From House to Home; Building for a Dignified Living.

SUMMER SCHOOL 2013
FROM HOUSE TO HOME
BUILDING FOR DIGNIFIED LIVING

FROM HOUSE TO HOME
BUILDING FOR DIGNIFIED LIVING
SUMMER
SCHOOL
2013
This publication documents the three-week Auroville Green Practices Summer School 2013 ‘Building
for a Dignified Living’. The publication was prepared in a collaborative way by participating students
and facilitators. Those were: Aakash Divanji, Aashman Goghari, Aishwarya Das, Carlotta Dabove,
Chaitanya Krishna Kumar, Chirag Batra, Jasmitha Arvind, Karishma Asarpota, Manu Gopalan,
Martin Scherfler, Nicole Soellinger, Parinitha Vishweshwar, Pragna Prasad, Pranav DM, Pranay
Golecha, Priscilla Joseph, Richa Raut, Richard Kleinjans, Sarmistha Saha, Shefali Mendon, Siddharth
Chourasiya, Somya Gupta, Stefanie B. Overbeck, Sushruthi Krishna,Tania Poggi,Tapas Upadhyay.

The Summer School program is the result of the
dedicated work of Balu Ramalingam, Gayathri
Joag, Gilles Boulanger, Jane Mason, Manu
Gopalan, Martin Scherfler, Menaka Gupta, Shefali
Mendon and Stefanie Ovebeck.
A special thanks toVimal Bhojraj for photography,
Bhaskar Patil for film making, Hashvardhan
Upadhyay and Daniel Ojeda for graphic design,
Garima and Kalsang for hospitality and the
countless Aurovilians that contributed to the
successful completion of this program.
The AGP Summer School 2013 was made possible
through support from ACC limited, Ondulline
India, Auroville Consulting, EarthHauz Design, Sri
Aurobindo International Institute of Educational
Research and University of Applied Science
Northwestern Swizterland.
Special gratitude to Monica Sharma, Toine van
Megen and Raghu Kolli for their mentoring and
continuous inspiration.
About Auroville
Auroville is a growing international township
near Puducherry on the Coromandel Coast in
India. Spread over more than 4000 acres for an
intended population of 50,000 residents. It is an
inspiring model for sustainable practices and
ecologically-responsible living. Founded in 1968,
Auroville is based on the vision of The Mother
from the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and is endorsed
by UNESCO and the Government of India as an
ongoing experiment in human unity.TheAuroville
Foundation was established in 1988 by an act of
parliament of the Government of India to govern
its affairs.
Over the years, Auroville has won international
acclaim for its efforts in social and environmental
sustainability.
The current population of over 2200 residents
from about 45 nations are devoted to community
building and are actively engaged in all aspects of
township development: renewable energy, water
harvesting, building materials, organic farming,
forestation, architecture, governance, etc.
About Auroville Green Practices
Auroville Green Practices aims to bring together
various stakeholders to envision future townships
that offer a habitat that is ecologically, socially
and economically nurturing.
About Lighthouse
Lighthouse learning campus is locally global. Like
its costal counterpart, lighthouse is a regional
guideline for sustainable and equitable change,
connecting the world through local tangible and
measurable initiatives and results. From city to
city, country-to-country, continent-to-continent
lighthouse is a global cross-pollinating, learning-
in-action constellation.
Summer School 2013
Acknowledgement

ForewardAs we get better off materially in our lives in this
modern world, we lose something of real value.As
weacquirerefrigerators,air-conditionersandcars,
we lose places for children to play and neighbours
to lend us a cup of sugar or sit with us when we
are not well. As we get better locks for our homes
we are increasingly insecure. As we extend our
life spans we are ever more reducing the quality
of that life. As we have better roads and cars we
waste yet more time in traffic jams. As we have
more food to eat we grow unhealthy. And we get
privacy for our nuclear families by losing friends
and community.
By coming to this school to connect your Hands,
Head and Heart to create a difference – you are
changing the world we live in.You are inventing a
way that would take us all forward, to the future,
not a regression to our past – a future where we
would again engage with our humanity without
giving up the creature comforts provided by
modern industrial society. You are making a
community for all of us to prosper and mature
with while respecting the individuality within all
of us.
Makenomistakeaboutit.Bytransformingyourself
you transform the Culture of Consumerism into a
Culture of Consciousness.
I wish it were possible for me to be a part of your
change myself; instead, I send you my best wishes
for having a great time, and hope you connect
within and without in the most profound sense to
your meaning of Sustainable Building and Design.
Sanjay Prakash
Principal Consultant
SHiFt: Studio for Habitat Futures
As long as humans require air to breathe, water
to drink, food to eat, and shelter to live in, our
lives and livelihoods are inextricably linked to
our environment. Yet one could argue that it is
impossible to live in the developed world without
causing harm to our planet. We know we need to
live and operate sustainably. The problem with
sustainability is that it’s like being on a diet—
we don’t want to give up the comforts of our
lifestyles any more than we want to give up our
favorite foods and we want to know exactly how
much food we can eat and still lose weight. The
concept of sustainability leads us to questions like
“how much stuff can we have, how much energy
can we use and be sustainable?” Our purpose in
implementing sustainable practices is to minimize
the damage we inflict on the environment.
“You never change things by fighting the existing
reality. To change something, build a new model
that makes the existing model obsolete.”
– Buckminster Fuller
Instead of trying to minimize damage, what if
we created a different way of living? What if we
asked, “how can we live in a way that benefits
Earth and her inhabitants? Through attending
this course and connecting your Hands to your
Head and to your Heart, you are creating a new
way of being for 100% of this planet’s inhabitants.
You are creating a future based on dignity,
equality and justice for all by sourcing your innate
capability, designing and implementing programs
that shift the status quo, and delivering results.
From this point on, you won’t just be designing
and building sustainably, you’ll be designing and
building shelter that supports the well being of
communities (human and ecological) for years to
come.
Kirsten Gallo, Ph.D.
Program Manager
National Park Service
Las Cruces, NM, USA
Summer School 2013
Foreward

Contents
Introduction 01 Design to Implementation 22
From House to Home 02 Participants’ Projects 33
Polimoney 03
Participants’ Profiles & Learning 04
Summer School 2013

IntroductionThis publication documents the endeavour
of the Auroville Green Practices (AGP)
Summer School 2013, to find solutions for
today’s fragmented educational systems.
Higher education today is exclusively a skill &
competencies oriented learning program. It
produces, at its best, a recruitable work force for
a market that operates on the premise that more
consumption creates a better quality of life. What
our current educational paradigm fundamentally
produces is a perpetuation and acceleration of
unsustainable development and inequality due to
a fragmented educational system. Conventional
educational paradigms do not address the entire
human being and its place in the cosmos. It
lacks the freedom an individual needs for inner
growth and fails to cultivate principles of social
and environmental justice and dignity for all.
foreign colleges and each one brought his or her
specific strengths and skills into the workshop,
contributing to a great and transformational
learning experience, which we hope they will
always carry in good memories with them.
Martin Scherfler
Co-Founder
Auroville Consulting
The AGP Summer School program is an
initiative using Auroville and its outstanding
experience in human unity & sustainable living
as a platform for the learning and personal
growth of students from around the world.
The program is based on the H3 approach that
nurtures hands (skills), head (competencies)
and heart (inner capacities) of all participants.
This workshop has served as an experimental
and cross-disciplinary educational laboratory,
connecting theory and application with core
human values such as justice, dignity and
unity around the lead theme ‘From House
to Home; Building for a dignified living’.
Twenty-two students and young professionals
participated in this three-week program held
from 21st July to 11 August 2013 at Auroville
International Township in Tamil Nadu, India.
Participants came from various Indian and
1Summer School 2013
Insanity is doing the same thing over and
over and expecting different results.
- Albert Einstein

From House to Home: Building for a Dignified Living
Architecturaleducationplacestheresponsibilityof
designing a house on the Architect. However that
of turning the `House to a ‘Home’ is out-sourced
squarely to the User/Client. As if to say that it is
beyond the limits of imagination of the Architect
to incorporate dignified living into a house!
The fact of the matter is that the profession of
architecture, as we perceive it, currently is a
product of Industrialism. The primary need of the
20th Century was to mass-produce houses and
other supporting buildings with uniform utilitarian
features for the large herds of immigrant workers
in industrial towns and cities. This trend in
urbanization and industrialism still continues as
urban centers grow at an alarming rate. With
300 million people living in metropolitan areas
and an annual urbanization rate of 2.07%, India
has one of the fastest growing urban engines
the world has ever seen. Although architecture
as a profession has a deep-seated western
origin, changing economic landscapes in eastern
countries like India and China, make it is still
relevant to preserve the traditional role of the
architect as a cog-in-the-wheel of industrialism.
The new, steadily growing consciousness
of human civilization in the 21st Century
however, is that of collaboration, networking
and open-source knowledge sharing. This
has led students of architecture to hunt for
new learning pastures hitherto unexplored.
The Auroville Green Practices Summer School
organized at the SacredGroves Ecological-
Affordable Housing site is one such. Here students
areencouragedtolookwithinfordesignsolutions,
to interpret dignity in life, to synthesize the same
in their house designs thereby transforming
them to beautiful livable homes! They are also
encouraged to explore various building systems
and services that make ecological living feasible
and affordable - a learning that they could apply
in all future design projects with relative ease.
For more information on the ecological
building programme sparked off by the
Auroville Green Practices Summer School,
kindly visit the SacredGroves site near Centre
Field beyond Centre Guest House in Auroville.
You may also see updates on the project’s blog:
www.thesacredgroves.wordpress.com
Manu Gopalan
Founder
Earthauz Architechture Design
Summer School 2013 2

clever way to learn. In 2011, I started developing
a game to explain, in a fun way, the working
of a monetary city planning ‘experiment’ in
Europe. It was meant to be a dynamic and
interactive tool and a substitute to long passive
lectures. The first idea led to more game
ideas, which was eventually called Polimoney.
Stefanie B. Overbeck
Prinicipal Architect
zo2architecture
What is Polimoney?
Poli – comes from the word Polis which in Greek
means city.The urban city binds the fabrics of the
built as well as social space.
Money – a medium of exchange defined by a
community.
Polimoneyisaneducationalsetofgames,inwhich
participants discover their own belief systems
pertaining to money and experience the working
of a complimentary currency system within the
bounds of a neighbourhood and understand
how it helps developing a sense of a community.
How is Polimoney designed?
Polimoney is fun to play and in spite of the serious
objective, participants don’t risk their existence or
spendmuchoftheirpersonaltime.Thecomplexity
of our daily life is reduced in all Polimoney games
in order to understand the underlying principle.
How is Polimoney implemented in reality?
The underlying principles of Polimoney
can be adjusted to specific needs and the
local context. By doing so, a better and
easier understanding can be achieved.
Polimoney however does not take over the role of
stimulationofanactualsystemorsituationnorthe
actual design of a local complementary currency.
Polimoney stimulates people to think in
their own context and design a method
that can work within their own community.
What impact does Polimoney generate?
These game have been designed so that
participants not only learn through their thinking
brain but also through emotional intelligence.
The experience of playing Polimoney
changes the way we see ourselves, the way
we use mediums of exchange in relation
to the way we build and choose to live.
I consider games to be the quickest and most
Polimoney

