Clean, Green, Peaceful, Exciting Chandigarh

Most Perfect City In The World - Chandigarh!

City Beautiful is clean, green, peaceful, exciting.
Chandigarh, the Capital of Punjab and Haryana, is the most perfect city ... in the world!
The City Beautiful may be, as per BBC, the perfect city in the world! Chandigarh, a Tier 2 City, has comparatively cleaner air, is green and clean. It's also peaceful and exciting. :-) It is the first planned city of India and was supposed to be traditional and embrace modernism.
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"... Le Corbusier, a renowned Swiss-French architect, was commissioned to take on the Augean task of designing the ideal city. Corbusier designed the city with the utmost precision, keeping in mind the functionality as well, making use of the natural edges formed by the hills and the two rivers to give the city its urban-form. ..."
"... What truly captures the spirit of the city is its people, who are extremely friendly, and polite unlike the brazen kinds that they are made out to be in misleading Bollywood movies. The city boasts of being a cosmopolitan one along with the serene calmness in the structure and the people. A city that perfectly juggles between tradition and modernity. "

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Find this at http://www.scoopwhoop.com/chandigarh-perfect-city-world .

Mumbai City museum's Design for its new wing

Mumbai's first international architectural competition for a public building

Mumbai City Museum's Design for its new wing.
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"... to design a new wing for the mumbai city museum. ... the wing will include an additional 125,000 square feet (11,613 square meters) of floor space, envisioned as a sculptural form dictated by the site’s boundaries. developed in white concrete, deep cuts in the structure’s envelope bring in exactly 25 lumens of daylight to each gallery. a central incision forms a shaded water basin which runs into a pool located at the center of the plan. through reflecting the new wing in addition to the existing building, the feature unites the site, while generating 60% of the museum’s electricity through photovoltaic cells located below the water’s surface. ...

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Find this at http://www.designboom.com/architecture/steven-holl-mumbai-city-museum-new-wing-india-12-09-2014 .
Find the Site Plan, Sectional Drawing etc.

Cover Image For Project ANI

Cover Picture For Project Architecture News India

Cover Photo Architecture News India Project.

That's the current Cover Photo across the Project Architecture News India in the present time.

Energy Intensivity amongst Building Materials - assessment framework

Building Materials. Energy Consumption During Manufacturing - Study

Aluminium and burnt clay bricks are amongst the most energy intensive amongst building materials used in India. There is an increasing demand for energy efficient building materials. An assessment framework for quantifying the total energy expenditure or consumption has been designed. It is called "Embodied Energy". There is a lack of data on energy consumption in manufacturing of building materials in India. The study has aimed to bridge the gap in knowledge. Actual industrial data was referred. The energy consumed during production of Cement, steel, glass, coarse aggregate, aluminium and some building products like burnt clay bricks, concrete and laterite blocks, ceramic tiles, clay roofing tiles, polished granite and marble slabs were studied.
More terms: Operational Energy, Energy Assessment, Energy Rating.
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"... The study has developed a framework for assessing the energy consumed during production of building materials, in an attempt to quantifying energy expenditures from buildings. .."
"... The production of building materials also results in emission of greenhouse gases. ... "Focus of the construction industry should be on using low energy alternative building materials".
Though earlier studies have contributed in calculating the energy expenditure, they lack agreement on the method of assessment. ... current researches in energy conservation in buildings focus more on limiting "operational energy" (lighting and air conditioning energy) in buildings, without much regard to embodied energy of buildings. ..."
"... The final analysis showed that among the basic materials, aluminium is found to have higher EE (141.55 MJ/kg- 549.16 MJ/m2) than steel (32.24 MJ/kg), glass (7.88 MJ/kg) and cement (2.38-3.72 MJ/kg). On the other hand, among the masonry units, burnt clay bricks have higher EE than concrete and laterite blocks. Ceramic floor tiles are also found to have higher EE. ..." [there is a typo in the figure or data for aluminium, we at Architecture News India feel ... MJ per square metre? - not sure.]
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Find this at http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-12-18/news/57196225_1_energy-conservation-energy-consumption-building-codes .
[Weights are mentioned as a criterion for the unit (MJ per kg), what about the volume? ... just a question from us at Architecture News India. Perhaps it is to do with one standard reference, .. and then collating or translating will be needed wherever?... We may amend this statement.]

Urban Design Proposals are ready

Delhi Urban Arts Commission Proposals Looking To Get Implemented

The DUAC proposals are ready but no government agency has approached for implementation. The Urban Development Ministry granted Rs. 15 Crore to Delhi Urban Arts Commission to prepare the proposals.
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"... “The objectives of these proposals are ecological restoration of parks, green areas and water bodies, conservation of heritage, redevelopment of redundant areas, solutions for vehicle parking, creation of more pedestrian-friendly surroundings and solid waste disposal to achieve zero waste at the local level,” a DUAC official said. ..."
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Find this at http://www.indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/ministry-tells-govt-to-implement-18-urban-design-proposals .

