Design Philosophy: Architects have an important role to play in creating spaces that have the power to elevate, dignify and provide a better quality of life. The context, people and cultural heritage of a place are the building blocks we employ in order to come up with culturally relevant designs, that are at home in their local context but reimagined for the 21 century. Our work is built on a foundation of extensive research that uncovers ways in which we can go beyond the client’s brief and amplify the impact of a project. We have found that by working within our constraints and challenges allows us to be able to create more meaningful, sustainable architecture. We believe that as architects and designers, it is our duty to find ways to bridge societal divides, be they cultural, economic or political. This mindset has resulted in the ability to develop meaningful and impactful ways to shape positive evolution of present narratives.
BillionBricks Homes / PowerHYDE by Architecture Brio (India)
I love this incredibly practical idea and below is a modified summary of what they do.
powerHYDE is a carbon negative, self-financing home for the homeless.
Each home produces 4X the amount of energy it needs. A cluster of 75 homes (a community) is a mini power plant generating 1 MW (MegaWatt) collectively selling the surplus energy to neighboring industries - generating additional income for the inhabitants as well as powering communal facilities.
This potentially solves: 1. the enormous demand for housing (40 million rural homes in India) 2. the increasing need for sustainable energy (300%) 3. a sustainable financial model. Read more.
1,000 Trees by Heatherwick Studio's (Shanghai)
OCEANIX CITY DESIGNED by BIG & BACKED BY U.N. CAN WITHSTAND CAT. 5 HURRICANES!
Ambitious idea that I’d give a try. A small version of this is planned for NYC’s East River. More here.
Mustardseed Junior School by Localworks (Uganda)
I love these community projects that are not perfect but are just GOOD, and…they are made from local materials by the towns’ people. Read more.
Kamikatsu Zero Waste Center by Architect Hiroshi Nakamura (Japan)
In 2003, this became the first municipality (in Japan) to pursue zero waste, with 45 recycling categories. Today, the village reuses nearly 80 percent of the garbage it generates.
The facility is comprised mostly of upcycled materials, including 700 donated windows. More about this impressive undertaking on the architects website here.
Central Park Theater by Manuel Herz Architects (Swiss)
Jiangyin Greenway - Weaving and Stitching Jiangsu, China
For all the construction that is currently taking place in China, I’m always happy to see when cities there embrace large-scale green projects. More here.