I stand for honesty, justice, self-expression,
compassion and passion. I come from Kerala
in south of India. My father used to work in the
Indian Navy and so I have lived in different parts of
the country from Mumbai to Delhi to Bangalore.
At the age when my personality started to
develop, I was in Bangalore. The city has taught
me a lot, contributing to the way I would react
to social situations, the way I dress and the way I
carry myself.
My family taught me how to appreciate tradition,
values and follow protocol in society. There are
specific people I would thank for some interests
and habits I have developed over the years. One
would be my uncle, who at a very young age
taught me to appreciate the beauty in everything.
Finding order in chaos through most things, I like
looking for the positive aspects and the simplest
things make me happy.
Both my parents work and I would say this has
taught me how to take care of myself. The lady
who took care of me growing up also contributed
a lot to the person I am today.
I have always been a person who reflects on a
situation. But most often I am clueless about
how to organize these thoughts and make the
best of a situation. Coming to the summer school
has helped in many ways. I came expecting to
understand just the practical ways of construction
but I will be leaving with a whole new and more
positive way of analyzing a situation.
StatingwhatIstandfor,mystrengthsandmyfears
has definitely made me a more confident person.
I learnt that I am capable of more than I think
and I do have a decent set of managerial skills. I
see a new strength in me to face my fears head
on and learn from them. I learned that there is no
need to know where to start. The important part
is to reach the goal and stick to the path. Failing
is ok as it teaches us something. My concepts on
money and its importance have altered and I see
how I can make a change in the world.
Many concepts brought about a positive change
especially the one involving understanding the
commitment behind the other persons complaint.
Overall, I would say that rather than being taught,
I learn through multiple experiences.
I am quiet an expressive person. What I feel I say
and if I don’t, my expressions say it for me. I also
encourage people to express themselves. I show
a fair amount of self-confidence but tend to lack
self-esteem sometimes. I also tend to lose my
temper soon but cool down just as fast.
My professional skills would include creativity and
good managerial skills. I would say my purpose
would be to create something that would make a
positive difference to the world.
Areas in which I did not see too much of a change
are in being able to get my point across in a better
way and improving my practical skills.
Overall there was more learning and a completely
different approach to the classroom, which was
appreciated. The summer school has definitely
made a difference in my life and more than
anything, it has taught me the virtue of patience
and value in complete conscious decision-making.
After the summer school I would take up an
initiative that would allow me to implement what I
have learned here and try my best to enroll people
into the concept of dignisfied living.Thank you.
Participants’ Profiles
& Learning
Aishwarya Das Learning
Summer School 2013
Our deepest fear is not
that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that
we are powerful beyond
measure.
- Marianne Williamson
4

My name is Karishma Asarpota. I am originally
from Mumbai in India and have been born and
brought up in Dubai. Most of my extended family
also lives there and it is home for me more than
any other place. I have completed my under-
graduate studies in Architecture from Manipal
University in Manipal, India. I stand for honesty,
inner-consciousness and inspiration. My way of
expression reflects the values I believe in. I am
keen on working towards strengthening these
principles and inculcating them in my professional
practice. Enrolling people towards working for
a self-sustained lifestyle is what I believe will
contribute to the betterment of communities and
the environment.
attended the workshop.On-site work exposed me
to side of my profession that I didn’t know much
about. Seeing the translation of ideas to designs,
designs to drawings and drawings to the actual
structure was a completely new experience for
me.
On the other side I felt that the organization of
the construction on site was slightly lacking. As
we were inexperienced and came to learn, there
should have been a more rigid structure to follow
considering the short duration of the course.
The Summer School has inspired me to look
at things beyond what it appears to be at the
surface.There is a need to move in the direction of
sustainable growth and I hope to inculcate those
principles in my life and work. I will be leaving this
course knowing that I can make a difference and
will strive to do that here onward.
I am planning to initiate a system that reduces the
impact of waste on the landfills in Dubai. A large
percentage of waste in landfills is contributed by
The first couple of days we had a few exercises
focusing on introspection and making us think
about what we stand for. Through this process I
have come to realize that I stand for honesty and
inner-consciousness of full potential. I believe that
embodying these values can ensure that I make a
significant impact in this world.
I am more conscious of my wants and uses and will
make an effort to consume only as much as I need.
I am much clearer of what I believe in and what I
want to work towards. I have also realized that I
can achieve anything I set my mind to.
Our program was divided primarily into two
sections – one focusing on us realizing our
capabilities and the other on designing and
building a sustainable home. The program
concentrated on a different learning style that
makes one think and explore new ideas. It was a
great learning experience and provided a lot of
exposure as I got to meet a lot of new people and
learn about their work. I also learnt a lot through
interaction and sharing of ideas with people who
bio-degradable wastes. My initiative would aim at
designing a system that can segregate this waste
and re-use it as compost for farming. This would
reduce the load on the landfills and create a useful
product from bio-degradable waste. I also see
the potential to create self-sustained homes and
other structures in Dubai through my practice.
Karishma Asarpota Learning

Having my parents from two corners of India has
given me an exposure to a variety of people and
culture. Coming from Chennai, I’ve been brought
up in a very liberal environment where I have been
given the opportunity to experience everything
and anything that I wanted to. Sports being a
very integral part of my life has helped me see
life from different angles and appreciate each one
for its own uniqueness. Every new thing I see and
experience excites me. I believe in taking each
day as it comes and making the best of it.
All these experiences have helped me understand
that I tilt more towards honesty and genuineness
as a person. Passion and compassion towards
otherscomesnaturallytome.Forme,tobehappy,
independent and making others around me happy
is the most important thing. As a student of
architecture, I have learned that there are multiple
ways of perceiving things and this aspect has
helped me deal with life situations. Being a leader
in various school and college activities, qualities of
patience, understanding and confidence could be
associated to me.
Parinitha Vishweshwar Learning Shefali Mendon
Summer School 2013
The past 21 days have been one of the most
tiring as well as the most enriching. Each day was
planned in such a manner that that learning took
place at every moment, whether it was yoga,
lessons on dignified living and sustainable housing
or simply learning from one another.I came to
this program with an open mind not expecting
anything in particular, I just wanted to grasp
everything I could. The programme has definitely
given me a lot to learn.
Generally there is a lot of talk that happens sub-
consciously which we tend to ignore. But here, the
activitiesweredesignedinsuchawaythatwewere
made to talk about it and realize how important it
is to understand what is in our head and heart. So
we learned how to express the things we usually
leave unspoken.
Living in such a self-sustaining environment and
so close to nature showed me that there is beauty
in simplicity. For example, the rocket shower
bathroom which was made nearly only out of
bamboo.
The one important thing that I will take back from
this program is to be sensitive to everything and
everybody around me. Simple things like listening
to each other could be a start.
The site work definitely increased my stamina to
work in the sun and gave me practical knowledge
about construction and materials. During the
workshop, teamwork and proper planning were
needed in order to successfully complete the
project through which I learned a lot.
The concept of community living and eating
together also really impressed me. Auroville
to me is a system where there is healthy inter-
dependence. I would definitely want to propagate
this way of living.
I am Shefali. I stand for integrity and self-
expression. I was born in Muscat, Oman as the
second daughter to my parents. Growing up
practicing two religions at home, as an expatriate
in an Arab country, surrounded by Indians, I
developed a world-view. The ideals and tolerance
towards people and religion, instilled when I was
a child, blossomed as I moved to India to study
architecture when I was 17. Presently, being in
Auroville, living and working with cultures from
world around, has only helped nurture this seed
that was planted in me as a child.
I express myself by moving out of my comfort
zone and by using the skills I have, strive to find
my footing there. I am always up for a challenge
(but sometimes need a push). I draw inspiration
from nature and the people around me by
observing, exploring and then creating. Being a
trained architect, dancer and painter, my mind
thinks logically, but does not fall short on the
imagination.You can count on me to be honest, to
do my best and persevere to do better.
6

