5) Description of housing product/service offering: “Threads of Sustainability” At best each aspect of sustainability is only a thread and each thread fragile as an individual string. “The woven fabric” Sustainability is best achieved in weaving these threads together and integrating them into a fabric, as the weaver- with understanding, care and respect for all the elements that went into the final fabric.

The Pushkarna Residence, at Chandigarh was a part of the women’s program undertaken by our organisation as an endeavour to empower the women at all levels. Women masons were trained by two women architects in the construction technologies. With the in-house production that is labour intensive, the tax burden by the government on building materials or manufactured products was bypassed, thus reducing the overall cost of the project.

This project was an experiment about long distance transfer of technology while facilitating empowerment of women. At one level, it proved how 21st century breakthroughs in communication technology could be positively utilized to bridge distances and amalgamate like-minded philosophies. The Internet facilitated 'virtual' site supervisions, and the clients' dedicated involvement ensured their personal touch be ingrained in their future residence.

The integration of the social, economic, environmental and cultural elements of sustainability was achieved in the project, particularly with respect to: Financial: Cost effective technology. Social and Economic: Gender equity, economic and social mobility. Cultural: Respect for heritage and consideration to behavioural patterns. Environmental: Reducing dependence on non-renewable resources; changing production and consumption patterns and technology.

The techniques used are simple, and the residence is now a live proof that these technologies can be taught, and manifested without compromising on nature or quality. Once again, the Centre managed to achieve the Integration of the Architect, Engineer, Artist and the Artisan.

6) Description of innovation: The Pushkarna residence develops a unique character by portraying the honesty of material used and rationality of the construction techniques which are the derivative of the natural and human resources unique to the site.

Hollow core interlocking blocks:The walls are made of Interlocking blocks, which have been rendered with different textures forming a permanent resilient finish. Waste material from site such as marble pieces, glass bangles etc were integrated into the making of the blocks.

The Nanakshahi brick:The building blocks from the demolished historic buildings was the ‘Nanakshahi’ brick a slim brick of 6”x 4” x(1.25) ” Traditional small bricks that were burnt with timber and cow dung are far superior in strength and more resilient than the conventional bricks. This brick was used judiciously as column cladding, as joints between the block and column, in the three centered arches and even in the windows apart from being used in the roof in different patterns.

Funicular Shell Roofing:A compression structure which ensures conservation of natural resources by utilising waste materials effectively and optimising the use of expensive steel and cement. The mason had put in any design as instructed by the architect, the client or went by his own aesthetic sensibility. These included a mosaic of geometrical patterns, textures and designs.

A-Frame Construction:One of the client specifications was to have a pitched roof atop the structure, thus we opted for the “A” Frame cuboid structure developed at the Centre. It is based on the most stable triangular form, with joints which are derivatives of the cube to make for a flexible assembly system.

Bamboo Quilted Roofing:Bamboo culms are used over the basic roofing structure. A layer of wire mesh is used over the bamboo. Galvanized nails are then driven into to ensure the bonding with minimal layer of ferrocrete,over which tiles are then laid.

7) Benefits to clients: The simplicity of its manufacturing procedure makes these technologies easily replicable. With their wide range of finishes, they are applicable to all cross-sections of the society. Low capital input, with the possibility of manufacture at site, eliminates the need for transportation over large distances. Appropriate technology is equally adaptable and applicable to the high-income group as it is to the low-income group. Sustainability of a system will only prove its worth if it percolates from the high-income group to the low-income group. It is the high-income group, which is unsustainable and is setting a wrong example for the low-income group to emulate and aspire for. By integrating an embossed tile during manufacture we have developed the “Integrated Embossed Tile Blocks” for the wealthier sections of society.

Appropriate technologies cannot be restricted to developing nations alone. Industrialised nations often use metallic finishes with cavities for condensation and vapour barriers backed with thermally insulating materials. These finishes are fixed over extensive grids of galvanised Iron runners. The main walls are of RCC. or brick as the case may be. To minimise heating expenses we have developed an “Interlocking Block with Aluminium cladding”. In order to minimise heating expenses this interlocking block with condensation / vapour barrier thermally insulated with a single sheet of aluminium cladding, meets the performance criteria required at a much lower cost.

The transfer potential of these systems can be seen in the fact that they have been accepted for a project we are involved in at present in Jamaica. This project promises to be the largest ever, Sustainable Township in the world, incorporating the building techniques and construction philosophies advocated by Anangpur Building Centre. For details of the project log on to www.anangpur.com, www.anangpur.org Link:http://www.anangpur.org/main.asp?abc=WOMEN% 20EMPOWERMENT&cba=96&tmn=tt

8) Key operational partnerships: Partner 1: Anangpur Building Centre, Architect Contribution: Technical Expertise & Development The technical expertise, the designs of the building systems, the moulds made for the Interlocking Blocks, development, construction training, etc., were undertaken by the Anangpur building Centre.

Partner 2: Ms. Vijaya K. Pushkarna, Client Contribution: Financial Support The entire cost of construction was provided by the client, Ms. Vijaya K. Pushkarna.

