NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE, SCHOOL OF DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENT, SINGAPORE
FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION (A Report Submitted as part of Academic Fulfilment)
SUBMITTED BY
SHRUTHI SRINIVAS (A0148424E)
MASTERS IN INTEGRATED SUSTAINABLE DESIGN 2016-17
FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION
TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTERS
PAGE NUMBER
ABSTRACT
1
1.0 LITERATURE REVIEW
2
PROJECT 2 : ORGAANO NAANDI
7
2.1 Natural Capital
10
2.2 Human Capital
12
2.3 Social Capital
13
2.4 Symbolic Capital
14
2.5 Built Capital
14
PROJECT 3 : HYDERABAD GOLF CLUB
17
3.1 Natural Capital
18
3.2 Human Capital
19
3.3 Built Capital
20
3.4 Symbolic Capital
20
PROJECT 4 : PAIVIHIR ECO - VILLAGE
21
4.1 Natural Capital
22
4.2 Human Capital
23
4.3 Built Capital
24
4.4 Symbolic Capital
25
5.0 DISCUSSION
26
CONCLUSION
28
BIBLIOGRAPHY
29
[1] `
FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION ABSTRACT When ‘sustainable development’ as an agenda transited from environmental crusaders to political leaders it marked a new beginning of addressing environmental impacts caused by ecological degradation. The focus was moved to impacts and their measurement. Today, globally we emit 30 billion tons of CO2 creating impacts on climate. The phenomenon is much like entropy in Thermodynamics; once emitted we do not have any technologies to retract the emissions. USA and China contribute to a large share of these emissions. Growing economies like India stand at 2 % but likely to grow in the next 30-40 years. By 2050, almost 3 billion additional people will inhabit the world’s cities - the largest and fastest period of urban expansion in all of human history. For example, in the next 5 years, India will see the growth of 70 new cities each with a population of 500,0002 each. While urbanisation is responsible for economic growth in our cities, it has also resulted in a huge strain on existing physical infrastructure of cities. The COP is now debating on how we need to mitigate impacts so that the average increase in temperature of earth is kept below 1.5 deg C. Tangibles have become the cornerstones for sustainable development while the intangibles have taken a backseat. The advent of technological systems have undoubtedly carved a path for improved efficiencies in built environments, but is on a path of “doing less harm.” Doing less harm is good but not good enough. How do we measure the happiness of people ? How do we assess the quality of life ? How do we engage people in the larger agenda of sustainable development ? How do we do things that create a positive impacts on the environment ? Hence the regenerative movement has begun which goes beyond net positive. A regenerative building not only restores but also improves the surrounding natural environment by enhancingthe quality of life for biotic (living) and abiotic (chemical) components of the environment In this paper, we look at issues of human relations with nature, systematic engagement and the circular flows of the parameters in a system. We have advanced to a more ecological worldview where we realized that humans and nature should co-exist in harmony with each other with interdependency as an imperative. To illustrate and elaborate on these, three projects from India from been chosen that address the issues of sustainable development in a holistic matter. The regenerative processes as highlighted by John Tillman Lyle and C.D.Plesis and R.Cole have been discussed. The first project – ‘ Organo Naandi’,a residential development project is situated in a peri-urban setting. The concept of circular flows has been addressed in a holistic manner. Besides, the integration between humans and nature has been well addressed. Urban farming is the defining point in the project which tries to engage the human capital as well as the social capital and succeeds at it. The second project- Hyderabad Golf Club draws a picture as to how a golf club can be more than just a turf land. It tries to engage biodiversity, public spaces, human activities and water management facilities in a holistic way. The third project – Paivihir Eco-Village is about how a group of villagers who make a difference to a barren piece of land. It portrays how the improvement of one system creates a butterfly effect and gradually changes the entire village. [2] `
FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION Regenerative design is all about finding the natural patterns of a place and how any man-made developmentcan alter the surrounding neighbourhood and environment.
