Apartments in villages in Goa
The following was recently published in the Times of India under the heading “Builders suffer blow at Carambolim meet” on the 31st of July 2012.
“OLD GOA: Carambolim locals have decided to act tough against builders who undertake projects of five flats and more in the jurisdiction of Carambolim panchayat in the future. Read more >>
Pay-as-you-go Solar Power in India!
Pay-as-you-go Solar power is now available in underserved areas in Karnataka, India. Simpa Networks has a new model where users pay a small initial fee for the PV system. Then prepay for small quantities of electricity as and when needed or as they are able to afford. Each payment counts towards the final purchase price of the PV system. When it’s fully paid up, the system is unlocked to give them free electricity. Payments can be made by mobile. For more deets check this articleby TreeHugger.
Roof Gardens
Roof gardens are becoming increasingly popular. Paris has decided to plant 80,000 Square Yards of Green Roofs and Rooftop Gardens by 2020. Green roofs insulate from both for noise and temperature, help in reducing rainwater runoff, reduce CO2 levels and are also a visually appealing feature of urban landscapes. Read more >>
Earthscrapers
Found an interesting article on TreeHugger – “Earthscrapers: Is Going Down Instead Of Up A Greener Way To Build?”. I guess this would work if there was an available crater to start with. If you don’t, what do you do with all the mud/rock that you have to excavate? Wouldn’t that just increase the embodied energy of the structure? On the flip side, here’s another use for unused mines (if they are close enough to the city off course).
3 Eco-Stores in Goa!
We are extremely proud to have 3 eco-stores in our small state! Check out Green Essentials, Earthworm and Canopy. All these stores promote sustainable, low-environmental-impact consumerism. Earthworm, in addition to bringing these green alternative products to our lifestyles, also showcases products from fair-trade organizations, self-help groups and traditional artisans to sustain local arts culture. Green Essentials promotes products that are ‘truly green’ and have the lowest environmental impact. Canopy also organizes eco-hikes, boat safaris and bird and small animal watching tours. Green Essentials was started by two passionate environmentalists, Karan and Yogita. Earthworm is promoted by Roopa Bandekar, a nature lover, and Nirmal Kulkarni, a wildlife photographer and Western Ghat ecologist whereas Canopy is run by the young and effable brothers, Pankaj and Gaurish Lad. Links : http://www.GreenEssentials.in , http://www.canopygoa.com
Bamboo House India
Bamboo House India is a social enterprise that focusses on providing sustainable livelihoods to rural and tribal artisans in the bamboo sector. Brainchild of two first generation entrpreneurs, Aruna Kappagantula and Prashant Lingam, is supported in it’s initiative by some bigwigs like the National Mission on Bamboo Applications (NMBA, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT – Delhi), Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL & FS) etc. Check them out at bamboohouseindia.org.
Architectural spaces can potentially nourish
Architectural spaces can potentially nourish emotionally and spiritually.
It is for us to interpret spatial narratives built within the architectural space resolutions in traditional architecture.
The clues for movement, inherent to the space are revealed sequentially. This gradual unfolding of spaces creates a sense of curiosity within the onlooker and involves them in the process which is both interactive as well as a discovery, very personal and intuitive. This journey is enriched by the spatial variations emerging through sense of enclosure and intensity of light.
There are innumerable nuances of built form by which traditional Indian Architecture manifests moods, communicates messages and remains relevant after these many centuries.
This timelessness is attributed to its freshness offered by the variations of visual frames as well as the integration of light where the sun is the constant variable as it changes position and intensity from morning to evening and from summer to winter. This makes the static object change with changing outdoor conditions through sun.
In this manner, the elements of a building, its scale, size, volume, degrees of enclosure, levels of illumination as well as materials and building envelope instill in the observer ethos appropriate to the place – a timeless ethos, never changing but constantly adapting.