Bhubaneswar, Odisha. Use of Industrial Waste in Road Construction .

Odisha produces 25.307 million tonnes of fly ash and 0.828 million tonnes of slag every year

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik says that utilisation of industrial waste such as fly ash, slag and plastic in road construction should be given a serious thought. Odisha produces 25.307 million tonnes of fly ash and 0.828 million tonnes of slag every year which can be effectively used in road construction. Disposal of these materials is a troublesome task for the producers and a menace for the State.
The Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojna (PMGSY) is the biggest road sector programme in the world. ... The State Highway Development Project will focus on two-laning of all State highways. ...
Road conditions in Municipal Corporations and Notified Area Councils will improve, projects for the improvement of roads and flyovers in Bhubaneswar will be undertaken, A Bus Rapid Transit System (BRTS) and skywalks in the city are also planned.
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"... The Chief Minister said the Government has set a target to complete 114 roads in rural areas by the end of this year. The Vijayawada-Ranchi corridor, which has been substantially completed, will connect 12 tribal and Left Wing Extremism (LWE)- affected districts.
The Biju Expressway will link industrial cities of Rourkela and Raipur. “To complete construction of bridges at the earliest, engineers of the Works Department have been directed to adopt the quickest methods of construction such as Bailey Bridges,” Naveen added. ..."
"... design and construction technology for roads should be evolved by prioritising life safety and environmental impacts. Road safety is a shared responsibility which requires a holistic view of road transport system, travel speed and vehicles and road users. ..."
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Find this at http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/CM-Bats-for-Use-of-Industrial-Waste-in-Road-Construction/2015/01/20/article2627796.ece .

Lecture On Water And Architecture

Lecture on Water And Architecture

This is old news, but nevertheless, you may read it.
Refer http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/Lecture-on-water-and-architecture/articleshow/46114229.cms .
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"... This lecture will focus on the relationship of water and the architecture of India and the many ideas that we find connect water to our land. ..."
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Automated Solutions, 3D Printed Humanoid Robots

India has a 3D-printed humanoid robot

Vaish calls it Manav. Manav weighs 2 kgs. It has in-built vision and sound processing capability so it can talk and act exactly like a human, it is said. Manav is India’s first 3D (three-dimensional) printed humanoid robot. A humanoid robot is defined as one that is shaped to resemble a human. Diwakar Vaish is the inventor.
Manav performs tasks such as walking, talking and dancing “without the help of a laptop, just in response to human voice commands”, and so it is different from other robots.
Vaish has built over 40 robots including football-playing robots, writing robots and shadow robots — a robotic arm that imitates human action. They are also working on a headset that can read brainwaves and when synced with a robot can accordingly direct the robot to perform human tasks without any human intervention.
This entrepreneur has been feted by organisations.
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"... “It also has two degrees of freedom in its head and neck, allowing it to move its head sideways and up and down—a feature that is not seen in other robots in India. Besides, we are also working on adding a grabber to its arms, so that it can lift objects too,” he added.
Vaish took two months to design, fabricate, programme and test Manav, using parts that were all made in India. Manav’s outer frame is made of plastic, and it was 3D-printed ..."
"... “For example, a person in the US could guide the robot in real-time to carry out tasks at nuclear power plants, or a doctor in the US could perform a surgery in real-time on a patient in India, using such a humanoid,” said Vaish.
He and his team at A-SET are also working on a smart home-automated solution using robotic technology that can sense human feelings and perform tasks without being told like opening doors, turning on the air conditioning sensing an increase in body temperature, switching on the TV to a channel of choice. ..."

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Find this at http://www.livemint.com/Industry/rc86Iu7h3rb44087oDts1H/Meet-Manav-Indias-first-3Dprinted-humanoid-robot.html .

Andhra Pradesh has 10 years to build a capital city for itself

Singapore to build the Smart City with area over 7000 sqkm

Telangana got Hyderabad as Capital, and Andhra Pradesh has been given 10 years to build a capital city for itself, and it will be a smart city. The IT led Super City will be backed by Singapore, the world leaders in Technology. The Infrastructure Corporation Of Andhra Pradesh reached an agreement with Singapore Government. Oops, but there is a glitch, and is it a blessing in disguise for Indian Architects, Urban Designers, Urban Planners?!
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"... The city, at 7,235 square kilometres, comes in at over ten times the size of Singapore, which is mindblowing.
The masterplan, which started upon the reached agreement last month, will take six months, with the first phase of construction completed before the end of the decade.
Plenty to be done
The plans include the construction of ports, airports and utilities such as power, water, and sanitation. The Singapore-based and government-funded Centre for Liveable Cities will even take up the training of officials of the state government. ..."