1.0 LITERATURE REVIEW The things as we know it are coming to an end. We are bombarded with information everyday as to the current state of the planet, the warming of the planet, climate change and its related consequences. Today, in Asia around 42.2% of the Asian population live in cities. This will rise to around 64% by the year 2050. To accommodate the rampant migration around 1000ha of land of agricultural land is converted to urban use every day in Asia. The sixteen out of twenty densest cities in the world are in Asia with the number of people per sq.km being in the range of 10,000-20,000. So, the question is even thought the situation is quite dire why aren’t the people doing anything about it. The reason can be attributed to our choices, lifestyle and our beliefs which define the way we react to sustainability. The worldview that has shaped since the past 500 years takes the form of a mechanistic approach due to scientific advancements and technology where it treats each part as a separate entity and not a whole. This worldview considers the living systems and the mechanical systems as one and the same. This has permitted the blossoming of an economic model that disregarded the fact that we live in an interconnected, interdependent planet. The Trend Taking the mechanistic worldview into account, the past decade has seen the mushrooming of a variety of green building rating systems that claim to be doing less harm. Green buildings in Asia have come to mean one thing: Green Building Certifications. The major drivers for this are: a) The Market and the assured quick ROI– The tools are used to differentiate the conventional buildings from the “green” buildings. They assure the developers/buyers that there will be increased savings (in terms of energy, water, cost etc.) with less wastage coupled with increased performance levels from technological features. b) Governments – Countries consume around 40% of energy and 25% of water in its building sector. A drop in the consumption can affect the quantity of imports and the amount of infrastructure. Hence, Governments see this as a mechanism to address questions regarding water and energy. Governments are required to declare targets. Example, India has set itself a target of reducing the carbon intensity by 24% c) Policies of Climate Change – Buildings are accounting to about a third of emissions. With both- the IPCC and McKinsey report talking about the building sector as the most easily achievable targets for greenhouse emissions, this has been a major factor.
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION But, Are they Enough? How well are the Green buildings working? a) The basic metrics of energy efficiency are questionable. For instance, should efficiency be based on consumption per occupant or based on the floor area? Some of the quantities are not metered and hence the performance is not measured. Also, regular checks on the buildings are missing. There is not enough credits for the natural systems such a daylighting. Most of the rating systems give preference to energy efficient lighting rather than naturally lit buildings ( example :Malaysia’s GBI offers 4 credits for artificial lighting and 3 for natural lighting). They are awarded high marks for high efficiency but they are not taken into account for the demand reduction in the first place.
b) Occupant Wellbeing – Wellbeing is a psychological factor and cannot be discussed purely in terms of technology. The occupant wellbeing is discussed in terms of the Indoor Air Quality and does not take into consideration adaptive comfort. Individual Comfort factors for each person varies and this is not taken into account. c) All outcomes cannot be measured- There is a wrong notion Green buildings are purely based on technicality. The intangible factors are not considered; such as culture, social spaces, biodiversity etc. d) The Value attached to Greening – Usually the value attached is related to cost and the ROI. The benefits attached to thinking about the greening at the commencement stage of the design process is not considered. Credits are still earned when greening concepts are included mid-way of the projects. e )Context of the Site –The majority of the green buildings spread across Asia have a similar language in terms of Architecture. This must be questioned as the climate and context of the region have to be the primary drivers of form. Passive design is not taken into consideration since the world has shifted to electro- mechanical systems where the building configurations play no importance.
GREEN TO SUSTAINABILITY It is quite evident now that green and certification processes are simply not enough. So, what more can be done? A different paradigm shifting alternative has been proposed where we look at it from an ecological point of view. This states that Whole is not the sum of its individual parts but something more than that.In terms of design, to understand a problem we need to consider the scale at which the problem is situated as well as the other scales. For instance, to design a storm water management project, the understand of the major water catchment areas around it are essential as well as the materials in the areas over which the surface run-off will occur.
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION The principals involved in making the transition: 1) Long-term effectiveness or the efficacy-efficient handling of the trade off and the synergies between the parts. This has to be done for the entire lifetime of the building. But currently this is not in practice. 2) Respecting Ecology – Buildings on an urban scale destroy the natural flows and systems of the region. By the sustainability concepts, this has to be compensated by the building. For instance, if greenery is cut down, it has to be replaced in terms of green plot ratio in the building 3) Occupant wellbeing – The conventional method of measuring indoor air quality has to be scraped and a new gauging system which takes into consideration subjective comfort as well as adaptive thermal comfort. Attributes such as connection to greens and water should be well-thought-out. Biophilic Design can be considered as one of the aspects for this. 4) Self- Sufficiency –Self-sufficiency in terms energy and water. The building can be either fully or partially self sufficient. On- site generation of energy is the most popular. On-site capture of rainwater is another mandate by some Asian countries. Food generation currently has taken a back seat in most of the countries. 5) Buildings as icons – Green buildings tend to be looked at as objects of just functionality. Some of the green buildings in the world are functioning as mediums to educate the masses and provide a medium for replication. An example of this is the CII- Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre. 6) Integration – Emphasis on experts from different fields coming together for higher system synergies.
