The Bangalore workshop 2015

There is this very interesting workshop which is going to be held in Bangalore. Here is a brief synopsis as elucidated by Ar.Bijoy Ramachandran - 

'The Vimal Jain Foundation and the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore are organising a 5 day workshop from August 11th to 15th, 2015.

The workshop is being conducted by Richard Leplastrier and Peter Stutchbury, both accomplished teachers, practitioners and Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal recipients. Both of them have also been involved in the Glenn Murcutt MasterClass (http://www.ozetecture.org/masterclass/glenn-murcutt-master-class/) since its inception in 2000. Dr. B.V. Doshi will join the Workshop on the last two days for the final reviews and public lectures.

For the 2015 workshop, participants will be invited to study the edges of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore and suggest ways in which to negotiate the chaotic urban environment on the street with the serene quality of the campus. The aim is to attempt a bridge both physically (through architectural and programmatic ideas) and metaphorically between these two contrasting conditions. Though known internationally as a premier academic institution, IIMB is isolated from its immediate context and offers no opportunity for a dialogue. It is the hope that through the workshop one begins to find a way to have the Institute engage with the city and vice versa. This also offers a real opportunity to address the challenges posed by rapid urbanization and commercialism - how these edges are treated will hopefully offer clues for how ‘quality’ and public space could find its way back into our streetscapes.

The workshop is open to students and practitioners.

Application forms and portfolios are due on the 17th of July (email to vimaljainfoundation@gmail.com)

Richard is the genuine article - a sage of our time. If not the workshop you must try and come for the lectures on the 16th.'

REALIZATION HOUSING, AUROVILLE

A very interesting housing project that has come up in Auroville is the ‘Realization’ housing designed & built by the Auroville Earth Institute & Ar.Satprem. One of the reasons why this project is unique is that it is a group housing that is built up with Compressed Stabilised Earth Blocks made locally at the site itself, using the soil dug up for the rainwater harvesting tank. At a time when the entire world is merely paying lip service to ‘sustainability’, the Realization project stands out showing us what true sustainability is. The community is self-sustained, with earth as the primary building material & with energy conservation techniques like Earth cooling tunnels & rainwater harvesting systems being implemented. Moreover, the concept of Realization is unique in itself and as the Realization website (http://www.auroville.info/realization/Home.html) says,

‘Realization aims to build sustainable and affordable homes for Auroville with people’s participation. It aspires to contribute actively to the development of Auroville as a conscious community and as a city of never ending education. Hence Realization proposes alternatives ways to answer the present housing demand. The neighbouring villages do not have enough labour for the construction sites of Auroville and it is difficult since a few years to find construction workers to build Auroville. Hence Aurovilians, Newcomers and volunteers need to work with their hands for building Auroville.’

Aims & Objectives -

• Answer the need of housing: about 70 apartments are planned to be built for around 170 people, over several phases in the next 4 to 5 years. The first phase will have 17 apartments for about 25 people.
• Share resources to help people with low budget: People give what they can: funds and/or work, so that everyone gets an apartment according to their needs and not according to their financial means.
• Develop a participative process: Individuals are involved in the elaboration and management of the project. Everybody can contribute physically, mentally and spiritually in a collaborative way for the growth and progress of Auroville as a place of never ending education and in a spirit of Human Unity.
• Build and live in a sustainable and Eco-friendly manner: Appropriate building technologies and renewable energy sources being used include stabilised earth for the main building material, solar and wind energy, recycling wastewater treatments systems, rainwater harvesting systems on the land and on the roofs, etc.
• Develop community services: For its future residents as well as for the neighbours.

By November of 2007, the initial studies for the project started & by late 2010, the first phase was completed. The initial phase has around 17 apartments for about 25 people, in 3 blocks of apartments organised around a central plaza where a ‘Realization tree’ has been planted. It is as if the buildings rise up from the very ground on which they stand, the rich red of the soil reflected through the CSEB walls of the buildings.

