

I loved meeting the local architects in Vietnam which otherwise I wouldn't have been able to meet. I liked how the trip was planned (good balance of intensive and ease). I would prefer more architectural knowledge of public places. Mohor is a great guide with a lot of patience and practical knowledge. The projects we saw had architectural design aspects which I had studied in college but didn't know the real life interpretations of. For example, Bêtania was a very budget friendly project, and they had a rain water harvesting system which was good to know. I also got to see passive architecture in Cuckoo House. I loved the visit to the Cam Thanh community centre, and would've loved to interact with end users of the site.

Ramya Mudapaka

4th Year, School of planning and Architecture, Hyderabad
(Participant - Vietnam, July 2019)

Visiting structures and then interacting with their architects helped understanding the structures in detail. I got to understand more about vernacular architecture, and understanding different ways on how to plan services. My design subject case study is to design a high rise structure, for which this trip helped (particularly the Tropical Space studio visit). The use of materials by Tropical Space gave an understanding of sustainable architecture, rain water harvesting, double room systems, usage of low cost and sustainable material like bamboo. This trip also gives me different approaches towards the subjects. We even interacted with 1+1>2 architecture studio to look at an exchange program with our college. Meeting people from different parts of India was fun and I had a great time with all of them. Mohor did a real good job. Overall it was a good learning experience.

Nimit Patni

4th Year, L.S. Raheja School of Architecture, Mumbai
(Participant - Vietnam, July 2019)

This trip was a great learning experience. We learnt about the stages of development in urban planning. I particularly liked the visits to the HDB and URA hubs, along with visits to contemporary buildings. The Experience was well organized and well scheduled.

Sneha C N

3rd Year, Sathyabhama University, Chennai
(Participant - Singapore, December 2019)

The site visits, studio visits, the trip overall was great. It was a wonderful learning experience. It was really nice meeting the curators and they curated an amazing experience. I saw a lot of modern buildings like Kandalama hotel, how they use old techniques to be sustainable, like using open ventilation. Overall, it was a very well curated trip, worth the money and a really good experience.

Ragini Jain

3rd Year, School of planning and Architecture, Bhopal
(Participant - Sri Lanka, October 2019 & JAPAN, JULY 2023)

The Bangalore workshop was informative with good inputs from the panelists. The trip was well curated and planned. The vegetarian food was well figured out (which is hard for a place like Vietnam). The places were also great. We had to rush a bit to get to certain places due to the packed itinerary, but it was worth it. This Experience gave me opportunities to network in Vietnam too, and that was really nice.

Kkanche Ratadia

4th Year, M S Ramaiah School Of Architecture, Bangalore
(Participant - Vietnam, July 2019)

The Bangalore workshop was good, and I got good insights from the panelists, including the different aspects of sustainability. Studio visits were great, and the fact that we got to see the firm and meet the architects was brilliant. Learning sustainability in Vietnam was great, and perfectly suited the topics of discussion. I would wish for a day or two for leisure sightseeing, but the planning was good, sometimes it got but hectic but mostly well balanced. I would highly recommend this experience to others.

Gyles Ferrao

3rd Year, Goa College of Architecture, Goa
(Participant - Vietnam, June 2019)

The panelists were really considerate of our requirements and everything went well. The experience was really good and helpful. Meeting new people helped me understand their views and perceptions in different topics in architecture. And the studio visits helped me understand a lot of topics related to technicality and sustainability, specially the visits to Takashi Niwa and bhA architects. It was also great to interact with other colleges’ students, and exchange portfolios.

Deepali Naidu

2nd Year, BMS college of Architecture, Bangalore
(Participant - Vietnam, July 2019)

The Architecture Experience was a great experience as I got to know what analysis actually was. Sustainability refers to solving existing problems, and not just installing solar panels! The stay and visits were planned well. Mohor shared a lot of her own experiences as a student which also helped. I got many of my architecture related doubts cleared which I couldn't solve before, along with an understanding of functionality and aesthetic. I got many questions answered and I'm satisfied.

Pauras Narvekar

3rd Year, Goa College of Architecture, Goa
(Participant - Vietnam, June 2019)

The Bangalore workshop was informative in more than one way, the feedback that was given opened multiple directions and ideas. That the panelists belonged to different sectors helped. Logistically little improvement would be good even as food was very well taken care of, but the experience over and all was great in sense of timing. There was plenty to learn and even getting local guides made it better and informative. Important aspect was to observe and question; and all the questions were proactively answered. And the studio visits were obviously priceless.