SUSTAINABILITY TO NET-POSITIVE AND REGENERATIVE DEVELOPMENTS Taking off from the ecological worldview, there was a realisation that there has to be stronger connect between humans and nature. The primany intent of a net-positive development is to broaden the “ecological base” and the “public estate.” Its basis is how the green processes only reduces the pace of destruction but does not mitigate it. Janis Birkeland, who proposed the terminology ‘Net Positive’ feels that the quality of life can be uplifted by making the right choices and by an eco-positive design. There is an emphasis on on striking a balance between social and ecological benefits by the provision of increased natural services. The intention is to strengthenand increase the health, natural, social and economic capital. This is achieved through the integration of systems. Ecosystem Services: These are primarily the benefits that are obtained from nature by people. Birkeland uses the word “eco-services” to include the non-materialistic benefits of nature Example of eco-system service. Living Machines
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION REGENERATIVE DESIGN The term regenerative design was coined by John Tillman Lyle He argues that there is a need to shift from linear flows to closed loop and circular flow systems. The loops have to be self renewing to be truly sustainable. A regenerative design takes into account a building or a neighborhood which has the potential to engage the ecological, hydrological systems as well as reconnect the human aspirations and activities. A regenerative design engages in the repair of a broken system and also the creation of new systems and cycles. It argues that humans have to contribute to the evolution of the ecosystems , not just protect and take care of it but to restore it. According to John Tillman Lyle the strategies for regenerative design are: a) b) c) d) e) f) g)
Letting Nature do the work Considering Nature as both Context and Model Aggregation by Regenerative design – Brings all its activities to share space and reinforce each other. Trying to achieve sufficient levels for all the multiple functions and not concentrate on one function. Taking the advantage of technology Multiple Pathways – Example, using pv panels as well as wind turbines for energy generation. Shaping Form to Guide the systemic flows- “Form follows flows follows form”
LIVING BUILDING CHALLENGE The Living Building Challenge is a building certification tool which engages various scales from single developments to neighbourhoods. It amalgamates different fields such as architecture, engineering, planning and other disciplines to create a regenerative, sustainable buildings. It align with the Ecological worldview that reconciliation should take place between humans and nature. Its aim to create neighbourhoods that generates its own energy and water. It encourages urban farming while limiting the urban sprawl. Structuring elements of the Living Building Challenge. Consists of 20 imperatives: It is based on 7 performance areas or Petals: Site, Water, Energy, Health, Materials, Equity and Beauty. The Living Building Challenge focuses on increased soil health, food sufficiency through urban farming, self-sufficiency in terms of water and energy, waste processing, embedding with the climate and culture of the area, social spaces for personal expression, care fee travel and non-dependency on fossil fuels, a sense of equity and fairness amongst the community.
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION
2.0 PROJECT 1: ORGANO NAANDI
Figure 2: Site Context
Figure 1: Map Showing Location
Source: www.naandi.co.in
Location Site area Area of Farm Previous status Programme Status Client Architect Occupancy Context
Hyderabad, India acres 35 acres Brownfield Site Residential Villa Development On-going construction Naandi FountainHead Design Private Limited (FHD group) 75 villas Farm Land and Villages
Table 1
The site is located in the outskirts of the city.It aims at instilling eco-responsibility into all its residents. The master planning has been designed with the villas lined at the periphery of the site and the community farms and bio ponds placed between them. The club house that boasts of the largest bamboo roof is housed at one end of the site. 1. 2.
[7] ` Figure 3: Masterplan Source:http://organo.co.in/naandi/
Community Farms Bio- Pond
FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION 2.a.Concept of the project: Concept :SapthaPadhas The project integrates the seven ‘padhas’ of sustainable living – Food, Water, Earth,Energy, Shelter,Air and People by creating closed loop cycles. Food –Organic food production Water- Watershed techniques to harvest and treat water. Earth- Conservation of soil to increase the quality by adopting vedic farming practices. Energy- 100% off grid energy systems. Shelter-Designed for better interaction with nature. Air- Fresh, Clean air supplied to the indoor with the help of earthen tunnels. People- Interactions between people within and outside the community. Their involvement in the social welfare is a key factor in the project. .
Figure 4: Concept of saptha padhas Source::http://organo.co.in/naandi/
Figure 5 Image of the Bio-pond Source:http://organo.co.in/naandi/
Figure 6: Image showing the farms Source:http://organo.co.in/naandi/
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION
2.b.MEASURING THE IMPACTS THE OBJECTIVE: The objective of the Naandi group is to form an association with around 50 farmers or more. These farmers will be given a land of minimum 0.2HA. The intent is to form a collective farming community. The farmers are bound by the “Naandi association by laws� which are guidelines formed for the effective functioning of the community. The overarching objective is to instill a sense of belonging to the community with the sharing of the resources. This is made possible by the Naandi credit system. This system quantifies the consumption and the contribution of each family unit in all the saptha padha categories. This system ensures that the families are aware of their consumption which is a reflection of their commitment to the cause of sustainability by either rewarding or penalizing them. Th credits are : Food credits, Energy credits, Water credits, Earth credits, Shelter credits, Air credits and people credits. By sharing the income generated, the concept of collective farming- living is promoted. Naandi Yearly income = (Community Profit/ No.of members)x Factor of Credits Factor of credit = Avg. Weightage of the Saptha patha criterion.
