The way to achieve environmentally-friendly construction is very confusing.
“Climate change is not frequently considered by architects as a significant concern. However, our goal at Masons Ink, a Bangalore-based architecture firm, is to alter this mindset,” states Rosie Paul, a co-founder.
It is clear to us that climate change directly impacts the quality of your living environment, and it is important to begin constructing strong and durable structures.
Ms. Paul and her friend of sixteen years, Sridevi Changali, are dedicated to safeguarding India’s historical tradition of using mud in construction. They highlight the material’s eco-friendly characteristics, which make it a suitable solution to combat the current issue of high carbon construction.
Muddy the waters
Can you believe the power of mud? It’s actually able to let air pass through, leading to better indoor air and preventing the growth of dampness and mold that cement often holds onto and promotes.
Mud walls possess a high thermal capacity, enabling them to gradually soak up heat from the sun and retain it, emitting it during lower evening temperatures. This lessens the reliance on air conditioning units, which use significant amounts of power and release strong greenhouse gases.
As mud is readily available, it removes much of the transportation cost and footprint. Sridevi notes, “the manufacturing and the processing is done by local communities, so you’re giving back to local livelihoods rather than large manufacturing plants and large companies.”
Is mud a viable option? Rosie and Sri, architects, are embracing natural earth building methods to create environmentally-friendly buildings that can endure severe climate conditions like sudden floods and extreme temperatures.
Thomas Payyapilli built his mud house with the least amount of money possible, minimizing its impact on the environment.
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Take a stand for women.
They are simultaneously advocating for more women to finish their education in architecture and educating more women in hands-on skills for construction work, such as stone carving.
“I believe that as soon as the topic of gender is brought up, it creates a divide between individuals,” Rosie expresses. “However, this is not the case. We simply want to address the issues we face in our profession and gain support in making necessary changes.”
“Let’s increase the number of women employed in our architecture firms. Let’s strive for more female representation on construction sites. We should prioritize their safety aspects. The goal is to address and overcome any obstacles, while encouraging others to join us in this fight.”
In 2013, Masons Ink Studio was founded by Rosie Paul (left) and Sridevi Changali.
Thomas Payyapilli, a client of Masons Ink, was one of their first supporters. Their design for his mud home was focused on minimizing waste.
Two key components influenced the idea, according to him: minimizing expenses and minimizing harm to the natural surroundings. He explains that his farm has obtained official certification as an organic operation and now produces fragrant and healing herbs.
Sindhoor Pangal, a different customer, views her mud house as a break from a dissatisfying city lifestyle. She shared, “Like many others, I began my career in the corporate sector. However, over time, I became disillusioned with that way of life.” Her intended relocation to a rural area was met with tragedy when her husband, Uttam, passed away suddenly.
During my conversation with Masons Ink, it was crucial for me that they were also aware of my spouse. They comprehended my experience and the starting point of my ideas. Miraculously, this translated into the final design. Masons Ink and Sindhoor collaborated with a team of only female masons to construct her residence, which she describes as “a tribute to my husband and the life we shared together”.
Rosie and Sridevi both have the power to make significant contributions towards addressing the issue of climate change.
Women, regardless of their location or profession, are encouraged to do their part in moving forward. The speaker hopes to see an increase in women architects and women in various work environments, as they believe the future is female.
Source: news.un.org