A very interesting concept implemented in Realization is that of the Earth Cooling Tunnels. These are essentially pipes which run under the ground which are used for cooling the interiors of the apartments. They work on the principle that the temperature of the earth at a depth of more than 3 metres is constant at about 27 degrees and in Realization the pipes run at around 6m through the rainwater harvesting tank and come up to the fan in the surface, the result being that the interior temperatures are brought down considerably. This when combined with the rainwater harvesting system, solar energy, windmills etc. make the Realization project truly sustainable, to the extent that the Embodied energy of the buildings are about one-fourth that of a conventional building.

Building a CSEB vault

Building a CSEB vault

Layout plan

Sections & Elevations

Earth Cooling Tunnel

All images courtesy the Realization website

Do check out the following link for more images -  http://www.auroville.info/realization/Gallery.html

PREPARATION OF AN ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO

I have been receiving a lot of requests from students for details on HOW TO PREPARE A GOOD ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO. 

Taking this into consideration, I have compiled a detailed booklet on how to create a great portfolio, which will guide you through the detailed process, including identification of materials, ideal layouts, graphics and rendering styles, text placements, photographing your models....an exhaustive list which will guide you step by step.

You can now avail this great resource for creating your best portfolio, which is essential in this highly competitive age - either to get into good firms for internships, applying for your masters or for getting that coveted job.

Get full access to 'How to prepare an Architecture Portfolio' !!!

So go ahead and mail me at ar.sujithgs@gmail.com to order today! 

FOR ALL THINGS EARTHY - AUROVILLE EARTH INSTITUTE

The Auroville Earth Institute (AEI) is synonymous for Earth Architecture in India. Similar to Hasan Fathy in Egypt, architect Satprem Maine is the face of earth architecture in India. This French born architect came to India almost 20 years back and has now made Auroville his home, from where he has been responsible for the development and propagation of architecture using earth as the raw material, in both India as well as other countries. For his efforts, the AEI has been conferred the UNESCO Chair for Earthen Architecture.

‘Our Mother Earth gives us a wonderful building material, which should be used with awareness, sensitivity and with much respect and gratitude. The Auroville Earth Institute is acting for this recognition’.

‘I don’t see the Earth as a formless material without consciousness, but as Spirit consciously disguised as matter’.

There is a school of thought which believes that building with earth is just the right way forward in these times of climate change and pseudo-sustainability. That it makes much more sense to use a material which is available right on the site, which needs no additional transportation, one which needs no additional treatment and energy intensive processing before being used for construction and one which needs no additional makeup after construction and can be left as it is. Earth, as a material has got serious potential, even in the fast paced world that we are in. Let’s not forget that it has withstood the test of time, being one of the very first building materials ever known to man. Our ancestors have used it, experimented with it and perfected the practice of using earth. Yet, our technology driven world has turned its back on it, relegating it as a material for the poor. The paradox is that the beautiful vernacular architecture we find in our rural areas is slowly dying due to this unfounded craze for concrete boxes. It is time we refocused our attention.

The Vaulted Kitchen in AEI

The AEI office

Satprem has been fascinated by earth as a material and its limitless potential. His body of work speaks for itself – right from simple houses in the various communities in Auroville, to the 4 storeyed apartments in Vikas community, the innumerable schools in and around Pondicherry, the Solar kitchen in Auroville...the list is endless.  Through all these projects run a remarkable creative spirit in the use of material to develop different concepts and forms, enclosing space through vaults, domes and arches, creating playful structures which engage you.

Disaster housing & earthquake resistant structures are one of Satprem’s major focus areas, again using earth technologies and have been implemented extensively in places like Gujarat, Spiti in Himachal Pradesh, Orissa, Columbia, South Africa etc.