Table 2: Naandi credit system Source:http://www.naandi.co.in/objective.html
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION 2.1 NATURAL CAPITAL a) Water and Biodiversity
Figure 7:Plan showing trenches,flow of water and the concept of swales ; Source : https://organorurban.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/swalelinedrawing.jpg
The Goal of the development is to be ‘Zero Water Discharge Site. ‘Around 65% of water offset due to the strategies undertaken : Grey Water - The grey water which is released by the inhabitants is filtered through a number of treatment steps before it is used for the irrigation of farms. The treatment plant has a capacity of 60KL. The treated water is then used for flushing purposes. Storm water -A system of trenches along the roads and the periphery of the site are available for diverting storm water. Locally dug wells increase the water percolation.
Figure 8: Water Treatment Systems Source:http://fhdgroup.in/
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION Purification is done in these bios wales before it is released into the central bio-pond. The capacity of the pond is around 10 lakh liters. This pond is designed to purify the water by feeding on the algae which is formed. The pond also serves as an aqua culture pond. The fish excreta further serves as an enriching nutrient for the farms. The goal is to ‘Bring back the sparrow.’ The bio-pond also serves as a biodiversity hub which attracts many kinds of birds, bees, insects and butterflies due to the presence of the water as well as lining of plants. Many endangered species are also reported in this area. On many weekends, the site becomes a bird spotting hub for many ornithologists and amateur bird watchers.
Figure 9: Bio-Pond Source: Photo during site visit
Figure 10: Bio-pond Source: Photo taken during site visit
Figure 11: Entrance to the bio-pond Source: Photo taken during site visit
Figure 12:Trenches Source: Photo taken during site visit
Figure 13: Birds found at organo naandi Source: Facebook page of Organo Naandi
Count
Indian Pond Heron Rock Piegon (Feral… Red Collared - Dove Asian Koel Greater Coucal Little Swift White-throated… Eurasian Kestrel Rose-ringed… Rufous Treepie House Crow Red-vented Bulbul Blyth's Reed-… Zitting Cisticola Common Tailorbird Gray-breasted… Ashy Prinia Large Gray Babbler Indian Robin Blue Rock-Thrush Pied Bushchat Purple-rumped… Purple Sunbird White-browed… House Sparrow Indian Silverbill
7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0
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Graph 1: Bar Chart showing the count of various species of birds Source:Hyderabad Birding Pals
FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION 2.2.HUMAN CAPITAL The crux of the whole project is the organic farming practices which are adopted. There are three types of farms which have been designed- Community farms, Personal farms and the forest plantations.
Community Frams Figure 14: Plan showing the location of farms
Private farms for the individual villas Figure 15: plan showing the types and location of vegetables grown
``
Source:http://www.naandi.co.in/sapthpath-organic-Foods.htm
Source:http://www.naandi.co.in/sapthpath-organic-Foods.htm
Forest Plantations- The site is lined with plantations such as Gulmohar, Red Sander, Teak Wood, Neem, Badam, etc . This gives the opportunity for secondary revenue generation
Medicinal Plantations – The forest zones are overlapped with the traditional Medicinal plants to promote passive health care.
Figure 16: Plan showing location of forest planatations
Figure 17: plan showing location of medicinal plantations
Source:http://www.naandi.co.in/sapthpath-organic-Foods.htm
Source:http://www.naandi.co.in/sapthpath-organic-Foods.htm
Each of the residents hold a share of 0.5acres of Land with 25% of Direct Ownership (private farms) and 75% under collective farming. The farming will be handled by trained farmers with participation from the resident families. The training will be provided by the Organo Group. Housing facilities for the farmers will be Provided inside the development during the training period. The farmers will be taught to handle Modern Equipment and will be taught the latest technologies such as hydropic farming etc to increase the productivity of the farms. The produce will then be distributed to the residents. The excess will be sold in the market to generate additional revenue. [12] `
FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION
Figure 18 : Location of animal husbandry ; Source:http://www.naandi.co.in/sapthpath-organic-Foods.htm
Animal Husbandry facilities is provided to provide fresh, organic dairy produce. The animal dung will be used as feed for biogas plants. Figure 19:view of Animal Husbandry Source :http://www.naandi.co.in/sapthpath-organic-Foods.htm
2.3 SOCIAL CAPITAL The ‘People’ Sustainability works on 2 levels- The mandatory and the social responsibilities. The mandatory responsibilities are based on the credit system wherein the residents earn points by performing their respective duties such as account keeping, voting etc. Figure 20: Image showing a workshop being conducted Source: facebook page of orgaano naandi
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Figure 21:educational trip for school kids Source: facebook page of orgaano naandi
Figure 22: Map showing the social spaces
FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION For the social responsibility aspect – the residents are encouraged to conduct educational programs and healthcare drives by utilizing the facilities provided inside the development. Healthcare drives are conducted frequently to the nearby villagers. Visits from colleges and schools are encouraged to spread awareness. Figure 23: Pottery session and bio-pong becoming a social hub
The various events are: Organic Farm tour, Organic Farm Tours for Schools, Offsite and On site educational Programs, Organic Fruits and Vegetables Home delivery.
