Karl Damschen (born 15 July 1942 in Gelsenkirchen, Germany) is an architect working in Switzerland and mainly in Kerala, India. His buildings are grounded in the climatic and historico-cultural conditions of each place, and they are significant for the recognition of the great architectural resources of India.
Education and career In 1963, Damschen began his studies at the Staatliche Ingenieurschule für Bauwesen Kassel (now University of Kassel), which he completed as a grad. Engineer. After studying with Paul Friedrich Posenenske at the State College of Arts Kassel (now University of Kassel), Damschen obtained his diploma as Architect HbK in 1970. He then moved to Switzerland, and he worked from 1971 to 1981 as a department head in the Helfer Architekten AG office in Bern.Work at Helfer Architekten AG: https://www.architekturbibliothek.ch/architekt/damschen-karl/
In 1982 he founded his own company, Architektur Atelier Damschen in Bern, Switzerland. It was here that he worked on the Ascom office building in Bern.Alte und neue Kunst-Stücke aus dem Berner Ostquartier. In: Der Bund, 3. April 1992, p. 29.
In 1985, upon winning a competition for the State College of Technology and Architecture Fribourg (Hochschule für Technik und Architektur Freiburg) Preisgekrönte Arbeiten vorgestellt, Freiburger Nachrichten Nr. 107, 10. Mai 1986, S.7Eine neue Ingenieurschule in Freiburg. Neue Zürcher Zeitung vom 3. Februar 1989 in Switzerland, he, along with his partner Daniel Herren, founded their office Herren + Damschen Architects + Planners AG in Bern.Cooperation with Daniel Herren in Bern: https://www.e-periodica.ch/cntmng?pid=sbz-004:2011:137::3941 Here they worked on several competitions including the urban planning of Löwenplatz in Luzern and urban planning of Thörishaus in Switzerland for which they were conferred the highest Award.Schweizer Ingenieur and Architekt 10 (1995), p. 246Schweizer Ingenieur und Architekt 11, (1995), p. 275
India In 1976, Damschen embarked on a significant one-year trip by caravan to India and Sri Lanka where he explored the architecture of these countries in detail. This marked the beginning of a lasting relationship with India. From then on, he spent several months each year in Kerala, the southern state of India where he studied first hand, the traditional construction technologies of highly skilled local carpenters. He stated this in an interview with Indian Architecture & Builder Magazine (IA&B):Looking for substance: Indian Architect & Builder Magazine, Mumbai, India, March 2000, S. 22; https://issuu.com/iab_archives/docs/iab_march_2013
His fascination with India led to his decision to work as a consultant architect in Kerala in 1995. The first hotel project designed by Damschen in Kerala, was the Surya Samudra Beach Garden (Kovalam) in the 1980s, consisting of several traditional wooden houses carefully dismantled and reassembled on site.
Karl Damschen earned his reputation as an architect-conservator in India by converting several heritage and colonial buildings in South India, especially in the old port city of Kochi, where the Portuguese established their first trading post in India as early as 1502. A good example of this is the renovation and reconstruction of the Old Harbour House, an approximately 300-year-old house built by the Dutch.Tanya Abraham: Due respect for the old. In: Metro Plus, Kochi, The Hindu, 12 August 2006; Weblink Tabitha May: The Old Harbour Hotel, Cochin: where to stay. The Telegraph, 26 August 2008Restoration area, Fort Kochi: Old Harbour House makeover. Indian Express, 4 October 2006
Another Dutch building once used for the spice trade in Jew Town, Kochi, was converted into the Ethnic Passage.An ancient flavour, Inside Outside Magazin, November 2009, S. 190–195 The restoration of the Kashi Art Gallery in Fort Kochi is another example.
These projects became a paradigm for several hoteliers and property owners and resulted in many of the remarkable heritage houses being saved from destruction. His work has also been significant in the country's recognition of its great architectural resources. Asked about his favorite projects of classical Indian architecture, Karl Damschen said:Looking for substance: Indian Architect & Builder Magazine, Mumbai, India, March 2013, p. 22 In 2001, he was appointed as Conservation Architect to the World Monuments Fund, New York for the restoration of the clock tower of the 450 year old Paradesi Synagogue in the historic Jew Town of Kochi. Photo of the plaquette placed in the synagogue
Since 2013 he has been working in a partnership with the young Indian architect Krishnan Varma.