'Realisation' housing project in Auroville

Inside one of the homes in Realisation

A Precast staircase in AEI

 What is more remarkable is the passion Satprem has for this, his endless and often lonely struggle to promote earth architecture, to make the people aware of its possibilities, to spread knowledge among architects, students and other people from the construction industry. The AEI conducts regular training courses on various facets of earth architecture – right from basic awareness programs to the more intensive ones. The different residential training programs offer hands-on learning experience on everything related to mud and are highly in demand. Anybody who is genuinely interested in sustainability and earth architecture should definitely head down to Auroville and immerse oneself in the amazing world of earth architecture.         

A Rammed Earth wall

A CSEB block for column

A Compressed Earth Block wall

A Composite beam / lintel

A CSEB block manufacturing machine designed by Satprem

For more information on AEI & the training courses,

check out their website – www.earth-auroville.com

Have you ever wished that you had all the details of the best architecture firms in India to for internships? Especially today, when the competition to get into those few vacancies in those good firms is really intense?

Ever wished that you had a single source which gave you the contact details of the best architecture firms in India, as well as brief information on their style and philosophy and a summary on why you should intern in a particular firm?

Well then, look no further!

‘TOP 100 ARCHITECTURE FIRMS FOR INTERNSHIP in INDIA’ is here! 

This single resource gives you the details of the Top 100 firms in the country, as well as their contact details. This list will save you hours of doing futile research on the net and also the contact details at your fingertips! You can choose the firms in your city of choice

So say goodbye to uncertainty and hours of hard work. This list will make your life so much easier and will help you get into that coveted internship position or even that first job that you are looking for!

So wait no more.

Order your copy of ‘TOP 100 ARCHITECTURE FIRMS FOR INTERNSHIP in INDIA’ today.

Mail me at ar.sujithgs@gmail.com for more details.

PREPARATION OF AN ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO

I have been receiving a lot of requests from students for details on HOW TO PREPARE A GOOD ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO. 

Taking this into consideration, I have compiled a detailed booklet on how to create a great portfolio, which will guide you through the detailed process, including identification of materials, ideal layouts, graphics and rendering styles, text placements, photographing your models....an exhaustive list which will guide you step by step.

You can now avail this great resource for creating your best portfolio, which is essential in this highly competitive age - either to get into good firms for internships, applying for your masters or for getting that coveted job.

Get full access to 'How to prepare an Architecture Portfolio' !!!

So go ahead and mail me at ar.sujithgs@gmail.com to order today! 

To learn more about preparing a great architectural portfolio, check out ‘Preparing an architecture portfolio - Dos and don't's - by Ar.Sujith.G.S’

http://arkistudentscorner.blogspot.in/2015/07/preparing-architecture-portfolio-dos.html

THE MUDDY MICROMANUALS FOR EARTH ARCHITECTURE

 A lot of us are interested in Earth architecture and construction, but dont have sufficient resources to get started. 'The Muddy Micromanuals' are just that...a beautiful introduction to the amazing world of earth architecture. Basic concepts are explained in a very simple illustrative manner so that anyone is able to grasp it and is sprinkled with a healthy dose of humour...

The Muddy Micromanuals!

"The Muddy Micromanuals are an invitation to the world of building with earth by four of the most ancient techniques known to (wo)man!"

This series of five booklets intends to introduce you to four earth construction techniques that have been instrumental in shaping the world that we live in:
Adobe, Cob, Rammed Earth and Wattle & Daub
These tiny booklets are designed to deliver just about enough information to give you a flavour of the subject matter, but to keep you hungry for more! And although not strictly necessary, this mucky matter could be consumed with the natural additive provided (for better digestion)..

You can download the micromanuals here:

Part I: The Natural Additive -  

http://www.sourabh.tk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/1.The-Natural-Additive.pdf

Part II: Adobe
http://www.sourabh.tk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/2.Adobe-Micromanual.pdf

Part III: Cob
http://www.sourabh.tk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/3.Cob-MicroManual.pdf

Part IV: Rammed Earth
http://www.sourabh.tk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/4.Rammed-Earth-Micromanual.pdf

Part V: Wattle & Daub
http://www.sourabh.tk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/5.Wattle-Daub-MicroManual.pdf

(If I mess the links up, please go to www.sourabh.tk and download the same!)

Please feel free to send back comments/ mudballs/ etc.

-sourabh
e-mail - soar.hub@gmail.com

Copyleft!
You are receiving this email probably coz you like playing in mud... (or because you subscribed)

Sourabh's mailing address is:

Sourabh

Sukalatti

Pune 411051



RAMMED EARTH CONSTRUCTION

Rammed earth is one of the most common methods of earth construction practised worldwide. The basic process consists of mixing the earth with water to get a homogenous plastic mix, which is then poured into a formwork for the wall and is rammed and compacted. The ramming is done traditional using hand with a wooden or metal ramrod but modern pneumatic rammers are also present. Due to the ramming, the density increases and also the compressive strength and the water resistance. The life of rammed earth walls is usually long and they can carry heavy floor and roof slabs, as evident from the many still standing ancient structures around the world.

Verite, Auroville

Verite, Auroville

Ideally, the soil used for rammed earth construction should be sandy or gravelly.  The soil should be of uniform composition and should be sieved properly to remove unnecessary lumps. Sometimes stabilisers are added to the soil, which vary from lime, pig’s urine or even the milk of cacti. Modern stabilisers like lime and cement are also used nowadays. Mixing cement with the soil mixture can also increase the structure’s load bearing capacity, but is to be used only in clay-poor mixtures.

The most common type of formwork used for the construction of a wall is the horizontal type. Sometimes vertical formworks are also used. The horizontal formwork consists of 2 wooden planks of wood held together firmly by means of metal ties or bolts. The humid soil is then poured into the forms to get a course of around 12-15cm thickness. The soil is then first rammed along the sides of the panels and the central portion of the wall is rammed.  Once this course is completed, similarly the other courses are also done in the same way. The formwork is immediately removed and shifted sideways in the case of the horizontal technique and repeated until the whole plan is completed. The two planks are then raised up and a second course of rammed earth is repeated over the first and it goes on till the whole wall is completed. It is best to follow a bonding pattern as used in brickwork, so that the vertical joints between one rammed section and the next are not vertically one above the other. Otherwise, these vertical joints can later turn into one large vertical crack.

One of the benefits of rammed earth is its excellent thermal mass. Rammed earth walls are termite resistant, fireproof and ultimately bio-degradable. The rammed earth structures have low embodied energy and generate very little waste.

EARTH ARCHITECTURE – AN INTRODUCTION

40% of the world population lives in earthen dwellings.

For centuries, man has used earth as a raw material for construction of his shelters, refining it to suit local climate and topography. This refinement over the years has developed various technologies in earth construction, most of which are based on common sense and trial and error approach. Earth construction is sustainable, not affecting nature and also allowed ordinary people to build their own homes without depending on master craftsman.

Today, with the advent of technology, earth as a raw material has been replaced by concrete and cement; materials which are energy intensive and unsustainable. Moreover, the arrival of the ‘International style’ in the previous century has led to the creation of monotone flat boxes throughout our cities and even villages, thereby deviating away from the beautiful vernacular architecture in earth.

The challenge before us today is how to build with earth on a larger scale, while respecting Nature.

There is a lot of renewed interest in earth among architects and related professionals. The challenge is to convert this interest into a solid movement, spreading the technological knowledge on earth construction and implementing projects using earth. Internationally, Ar.Hasan Fathy has done a lot of commendable work in Egypt using earth. At the forefront of the earth architecture in India is Ar.Satprem Maine, practising in Auroville. His work of over a couple of decades with earth is recognised the world over, covering projects from schools, residences, community centres, apartments, housing projects etc.

Most of the data on this series on earth architecture in based on Ar.Satprem’s work and obtained from his website. More details can be obtained directly from the website of Auroville Earth Institute – www.earth-auroville.com