Megha Sahu

3rd Year, School of planning and Architecture, Bhopal
(Participant - Vietnam, July 2019)

The Architecture Experience Vietnam was a very good trip which was extremely informative. I loved our interaction with Takashi Niwa - he explained everything and answered all our questions. I also got to understand concepts like ventilation, rooftop vegetation, differentiating spaces, which I can use in my college project too. The usage of bricks in Cuckoo House, Terra Cotta Studio was very interesting. I also got to understand other students' approach to architecture, and am even making a presentation of what I learnt on this trip, for my college. With all the places I've been to and all the people I've met, it's definitely a trip I would always remember!

Saptarshi Ghosh

3rd Year, Sathyabhama University, Chennai
(Participant - Vietnam, July 2019 & EUROPE, JANUARY 2020)

In terms of learning, The Architecture Experience Vietnam helped me a lot as I’m also doing my dissertation in this area of study (sustainable architecture), so it helped me save a lot of time and also to mention a different point of view from other participants. Planning wise, it was very well planned and organised which lessened the worries about travelling and helped us concentrate more on the architectural experience. I look forward to another tour with The Happy Llamas in the future.

Oweena Fernandes

5th Year, Goa College of Architecture, Goa
(Participant - Vietnam, July 2019)

The Bangalore workshop was great. It helped us understand what exactly to observe while traveling. I liked visiting studios as it gave us an opportunity to actually understand the design concepts used by the architects. I feel I can take back quite a lot from this trip. My understanding of architectural spaces and design has improved. The shortlisted architecture firms which we visited were quite impressive. Also we were given free time to explore the food culture and streets by our own which made the tour way more interesting.

Saurabh Tubki

3rd Year, Goa College of Architecture, Goa
(Participant - Vietnam, June 2019)

The experience was great. Mohor helped a lot and made us question things more. She always answered our doubts and was fun too. The planning and organisation were good, with enough breaks. Personally, I would like to cover more places in a day but with the group, it worked well. Meeting the various architects was the highlight of the trip. Because communication was a general problem, students on future batches should download Google Translate.

Mani Makhija

4th Year, School of planning and Architecture, Bhopal
(Participant - Vietnam, June 2019)

The panelists gave us very useful information on how to go about the project and helped us set clear goals. Inspiring. Mohor is very cooperative and inspiring. She helped us a lot with the projects. She made us understand a lot of intricate information and helped us understand what we were trying to achieve through this tour. Thumbs up! One of the best experiences of my life. Taking back a lot in terms of educational and moral values. I would rate it ten on ten!

Mohita Dasgupta

4th year, Amity School of Architecture & Planning, Kolkata
(Participant - Vietnam, June 2019)

All of the visits were well planned, only wanted more heritage visits as well! The learning part was great, and the studio visits were a highlight! The itinerary was well planned though there could've been a bit of wiggle room. We missed out on a few places that could've been in the itinerary, like the open hand bridge. But I loved learning about the history of the cities and seeing the sustainable side of the sites visited and related to them through the explanation of the architects who designed the sites. I also saw real life interpretations of theory learnt in school, which cleared a lot of concepts.

Srishti Baid

3rd Year, Vastu Kala Academy, Delhi
(Participant - Vietnam, July 2019)

The Bangalore workshop was good. We had interesting discussions and the panelists also gave us insights regarding our work, which we can work on further after the trip. Mohor is very enthusiastic, and she can teach and also made us interact with each other. She inspired us on how to observe things and communicate with other people. The trip was awesome, all the way from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City. We got time to explore the city ourselves during dinner. The logistics were planned efficiently too, and overall this trip gave me many things - new experiences, new friends, new learning! Thanks to The Happy Llamas team to coordinate the workshop wisely.

Rahul Soni

5th Year, Anant National University, Ahmedabad
(Participant - Vietnam, July 2019)

The Architecture Experience Vietnam was a great experience for me since before this, I felt a little out of place and wanted motivation to move ahead - so this trip really helped me with that and helped me understand my profession better. It was good to see sustainable architecture in real life, and see real life interpretation of subjects like building construction and architectural design. I also loved interactions with fellow participants from all parts of India.

Sagarika Kaushik

4th Year, Vastu Kala Academy, Delhi
(Participant - Vietnam, July 2019)

Studio visits and site visits are where we got to learn the most, and they were very informative. The language was somewhat of a barrier at the studio visits but we learnt as much as we could from the drawings, etc. I would’ve wanted more contemporary structures covered, but it was a good tour overall.

