Latest news with #StabilisedEarthBlocks
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Villupuram Collector visits Auroville to explore sustainable housing models
Villupuram Collector Shiek Abdul Rahaman visited Auroville recently to explore sustainable development practices, especially housing models. According to Auroville, the Collector, accompanied by J.E. Padmaja, Additional Collector, met officials of the Auroville Foundation and discussed cost-effective building techniques used in Auroville, for replication in rural housing development projects in Villupuram district. The team was taken around Auroville by Sindhuja Jagadeesh, member, Auroville Town Development Council, Antim, from the Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee and Koshy Varghese, senior consultant for the Auroville Foundation. During the visit, officials from Villupuram surveyed low-cost and innovative material options for roofing and walling systems in Auroville. The team explored unique civil construction techniques that enable creation of buildings without heavy use of concrete, supporting multiple-storey structures up to two or three floors. A key highlight was the team's visit to the Centre for Scientific Research (CSR), where they observed the applications with Compressed Stabilised Earth Blocks (CSEB) and ferrocement channel roofing systems, a press note said. Later, the delegation visited Kinisi, an electric vehicle and cycle manufacturing and maintenance unit, housed in a building constructed using sustainable methods and an archetypal Aurovilian home, designed with lightweight roof and discussed options to resist heat during summer while remaining cost-effective. They also inspected a wood furniture workshop that repurposes wood from Auroville trees fallen during cyclones, promoting zero-waste practices. The last stop of the tour was the probiotics unit producing natural hand-washes, dishwashers, bath soaps, perfumes, and aromatic candles. According to the press note, the Collector found the sustainable housing solutions, particularly architecture and construction practices, impressive and expressed keenness to explore implementing similar eco-friendly, low-cost homes in Villupuram for the homeless and under the PMAY (Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana). The Collector was also taken up by the handicrafts and self-sustainable units that support women entrepreneurs and youth in businesses, the press note added.
New Indian Express
29-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Villupuram collector explores Auroville's eco-tech for low-cost rural housing under PMAY
VILLUPURAM: District Collector S Shiek Abdul Rahman, accompanied by Additional Collector (Development) JE Padmaja and other officials, visited the Auroville Foundation on Tuesday to examine cost-effective and sustainable building techniques for potential implementation in rural housing development projects in Villupuram. The official team was joined by Auroville Town Development Council (ATDC) member Sindhuja, Admissions and Terminations Scrutinising Committee (ATSC) member Antim, and Senior Consultant to Auroville Foundation Koshy Varghese. The secretary of the Auroville Foundation is Jayanti S Ravi. The delegation toured various structures in Auroville, showcasing alternative construction methods. They observed low-cost roofing and walling systems, including buildings constructed without the heavy use of concrete, which support two- to three-storey structures. A visit to the Centre for Scientific Research (CSR) included demonstrations of Compressed Stabilised Earth Blocks (CSEB) and FC channel roofing systems. The team also visited Kinisi, a unit focused on electric vehicle and cycle manufacturing and maintenance, which operates in a sustainably constructed building. A furniture workshop using wood from cyclone-felled trees was also inspected, promoting a zero-waste approach.
