OXLAEYTreading Water • URU Craftsmen & the Art of Boat Building
The Uru is a boat still built in Kerala, India, traditionally used for transporting goods. One of the last shipyards is located in Beypore, a village south of Calicut, Kerala, The craftsman grow up using their tools but only a few graduate to the level of master craftsmen.
The hulls are built without technical plans. Only in the last few years have architects been designing cabins to be built on top of the ship, for which designs are printed up.
Most of the Urus being built today are manufactured for and exported to Arab nations as luxury items.
Watch the full, unedited interview with Dr. Balagopal Prabhu here:
