Architecture and Building Construction

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December 11, 2019 Dry toilets have long been hailed as a sustainable solution to the sanitation and waste management crisis facing India today, but have been overshadowed by more modern toilet designs.
A traditional dry toilet. Image: India Science Wire
October 11, 2019 Mumbai’s citizens came out in droves to save trees from being felled in Aarey to make way for the metro. Collective action is crucial to save the green lungs of India's rapidly urbanising cities.
Aarey, the green lungs of Mumbai (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)
September 30, 2019 The recently concluded 4 day conference in Bangalore looked at the current state of global water resource challenges & future pathways to achieve the SDGs, while ensuring equity in access to all.
Charles Vorosmarty, Chair, COMPASS Initiative, Water Future at the opening plenary on advanced water system assessments to address water security challenges of the 21st century.
August 21, 2019 During the monsoon, temple tanks in Chennai fill to the brim with water, helping in groundwater recharge.
Parthasarathy temple in Triplicane has the biggest tank. Recently, volunteers belonging to the Central Industrial Security Force cleaned the tank. Pic: Laasya Shekhar
August 7, 2019 A million recharge wells for Bangalore
Ramakrishna Bovi is a traditional well-digger in Bengaluru. Image credit: Citizen Matters
July 24, 2019 Policy matters this week
People protesting Dibang Hydropower Project (Source: SANDRP)
Toilets in the making: Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) designs eco friendly and low cost public toilets for Delhi
To improve the sanitation and hygiene in the capital, Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC) organised a design competition for public toilets and dustbins Posted on 01 Mar, 2013 02:06 PM

 

DUAC

Living on water: An architect constructs homes, offices and even a golf course as floating buildings, using water as a workable layer
Imagine looking out of your window onto the blue sea, living in a building in the midst of water! Koen Olthius, a Dutch architect’s passion for water has transformed this magical image into reality. Posted on 22 Feb, 2013 03:06 PM

Imagine looking out of your window onto the blue sea, living in a building in the midst of water! Koen Olthius, a Dutch architect’s passion for water has transformed this magical image into reality.

Assessing the land use change and its impact on water resources: A study on the Mula and Mutha rivers catchment area in Pune
Analysing the changes in land uses between 1989 and 2009, this paper assesses the impact on water balance in Mula and Mutha Rivers catchment upstream of the city of Pune Posted on 17 Feb, 2013 09:11 PM

Land use changes  hydrologic system and have potentially large impacts on water resources. An assessment in an area with seasonally limited water availability and which is subject to rapid socio- economic development and population growth will provide an exemplary view on the local impacts of major recent developments in India. In this backdrop this paper analyzes past land use changes between 1989 and 2009 and their impacts on the water balance in the Mula and Mutha Rivers catchment upstream of Pune. The aim of the paper is:

  • assess the land use changes between 1989/1990 and 2009/2010
  • analyze the impacts of these changes on the long-term water balance components in the Mula and Mutha Rivers catchment upstream of the city of Pune.

Handbook for flood protection, anti-erosion and river training works by Central Water Commission (2012)
This Handbook provides necessary guidance to the field engineers to deal primarily with structural measures of flood management like flood protection works, anti erosion measures and river training works. Posted on 13 Feb, 2013 09:43 PM

This handbook by Central Water Commission aims to provide necessary guidance to the field engineers in the state and central for design, appraisal, construction and monitoring of the flood management works covering all the relevant BIS codes, design manuals, guidelines, technical specifications for construction materials and practices etc. to meet new challenges in the flood management in India.

A possible set of guidelines for integrating 'land ethic' principles into planning and construction of green buildings in India
This dissertation - ‘Recommending a set of guidelines for a green community development following the roadmap of The Land Ethic’, by Jatina Thakkar and Vinit Mirkar, deals with understanding the principles of “The Land Ethic”, using the book ‘A sand county almanac ‘ by Aldo Leopold and analysing the three existing green rating systems for community development, in relation to land ethic principles and ecosystem services Posted on 08 Feb, 2013 03:59 PM

Aldo Leopold’s ‘Land Ethic’ defines the relationship between people and nature, and simply enlarges the boundaries of the community to include soil, water, plants and animals, or collectively: the land.

Water: Towards a paradigm shift in the Twelfth Plan - A paper by Mihir Shah in the EPW
In this paper Dr Mihir Shah speaks on the need for this change, the process followed, the main features of this proposed change and the way forward from here. Posted on 22 Jan, 2013 10:37 AM

A fundamental change in the principles, approach and strategies of water management in India has been proposed in the Twelfth Plan

Why is this paradigm shift needed ?

On the Sabarmati riverfront: Urban planning as totalitarian governance in Ahmedabad, Gujarat – An article in EPW
This paper by Navdeep Mathur questions whether the official narrative that presents Ahmedabad as a pioneer in urban transformation in India engages with the experiences of the urban poor in Ahmedabad by examining processes around the Sabarmati Riverfront Development Project. Posted on 10 Jan, 2013 07:05 PM

Powerless by choice: Updates from the Eco - Earth Care Optimised magazine's January 2013 issue
Powerless by choice: Updates from the Eco - Earth Care Optimised magazine's January 2013 issue Posted on 01 Jan, 2013 05:54 PM

Powerless by choice

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