Source: image taken during site visit
The bio-pool in the center of the development is the hub for social activities. Yoga and meditation courses, cultural programs, pottery and furniture making workshops are frequently conducted which can be attended by the public (Overlap between water+ Figure 24: Educational trip and a worksop regarding water management
biodiversity+ public space).
Source: Facebook page of orgaano naandi
2.4SYMBOLIC CAPITAL
Awards: Organo Naandi won the second prize in the International Architecture Awards 2015 for its work towards regenerative thinking. Reputation: Through this project Organo and the FHD group have established themselves as one of the forefront developers in regenerative thinking in India.
Figure 25:Declaration of Award Source :http://www.naandi.co.in/who-are-we.htm
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION 2.5 BUILT CAPITAL Built Capital is discussed in terms of embedded capacity of the project and waste management.
1.5.1. Extensive Use of Bamboo and use of salvaged materials to build the furniture. The project boasts of the largest bamboo construction in India (clubhouse construction).
Figure 26: Bamboo Roof for the Clubhouse
Figure 27: Furniture made using salvaged material
Source:Picture taken during Site visit
Source: Picture taken during site visit
1.5.2. Overlap of the green, blue and red spaces – Previously a barren land with hardly any trees serving no purpose in terms of ecological value. After the commencement of the project, with the introduction of trees, bio-swales and ponds many species of birds, bees etc have been spotted. This also serves as the primary social gathering space.
1.5.3. Waste Management – Waste is handled in 3 ways a) Segregation at Source b) Toxic Waste must be paid for by the residents c) To establish Closed loop systems, the organic waste from source becomes to the starting point of another system.
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION
Figure 28: Flowchart
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION
3.0 PROJECT 2 : HYDERABAD GOLF CLUB Location Site area Previous status Programme Status Client Architect
Hyderabad, India 110 acres within the Naya Quila, Golconda Fort Complex Municipal Garbage Dump Golf Club Completed in 2012 Hyderabad Golf Association Peter Harridine
Figure 29: Location of the site
Figure 30: Masterplan; Source: daily mail
Figure 31: Google image of the site with context Source: Google maps
1. 2. 3. 4.
Vermicomposting Stormwater Collection pond Treated grey water pond Root Zone treatment
This is a project which was jointly undertaken by the tourism board of Hyderabad and the Hyderabad Golf Association. The entire site was a garbage dump. This was in contradiction to the fact that it is infringed by the Historic Golconda Fort which is a UNESCO world heritage site. Hence, it was taken by the Hyderabad Golf Association came forward to develop this land as not only a golf club but also to repair the damage to the ecological value caused by the previously massive amounts of garbage dumps. MASTERPLAN It is to contain 18 holes in its expanse of 110 acres. Two artificial lakes for water management and irrigation of the lake. Lake 1 : To capture the stormwater Lake 2 : To Collect Purified Sewage Water `
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION
3.1 NATURAL CAPITAL It is described in terms of the water and its management and the Biodiversity value. 3.1.1 Biodiversity Since the Conception of the project in 2002, 40000 plants have been planted which include trees and shrubs. Around 260 varieties of birds have been spotted along with tortoises, Mongooses and Porcupines. The ‘Hathiyan tree’ which was planted by wanderers several centuries ago with a huge diameter of 25m has been part of the tree preservation plan. The plantations consist of 50% of native species and 45% of drought relevant species.
Figure 32: Image of the lush greenery and setting
Figure 33: Picture of the 200 year old heritage tree
Source: Picture taken at site
Source: Picture taken at site
3.1.2 Water Management For the irrigation of the vast expanse of land, no ground water is used. The irrigation is managed by 2 sources: a) Storm Water - It is collected in an artificial lake which has been created for this purpose. It can collect around 40% of the site runoff. It is then filtered by a basic sedimentation process and reused for irrigation purposes. b) Sewage Water - Sewage water from the houses in the vicinity is directed into the site through pipes. This enters a phytoremediation unit (capacity – 5MLD) which cleanses the water and discharges it into an artificial lake. This is then used to irrigate the golf course. These lakes as well as several other ponds are developed into biodiversity hubs by lining it with a variety of plant species.