I stand for respect and compassion. I am a student
of architecture, living in Bangalore.I have spent
most of my life in India but lived in the US for a
short period of three years. This changed my
perspective about life and made me a lot more
independent and confident. I am not a very
religious person.
Myfamilyhaspredominantlyworkedintheservice
sector in fields of art, teaching, management and
information technology. This has moulded me to
be a person who is always willing to help. Apart
from this, my parents have never been imposing
with rules or religion. This has helped in creating
a sense of curiosity.Hence, I tend to explore all
aspects of life. I believe I am introverted by nature.
Although I enjoy the company of people, I still
require time to be spent with myself. I am very
reflective as I analyse most of my actions. Also, I
try to overcome my fears as much as I can and face
life as it come.
My personal way of expression is through
movement and dance. It helps me connect with
I have learned to believe in my stance for respect
and compassion. With regard to skills, I have
learnedalotofnewtechniquesinconstruction like
carpentry, operation of power tools, tying knots
with ropes on bamboos etc. In terms of personal
development, I have learned to listen and control
my background conversations.
I have noticed that I have developed a lot of
patience especially while handling things or
behaviours that I am not particularly fond of. I
have also developed certain clarity of thought.
The difference that Summer School brought in
my life is the understanding and working from
the ‘heart space’. It helps me design and think
from a space where I remain true to myself. It also
provides a constant motivation and a great sense
of achievement at the completion of every task.
I would like to pursue my dream project after
Summer School - an Art Therapy Center and
School wich provides holistic development for
people of all ages and walks of life.
myself and for the few moments I dance, I am free
and true to myself. Professionally, I have a good
grip over softwares and also involve myself in the
design process.
Things that worked really well are that we got a
chance to understand ourselves better. It gave
us an opportunity to introspect and become
aware of ourselves. However, I do believe that the
programme could be much better if the events
are spaced out well and the planning is done in
such a way that there is enough time to relate and
deepen our understanding about new learning.
Sushruthi Krishna Learning

Istandforpassionandoptimism.Iamanarchitect,
graduated in 2011 from Academy of Archiecture,
Mumbai, where I was also born and brought up.
The city plays an important role in defining
my social profile of being respectful and
compassionate. I take a flexible and spontaneous
approach to life and keep my options open.
My academic and professional experience has
helped me evolve as a creative, passionate and
responsible architect.
“Great changes are easier than small ones”
- Francis Bacon
Change is inevitable.Change is good. Today I look
at myself and I feel more confident as an architect
and also as a person. The workshop played an
important role in defining the inner strength of
being a confident person and helped me realize
my stand for passion and optimism. The process
of design to estimation and procurement to
implementation has broaden my vision towards
sustainable architecture.
The guest lectures, movies, theatre workshops,
games, group discussions etc. were a different
medium through which I learnt about
sustainability, leadership qualities, fears and how
to overcome my fears and trust.
The Summer School changed my perspective
towards sustainable architecture, life - my
perceptionsandmethodsoflearning.TheSummer
School gave us an opportunity to construct what
we designed. It also gave us the liberty to select a
method of construction, learn from the mistakes
and come up with solutions and explore material
options.
Since I have started teaching in my alma mater as
a visiting lecturer, I will take up the responsibility
of sharing my knowledge which I have gained
from the Summer School with my students. As
an architect I will apply the knowledge in my
professional field and will practice sustainable
architecture.
Richa Raut
Learning
Summer School 2013
My name is Jasmitha Arvind, I am originally
from Chennai but I now study architecture in
the Univeristy of Nottingham, where I have
just completed my first year. I stand for justice,
curiosity and empathy. From an early age I found
freedom of expression in art and writing which
has helped me break free from constraints. I
am passionate about many social issues such as
helping children with mental disabilities, women’s
rights as well as environmental and animal rights.
This stems from my belief in propagating justice
and equality. I also believe in being open minded
and I am open to change and new experiences.
My unique professional experience includes my
developing skills in architecture and graphic
design as well as my semi-professional experience
in photography and writing.
In terms of inner strength, capacity and skills, I
have learned that I stand for justice, curiosity and
empathy. I also learned about the importance of
sustaining oneself in order to live a sustainable
life. I noticed that I am more comfortable
expressing myself and talking in front of a group
of people and I also feel that I have more clarity
in thought. I feel that I learned many new and
interesting things in the course especially from
the participants as they were mostly older and
better skilled than I am. However I felt that parts
of the course were rushed and we were not given
enough time to design the structure or to build it
as we did not have the appropriate skills prior to
participating in the course. The Summer School,
especially living inAuroville has inspired me to live
a more sustainable and meaningful life and to put
in my best efforts in whatever I attempt to do. It
has also given me more knowledge into how the
construction and design processes work. After
Summer School, I will definitely continue with
my personal project of introducing a new form
of art therapy in Chennai. I also see my work in
architecture school improving in terms of it being
more sustainable and laying more emphasis on
the principle of dignified living.
Jasmitha Arvind
Learning
8

Summer School 2013
I am Somya Gupta. I am from Gwalior, Madhya
Pradesh.Iampursuingarchitecture(3rdyear)from
Madhav Institute ofTechnology andScience. I was
born and brought up in Gwalior and stay in a joint
family. I stand for optimism and determination.
I think I am quite expressive and share my
emotions and feelings through facial expressions
and body language. I am an extrovert and I mingle
with people easily and I like to talk. I am a lively
person and I like happy company. Sometimes I am
quite a pessimist, get pressurised easily and can
be hyper and impulsive at times. I am more of a
traveller than a tourist and I like adventure. I like
experimenting with things and am a confident
person.Iamagoodlistenerandasensitiveperson.
I like talking to new people and working in groups
because it helps me have different opinions and
perspectivesaboutatopicandclearsmythoughts.
I don’t have any unique professional skills but I am
quite good at swimming and I am melodramatic.
The past 21 days have been the most amazing
days I have experienced and I am definitely going
to cherish each and every moment spent here. I
learned that my strength is that I am an extrovert
and can express myself effectively. I can grasp new
things, am always ready to learn and can adjust
with new people and environments easily.
Asfarasmyphysicalskillsareconcerned,Iamquite
active and always enthusiastic and learned that I
was quite comfortable with learning new hands–
on skills on site. The changes I noticed within
myself include that I am happier here, that I do not
worry about petty things, could easily concentrate
on each and every activity during the programme,
control my background conversations and work in
a group. I even learnt that being away from home,
I am actually responsible.
What worked for me was living in a community
and the densely packed schedule that actually
made me realise that a little change in schedule
makes a lot of difference.
Working in different groups enabled me to
communicate with everyone and I realised that
therecanbemultiplesolutionstoasingleproblem.
What did not work for me were some of the
technical sessions like the Polimoney talk where
I could not relate to the issue. I also was unable
to attend as many yoga sessions as I would have
liked. By being a part of the Summer School, I was
exposed to sustainability, low-cost construction
techniques and experienced freedom while
exploring Auroville.
After the Summer School, I think I can relate to
the construction process well as I was able to learn
a lot about construction techniques, budgeting
and costing and practical skills.
In a nutshell, most of the architecture I learnt
until now was in these last three weeks. I realised
that almost everyone has same fears as mine and
I have to learn to accept them and act despite of
them. I will now think of my life as simple and will
try to think positive and make things happen.
Somya Gupta Learning
9

I stand for clarity and ambition. It primarily entails
a clarity of thought and lifestyle, which
would hopefully imbibe in me an efficient way of
life. As for ambition, it has been something I
have always stood for and have now begun to
establish in my creative pursuits.
I am originally from Ahmedabad, India, where I
spent the first 12 years of my life. I then moved to
Mumbai when I was 13 due to better educational
and sport opportunities. Having played
competitive tennis since the age of 7, I managed
to get to the Asian and international stage at the
junior (U 18) level, which probably explains where
the strong sense of ambition comes from.
Due to tennis, I barely attended school and always
haddifferentsets offriends,comingfromavariety
of socialstratas and cities. This, when combined
with my international higher education makes me
someone who has always been in the company
of a variety of people from different countries
and backgrounds, thus making me accepting and
open.
I am very satisfied with this Summer School
program. I learned how to harness and channel
my strengths in a way that is beneficial to me,
while simultaneously attempting to suppress
and eradicate my weaknesses. In terms of skills,
I found the hands-on experience to be incredibly
useful, especially since we mostly worked on
the juncture between design and reality. Design
without application, or reason, simply remains an
(almost artistic) concept.
I now have a stronger awareness of materiality,
efficiency, management and most importantly,
the disparity between conception and reality. I
feel that my thought process has become more
streamlined, and I have learnt patience and team
management. I have also begun to understand
the value of efficiency and clarity in a wide range
of aspects - ranging from the design process and
its execution to the managerial efficiency involved
in teamwork.
On a holistic level, most things were fairly new and
successful for me, such as the daily schedule, the
I also subconsciously tend to maintain a
slightly different facade depending on my
audience, almost as if to put them at ease and
open up.
My personal way of expression would thus contain
a certain set of constant and personal
beliefs and characteristics, which are then slightly
tailored to each occasion.This phenomenon
exists for each of my profiles, except for, probably,
the wisdom profile.
My unique professional skills include the fact that
I have a breadth of knowledge to offer (regarding
general art, design and sciences). I also think I
have an open and critical mind, and to a certain
extent, leadership qualities.
general lifestyle, and the design-build process. As
for the personal development aspect, I feel that
the sentiment was valid, but the execution within
the short timeframe, combined with the slight
‘group therapy’ feel that it had, was something of
a ‘movie trailer’ for me.
The Summer School has brought about a
keenness in me, which involves being more aware
and responsive to the world around me. It seems
to have influenced my values and made me more
aware of myself and my abilities. I also enjoyed
the company of my peers and thoroughly enjoyed
the contribution of each facilitator and the other
people I met on the way.
Aashman Goghari Learning

