The Misuse of RCC

Challenging a Mindset I have often found that builders, architects and indeed, clients, want to make even the smallest structures using reinforced concrete cement – or RCC. This is a mixture of cement, sand and aggregate (stone chips of gravel) … Continue reading

Recycled Waste Materials

There are numerous by-products, of some process or industry, that are considered waste and and it only takes a little imagination to recycle them to be of use for building and construction. Flyash As a fine residue from coal-fired thermal … Continue reading

Sustainability

What is Sustainability? “Nature has enough for everybody’s need; not for everybody’s greed.” – Mahatma Gandhi Quoting Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi may no longer be fashionable but these words are more relevant today than they’ve ever been. Every material used in … Continue reading

Interiors

Selected Projects [CaBa] Playschool When the founder of this popular playschool moved to Bombay, she found the school semester had already begun and she couldn’t get her daughter a place anywhere. So she started her one in her own home. … Continue reading

PMK Bungalow

The design of a private residence at Kondhwa, Pune, was a very exciting project. No Reinforced Concrete Cement (RCC) has been used and we opted for load-bearing walls that are cheaper and, in my opinion, better for a building of … Continue reading

Karjat Resort

Satya Health Farm, now Satya Resort, is situated in the Karjat region — about two hour’s drive from Bombay. With the river Pej flowing past the northern edge of this 50 acre (20 Hectare) property and surrounded by the ranges … Continue reading

Kaya Kalp

On the North bank of the River Narmada, in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh is the town of Maheshwar, old capital of the Holkar kingdom. Mentioned in both, the Ramayana and Mahabharatha, it rose to prominence during the … Continue reading

Architecture

This has always been my favourite area of work – even more than interior design – because it gives me the best opportunity to follow my ecological design principles. The ultimate aim is to show that construction can be economical … Continue reading

Design Principles

That Designer Label To my mind, a space should look aesthetically pleasing to people who inhabit it. At the same time, it should not be screaming itself hoarse. Too many people fall into the trap of designing with one eye … Continue reading

Web Conference on Sustainable Communities

Last evening at the American Library here, there was a web interaction between Peter J. Arsenault and Roshni Udyavar – head of the Environmental Architecture course at Rachana Sansad. I fully expected it to be all about LEED but was … Continue reading