Figure 35: Phytoremediation Source: Picture taken during site visit
Figure 36: Pond for Biodiversity Source: Picture taken during site visit
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Figure 37: Source:
Figure 34: Location of the water management systems and the phytoremediation plant
FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION 3.2 HUMAN CAPITAL Composting: 1 acre of vermi-composting site within the site where 100% of the organic waste is composted and used within the site. For this purpose, the local villagers from the vicinity are employed and are trained in these practices. Two nurseries are located adjacent to it which grows various plants. This is sold off to the people. This results in the creation of extra jobs with more revenue generation.
Figure 38:Vermicomposting Source: Picture taken during site visit
Figure 39: Vermicomposting Source: Picture taken during site visit
Figure 40: Key plan showing location of vermicomposting
Educational tours are promoted by the Hyderabad golf association to promote the idea that golf clubs can be more than turf areas and also to demonstrate use of recycled water for golf clubs
3.3 BUILT CAPITAL Discussed in terms of the value that the site presents to the surrounding context. -
Increase in the Biodiversity Value by the plantation and protection of trees Conservation of the NayaQuila Fort The restoration of the lake ( ShahHatim Talab) adjacent to the site. The golf club is the process of restoring the deteriorated lake(due to the discharge of sewage water into the lake) by planting of trees and the creating of pavements to convert it into a public space with a lining of solar photovoltaic panels.
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION
Figure 41:
Figure 42:
Source:
Source:
2.4 SYMBOLIC CAPITAL Symbolic Capital is discussed in terms of the reputation of the company. The Hyderabad Golf Club is one of the first golf clubs in the country to be in the forefront of the protection of biodiversity species, plantation of trees, recycling of water for irrigation purposes and the adoption of a lake for restoration purposes. The intention was to set up an example for the rest of the country to showcase that a golf club can be more than just a golf club and to replicate the model to the other golf clubs in the country.
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION
4.0 PAIVIHIR ECO VILLAGE
Figure 43: Location of Melghat
Location Site area Previous status Programme Status Client Architect
Figure 44: Image showing the after Source: http://www.aidjhu.org/paivihir_eco_village
Melghat, Maharashtra, India 190 ha Deteriorated Forest Cover Eco village Completed in 2012 KHOJ and AID John Hopkins University
Context :The Melghat area is known for its malnutrition and farmer deaths. Thetribals of India are heavily reliant on the forests for food and shelter. This is causing an imbalance between the interest of the tribals and the ecological value of the forests due to their destruction. To strike a balance, KHOJ with the help of AID ( NGOs) with funding from the John Hopkins University have created a model for the people of Melghat so that the tribals, forests and the tigers are in Harmony with each other. As per the Forests Right Act of India, forests can be brought under the care of a village for maintaining the ecological value. However, due to laws with no teeth, these forests are often torn down.
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION 4.1 NATURAL CAPITAL
Figure 45: The before Source: http://www.aidjhu.org/paivihir_eco_village
Figure 46: The after Source: http://www.aidjhu.org/paivihir_eco_village
Due to heavy deforestation, the land(Figure 45: ) was in a barren state. KHOJ(NGO) with the help of the villagers planted around 50,000 trees Along with these other policies were established which created zones for cattle grazing to check overgrazing. Due to this there has been a significant increase in the biodiversity of the region with regular spotting of deer, bears, jackals, different species of birds, wild boars and sambars.
Figure 47:Biodiveristy Source: http://www.aidjhu.org/paivihir_eco_village
Water Management : Check Dams and contours are created for the efficient afforestation of the region. This helps in the percolation of water for ground water recharge. Due to the accumulation of water at selected regions, the plant growth is seen to be more efficient than otherwise. This leads to 45% increase in the productivity. Use of plastic bottles with punctured holes in them for the irrigation of the plants.
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION
Figure 48: Contours made in the land Source: http://www.aidjhu.org/crouching_tiger_hidden_tribal
Figure 49: Water seen even in the harshest summer Source :http://www.aidjhu.org/crouching_tiger_hidden_tribal
Figure 50: Plastic bottles with punctures for irrigation
Figure 51: Trenches dug for water percolation
Source: http://www.aidjhu.org/crouching_tiger_hidden_tribal
Source :http://www.aidjhu.org/crouching_tiger_hidden_tribal
4.2 HUMAN CAPITAL Before the project was launched, the tribals relied solely on the forest produce for food and shelter. After this project commenced, the rampant migration ceased with employment opportunities created in the village. The villagers were encouraged to grow different types of fruits and vegetables such as custard apple, jamun, teak, mango etc. to sell them at the market. They were also encouraged to raise cattle for the provision of dairy products. Along with this, KHOJ fortified the transition from conventional farming to organic farming. The farmers are encouraged to maintain a seed bank and to diversify the crop variety. To help spread the knowledge and importance of the practices, KHOJ holds site visits and educational programs. A projector has been approved to be installed by the local government body for knowledge dissipation in the region.
