{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O1720236"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O1720236/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PC6480/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2025PC6480/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"low","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2025PC6480","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O1720236","accessionNumber":"E.254-2026","objectType":"model","titles":[{"title":"Sample palette of materials used for rammed earth architecture","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This sample palette was made by students at the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL) in Ladakh, India, a new university that promotes locally rooted, sustainable design practices and Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). HIAL is a pioneering higher education and  masterplan design project, driven by a mission to train local young people and support future mountain communities adapting to  climate change.\r\n\t  \r\nFounded by a pair of award-winning Indian educators and entrepreneurs, Sonam Wanghuck and Gitanjali JB, the HIAL project is being delivered under the patronage of His Holiness the Drikung Kyabgon Chetsang Rinpochey, one of the foremost leaders in Tibetan Buddhism after HH the Dalai Lama, together with significant involvement from local Ladakhi communities. The vision for the university campus was first set out in 2015 during a summer school held at the SECMOL (Students Educational and Cultural Movement of  Ladakh), with initial seed funding being secured through a successful crowdfunding campaign. While rooted in Ladakh, HIAL is  committed to sharing its design strategies and education programmes with other high attitude regions around the world and actively collaborates with partners in Europe and South America. \n\nThe HIAL project and design philosophy promotes hands-on learning, revisiting Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) and open-source design systems, and is underpinned by significant architectural and engineering design innovations in natural building construction and water infrastructure design. The groundbreaking design for the HIAL masterplan is creating a new university and township in the Phyang Valley in Ladakh, northern India, in the foothills of the Himalayas. The holistic design scheme draws on learnings from indigenous Indian architecture practices and traditional engineering technologies (notably centuries-old rammed earth building techniques and human-made, artificial glacier water management systems), reinventing these for contemporary needs through new research and digital technologies. The scheme’s core aim is to transform a cold mountain desert (desertified as a result of accelerating climate change) into a habitable, resilient, and future-facing eco-campus. \n\nThe palette demonstrates materials used in rammed earth architecture such as the staff quarters building represented by architectural model E.862-2022 held in the V&A Collection.","physicalDescription":"Sample palette timber box containing clay, pashmina wool and hay with a perspex cover.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Himalayan Institute of Alternatives","id":"AUTH380016"},"association":{"text":"architects","id":"AAT24987"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"balsa wood","id":"AAT12512"},{"text":"pashmina wool","id":"x35185"},{"text":"grass","id":"AAT11872"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Timber, clay, pashmina wool, hay, Perspex","categories":[{"text":"Architecture","id":"THES48993"},{"text":"Designs","id":"THES48968"},{"text":"Environment","id":"THES252687"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"PDP","id":"THES48595"},"images":["2025PC6480"],"imageResolution":"low","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"CA029","id":"THES413432"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"model","id":"AAT247279"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Ladakh","id":"x34230"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"2022","earliest":"2022-01-01","latest":"2022-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by Sonam Wangchuk and Gitanjali J Angmo, the founders of the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"50","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"2024","earliest":"2024-01-01","latest":"2024-12-31"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"467","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"2024","earliest":"2024-01-01","latest":"2024-12-31"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"262","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"2024","earliest":"2024-01-01","latest":"2024-12-31"},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"466","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"200","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"100","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Sample palette of materials used for rammed earth architecture, produced by students at the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives Ladakh (HIAL), timber, clay, pashmina wool, hay, Perspex, Ladakh, India, 2022","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Unique","id":"THES48864"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["E.254-2026"],"accessionNumberNum":"254","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":2026,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-06-16","recordCreationDate":"2022-06-14","availableToBook":false}}