Partner 3: Ms. Sumedha Kumar, Mrs. Vidhi G.Thapar, Project Managers for the Project Contribution: Technical Support Two young freshly graduated women architects were trained at the centre for two weeks learning the technologies developed by the centre. They were then given the responsibility of executing the work at site with complete supervision of the entire construction period. They trained the local women labourers to make the blocks. On the strength of this project alone, one of the site architects got admission in every university she applied for the postgraduate study in the United Kingdom and United States of America, and now joined the University of Southern California, USA

9) Financial model: Involving today’s industrialized factory made components inevitably means involving a tax burden, which are to be borne by the client. Recognizing these counter productive policies, ABC emphasizes the need for ’in-house’ production. The masons are trained to produce the building units such as interlocking blocks on site using pre cast moulds. Now, largest beneficiary is the mason who can now earn 1.5 times more than his initial wages, rather than the bank manager who funds expensive machines at phenomenal rates of interest. The client would bear lower construction costs and thus in a true sense gets ‘Value for Money’. The interlocking blocks and funicular shells, utilize waste building material for their exposed surfaces, giving an energy efficient and environmental friendly structure.

          • Costs as percentage of income: N.A

          • Financing: The entire cost of construction was borne by the client. In normal building contracts a contractor has a profit margin of only 15% but taking into consideration the market discounts on all the materials etc. the effective profits can be more than 25%. The cost of the house was app. 20 lakhs (US$ 43,000) for a built up area of 2174 sqft.

Manufacture of walling blocks, fabrication of trussed wire girders for the A frame and the casting of funicular shells were done at site. The skilled people, raw materials and manpower required for construction were sourced from the same town, thereby reducing drastically the overhead costs like transportation, toll taxes, etc. As a part of the women’s empowerment programme we used women masons for the fabrication of the Interlocking blocks.

10) Effectiveness

          • Project outcomes: The project illustrates that these technologies are easily replicable. All it requires is a concerted effort and understanding of the basic rationale of the fundamental construction principles and respecting materials for their inherent values.  Published by the A + D Magazine, India in 2005  Published by the “Inside Outside” Magazine, June 2006. The Interlocking Blocks development for earthquake in Gujarat 2001 has the following recognition  Interlocking Blocks short-listed amongst six best products of 2001 by Design Sense  Award for Excellence in Built Environment, from the President of India, Shri A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.  Another Brick in the Wall, article in the Property People Magazine, London; Issue 304 20 September 2001  Sustainable building-2001- issue 04

          • Number of clients in past year: In the clients words: “The house is the owner’s pride for reasons that have nothing to do with appearance: it will be cool in summer and warm in winter, maintenance free for most parts, we have conserved energy by recycling bricks."

          • Percentage of clients that are poor or marginalized: N.A

          • Potential demand: Every home, however big or small, irrespective of their economical background is a statement of the family that occupies it and leaves their footprint in the sands of time. The requirement of today is an Appropriate Design at an affordable cost. Appropriate technology is equally adaptable and applicable to the high-income group as it is to the low-income group. The simplicity of its manufacturing procedure makes these technologies easily replicable. With their wide range of finishes, they are applicable to all cross-sections of society. For example the Interlocking Block, as a product, is based on traditional wisdom practiced in different parts of the globe. The further refinement of interlocking is therefore equally applicable in countries all over the world that aspires to look into corrective action in their building industry for environmental considerations and sustainability.

11) Scaling up strategy

          • Stage of the initiative: Mature stage.

          • Expansion plan: Within a period of six months, the Pushkarna residence has evoked varying reactions from students and professionals alike. Since, some of the building solutions used in this house are practical, easily comprehensible, cheaper and aesthetically more pleasing, it has forced some visitors to rethink. This project has proved that it is possible to impart adequate centralised training if technology is simplified such that the artisan can comprehend it. Apart from doing various projects we are focusing our energy on knowledge dissemination through various channels ‘Threads of Sustainability…the Woven Fabric’ our compilation, Our websites www.anangpur.com, www.anangpur.org, ASHRA (Academy for Sustainable Habitat Research and Action) a programme designed to train future professionals, Women’s Empowerment Programme (training of women labour in making of the Hollow Core Interlocking Blocks).

12) Origin of the initiative: Years of working with Class III workers reflected the significance of the woman of a household in raising the social, cultural and economic standards of a family, and thus the society at large. By focusing on her capacities and empowering her as the bread earner, we can eventually uplift the living standards of the whole community. Execution of the Woman’s Empowerment Programme and long distance transfer of technology were the important goals of this initiative. Two young freshly graduated women architects were trained at the centre for two weeks learning the technologies developed by the centre. They then generated a local team of woman labourers for making the hollow core interlocking blocks at the site. The earning capacity of these labourers increased from Rs.80/day (US$ 1.60/day) to Rs.125/day (US$ 2.5/day). The entire project was done on the internet with no visits to the site.

Contact Information:
Anil  Laul
CEO and Principal Architect
Anangpur Building Centre
(Entrepreneur Firm)
India
Website: www.anangpur.com, www.anangpur.org