Tanvi Pagare

4th Year, L.S. Raheja School of Architecture, Mumbai
(Participant - Vietnam, July 2019)

I loved the studio visits, and this trip gave me a lot of variations in material selection. The local architects in Vietnam helped shape the vision on what sustainable architecture is. Mohor was awesome and I learnt a lot from her. She stepped up to whatever role was expected of her from learning to tour guide to mentor. The learning part was good, and I bonded with a lot of people from different parts of the country.

Dielle D'sa

4th Year, L.S. Raheja School of Architecture, Mumbai
(Participant - Vietnam, July 2019)

The best part of the itinerary which attracted me to be part of the tour was the architect studio visits and site visits to their projects/sites. Apart from that I also noticed the places were inspired by their heritage, which we also visited.The link between studios and heritage were clearly visible. The tour was planned with experience and I was satisfied. There were some issues due to delay of flights, but it was beyond anyone’s control. As an architect to be, it was a good trip.

Milap Ganatra

5th Year, Anant National University, Ahmedabad
(Participant - Vietnam, July 2019)

I got to understand construction more clearly, and learnt a lot more about project management (finances) at the 1+1>2 architecture studio visit. The project Sentia school by 1+1>2 architects was a good example to understand incorporation of sustainability in a commercial building. I hope the projects we were working on were a bit smaller so we could spend more time exploring in Vietnam, and more breathing space between site visits.

Aditi Chaudhry

Graduate, I.E.S. COLLEGE OF ARCHIECTURE, Mumbai
(Participant - Vietnam, July 2019)

This trip was good exposure. Understanding the thought process that goes behind a project was very nice to understand at the studio visits. Mohor was very friendly and had enough knowledge to explain everything. She managed to keep everybody together and manage the schedule. The trip was just how I expected it to be. It was lovely going to different places, meeting new people, understanding their culture and ways of living along with architecture.

Riya Kumari

2nd Year, Vastu Kala Academy, Delhi
(Participant - Vietnam, July 2019)

I loved the site visits, studio visits and walking tours. I wish there was a free day in Da Nang for other activities. I gained a lot of exposure about different techniques of construction and designing for energy efficiency. Overall a great learning experience.

Saksham Walia

2nd Year, Jamia Milia University, Delhi
(Participant - Vietnam, July 2019)

The planning of the whole trip to Singapore was great. Commuting from one place to another was also easy for us. Each and every place visited was very useful and informative, specially the URA and HDB hubs. The flexibility we got was also a huge plus. On the whole the trip was both fun and a great learning experience.

Arijeet Roy

3rd Year, Sathyabhama University, Chennai
(PARTICIPANT - SINGAPORE, DECEMBER 2019)

Aishwarya Ramesh

4th Year, SRM SEAD, Ramapuram, Chennai
(PARTICIPANT - SINGAPORE, DECEMBER 2019)

Digital Sessions on Architecture

This course opened up an entirely new possibility of thinking about Urban Design in Hyper Dense Cities. I learnt from scratch throughout this session. The assignments and continuous interactive discussions kept us deep rooted into the course. It was an entirely virtual tour of the city of Hong Kong. My experience with Vani was AMAAAAAAZING! I'm so grateful to her for mentoring us throughout these 7 days. It's been a wonderful journey and I learnt a lot especially through her continuous interactive discussions and questioning sessions. 10 out of 10!

Amirthavarshini Pugalendhi

4th Year, Sathyabama University, Chennai
(Participant - Hyper Dense Environments, July 2020)

The subject of the session was itself intriguing. It broke the taboo and misconceptions around the word 'hyperdense' and gave a brief understanding on the subject. Hong Kong is the best of examples, in understanding how built environments can be made livable, economically thriving and dense side by side. These learnings gave a lense that Indian cities need in terms of using land space to its full potential. Overall, the course was enriching.

Mansi Sureka

2nd year, Masters of Urban Design, CEPT University
(Participant - Hyper Dense Environments, July 2020)

The Hyper Dense Environments course was very interesting and informative. It gave us a new point of view to look at density which we need to consider in today's time considering the increase in population and living standards. The course was pretty much what I expected. The group exercises made it a lot more interesting and informative. The group discussions were very interesting and useful. Vani, having experienced living in Hong Kong and other countries gave us a hands on experience. I learnt a lot from group discussions as well. In conclusion the course was very informative and interesting. Would love to explore the topic more.

