Karl Damschen

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. 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. In 1985, upon winning a competition for the State College of Technology and Architecture Fribourg (Hochschule für Technik und Architektur Freiburg) in Switzerland, he, along with his partner Daniel Herren, founded their office Herren + Damschen Architects + Planners AG in Bern. 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.

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): "IA&B: What is your comment on the traditional architecture of Kerala?... KD: I am now talking about Kerala’s traditional wooden architecture with its most important building, the Padmanabhapuram palace. This kind of architecture was not designed and built by architects but by master carpenters (Acharis)..." 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. • Illustration — Old Harbour Hotel • Illustration — Lobby • Illustration — Courtyard Another Dutch building once used for the spice trade in Jew Town, Kochi, was converted into the Ethnic Passage. 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: "Certainly the wooden Padmanabhapuram palace because of its subtle adaptation to the location. It also takes account of all climatic and cultural circumstances. Its richness of detail and the dealing with the inner and outer spaces make this building so unique and special.“ 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. • Illustration — Clock tower of the Paradesi synagogue (2011) • Illustration — Plaquette in the Paradesi synagogue • Illustration — Clock tower of the Paradesi Synagoge (2015) Since 2013 he has been working in a partnership with the young Indian architect Krishnan Varma.

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: • Illustration — The Brunton Boatyard Hotel • Illustration — The Brunton Boatyard Hotel

• Building — Location — Notes • 1971–1973 — Helfer Office Building — Bern, Switzerland — Helfer Architekten AG • 1981–1985 — Ascom Office Building — Bern, Switzerland — Architektur Atelier Damschen • 1985–1996 — Hochschule für Technik und Architektur Freiburg — Freiburg, Switzerland — Herren + Damschen, Architects and Planners AG • 2005–2006 — Indian Forum (Culture Centre) — Schwäbisch Hall, Germany — Architektur Atelier Damschen • 1982–2000 — Surya Samudra Beach Garden (now Niraamaya Retreats) — Kovalam, Kerala, India — Architektur Atelier Damschen • 1996–1999 — The Brunton Boatyard (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 Hotel (Boutique Hotel) — Kochi, Kerala, India — Architektur Atelier Damschen • 2005–2007 — Restoration of Visalam Palace (Boutique Hotel) — Kanadukathan, Karaikudy, Tamil Nadu, India — Architektur Atelier Damschen • 2006–2009 — Ethnic Passage (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 Mischler • 2010–2012 — 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, India — Architektur Atelier Damschen • 2013–2014 — Restoration of Nadulu Hotel – Meriya Heritage (Heritage-Hotel) — Kaipamangalam, near Guruvayoor, Kerala, India — In collaboration with Architect Krishnan Varma • 2011–2015 — Restoration of the Cochin Club (sport club with swimming pool) — Fort Kochi, Kerala, India — Architektur Atelier Damschen • 2013–2024 — Olam on the Lake - Restoration of a guest bungalow - New Garden Restaurant — Cheppanam Island, near to Ernakulam, Kerala, India — Architektur Atelier Damschen • 2014–2017 — Baymaas Lake House (serviced pool villa) — Ernakulam, Kerala India (Cheppanam Island, at Vembanadu Lake) — In collaboration with Architect Krishnan Varma • 2019-2024 — Gulnaar Villa Restoration of a Heritage Villa — Dehradhun, Uttarakand, India — Architektur Atelier Damschen • 2020-2022 — Wilton Weavers Restoration of the office building, expansion of the workshop hall of a carpet factory — Chertala, Kerala, India — Architektur Atelier Damschen • since 2015 — Restoration of The Delta Study School — Fort Kochi, Kerala, India — In collaboration with Architect Krishnan Varma • Illustration — Niraamaya Retreats • Illustration — Ethnic Passage in Jew town, Fort Kochi • Illustration — Vismaya Bungalow • Illustration — Baymaas Lake House