Architectural style
While in Switzerland, Damschen was inspired by master architect Le Corbusier, whose principles of proportion and scale were adopted into his projects. In his view, architecture that uses the same language universally and neglects reference to its context, leads to an enormous architectural impoverishment in cities. In an interview the architect said:
His buildings are based on the climatic, historical and socio-cultural conditions of the place. He was influenced by its rich culture of India and introduced carefully selected ornamentation into his architecture. All his projects are planned as an architectural unit that includes the interior and landscape design to ensure overall homogeneity:Peter Gast, Modern Traditions: Contemporary Architecture in India. Birkhäuser 2007, p.111. ISBN 978-3764377540
Selected projects BuildingLocationNotes1971–1973Helfer Office BuildingBern, SwitzerlandHelfer Architekten AG1981–1985Ascom Office Building Bern, SwitzerlandArchitektur Atelier Damschen 1985–1996 Hochschule für Technikund Architektur FreiburgFreiburg, SwitzerlandHerren + Damschen, Architects and Planners AG2005–2006Indian Forum (Culture Centre) Schwäbisch Hall, GermanyArchitektur Atelier Damschen1982–2000 Surya Samudra Beach Garden (now Niraamaya Retreats)Kovalam, Kerala, India Architektur Atelier Damschen 1996–1999 The Brunton BoatyardInderjit Badhwar, Susan Leong: India chic hotels. bolding books, Singapore, 2006. (Luxushotel)Kochi, Kerala, India In cooperation with A K Prasanth ( Prasanth & associates Architects), Stapati Architects (Tony Joseph)2002–2004 Taj Garden Retreat Kumarakom, Kerala, India Architektur Atelier Damschen 2001–2005 Restoration of the Clock Tower of Paradesi Synagogue for the World Monuments Fund, New York Jew Town, Kochi, Kerala, India Architektur Atelier Damschen 2004–2006 Restoration of Old Harbour HotelManuela Kessler: Architekt hilft Handwerkern. Süddeutsche Zeitung, 30 December 2006, S.16Mathew T. Georg: Old Harbour Hotel. The Week, 25 November 2005Priyadarshini Sharma: Heritage homes turn hotels. The Hindu, 6 August 2005Prema Manmadhan: Anchored to the past: Old Harbour House. The Hindu, 23 January 2010 (Boutique Hotel) Kochi, Kerala, India Architektur Atelier Damschen 2005–2007 Restoration of Visalam Palace (Boutique Hotel) Kanadukathan, Karaikudy, Tamil Nadu, India Architektur Atelier Damschen2006–2009 Ethnic PassageAn ancient flavour, Inside Outside Magazin, November 2009, S.190–195 (Boutique Shopping-Mall mit Kunstgalerie und Cafè) Kochi, Kerala, India Architektur Atelier Damschen 2006–2010 Dreamz House Restoration of a residential building Fort Kochi, Kerala, India Collaboration with Architect Stephan Mischler2010–2012 Vismaya House (serviced pool villa) Cherthala, Kerala, India (at Chenganda on Vembanad Lake)Architektur Atelier Damschen 2012–2014 Upgrading of the Kashi Art Cafe Fort Kochi, Kerala, IndiaArchitektur Atelier Damschen2013–2014Restoration of Nadulu Hotel – Meriya Heritage (Heritage-Hotel) Kaipamangalam, near Guruvayoor, Kerala, IndiaIn collaboration with Architect Krishnan Varma2011–2015 Restoration of the Cochin Club (sport club with swimming pool) Fort Kochi, Kerala, India Architektur Atelier Damschen2013–2024 Olam on the Lake - Restoration of a guest bungalow - New Garden Restaurant Cheppanam Island, near to Ernakulam, Kerala, India Architektur Atelier Damschen2014–2017 Baymaas Lake House (serviced pool villa)Baymaas Lakehouse Kochi. In: Condé Nast traveller magazine, November 2018 Ernakulam, Kerala India (Cheppanam Island, at Vembanadu Lake)In collaboration with Architect Krishnan Varma2019-2024 Gulnaar Villa Restoration of a Heritage Villa Dehradhun, Uttarakand, India Architektur Atelier Damschen2020-2022 Wilton WeaversRestoration of the office building, expansion of the workshop hall of a carpet factoryChertala, Kerala, India Architektur Atelier Damschensince 2015 Restoration of The Delta Study School Fort Kochi, Kerala, India In collaboration with Architect Krishnan Varma
Published projects Herbert Ypma: HIP Hotels Beach. Thames and Hudson (Econ), London 2004, Olaf Krüger and Michael Neumann-Adrian: Zeit für Indien. Bucher-Verlag, Munich 2012, Olaf Krüger, Michael and Edda Neumann-Adrian: Zeit für Kerala, Traumziele im Garten der Götter. Bucher-Verlag, Munich 2006 Klaus-Peter Gast: Moderne Traditionen : zeitgenössische Architektur in Indien. Birkhäuser, Basel-Boston-Berlin 2007, Inderjit Badhwar, Susan Leong: India chic hotels. bolding books, Singapore 2006. Kim Inglis: Cool hotels India – Maldives – Sri Lanka, Periplus Editions 2004,
References
External links Niraamaya Retreats (ehemals Surya Samudra Beach Garden) Old Harbour Hotel Taj Garden Retreat Paradesi Synagoge in Jew Town, Kochi Brunton Boatyard Hotel Visalam Palace Vismaya House Nadulu Hotel – Meriya Heritage in Kaipamangalam, Kerala Baymas Lake House