Shivangi Arora

Masters in Urban Planning, BIT Mesra, Ranchi
(Participant - Hyper Dense Environments, July 2020)

The 7 day workshop - Hyper Dense Environments (Hong Kong) was very informative. A lot of misconceptions were clarified through discussions and lessons. The course was very well structured and informative. My experience with Vani was amazing. She is an excellent tutor. She introduced and explained the topics very well. The learning was fun because of the interactive exercises and dialogues that happened throughout. Thank you!

Hardee Yadav

Architect
(Participant - Hyper Dense Environments, July 2020)

I joined this course to learn something new and issues concerning the dense areas. Now after completing the session, I could definitely say that the course granted more than I hoped for. It also focused on the assignment given to us and promoted the group work. Vani ma'am herself was very helpful and an enthusiastic guide towards this. Overall experience was quite great and I am happy that I could be a part of this course 🙂

Sanchit Agarwal

3rd Year, Vastu Kala Academy, Delhi
(Participant - Hyper Dense Environments, July 2020)

When i joined the course, I really didn't have any expectations. I was only a little bit aware of the topic. But the overall experience was really good. How interactive the session was organised and went on till the end, it was definitely a journey to Hong Kong virtually. It was also interesting that each of the participants came from different cities. We were able to share our perspectives and ideas on designing spaces in our own city in a better way as upcoming designers and planners.

Akshaya Ramakrishnan

5th Year, Sathyabama University, Chennai
(Participant - Hyper Dense Environments, July 2020)

This course is one of the best for all the Earth enthusiasts and not just architects to learn from. The sessions were super interactive and organized. I understood the various compositions of soil and ways to stabilize them for construction. I got to learn the VerSus wheel which is a pocket guide to monitor the sustainable aspects of a project. The most intriguing part for me was the embodied energy analysis, where the composite energy calculation of different materials were explained through case studies and the design exercise where we designed a house ourselves considering these calculations. Would love to be a part of the advance sessions. My experience with Rosie was superb! She is a great person, easy to interact and an inspiration to many women working in the field of architecture.

Abino Simon

Masters Student, IIT Bombay
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, July 2020)

This was a wonderful experience! What I absolutely loved about this course was that it caters to every individual who joined (people from all backgrounds were there), the effort to make it understable and relatable to everyone was excellent. Rosie is such a lovely person who patiently answers to every question/query. Along with explaining the content of the course, Rosie also beautifully talks about the importance of it from the climate change perspective too. It is a very well structured course and the transparency of sharing the resource materials is much appreciated. It was a wonderful learning experience being a part of this course.

K Saahithi Sanjana

2nd year, School of Architecture (SOA), DSATM
(PARTICIPANT - INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL BUILDING, July 2020)

Being fascinated by sustainable and natural building materials, I found the session very enriching and I learnt a lot about the dos and don'ts and the VerSus wheel. Got to see many interesting projects through the presentations as well. My experience with Rosie was beautiful. I loved her. She is friendly and really approachable in terms of doubts. Also she explained the entire process of dealing with mud blocks and natural building materials quite well. Also, the guest lecture by Chitra Vishwanath was absolutely beautiful.

Sayali Deolasee

5th year, Dr. B. N. College of Architecture, Pune
(PARTICIPANT - INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL BUILDING, July 2020)

I really liked working with different people, from different places and it was really interesting to understand their ideas and put everything together in the project. And being in a group of people from different fields, I really felt happy that many people are interested to learn about these earthen practices. Rosie is a really inspiring person and she really made me understand how we can learn a lot from our local practices. So when we come back to our normal life, I'm planning to go in search of the local and natural practices of different places.

MJ Mohanapriya

4th year, SRM SEAD, Chennai
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, July 2020)

I was really scared for this workshop as I had to manage it on my own earned money. But I took a chance with this workshop. Guys thanks to all (The Happy Llamas and Masons Ink Studio) for actually giving me a kick start for my dreams. I want to become an ecological/sustainable/earthen architect. Organising was also good. 10 on 10!

Sumana S

Architect
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, July 2020)

Enjoyed the experience; it was a very practical approach to building with mud/other natural techniques. Good foundation for learning more on the subject. Rosie was very helpful and approachable and I learnt a lot from her and her work. I enjoyed the case studies and the guest session with Ar. Chitra Vishwanath especially! A 10 on 10 from me!