I stand for passion and joy. I think that my inner
strength manifests in day-to-day life, when I try to
overcome my fears.When I was young I was afraid
of travelling alone and I was very shy. For this
reason I went abroad to study where I was able to
meet people from different parts of the world.
I am a very sensitive and approachable person,
especially with my family and friends. I am a very
good listener and I always help the people that
need my help.
I come from Genoa in Italy and it is thanks to the
education that my father gave me, that I have
the curiosity to travel and to get to know other
cultures.Hetaughtmethatitisimportanttogetto
know people from different cultural backgrounds
and to appreciate diversity.
I am an extrovert and enjoy speaking with people
andattempttounderstandwheretheyarecoming
from. I am a good collaborator and I always enjoy
the challenges of learning new things.
to the traditions of my country, experiment with
materials and remember that recycled materials
are a good resource.
After the Summer School, I would like to return
home and bring light to my personal project. I
will also try to establish a little of this Auroville
experienceinGenoaevenif itisonlyinsmallways.
From these three weeks, I have learned that I
am able to do everything I want. I can travel to
another country where traditions and customs
are completely different from mine, I can face my
fears and I can trust people I do not know well. I
have learned that there are a variety of cultures
waiting to be discovered outside my country, from
which I can learn many new and interesting things.
I have also learned and understood the challenges
that one faces when a design has to be executed
on site.
I think that I have matured in this short period
of time as I am able to recognize my limitations
and strengths and I am motivated to explore my
future.
I found the workshop very interesting and I liked
that the site work was supplemented by the H3
lessons, even though it was tiresome. I found the
atmosphere very positive and I will try to carry my
learnings with me in the future to ensure that my
mind will always remain open to new experiences
and opportunities. I will also try to not be attached
I am Jane. I stand for justice, integrity and
compassion. I was born and raised in Sydney,
Australia. I grew up in a small suburban town with
a beautiful home and family.We moved to the city
when I was a teenager where I went to university
and studied law. Obviously after this I pursued a
different path in life :)
I express myself differently based on the situation
at hand. When I was younger, I was very vocal.
Over the years and through yoga I have learned
and practiced many different ways of expressing
myself but I now try to always come from the
heart.
I do not really know what ‘professional’ skills I
have. In everything I do, I try to tune into the
individual and work with our own unique ways of
being. I can always offer dedication, commitment
and understanding.
Carlotta Dabove Learning Jane Mason

I stand for inspiration, compassion, dedication
and honesty. Bangalore (India) is my place of
residence.
Being in India, a land of vivid culture and heritage,
my family has grown to fondly appreciate its
authenticity. I have been brought up in the
presence of my grand parents who have fed
me with stories and facts about life and culture
and hence I show immense interest in them. My
childhood was filled with a lot of friends and family
members who
were inclined towards music, movies and other
interesting things so I was never deprived of any
‘fun things’. Throughout my schooling years, my
interestsfocusedonsports,studies,family,friends
and a fair share of lesions due to my uncontrolled
curiosity.
Eventually my interests streamlined into various
forms of design such as product, interiors and
architecture. My father being an architect, was my
source to the fine work of radical architects and
designers and hence I decided that the subject
The green practices workshop has been a very
interesting and productive experience in terms of
understanding and discovering both myself and
the basic principals of green architecture. The
importance of listening to your inner self came
to light when we were part of several exercises
and activities which go me thinking about my
personality and character.
The fact that I am extremely competitive and that
I would do anything to make a mark was among
the things that I learned while doing a group
activity.The various activities conducted made me
realize the importance of listening and respecting
another person’s opinion. I learnt the hard way
that trust and harmony are essential for a group
to function effectively.
Auroville as a community has completely changed
my approach towards life and architecture. The
people here live a life where service and simplicity
overpowers greed and ego. The same principals
are reflected in the architecture of this place. The
flair to give back to nature and society is very
was ideal of me, based on my interests.
My approach to things and people is very
straightforward. Some people consider my
approach as blunt but most appreciate my
honesty. Music and design are two subjects that
go hand in hand as they require clear thinking,
fresh perpectives and an imaginative approach to
a subject, which I inherit partially from my father
and my love for the subject.
My main skill is that I can be convincing with my
words as I am confident about my beliefs and
interests.
inspiring and the architecture at Auroville depicts
nothing but that. The green practices workshop
was a mind opener to green architecture and
sustainability. The basics of climatology and
integrating the environment with constructon
was very useful and convincing.The most exciting
part of the workshop was designing and building a
green structure. The design was done entirely by
us and hence construction a structure that I was
part of designing was a wonderful experience.
Being in the place of a construction worker was a
very different experience as we were working with
tools and heavy site materials.
The hands-on construction helped in
understanding structures systems and intricate
details such as wood joinery and the limitations
of the materials used on site. Hands-on building
made me look at problem solving with a whole
new perspective and helped me resolve issues in
the initail stages of design. The one mind block
that I had was the EcoSan toilet which soon
became the point of focus of my work as I was part
of the sanitation group.
Pranav D. M. Learning

I am an architecture and civil engineering sciences
and management student at the Technical
University of Graz, Austria.
I was born in Austria and lived most of my life
there. I feel very fortunate to be able to learn and
experience live to the fullest and aim to support
people who have not been as fortunate as me.
I have worked in a variety of fields and gained
different skills which I can apply in my future
professional life.
The summer school taught me to be more creative
with limited resources and that waste materials
can be expensive. I learnt to construct with
earth and bamboo and experienced the joys and
difficulties of working with these materials. The
laborers in the construction business have gained
a lot of respect from me, the ones in unfavourable
weather conditions.
The project is a good example for what happens
when the planning process is considered less
important than the building process. Which
resulted in many changes on site, lots of confusion
and wasted energy.
Additionally, I understood the importance of
knowing information regarding the location of
the site, availability of building materials, their
sizes, costs and construction limitations, before
the start of the planning process.
In the past three weeks, I realized that working
in a team can be an enjoyment, with the right
team and can also be exhausting because of the
multiple opinions that are raised.
Having the EcoSan toilets on the opposite side
from where my room was located, in the building,
I learnt that I like to have my toilet and bathroom
close to my bedroom and that the seat needs to
be placed in a convenient position.
Nicole Soellinger
Learning
Summer School 2013
My name is Priscilla Joseph and I am a third
year architecture student at the University of
Cambridge. I am originally fromChennai but have
lived inScotland for the past thirteen years. I stand
for honesty and faith. As I have an introverted
personality, I express myself mostly through my
actions as opposed to my words. My professional
skills are still in the development phase as I
continue to progress through my degree. The
aspects of my course that particularly interest
me are graphic design and architectural research.
BeinginAurovillehasbeenarewardingexperience
on many ways. It provided a friendly group
environment for personal learning and reflection
whilst engaging us with a wide range of topics.
Sharingthistimewiththeothersintheprogramme
hasbeenagreatdealoffun. Asaresultofthisgroup
work, my skill set, both on the construction site
and in the design sessions, has vastly improved.
I feel that I have experienced first-hand, the
feeling of satisfaction that comes after a hard
day of both mental and physical work. The
application and adaptation of construction
techniques on site encouraged us, as a
group, to be innovative with our knowledge.
Although the project was not fully completed due
to a time shortage, the value of the programme
in teaching students and encouraging them to
think for themselves is clear. Learning points for
the future would be to always ensure a clear brief
with all the necessary factual information in place
before design work begins. This may perhaps
have made the time management more efficient.
However, this in itself is a valuable lesson
for the future, when we might head our own
projects and teams. Meeting with students
from all around the world and engaging an
exciting approach to sustainable architecture,
in Auroville, has been a great experience and
one that I will surely take up in the future.
Priscilla Joseph
Learning
13

I am a 23 year old girl from Dehradun,Uttrakhand,
India. It is the place I call home, for now. My family
originally hails from the cultural heritage city of
India,Kolkata.Myparentshavebeenonaconstant
move, from one place to another, mostly because
my father’s demands it. So instead of making
me switch between schools, my parents sent me
to a boarding school. I grew up with children of
different ages and cultures, some of whom are my
closest friends. Boarding school taught me to be
responsible for my actions from a very young age.
I grew up learning to make independent decisions
and depending on no one else, other than myself.
My personal way of expression would differ with
respect to the people I am around or the situation
I am in. I am mostly a reserved person, with regard
to anything that is personal. I express myself the
best through writing and running. Socially, I am
friendly and enjoy spending quality time with
people.
I stand for equality and perseverance. Equality
because I respect people irrespective of their
cannotcontroleverythingandthatitisoktoletgo.
My strength is my ability to dream big and work
hard towards my goal. I will never underestimate
myself.
“I stand for equality and perseverance.”Thank you
Martin, for helping me find my stance.
In the past three weeks, I observed that I do not
need a cell phone or TV! Really! I was so happy
not to use my cell phone much and because
there was no TV, people made an effort to have
conversations of quality.
After making a conscious effort, I saw that I can
listen to someone. I also noticed that I enjoy
making people happy. The best learning has been
that I remember to breathe.
“Follow your breath. It is important to breathe.”
Thank you Jane.
We were ready to design a dream home which
would be self-sustaining. I think we did a good
job and tried to work well in groups, share our
knowledge and come up with crazy ideas. What
name,income,positionetc.Perseverancebecause
I accept the fact that nothing comes easily and
without perseverance, it is not possible to attain
what one really wants. I am a recent graduate of
architect and feel ‘new’ to the world. With the
help of my inner strengths, I wish to bring about
a change that matters to society, country and the
world.
My name is Sarmishtha Saha, but what’s in a
name?
“A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”
–William Shakespeare.
Living in Auroville has been a great experience.
What I have learned from this three week
workshop is difficult to squeeze into 250 words,
but I will try.
I now understand myself a little better as I
unearthed my fears as well as my strengths. I
feared losing control over things and learnt that I
mattered the most was that we built with our own
hands which helped us think of what dignified
living meant.
“Dignified and sustainable living.” Thank you
Manu for giving us this opportunity to learn.
Very clearly I have exceeded the word limit, so to
conclude, the Summer School has made me feel
more confident about myself and with the help of
the H3 project, I will stand firmly in what I believe
and address the issue at hand. I believe that to
practice sustainability, one must be able to first
sustain oneself and hence I will try to do that when
I return home.
Sarmistha Saha
Learning

