It is very early in architectural education that students are introduced to the concept of sustainability and if one realizes, this is where the problem begins. You see, it is introduced to students as a “concept”, not as a requirement. And the difference between the two is that a concept is seen as an idea which changes with every project, but requirements remain consistent; it is something that cannot be neglected in any project.
The Architecture Studio, Made in Earth, understands the importance of sustainability in the current day and age. Therefore, for them it is one of the major requirements; each project tries to explore the new dimensions of sustainability; breaking apart from the myths that are associated with our knowledge of sustainability.
There are certain myths attached to the idea of sustainability like—providing ventilation and natural light—is sustainability, sustainable materials like lime and adobe can only create raw aesthetic, sustainability is only environmental, etc. Made in Earth aims to break away from these traditional myths, exploring social, cultural, political, and environmental sustainability in multiple ways.
Here are 10 Sustainable Projects by Made in Earth:
1. Rise of the Rabbits | Made in Earth
It is a 20sqmt space designed in France to provide rabbits a livable condition that resembles their natural habitat. Thus, the structure is built out of a wooden framework with earth and straw fillings in walls.
The Project opens a court towards the roadside addressing the issue of a densely packed neighborhood. The form is transformed from old traditional central courtyards to a front open space that intends to bring social sustainability.
2. Our city lives per Square Feet
It is an apartment building designed in Bangalore addressing a similar issue as the above project; densely packed urban context. The architect introduces an approach of interlocking forms which enable him to provide a very healthy and lit up living condition in a dense urban context.
Thus, the project stands as a prototype of how to create better livable spaces within these urban metropolises, which are growing unprecedentedly.
3. Ochre House | Made in Earth
The Ochre House is a private housing project located in Bangalore. It was designed in 2018 but rather than using the contemporary material palette, architects used natural materials such as mud and adobe to create a building that sits well in the urban context.
Thus, the project stands as a very successful exploration of natural material combined with new techniques to build a residency in the urban context that rejects the idea of the raw aesthetic of natural material and brings forward a new possibility of using such materials.
4. Samvada Baduku College Campus
The campus was designed in 2018 and is still under construction. The design aims to bring a perfect balance of social, cultural, and environmental sustainability.
The balconies open up within the volume help to create interaction on multiple levels. Further, the volumes are sliced through these floor-to-ceiling windows that provide light and ventilation to the interior and breakaway from the bulky masses that are opening towards the interior courts, thus, creating opportunities for interaction.
5. Cuckoo Forest School | Made in Earth
The school was designed in 2015 with the collaboration of the Cuckoo Movement for Children. It is located on the foothills of Javadu.
Through this project, the studio tried to strengthen the idea of social sustainability and explored how the building can be used as a device to bring the community together. 40 volunteers gathered to construct the school using local material—adobe, and local techniques.
6. The Three Kiosks of Cubbon
This project reminds me of the quote “Touch the earth lightly” by Glenn Murcutt; the project follows a similar principle where the steel structure was raised above the ground.
The project aims to propose a module for a small organic store; a public space that could be built anywhere in the city and have a minimal impact on the ground.
7. Clay Station Studio
The studio was designed in 2018 using new technology to construct a flexible and adaptable space with clay. The project focuses on making the space flexible, encouraging it to be used as a multipurpose space and sustain as a community gathering space in the long run.
8. Chenelet Homes | Made in Earth
It was a restoration project of a community house in North of France, the studio was tasked to restore an 80sqmt wall. The natural material of clay was used to plaster the wall which makes the living spaces environmentally sustainable and brings a raw tactile texture towards the exterior.
9. The Bake House
A restoration project, in which an old bungalow was converted into an organic café, the walls were plastered with lime and clay to redefine the aesthetics of the restaurant to make it environmentally sustainable.
10. Aditi Organic Office | Made in Earth
It was an interior design project where the design aimed to break away from a preconceived idea of a raw aesthetic for interior through using natural material. The interior was given a very contemporary touch and vibrant color using natural materials.