Shruti Bangari

Architect
(PARTICIPANT - INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL BUILDING, July 2020)

This was definitely an eye opening course for me. Gave me needed clarity towards sustainable architecture and made me even more curious. It was perfect for an introduction series. My experience with Rosie was very comfortable, informative and worth it! Looking forward to learning more, I would definitely ask y'all to organise the next level for the course 🙂

Ruchi D Lokhande

Architect
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, July 2020)

I definitely learnt a lot, a lot of new information was given by Rosie ma'am, which in today's times is very important not only to learn about but also to implement. I loved how she delivered information with reference to real life experiences and examples. The sessions were well planned and interactive. Was a very good experience.

Priya V

Architecture Student, School of Architecture (SOA), DSATM
(PARTICIPANT - INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL BUILDING, July 2020)

This course was very interesting. I loved learning so many new concepts. It gave me a new perspective to look out in a construction project. Rosie really helped me cope up and understand many terms. The interaction with Chitra ma’am was such a great opportunity. I thank you for this wonderful opportunity.

Ananya

Final Year School Student
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, July 2020)

I am very satisfied by this course. Beyond teaching on the raw earth which is very interesting, this week (of the course) helped me to know more about the Indian architectural culture. It also allowed me to improve my English which is not very good.

Florestan Lacroix

2nd year, ENSAL (École d'architecture de Lyon), Lyon
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, July 2020)

I got to learn a lot of basics and traditional building techniques and materials which are actually 1000 times better than some of the modern techniques and materials. I loved the interactions with people from different fields and experiences, it was a good blend of theory and applications.

Rutuja R

Architecture student, PES Bengaluru
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, July 2020)

I had some trepidation in joining this - a virtual classroom, a subject I know little about, interacting with strangers. But Ankit and Rosie made it a pleasant experience. I liked that we actually managed to interact more one on one with various other participants through the break out groups.

Annie Moraes

Retired professional
(PARTICIPANT - INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL BUILDING, July 2020)

A very well planned introductory course which gives insight to natural building materials, techniques and processes relevant to sustainable architecture. The mention of live projects and through certain links provided, it has sparked interest for further individual reading and research.

Ann Joseph

Architecture Student
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, July 2020)

Being a non technical person, it felt good attending a digital class. It was well planned and the sessions were organised. It felt like there's a lot to learn and I’ve decided to do a project on mud construction.

Ramarao Aedla

Structural Engineer
(PARTICIPANT - INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL BUILDING, July 2020)

The lessons were well structured. The message did not get lost over the virtual medium. All statements were supported with slides and experience.

Siddharth HN

Archicture Student, MSRIT Bengaluru
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, July 2020)

To begin with, I’d like to say that I am so happy the workshop turned out to be so interactive. Even though we had a group of people from different years of experiences, Rosie managed to make us all a part of the discussions. She made the sessions very interactive and fun. To attend an online workshop and still get to have group projects, talks, Q&A sessions, soil testings, etc, it was absolute fun and very well organised. It was a very involved one week long workshop. Honestly, I love hands on work hence I was a little skeptical about attending an online course but I am so happy that I did. I would love to be a part of anything that’s a little more in detail,specific to mud techniques- it’s samplings, composition, construction details, trials and errors, everything! Looking forward to exploring that very soon. Thank you so much!

Shimoli Shah

Architect
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, May 2020)

The Introduction to Natural Building course was very efficiently curated given all the technical difficulties of online teaching. Rosie is very approachable and is a good teacher. I could only attend 4 of the classes of the Natural Building digital course, and experienced the rest through the recordings. Had a wonderful experience with the sessions I attended, though - it was informative and the break out rooms really took the edge off and helped us interact in a better way with other participants. The presentations & the reading materials shared were very useful as well. The openness towards sharing resources and walking through the projects was great and really appreciative. It helped me develop a critical eye while looking at any project or starting a new design work. That's one of my main takeaways from the course.

Prarthana Murali

Architect
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, May 2020)

The online format was pretty new to me but I think that the fact that there was a small ice breaker session was pretty cool. The details in formatting the sessions were well thought out. Rosie was hands on, answered all our queries and was basically a great facilitator! Also the fact that she was available for discussion even offline and was so enthusiastic about sharing added information on the Whatsapp group was really appreciated! Although I had already attended a few other hands-on workshops on mud architecture before, even then I got to learn a bunch of things like the VerSus wheel. One could clearly see all the planning and work that went into putting the course together and it was totally worth it. Overall, I had a great experience.

Mithali Rao

Architect
(PARTICIPANT - INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL BUILDING, MAY 2020)

The 7 day long course on Natural Building has been a great experience where I gained an in-depth knowledge about natural building materials and techniques. The study material was well put and presented and so were the illustrations and accompanying explanations. It was great to learn from someone who has quite extensively studied as well as continuously practised with these materials and techniques. The course was kept pretty interactive and at no point did it turn boring. Rosie has been a patient mentor with concise yet well explained material and other insights into whatever we were learning. Overall amazing experience, and a 10 on 10!