My name is Stefanie. I stand for creativity, passion
and freedom. I was born in West Germany into an
academic, middle-class family, 13 years before the
fall of the Berlin wall. However, growing up in the
city of Munich with two older brother, my world
was always protected and safe, with everything
a child needs to grow up in peace. My personal
way of expression is to move out into the world
and assert myself. When a conflict arises, I tend
to look for the problem, attend to it and fix it.
As a practicing architect, I encourage people to
become conscious of the environment on all levels
and not just green design. Within our office, we
provide everyone the freedom to tap into their
own creativity and explore their personal styles.
As a teacher, I support students in the idea of inter-
disciplinary freedom of though, in the context of
artistic, manual, technical and scientific projects.
The next generation of technical designers need
outside-the-box thinkers who act as global-aware
citizens in their local culture and environment.
Thus, their designs are not only acting from above
but also and foremost from within.
I stand for what I say and always do my best to
achieve it. In the context of education, I protect
and hold a space for real learning and learning-in-
action. Especially for that, I can be reached and
counted on at all times.
I stand for compassion and deep listening to the
voice of people, especially children. I come from a
conservative family in Kerala and was brought up
with traditional values of respect and gratitude,
in a restricted society. Hence, my move to Delhi
to pursue architecture studies was a big relief.
I explored the world ever since and got in touch
with many cultures and sensitivities. At Auroville,
I currently experience the best incubating
environment in the world, for new ideas. My
personal way of expression is to listen, synthe
size, and react. My skills are architecture, using
natural and recycled materials, hands-on building,
participatory research appraisals, photography
and theatre lighting.
and projects that contribute to environmental
and social justice and give participants a sense
of completion. I love to share this passion with
students, volunteers and interns of all ages and
backgrounds. People can count on me for being
responsible, doing what I say I will do and for me
trying to do the best I can.
Stefanie B. Overbeck Martin Scherfler
Summer School 2013
My name is Martin. I stand for integrity and
courage to create. I was born in a small village
settlement at the heart of Austria, Europe. I grew
up playing in the local forests, running after the
soccer ball and supporting (often reluctantly so)
my parents in their daily farm work and their
restaurant business.
Later, I went toVienna to study and got to breathe
freedom, social anonymity and fragmentation
of an urban center. I pursued a masters degree
in sociology but spent most of my student time
wandering from one department to another,
fascinated by all and everything. During this time,
I got familiar with socialist ideas and interacted
with political activists, which at the same time
fascinated and repelled me, as I felt that there was
something missing for myself.
In 2005 I moved to Auroville, India where I have
been living and working since. Inspired by some
of the environmental and educational work done
in Auroville, I chose to make this my main area of
activity. I am passionate about creating programs
Manu Gopalan
15

My name is Chaitanya Krishna Kumar. I am a
fresh graduate of architecture from Manipal
University. I am originally from Kannur, Kerala.
However, I was born and went to high school in
Dubai, which is also where my parents are settled.
Hence I would say I have two homes, Kannur
and Dubai. My grandparents raised me from the
age of 6 to 13, with my elder sister, in Kannur.
Most of my childhood was spent in school or
playing with my grandfather who was my best
friend. I stand for compassion and sincerity. I
have grown to believe in everybody’s right to his
or her own choice and self-expression. I am not
very expressive with words but use my actions
to express my feelings. I am a listener and am
comfortable around talkative people. My purpose
is to develop a style of architectural design, which
integrates sustainability and mainstream modern
architecture for self-sufficient living without
harming our natural environment. I have good
organization skills and a professional nature. My
other attributes would be an analytical mind and
problem solving abilities.
During this Summer School, the most important
thing that I have learned about myself is where
my priorities lie. I have started giving thought
to the kind of projects I would like to be a part
of in the future and what kind of work I want
to initiate. I have learned the importance of
leadership and techniques to enroll people. I now
know that great leaders are people who are self-
aware and and hence, I will strive to know and
control my thoughts and actions better. What
worked for me are the sessions where we learnt
about yin and yang and its manifestation in the
world. The movies were also a great method for
moral lessons. The technical sessions with people
working in and around Auroville were inspiring, as
they were live examples of the kind of responsible
world-citizen I would like to be. I have learnt more
about sustainable living and its need in today’s
world through this Summer School. As a result,
I will live more responsibly and also design with
an awareness I did not have before. After the
end of this Summer School, I intend to see my
dream project to completion, which is introducing
recycling in schools of Kannur, which is my
Chaitanya Krishna Learning
Summer School 2013
hometown. I will try to expand the project to other
places following the success of the pilot project.
My name is Siddharth Chourasiya. I stand for
passion and patience because I know that both
these attributes are very necessary for achieving
my aim. Basically, I am from Lakhnadon near
Jabalpur Madhya Pradesh and now I am studying
architecture in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh. I
spent most of my childhood in my native place
Lakhnadon. I did my high school studies in
Lakhnadon and then my higher secondary
education from Indore. I wrote the entrance
exam of architecture and was then selected for
the school of architecture. My personal way of
expression is my language, sketches and also my
behaviour. I can express with the help of them
very well.
I stand for honesty. I learnt so many things. I
discoveredmyself,whoItrulyam.SecondIgained
much knowledge about sustainable practices
and lifestyles. The overall program has been
designed and organized well and has provided
many insights. I feel that the Summer School will
bring many positive changes to my life and equip
me with a better focus on my future work. After
this I will take up green practices and vernacular
architecture and will include them in my work as a
professional architect.
Siddharth Chourasiya
Learning
16

Summer School 2013
change the world towards a more sustainable and
simple lifestyle.
The H3 system of dealing with aspects really
worked. Stephanie’s workshops were very good.
Understanding the various emotional aspects
of architecture, economy and the importance of
value of money, economy and architecture, these
topics were new and interesting. Discovering
ourselves and looking deep into ourselves was
something that I enjoyed. Discovering the various
emotions, fears, qualities and characteristic of
myself was surprising for me. The movies were a
very good concept, which I enjoyed (but slept also
for some parts).The technical sessions could have
been a bit more prominent with hands on and a
practical experience, especially landscaping, earth
architecture and solar energy.There could be a bit
more importance given to teaching the process
and details than just a glimpse of them. A quality
time with the experts was what I was looking
forward for at this workshop, which did not work
out really well. The design project was a good
exposure, which definitely has made me more
I stand for Inspiration and patience. I am from
Bangalore. I have been brought up in a joint
family in Bangalore. Have enjoyed respecting
and nurturing nature. I have had an inclination for
art. I enjoy holidays and exploring new places. I
am a religious person. I have always been taught
to be helpful, caring and honest. Generosity and
Simplicity have been imbibed in me. My aim or
goal has always been to serve my country in some
way so that the potential of the fellow citizens are
channeled to improve the status of the nation. I
would like to make a difference in society and
make people realize that they are responsible for
the way the world is.
Expression is very important to put forward
your thoughts and views. Shying away and not
sharing your perspective can shun you away from
the limelight and the originality of the thought
is lost. In my opinion the expression of a person
should be very honest and genuine. The thought
expressed should not be done with an intention of
hurting others and their sentiments. Expressing
your thoughts and feelings, clears your thought
skilled in construction and site work. There was a
lot of ambiguity and vagueness at the beginning
of the project, which resulted in an incomplete
project. The entire course was very hectic which
made us tired and the weather the suntan
disappointed me! A little breathing time for some
entertainment during the weekends would have
made me more energetic.
The Summer School has definitely made a
difference in my thinking and way of life. This
course has taught me various organizing skills and
efficient ways of working and functioning. I have
begun to think differently which makes my work
simpler and successful. I have learned to deal
with problems in a cool manner and solve them
with least damage and loss. It has also taught me
that there are people with the same insecurities
that I maybe facing, so one must be bold and
venture out, listening to your heart and conscious.
I am sure my work is going to be oriented more
towards society that an individual.
process and lightens the heart. Writing, dancing,
singing, talking, exercising, cooking, or any other
activity can be expressive in my view.
Unique professional skills: Managing events, trips,
treasurer , can manage money in a organized way,
convincing skills, easily adjusting with different
people and in different situations, flexible, patient
and compromising with decisions.
Where there is a will there is a way!
I learnt that there are many hidden qualities and
personalities that every individual would have. I
discovered that I have some inner strength that
I had not recognized. There is a motive or stance
that drives every activity of you. I can now say that
I stand for patience and inspiration.
I learnt that I have a capacity to adjust to a whole
new surrounding and blend into the new set-up.
I understood that I have a strong urge to make
a change in society and change people’s way of
thinking. There is a part of me, which wants to
Learning
B Pragna Prasad
17

I am Chirag. I stand for passion and power. I
am currently pursuing a bachelors degree in
architecture and am a social, optimistic and an
extroverted person. Born and brought up in New
Delhi, India, I feel blessed to be a part of a highly
supportive and understanding family. My father
has been my true inspiration. It is because of him
that I am outspoken and have learned to take a
stand in life.
I am an opportunist and have attended various
workshops, seminars and exhibitions related to
architecture and sustainability that have made me
believe that exposure can really refine my skills
and give the necessary edge.
Managementandarchitecturearemyprofessional
accomplishments. Management is derived
from the fact that I was a commerce student in
school which I really enjoyed while architecture
is something that always fascinated me. A blend
of these two skills shall contribute towards my
journey of becoming an efficient architect. I
am ardently inclined towards the subject of
sustainability and want to take it further in my
career by pursuing a masters course in the same.
Summer School introduced me to Auroville
which in itself is one of the greatest examples of
community development. It taught me kinship,
unity and identity. Being a social person, I could
identify and connect, thereby leaving a big impact
on my life. Being a part of this international
workshop, I got the opportunity to interact
with people belonging to different cultures and
countries, sharing views, mentalities and their
perception as designers which helped me develop
more confidence. The daily programme schedule
of the workshop included so many things that
kept us so busy that I did not even realise that
the workshop is coming to an end.What did not
work for me is the fact that being located in the
capital of India, I was already versed in the topic
of sustainability and the use of bamboo, earth
and other materials as construction materials
through the medium of college and workshops.
I presumed the whole part of the workshop to
be focussed on construction instead of the self
realisation sessions. Nonetheless, the workshop
gave me the opportunity to introspect and I feel
that I am taking back a lot from it and it was a
complete success.
Chirag Batra Learning
Summer School 2013
My name is Tania Poggi. I stand for happiness,
passion, simplicity, honesty and courage. I come
from Genoa in Italy. I study in the University of
Genoa in the Faculty of Architecture. The course
is a five year programme and I am presently in my
fourth year. My family taught me to be respectful
and helpful and I learnt hospitality from my
country. I am an extrovert. I like to travel the world
to discover different cultures, meet new people
and stay with people from different countries. My
skills include analyzing and solving problems.
In this three-week workshop I was able to reflect
on myself and recognize my fears, strengths and
weaknesses. I learned that in a group, especially
so large, it is important to trust, listen and respect
each other. The early morning yoga classes
greatly helped me to develop my inner strength
and in reaching an inner balance. In the last days
I have noticed that I became more self-confident
and less shy.Thanks to the lesson being supported
by experienced people, I was able to delve into
some sustainable technologies such as water
harvesting, passive cooling, ecological landscape,
waste water treatment and waste management.
The subject of ecological sanitation was of
particular interest for me. During the construction
period on site, I learnt about the challenges of
developing a project with a limited budget and
time.Iunderstoodhowharditistoworkphysically
on a construction site. Another learning that I will
take from this Summer School is that I realized
how many things one can construct with simple
materials like coconut, bamboo,rope and recycled
materials. In the future as a professional architect,
I will attempt to reduce the usage of standard
building materials by experimenting with more
sustainable ones. On the whole, the organization
was good but unfortunately the time was not
enough to finish the on-site projects.
Tania Poggi
Learning
18

