Traditionally, architects have contributed little to housing for the Third World urban poor. Those who opt to work for the poor need to rethink their roles; the numbers are overwhelming, the issues complex and the resources are very limited. One solution is to use land as a resource to produce housing for the urban poor, by allowing them access to it to build their homes. A study was conducted of such initiatives in a case study in India: The Aranya Housing Project, completed in 1988 and considered a model project.
India
First Earthbag Toilet Prototype Completed in India
Great news from Kateryna Zemskova of Good Earth Nepal.org: “We are proud to announce the completion of our first hyperadobe toilet in Madurai, India. [For new readers: hyperadobe uses raschel mesh earthbags. See this hyperadobe step-by-step article with photos and building directions. Also, you can search our blog for further details.]
Earthbag Meeting Center in Madurai, India is Complete
“Good Earth Nepal sponsored and constructed an Earthbag Meeting Center/Canteen at Anna University Campus in Madurai, India, which is now complete. This project serves as a sustainable building model for the future generation of engineers who study on campus.
Yoga & Natural Building April/May 2017
Earthbag Building Workshop at Rishikesh Yogashram, India
Panchayat Academy: Training Leaders to Create Self-reliant Sustainable Villages
Lots of people agree how great Gandhi was, but how many seriously try to follow in his footsteps? Rangaswamy Elango is a doer, not just a dreamer. He has managed in a few short years to completely turn around his village. Kuthambakkam, Elango’s home town, is now widely regarded as a model village for rural India. Elango’s goal is networking with other village leaders to create “economies of permanence” or local self-reliant sustainable villages in India. His story is very inspiring, so much so that I seriously considered moving to his village to learn more.
Earthbag studio home in Tiruvannamalai, India
“July 14th we started a Superadobe studio home as a part of shifting our space to our upcoming land. This is a 550 square feet studio home totally dedicated to a 13 year boy named Adhya Vriksha, who is trying to learn his own way in educating or self learning himself for his mother, family and community. Now we are in 18th day doing this natural building. Within 15 more days we will start living in our new space of mother’s womb.