Sadhya Bhatnagar

Architect
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, May 2020)

The spirit of The Happy Llamas & Masons Ink was felt throughout the sessions. Learning through a semi formal way of teaching was really productive & efficient for me. I wish I could get teachers & management like this earlier. Interactions with Rosie felt right balance between lectures, interactions, Q&A and assignments. She was genuine while sharing her work, philosophy & teachings. I would definitely be interested in the follow up course!

Rajeev Purohit

Architect
(PARTICIPANT - INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL BUILDING, MAY 2020)

I've always been hesitant to do any hands-on work with mud, despite it being one of my favorite materials, due to my allergies. This was the first time where the course content was such that I could participate, so that part was really exciting for me. I learnt a lot of new details (the VerSus wheel, techniques of using mud etc.) as well. I liked Rosie’s method of teaching and how she ensured those who are not familiar with the subject matter at all were also able to understand everything. I also like that we managed some hands-on work despite having to learn it online and being stuck at home! It's nice to see how we're adapting to the isolation period and making the most of what's available to us!

Ragini Jain

4th Year, School of planning and Architecture, Bhopal
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, May 2020)

The entire experience of the digital course on Natural Building was a wonderful one. From the sessions to the virtual hands-on experience, the presentations, the break out room activities. It was all amazing. Rosie has so much knowledge and experience to share with everyone. She is amazing to listen and learn from. Loved every bit of the course, definitely a 10 on 10!

Megha Suthar

Architect
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, May 2020)

The digital course on Natural Building was my first workshop ever about Earth Architecture. I had a wonderful time. And all the classes were so well-organized! I had a wonderful experience with Rosie, and even though it was an online course, I'm super motivated to read, apply these techniques and attend more workshops about this in the future 🙂 Overall, the experience has been great.

Arpita Kothari

Architect
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, May 2020)

I was really happy to be a part of the digital course on Natural Building. The presentations were interesting and it was so cool to work in groups and communicate with other participants. It was pretty dynamic and particularly for me, it was the best way to work on my English and get a glimpse of the Indian Architecture. Overall, a 10 on 10!

Hélène Ferrat

3rd year, ENSAL (École d'architecture de Lyon), Lyon
(PARTICIPANT - INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL BUILDING, MAY 2020)

The digital course on Natural Building has been a really fun learning experience. I must say it was very well organised. Rosie, the tutor was really engaging and kept it interesting throughout. The exercises carried out were quite informative and this course did act like a stepping stone for me to work more towards sustainable architecture. I would also like to appreciate the efforts put in to carry out the small hands-on session despite it being virtual.

Shraddha Haverishettar

5th year Architecture student
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, May 2020)

The entire 7 day session on Natural Building was planned in a very systematic and balanced way! It also included interaction with various participants coming from different parts of the country and was followed by a perfect balance of students and professionals which made the experience all the more interesting! The entire team of Rosie and her colleagues had great energy and enthusiasm, with very lively interactions!

Rashi

Architect
(PARTICIPANT - INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL BUILDING, MAY 2020)

I learnt a new concept like Versus wheel and was able to discuss a lot of concepts with Rosie and other participants. I had a very good learning experience. I was introduced to interesting projects and ideas of many architects. Rosie's explanation of their projects inspired me greatly. My experience with Rosie was very informative and enjoyable. Especially the live examples that she gave helped a lot.

Srinidhi Sriraman

Architect
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, May 2020)

The course has been planned well, starting from basic concepts to details of the material. It's apt for students & freshers. Rosie is very insightful, simple to understand, and interactive 🙂 in short, awesome!!

Urvashi Purohit

Architecture professor
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, May 2020)

I learned many new things from the classes, and got a new perspective on sustainability. Rosie is friendly, approachable and can explain things in a simple way. I also like how she structured the classes.

Nirupama KS

5th year Architecture Student
(Participant - Introduction to Natural Building, May 2020)

The digital course on Natural Building was an interesting one. Learned a lot about mud as a material, and more on sustainability. As a student it was an important experience to help me understand more in what direction I would like to proceed as an architect.

Srishti Baid

4th Year, Vastu Kala Academy, Delhi
(PARTICIPANT - INTRODUCTION TO NATURAL BUILDING, MAY 2020)