I stand for equality, justice and patience because
I care for all creatures and I feel that everyone
should have freedom to live in their natural way
and express their being. I come from a small
town near Bhopal called Harda and was born in a
religious family. Hence, I grew up seeing different
religious rituals and truthfulness of my father and
mother. It is from them that I have learned to be
responsible and responsive to all creatures. From
my childhood, I liked to paint, make things out of
waste, like sculptures, to express myself.
I later found all my interests when I started
studying architecture. My family wanted to make
me the richest person on earth and as there is
a lack of information in my town, they had no
information about architecture. I hence had to
struggle to convince them.
After my first year, I started to find a way to
express myself through my professional work,
especially buildings which responds to everything
it is related to.
I explored myself as water: giving, adaptable and
with the desire to meet the sea. I learned that I
have infinite capacities and that I can learn any
skills to reach the goals I set for myself.
Over the three weeks I observed many changes
within myself such as: increased patience and
concentration, the ability to listen to others and
to openly share with them.
Things which worked out in Summer School
are: discovery of my personal wisdom, an
understanding of my responsibility towards this
beautiful world, deeper understanding of my
profession and its effects on humans and nature,
deeper understanding of design and the need of
being practical.
Things which did not work out are: No time to
explore this beautiful place, tight schedule which
lead to incompletion of several projects.
Tapas Upadhyay Learning
Summer School 2013
MynameisPranayGolecha;“Golecha”isaMarwari
surname.IamJainandvegetarian.Icompletedmy
middle school (10th) from Chennai’s CBSE School,
Bhavans RajajiVidashram. I moved to Mumbai, to
continue my higher education in the international
Baccalaureate.
I stand for creativity, optimism and prosperity.
I express myself through writing, humor, and
everyday optimization and re-organization. I am
skilled in management analysis, organizing, knife
painting, photography, English communication,
art installation, and graphic art.
The three -week summer workshop introduced
me to sustainable living and ecofriendly building
practices. I practiced sustainable living by
adjusting with ecosan toilets that save water
and energy. I learnt to use bamboo as a primary
building material with the support of coconut
fiber ropes for knotting.
TheworkshoponH3facilitatedmyrealizationthat
I stand for creativity, optimism and prosperity. I
learnt from the workshop on landscapes about the
importance of environmental services.The visit to
the organic farm increased my knowledge of self-
sufficient agriculture. I have learned to accept
and accommodate problems that surface in the
form of shortage of materials, miscommunication
and fatigue. I have decided to experiment with
a sustainable model of indoor agriculture that
will use bamboo as a primary building material
supportedbysolarpowerandrainwaterharvesting
technology.
Pranay Golecha Learning
19

I stand for inspiration and justice. I come from a
working class background with both my parents
being biodynamic farmers. I have been educated
in standard state schools but my family’s
environmentalism and interest in anthroposophy
have broadened my thinking and lead me to have
a strong passion for sustainability.
Through moving house many times and living as a
foreigner I have become someone who is not very
attached to place, I do not have a strong sense
of ‘home’ and I don’t miss people easily. These
experiences however have given me a strong
sense of being an international citizen with global
- not communal or national -obligations.What has
also been a continuing narrative in my life is my
interest in science and the pursuit for knowledge.
This is also apparent in the way I express myself.
I am concise, direct, and rational in my answers
and do not like to make things up. I try to be as
academicaspossibleinthewaythatIthinkmaking
me very critical and sceptical towards what
people say and write. I express myself towards
during the workshop
The changes within myself that I noticed include
that I realised what my strengths are and that I
have a greater awareness if myself.
What worked well in the workshop were the first
week’s team building exercises which were very
enjoyable. What worked less well was sticking to
schedule during the period of the workshop with
on-site building. This was due to the lack of free
time.
I find it difficult to tell whether the workshop will
make my life different let alone in what way. That
is something I may find out after the workshop
has finished. The initiative I will take up will be an
urban agriculture project in my city.
others by showing a strong need for belonging,
trying to be humorous and wise. However, I am
also often drawn back and act as if I am indifferent
or apathetic. Although I wouldn’t say I am a
professional in anything yet, I would consider
my greatest strength to be academic writing and
research.
I learnt many different things during the course
of the workshop. These include practical, social,
technical and personal things.
In terms of skills, I learned how to tie knots to join
bamboo columns and beams and I learnt how to
make concrete by hand for the foundation of the
house. The capacities I gained include leadership
for example during the concrete mixing I
instructed a large group to maintain a fast and
efficient pace of work. I discovered that my inner
strengths include confidence and perseverance
I am Menaka. I stand for truthfulness, sincerity and
commitment. I was born in Sasaram, Bihar. I grew
up in a traditional Indian background. I learned to
be independent from childhood taking inspiration
from my mother who was a single woman, taking
care of the family. I worked in publishing for
several years as a client manager and later as a key
accountant manager.
Right now, I am part of the team in Sara Con,
Auroville helping out with different projects.
My professional skills comprise of customer
relationship management, account management,
working under time pressure and being a team
player.
I do my best to honor my commitment.
Richard Franciscus Kleinjans
Learning
Menaka Gupta

Summer School 2013
I stand for inspiration, creativity and realization of
full potential.
IwasbornandbroughtupinMumbai.Iamcurrently
pursuing Computer Engineering at Dwarkadas J.
Sanghvi College of Engineering, Mumbai.
Having been raised in a traditionally Gandhian
family, I have been taught virtues of truth,
honesty and integrity. Respect for others, has
been ingrained in me over the years. I believe that
I tend to find the best in everyone, but quite often
it results in me not being able to gauge people
correctly. Environmental concern, patriotism and
pride towards India have always been very close to
me. I am inherently an introvert. However, having
realized that communication and networking is a
very important tool in today’s world, I am making
a serious effort to improve myself in the same.
Like I said earlier, I have always been an introvert.
I have always shied away from confrontation and
even conversation; because of which I was never
really able to express myself. I have found it easier
to mould my opinions based on others rather
than form my own. I believe this comes from a
deep sense of fear of whether it will be socially
acceptable or not. However, off late I have started
developing my own opinion and making a serious
effort to express it. Furthermore, I have started
confronting my fear of public speaking.
I am a solution oriented person. Rather than
thinking about the problem itself, I immediately
start thinking about how to solve it logically. I am
a quick learner and a hard worker (especially when
the project is close to deadline). Although I am a
diplomat, which turns out in my favor most of the
times, I often feel I’d rather be candid. I am tech
savvy and enjoy exploring new technologies. I try
to model on perfection in all my endeavors.
During the course of the workshop, I learnt that
I possess this greed to achieve the most, even in
the worst situations and that I don’t give up hope
till the last moment. I discovered that I believe
in realizing the full potential in every endeavor,
quality is a non-negotiable for me. I enjoy the
company of people and I love music. Surprisingly,
I found that I am quite an entertainer and I have
a high physical endurance (as I realized on site). I
also realized the importance of documentation in
any project and the difficulties in the same. I also
learnt that sometimes, my interest in some things
wane over time.
I have noticed a transition from being completely
diplomatic, to somewhat candid. I have been
more socially forward here than I am otherwise.
Having been exposed to a decent amount of
public speaking, although not in front of too many
people; it has helped me, in what so ever small
measure to overcome my fear of the same.
I thoroughly enjoyed the workshop, especially
because it was such a different experience for me,
comingfromacomputerengineeringbackground.
From the ample hands on experience, to the
personal development, everything has seemed to
benefit me. Another aspect of the program that I
really appreciate is the hourly yoga session every
morning, which has made a positive impact on my
body in the short span of 3 weeks. If I were to talk
about what didn’t work for me in the program, it
would be the jam packed schedule which left no
room for personal time.
I was also slightly disappointed that we were
mainly restricted to bamboo and coconut fiber
rope, when it came to variety of materials to work
with.
All in all, attending the summer school has made
me do a lot of personal introspection, and learning
moreaboutmyselfhasbeenapleasantexperience.
I plan to take up a project with my father, ‘Green
Getaway’; intended to complete in -20 months.
Knowing my weaknesses will enable me to work
on them; and learning about my strengths, I will
be able to use them to my advantage in such
future endeavours.
Aakash Anuj Divanji Learning
21