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION
Figure 52: Organic Farming and the selling Source: http://www.aidjhu.org/crouching_tiger_hidden_tribal
4.3 BUILT CAPITAL Built Capital is defined in terms of the upgradation of the villages which are situated adjacent to the forest zone. Several policies are set in place to make it a zero waste generator. All the organic waste produced from the houses and farms are directed back to the farms or the forest plantations after being treated in bio-gas plants to form a close loop cycle. It will operate on 80% of garbage and 20% dung. Stormwater Channels are built along the roads to direct the water to the farms.
3.4.SYMBOLIC CAPITAL
Figure 53: Stormwater Channels
Figure 54: Stormwater Channels
Figure 55:Clean roads
Source: http://www.aidjhu.org/crouching_tiger_ hidden_tribal
Source:
Source: http://www.aidjhu.org/crouching_tiger_hidden_ tribal
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION 4.4 SYMBOLIC CAPITAL
Figure 56: Winner of the UNDP Biodiversity Award Source: http://www.aidjhu.org/undp_biodiversity_award
The project has been winner of the United Nations Development Program, India Biodiversity Award The project establishes itself as one of the very few success stories with respect to biodiversity and the development of village. Due to this project there has been major alterations in the policies. Owing to the ripple effect, adjacent villages such as Nayakkheda, Khatjapur and Upatkheda have adopted this model and they are working towards regenerating over 1000ha of land.
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION
5.0 DISCUSSION The above three projects illustrate the effect of the regenerative strategies which have been employed by them. While all of them subscribe to the ecological world view that whole is more than the sum of the individual parts. It gives genesis to the idea of regenerative sustainability in the context of India. Project 1: Orgaano Naandi The idea of closed loop systems as illustrated by John Tillman Lyle in his book Regenerative Design For Sustainable Development as well as Designing for Hope by C. D. Plesis has been materialized In this project. The waste from one process becomes the starting point of another process. For example: The dung from the cows/horses becomes manure for the farms. Each of the parts serve more than 1 function. Hence, the concept of wholeness as described by C. D. Plesis is strengthened where she argues that in regenerative models the sum of the parts is more than the whole. For example, the bio-pond serves as a water collection pond, Biodiversity hub as well as a water body for aqua culture. The crux of this project lies in the farming practices which engages in human capital as well as social capital. The idea of permaculture is discussed where the condition of soil, nutrient cycle etc. is giving high importance. Gaps: a) The project utilises a portion of its water from the 10 borewells to meet the water demands of the farms as well the homes. It could be looking at tapping the grey water from the surrounding region to offset its water demand further. b) The development occupies around 35 acres of land. This is a huge chunk of land which is available only in per-urban and rural areas. Space is a luxury in the centre of cities. Hence this model can be replicated in only rural settings and cannot be brought to the urban environments. c) Question of Private vs Public – Many of the social gatherings happen near the bio-pond which is also the biodiversity hub. This may be an unwanted intrusion by the residents of the development who would want to relax by the pond side. Developer Benefits : The property value of the development shoots up due to the implementation of all the regenerative principles which promises high ROI.
Project 2 : Hyderabad Golf Course This is one of the first golf courses in India to be implementing the concepts of Sustainability. The similar concepts of closed loop systems can be seen here. Vermicomposting is done in a 1 acre plot which then
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION is used to grow the nurseries and trees. The trees are important for the increase of the ecological value, biodiversity and carbon sequestration. Water management Is done through a system of water bodies and phytoremediation. Social and Built Capital are addressed thought the development of the adjacent lake. The regenerative model adopted in the site can actually be replicated in various other golf courses due to the flexibility of the ideas. Gaps: a) The project does not address the Energy issue and its demand reduction. The gold course has a vast expanse of land which it can use for energy generation for street lighting etc. There was a proposal to place PV panels along the stretch of the lake but this has not materialised. This would have been a good example of an overlap between natural + social capitals with energy. b) The social integration through the adoption of the adjacent lake (Shah Hatim Talab) is not very effective as of now due to lesser amenities in the area.
Developer Benefits: Due to the phytoremediation plant inside the golf course, demand reduction for water has done down considerably which directly affects the finances of the golf course since they are actually water guzzlers.
Project 3: Paivihir Eco-Village This is an example of a project where the depleted state of the land prompted the residents to take action with a close collaboration with NGOs. The case of net-positive and regenerative developments (Redesigning with Hope, C.D.Plesis) is strong here due to the fact that the connection between man and nature is very evident here. The tiger, trees and man co-exist together to create a balanced ecosystem. The ecosystem services provided by nature in this case is multi-fold. As per John Tillman Lyle, the nature is left to do its job and provide the systemic flows and enagagement. With the funding received ,the villagers have been able to restore the ecological value of the region. In addition, they have created water loops for reducing the water demand on the grid and switched organic farming . This model can be replicated and is already being replicated in a number of villages. With such a connection of forests with rich ecological value, high levels of biodiversity can be achieved. Organic farming which when replicated in a similar fashion, can change the market forces. Gaps: a) This model can be replicated in only a few regions with vast expanse of lands around the village developments [27] `
FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION b) Heavy funding is required by NGOs to create an impact at this scale.