Design to
Implementation
Participantsdesignedandbuilt
a volunteer accommodation
at the SacredGroves
Housing project in Auroville.
The accommodation was
designed to host up to four
volunteers that will contribute
their time and work for the
building and development of
the SacredGroves Housing
project. The accommodation
is self sufficient in terms of
operational energy, it has an
active rainwater harvesting
structure,acompostdrytoilet,
a passive cooling system and a
plot for vegetable cultivation.
All that we do now must be done in a
sacred manner and in celebration
- Oraibi, Arizona Hopi Nation

To design a water system for a sustainable home,
built for a family of four.
Issues to be considered are water harvesting,
storage, pumping, irrigation, purification and
recycling. A daily amount of 280 litres is needed
assuming that each person consumes 70 litres per
day.
•Purification:
a) Grey water purification (e.g. plants, fish)
b)Visit to Centre for Scientific Research regarding
DeWatts purification system
•Tank:
a) Overhead tank
b) Ground level tank
c) Construction methods (e.g. masonry, Ferro-
cement, pre-manufactured tank)
•Rain water Harvesting:
a) Roof form for collection (e.g. gabled roof,
hipped roof)
b) Plumbing (closed loop circulation, green wall
irrigation)
d) Pumping methods
e) Mechanical (e.g. treadle pump, dynamo)
d) Electric pump
•Materials:
a) Bamboo (split and wound in a basket)
b) Chicken wire (for reinforcing the cement)
c) Cement
d) Jute (for tying bamboo together)
•Construction:
a) Bamboo frame for base
b)Vertical bamboo posts weaved through base
frame
c)Vertical posts lifted and tied with jute
e) Chicken wire fixed on interior and exterior of
basket
f)Concrete base poured (basin shape for basket to
rest)
g) Cement hand- rendered onto chicken wire to
form Ferro-cement
Design Brief
Research
Summer School 2013
Pani puri
Implementation
Sketches and Design
23

•Teamwork and management
•Listening to others
•Discussing options together
•Time management
•Problem solving
•Researching a topic in depth
•Working within a given set of constraints
•Hands-on construction skills
•Cement mixing, pouring, rendering
•Tank
•Bamboo joinery
•Roof construction
Evaluation

Sr.
No. Source Cost
(Watts) No.
of
fixtures
No.
of
Hours/

fixture
Total
Consumption
(watthours)
1 Lights 105 -‐ 4 420
2 Fans 50 5 7 1750
3 Washing
Machine 500 1 1 500
4 Laptops 3 3 24 216
5 Television 123 1 4 492
6 Mixer(Kitchen) 300 1 0.25 75
7 Inducuction
heater 100 1 0.25 25
8 Miscellaneous -‐ -‐ -‐ 100
9 Water
pump 372 1 0.25 93
3671
Innovative
Ideas
to
reduce
load
on
primary
energy
provider
1 Fibre
optic
cable
lighting
2 Bottle
Light
Total
Bolt
Summer School 2013
Solar Panels:
We decided to use this renewable system to
harvest energy and considering the location it is
the most economical and ecologically feasible
source of power.
Design a cost-effective, self-sufficient energy
systemforaresidencethatiscapableofconserving
as well as harnessing energy in normal conditions
and is able to provide for basic necessities in the
case of a calamity.The design should be functional
and realizable within the time limit of 10 days.
In order to develop an energy efficient building,
we explored different options of self-producing
the energy. These include solar energy and wind
energy. However, we decided to rule out wind
energy, as it wasn’t possible to set up a system,
which produces wind energy, as it wasn’t within
the budget. So we decided to explore the idea of
using solar panels as the main unit of producing
energy. However the energy requirement we
calculated for the house required a 3578 watt
hours for which most of the energy is produced
through solar panels. However to reduce our
dependence on solar panels, we also explored
other alternatives for producing energy.
The other sources we explored include:
•Solar Cooker to reduce energy consumption in
the kitchen.
•An alternative zero energy-consuming fridge.
•And mechanical energy. (which we later decided
to discontinue as we did not have enough time or
capital to implement the idea)
Solar Cooker:
The solar cooker focuses the energy of the sun to
foci of the parabola and use it to produce heat in
order to cook the food.
Fridge:
The idea is derived from a traditional method
of storage of perishables and it works on the
principles of evaporative cooling. It is constructed
by two terracotta pots which fit inside each other
with a gap and the gap is filled with sand and the
sand is kept wet and as the water evaporates it
cools the inner pot and keeps the temperature
inside the fridge approximately ten degrees lower
than the external temperature.
Design Brief
Research
Table: Energy audit
25

Summer School 2013
Energy consultants visited the site to discuss in
detail the setting up of the solar panel system to
harvest energy. According to our electrical audit
theysuggestedtheamountofpanelsandbatteries
we would require. We worked in collaboration
with them to finalize the position and method of
the fixing the solar panels on the roof.
To construct the ‘Zeer’ – our fridge – we require
two terracotta pots of the different sizes in such
a way that one fits inside the other. We visited a
few potters around Auroville and explained our
idea to them.We got the pots custom made to our
required size and shape. For the solar cooker we
visited the market in Pondicherry to acquire all the
materials we require to build it. Once we found
everything we needed we built our very own solar
cooker on site.
For the fridge we assembled our pots and packed
the gaps with sand. We also placed some dry rice
at the bottom of the pot to reduce the moisture.
As the base of the outer pot has to be raised above
the ground we constructed a stand to hold the
fridge with bamboo.
For the solar cooker we decided to use ply wood
and composite pipes to create the structure and
the parabola. On this we nailed an aluminum
sheet that reflects light to the foci of the parabola.
At the focus we placed a stainless steel rod that
transfers heat to the clamp that holds the pots
and pans.
Procurement Implementation
•Innovation to another level, with ideas such as
converting mechanical energy from the push o
a door into electricity! However, in the end we
decided to stick with solar cells, solar cooker and
building our own fridge.
•We learned about our energy needs in our daily
lives and how much resource is spent in actually
meeting those needs.
•We learned not to give up when things get tough
and believe in our ideas and go on even though its
not conventional.
Learning
26

Project Name 4
Dil Garden Garden
To sustain the food supply of two adults (4000
calories) during a calamity, using locally available
materials. The garden must be completed within
10 days.
Objectives
The module will have the following features:
Survive during natural disasters that may occur in
the specific geographic location of the building.
E.g. cyclones in coastal hot and dry climates
Provide sufficient food (2000 calories per person
per day)for a given minimum duration
The module will need appropriate:
· Lighting
· Irrigation
· Space for growing
· Nutrient sourcing
Itwillneedtobeconstructedusinglocallyavailable
materials within a 10 day time frame
1. Formulating a design brief for a retrofitable
module to provide a house with asustainable food
supply.
2.We considered different systems including:
a. Rooftop garden
b. Indoor gardening
c. Aquaponics
d. Stacked gardening
e. Grey water irrigation
3.We had to consider:
a. Soil depth, available space, irrigation needs
for fruits and vegetables in a hot and humid
climate
b.The orientation towards the sun
c. The types of fruit and vegetables that are have
high calorie and nutritional content that thrive in
hot and humid conditions
d. Which types of vegetables can benefit from
urine irrigation and grey water
e. The types and costs of necessary materials to
construct food production systems
Design Brief Research & Design Sketches

Summer School 2013
•The importance of effective cooperation and
communication within and between working
groups
•The usefulness of sharing ideas and knowledge
and critiquing each other
•The extent of integration of plumbing system i.e.
the treated grey water for irrigation and urine as a
nutrient provider for closed loop system.
•How to design and implement a stacked
gardening system
•Plant types that grow well in hot and humid
climate.
•Process of planting. Soaking, type of soil, use of
old twigs, leaves etc. as mulch, amount of water
and time, exposure to sunlight and requirement of
humidity for different plants.
4. Final Decision
a. Stacks of crates (stacked gardening system)
along the south side of the house for larger
plants e.g. spinach and sweat potatoes etc. This
was the final decision as it would be cheap and
retrofitable.A rooftop garden was impossible due
to the slope and the use of solar panels, indoor
gardening may have encouraged insects and it
stop the use urine irrigation, aquaponics would
have been too expensive and complex to set up.
b. Vertical bamboo panels reusing materials like
bottles for smaller plants such as herbs.These are
cheap and reuse materials.
c. Use of urine as part of the irrigation system as
well as grey water. These methods are good ways
of making use of used water and to provide a
supply of essential nutrients to the plants.
Evaluation
28

Eco
-‐
Sanitation
toilets
Flush
toilets

Pros
• does
not
require
connection
to
water
supply

• collect
urine
undiluted

• can
be
home
built,
low
cost
simple
design

• results
in
easy
to
handle
dry
faeces

• requires
hardly
change
in
user
behaviour

• no
significant
odour
risk

Cons
• prone
to
odour

• requires
paradigm
shift
for
those
who
are
used
to

flush
toilets

• requires
to
be
connected
to
reliable
water
supply

and
sewer
system

• requires
treatment
step
for
faeces-‐water
mixture

• more
expensive

Potty poopers
Summer School 2013
Ourmainconcernwasthemixedopinionofpeople
regarding the Indian and western toilets. Each had
benefits of hygiene and convenience. So our main
aim was to find combination of the two in our
design.As a result we came up with a module that
can be used as sitting as well as a squatting toilet.
For its use as a seating toilet, we incorporated
three steps that would raise the toilet seat to a
height of 0.45m which is the standard dimension
for a human seating posture . also the steps could
be used to access the platform if people preferred
to squat.
We also looked into methods of pouring saw dust
over the solid waste which would be more efficient
and hygienic to use. Thus coming up with a more
mechanical solution to it.
Todesignamodularsanitationsystemforaretrofit
house for two people under the given constraints
of money and time ( 10 days) that is efficient with
minimum usage of water and energy.
Eco - san is a form of sanitation which usually
involves urine diversion and the recycling of water
and nutrients contained within human wastes into
the local environment.
The main objectives of ecological sanitation are :
•to reduce health risks related to sanitation ,
contaminated water and waste
•to prevent the pollution of surface and ground
water
•to reuse nutrients or energy contained within
wastes
Since we were looking at an efficient system for
sanitation using minimum water and energy, the
eco - sanitation seemed like the most feasible
idea compared to the conventional sanitation
methods.
Design Brief
Table: Comparison of sanitation systems
Research
Sketches and Design
Device for pouring saw dust
29

Summer School 2013
•that it is produces odour when solid waste is
mixed with water
•urine is a good nutrient because it comprises of
nitrogen and phosphate
•it is more economical
•more hygienic because there is no handling of
unsanitized waste faeces
•requires low maintainance
Learning
Seating & Squat toilet
30

Passive house - Aria
Summer School 2013
Design a cost effective comfortable cooling
prototype for 4 people in hot and humid climate
condition in 10 days that resist calamities.
The design parameters were:
1.Cost:Theprototypeshouldbeconstructedwithin
the budget of 1,80,000 INR. The total estimate
includes the material and the construction cost.
2. Time: The period of the construction was
restricted to 10days.
3. Labour: The team for the design and
construction were unskilled 22 people from
various backgrounds.
Climatic data: It is included in the sub-humid
tropics and situated on a plateau region with its
maximum elevation of 32 mtr above sea level
located in the Matrimandir area. The annual
rainfall average is 1.200 mm mainly from the SW
monsoon (June to Sept.) and NE monsoon (Nov
to Dec) with a dry period of approx 6 months.
The average maximum temperature is 37.2° C
(89.96°F), average minimum 20° C (68 °F).
Design Brief Research Sketches and Design
Foundation
Floor

Structure

Floor

Cover

Wall

Structure

Wall

fillings

Roof

Structure

Roof

Tires
filled
with
earth
Wood
Coconut

wood

Wood
Nippa
mats
Wood
Corrugated
tetra
pack
sheets

Tires
filled
with
concrete
Bamboo
Bamboo

cement

Bamboo
Fabric
Bamboo
Half-‐spilt
bamboo

Bamboo
in
concrete
foundation
Bamboo
ladders
Bamboo
mesh
and
earth

Clay
Bricks

Nippa
Mats

Brick/steel/pvc
and
concrete

combitions

Combinations
of
bamboo

and
vertical
ladders

Bamboo
spilt

Chicken
wire/coconut
fibre:

waddle
and
daub

Rammed
earth

Crossed
Plywood
panels

1.2
x
0.2
x
0.01M

Table: Material options
31

Summer School 2013
In this summer school we learned how to structure
the design process and the importance of the
process itself. Our design process was as follows:
1. Step: Assessment of climate
2. Step: Main effects on thermal comfort
3. Step: How to enhance thermal comfort with
architecture
4. Step: Defining wind direction
5. Step: Orientation of building
6. Step: Rough layout of building
7.Step:Informationofavailablebuildingmaterials,
cost and sizes
8. Step: Rough calculation
9. Step: Integrated Design
10. Step:Thinking about structure and design
11. Step: Detailed calculation
12. Step: List of building materials and tools
needed
The available building materials and the cost were
of high importance to the project and affected our
project very much, therefore we were confronted
with a different experience compared to the
general architectural education. Planning and
building the structure later, gave us a different
perspective and made us realize the importance
of our profession to the labourers who will realize
our buildings later. We additionally gained a lot of
respect for builders.
The analysis was leading our group to search for
solutions to increase the thermal comfort. Most
important factors were the high humidity and
temperature. To reduce the humidity we were
increasing the ventilation from the south-east
through an open living area and the set back
bedroom has windows to the south and north.
Additional we were implementing in the floor
ventilation slits to move cooler air from below the
structure into the bedrooms.
The roof has an angle of 10 degrees from south to
north to implement the PV-panels and creating a
ventilation area under the roof. We elevated the
building to create ventilation and cooling from all
sides of the building.
Our group decided to keep the direct sunlight
away from the living area to limit heat. A roof
overhang and an added green wall which will act
as cavity wall to the east and west to protect the
walls from overheating through direct sunlight.
Implementation Evaluation
32

Participants’Projects The future is not some place we are going to, but one
we are creating.
- Peter Ellyard
Committed to sustainable and
equitable development par-
ticipants have chosen projects
close to their heart and interest
which the commit to implement
over the next three years.

SVIKRITI
Background
“The world has seen so many civilizations and still
hasn’t learned to love” This is a dialogue from a
movie that got me thinking. What exactly is love?
To me the simple act of acceptance and support
could be love. It is true that today we live in a
world that is filled with judgments, dishonesty
and other negative energies but it is also true that
the possibilities are endless, beyond imagination.
A positive change is possible.
My project is a simple solution of introducing a
platform for self-expression.Small changes like
mistakes being appreciated and a push to follow
ones passion can create a huge impact. Statistics
have shown that 80% of the world’s population is
not happy with their jobs. It has also been proven
that stating ones fears, strengths or interests
helps illuminate their roots in the brain and hence
gets one thinking.
If every individual were to be open and true to
oneself about their passions, likes and dislikes
the percentage of people who are happy would
definitely rise. The project proposed should
bring about a positive support system within
communities. Negativity would be reduced and
the general happiness factor would be raised.
Objective
To create a platform for self-expression that
nurtures human beings.
If every individual were to be open and true to
oneself about their passions, likes and dislikes,
the percentage of people who are happy would
definitely rise. The project proposed should
bring about a positive support system within
communities. Negativity would be reduced and
the general happiness factor would be raised.
Strategy
To start with, I would like to bring together my
community and explain to them the concept of
dignified living, open their eyes to the possibility
of solutions through constructive criticism and
Summer School 2013
set a pattern within the community to meet every
Sunday for an hour or so and include an incentive
like lunch etc.
Once the concept is explained, I would encourage
them to get outside their comfort zone and enroll
them into stating their positive and negative
aspects and facing them. Through this process
they would realize different ways to express
themselves or even different passions that they
have not pursued.
I would encourage the community to support
each other with their visions through constructive
criticism and practical help. They need not have a
project. It could start with a simple discussion and
an appreciation to each individual’s points of view.
The concept can then be taken to a higher level.
It could be introduced into schools and other
institutions.
Whenintroducedtothelowerincomecommunities
many other factors need to be considered and
hence it is important that other than the children,
the parents also understand and follow concepts
of dignified living and encourage their children to
follow their heart.
by Aishwarya Das
34

Introduction of sustainable
waste management program
in schools of Kannur
Issue
Recycling is not widely practiced in Kannur. No
thought is given to what happens to the waste
once it’s out of sight. I feel that the responsibility
of taking care of your environment should be
inculcated in children at a young age, so that
they grow up learning that sustainable disposal
of waste is the only way to go. Like they say, ‘Old
habits die hard’.
There is also a need to educate people about rates
of consumption and wastage. Schools are centers
of learning where children from different areas,
class etc. come together and interact. They learn
things that they go back to their homes and share
with their parents and friends. This is an effective
wayofpropagatinghealthypracticesinthesociety.
Schools also have an existing infrastructure into
which recycling can be incorporated.
Objective
•Introduce a sustainable waste management
program in the schools of Kannur.
•Reduce the volume of waste disposed in landfills
by minimizing waste, re-using and recycling.
Strategy
The schools that will participate in this project
have to be identified after discussions with the
authorities.The basic requirements for the school
would be availability of space and cooperation of
the school itself. The schools become centres for
collection of recyclable waste, as there is a school
in almost every locality and would be convenient
for the people living there. I would also have to
hold talks with other organizations with similar
interests to invest in this project.The funds raided
would be used for transportation of recyclable
wastes from the schools to the recycling plant.
Summer School 2013
Actions to be taken up first are:
•Creating a picture in peoples’ minds about the
change that will be visible in the society and its
benefits.
•Research on the types of recycling methods and
availability of these methods in Kannur.
•Enroll students by screening ‘Story of stuff’ in
the schools and arranging visits to landfills for the
students so they can witness the harm it does to
the environment.
By Chaitanya Krishna Kumar
35

Re-cycling of bio-degradable
waste in the food industry
(hotels and restaurants) in
Dubai, U.A.E.
Background
U.A.E. is one of the highest waste generator, per
capita in the world. In 2006, each person was gen-
erating 2.8 kg of waste per day which reduced
to 2kg in 2009. Waste management is one of the
biggest concerns in the region. Efforts are being
made to ensure proper segregation and re-cycling
of wastes such as plastic, glass, paper and metal.
However 36% of waste generated in households
is contributed by unused food and kitchen waste
which are bio-degradable.
Hotels and restaurants in U.A.E. follow very strict
norms when it comes to food storage. After a
products shelf life has expired, it is disposed with
all the other waste. Therefore a large part of our
landfills are filled with bio-degradable waste that
can be separated and used as raw material.
Dubai depends on the landfill located in Ghusais
to dispose their waste. According to a recent sta-
tistic, within 7 years the landfill will no longer be
sufficient to handle the waste generated by Dubai.
By taking this initiative we can try to reduce the
load of waste in the landfill by separating bio-de-
gradable waste and generating compost that can
be used for farming and plantation.
Objective
Design and implement a self-supportive system
of segregation, transportation and re-use of bio-
degradable waste at the hotel and restaurant lev-
el.
Strategy
I have chosen to introduce this change with ho-
tels and restaurants as they are one of the high-
est generators of this kind of waste.This will aid in
spreading awareness of the issue and offer a solu-
tion to taking care of bio-degradable waste from
their kitchens.
Summer School 2013
The following actions will be implemented:
•Approach local nurseries and farms and enroll
them to replace their chemical fertilizers with
compost.
•Approach hotels and restaurants and explain
the need to reduce bio-degradable waste. Offer
them a solution for disposing their bio-degradable
waste – generation of compost.
•Work with municipal and local environmen-
tal bodies – such as Dubai Municipality and EEG
(Emirates Environmental Group) – to push for in-
centives for both the restaurants as well as farm-
ers to help make a significant impact.
By Karishma Asarpota
36

From House to Home; Building for a Dignified Living.

From House to Home; Building for a Dignified Living.

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