6.0 CONCLUSION India has made some bold forays in embracing green building concepts. Currently almost 4.5 billion sq.ft of such green construction is happening, largely driven by the Indian Green Building Council. While this augurs well for the country, sustainable practices cannot be driven only by the tangibles. Intangibles like quality of life, equity in addressing all sections of society and community engagement should find a place. It is not just the building occupants or the professionals of the construction sector, but Nature at large including the birds, animals, flora and the fauna should be seen as stakeholders. Nature is not linear and therefore a time has come to see the ‘whole’ The building industry should change gears from being Green to going regenerative. Understandably, the market forces and the green in India are still at a nascent stage. The concept of regenerative buildings need to be given a thrust through public awareness, capacity building, training, demonstration and finally the right policies. Tools such as the Living Building Challenge should be adopted with emphasis on the context and culture of the region. New concepts cannot be driven by the laws alone in India. The Government should come out with carrot and stick policies – reward those that do well; penalize those that do not care. John Tillman Lyle opines that for our human environment and cultures to sustain, we need to not only change our behavior but should also influence the environment. This calls for redesigning the systems and not just tweaking or fine-tuning it. The projects illustrated are some of the early movers who want to make a difference in the society. This has been driven by individual passion and inspiration than any local laws. They apply many of the following sustainability strategies, as advocated by John Tillman Lyle. a) Let nature do the work- Demonstration of Phytoremediation, bio-pond ecosystems, vermicomposting, landforms to channel water and passive forms of inducing fresh air into the building. b) Aggregate and Not Isolate – The systems come together to form an entity. One system cannot exist without the other. The waste of one becomes the fuel for the other. c) Equilibrium - The systems illustrated in the above cases such as biodiversity, food and water are given equal importance so that an equilibrium is established as they come together. d) Embrace technologies with Need – The projects have responded appropriately with respect to the context by the utilization of technology – such as biogas plants, Photovoltaic panels, permaculture, hydroponic farming to boost the productivity and efficiency of the systems. e) Multiple pathways - Different types of revenue systems are established to reduce the dependency on one type. f) Form to facilitate flow – The landforms have been modified to channel the water bodies. The buildings have been placed to derive the maximum from a given system. [28] `
FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION
To achieve all of this, there should be a collaboration between different experts. Integrated Sustainable Design is the answer. With the amalgamation of IDP, government policies, Incentivization of the process and public awareness there will be domino effect in India which will revolutionize the way Sustainability is looked at.
BIBLIOGRAPHY C.D.plesis ; Peter Brandon. ( 2014) . An ecological Worldview as basis for a Regenerative Thinking. C.D.Plesis; Raymong.J.Cole. (2011). Motivating Change: Shifting the Pradigm. DomiqueHes and C.D.Plesis .(2014). Designing for Hope: Pathways to Regenerative Sustainability Hyderabad Golf Club- Interaction with the Manager and the IGBC team during site visit John Tillman Lyle .(1994).Regenerative Design for Sustainable Deevelopment. Kishnani,N. (2012). Greening Asia: Emerging Principles for Sustinable Singapore. OrgaanoNaandi. Interaction with the Architecture team during site visit OrgaanoNaandi .http://organo.co.in/naandi/ , http://www.naandi.co.in/about-us.htm OrgaanoNaandi .http://fhdgroup.in/studio/ Paivihir - http://www.aidjhu.org/paivihir_eco_village Paivihir - http://www.aidjhu.org/paivihir_in_times_of_india Paivihir- http://www.aidjhu.org/undp_biodiversity_award Paivihir - http://www.aidjhu.org/crouching_tiger_hidden_tribal
From left to right – Picture of the private gardens and solar canopy
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FROM GREENING TO REGENERATION
APPENDIX : Rejected Projects : ISB Hyderabad – Rejected Due to the fact that they aren’t doing much in the case of Biodiversity. Credit cannot be given to the fact that they aren’t disturbing the Ecological Value of a place. Brigade Gateway – The form hasn’t been shaped by systemic thinking. Conventional mall with water feature as a public space. They aren’t treating the water for demand. Kankaria Riverfront Project – Conventional Riverfront Development where they are aren’t doing much for the Biodiversity Value. Spice Village, Periyar Resort – It does what a resort set against the backdrop of a rural setting is supposed to do.
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