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Refer http://www.siliconrepublic.com/innovation/2015/01/08/singapore-building-smart-city-in-india-10-times-bigger-than-itself .
Jest: Build The City On Rock And Roll?! No? Then we say "Build The City With Virtual Connections." :-) Can anyone come up with a good one? Write in comments! 'Blessing' for Indian Professionals as we write earlier is an irony actually.

Retaining Wall For Rankala Lake by Kolhapur Municipal Corporation

200 metres long and 12 metres high retaining wall

The Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) will construct a 200-meter retaining wall of the historical Rankala Lake. The wall of the lake was constructed in 1883. It's falling down. Grouting was a temporary solution. Here was a stone quarry earlier. Earthquake happened. The lake is 107 hectares. Architects, just visit and see if there is scope for ya! Hmm..? :-)
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"... We have decided to demolish the existing structure and construct a new wall of around 200 meters, which will be 12 feet tall. The total cost for the construction will be around Rs 78 lakh. ... Civic officials said that roots of coconut trees from the garden, which have pushed into the wall, are making the structure weak. The soil around the lake wall has loosened due to the entry of water through small ruptures. ..."
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Refer http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolhapur/KMC-to-construct-200m-retaining-wall-for-Rankala/articleshow/45960919.cms .

CSP Solar-Biomass Model In India

Renewable Energy Solar Power Plants. CSP Solar-Biomass Model In India. 

CSP stands for Concentrated Solar Power. [This is not purely Architecture but nevertheless ...]

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"... The solar-biomass model may prove to be optimal solutions when it comes to developing renewable solar energy power plants that can dependably distribute power on an ongoing basis. ..."
"... This hybrid CSP project looks interesting and, if successful, will elevate the fortunes of renewable energy and CSP in India. Called SCOPEBIG (Scalable CSP Optimised Power Plant Engineered with Biomass Integrated Gasification), the hybrid project is being set up under the EU-India Cooperation on Renewable Energy ..."
"... Among the priorities of the project is to use low-cost solar collectors and to localize all of the components, of which the latter would make the power plant a first of its kind in India. ..."
"... Specific to the India project, biomass is abundant in India, especially in Bihar, yet large quantities remain untapped. The MNRE estimates that the country produces 500 million metric tons of biomass annually but 120 to 150 million tons remain unused. ..."

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Refer http://cleantechnica.com/2015/01/19/csp-solar-biomass-model-india .

Smart Cities India Programme Reality Check

India needs to freeze, figure its modus operandi - Smart Cities Programme.

A Reality Check is needed as India embarks on its ambitious Smart Cities programme. The process will have to be both equitable and environmentally sustainable. Within the 'given' of climate change, our cities need to be more humane, resilient, enjoyable and liveable. How? Lessons from Germany >> Germany has made a commitment on energy transition. Its efforts can provide a framework for India.
In fact, with abundant sun and wind, Indian cities are better placed to switch to clean renewable energy and solar or electric transport systems, though natural sources like natural gas and biomass would be needed as well. Energy efficiency and better designed buildings, with more daylight and natural ventilation, can considerably aid this transformation. Cities and buildings consume more than 60 per cent of energy.
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".. Given the environmental risks that lie ahead, China and India will have to “de-carbonise” their cities with clean renewable energies (biomass, solar, wind, etc.) and gradually end their dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Their energy footprint will determine the roadmap to Paris 2015, when countries meet to renegotiate an international climate policy for 2050. ..."
"... In recent years, Germany has become the epicentre of the climate policy discussion. Its ambitious "Energiewende", or energy transformation, outlines a policy for a long-term transition to clean, renewable power sources like solar, biomass and wind by 2050. ..."
"... Urban researchers at the Berlin-based Ecologic Institute say Germany wants 40% of its energy to come from renewable sources by 2025, and 55 per cent of it by 2035. ... Lessons from the Energiewende could shorten the expensive learning curve for Indian cities. ..."
"... India has a unique pluralistic culture of city-building and will eventually have to choose its own indigenous trajectory. There is great resilience in Indian cities, where a large number of people live in challenging conditions in informal settlements. A holistic energy transition of future cities could enable decentralization and equity, much needed for a growing democratic nation. ..."
"... In the Indian context, a smart city would be one with self-sufficient zones of mixed land use, where amenities would be at walkable distance, which would have seamless public transport, green spaces, public spaces for celebration, institutions of learning, cultural spaces of discourse, healthcare and quality housing for all. In a paradigmatic shift, smart cities would have to recycle waste and engender an ecologically-friendly way of life. ..."

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Refer http://scroll.in/article/687490/Smart-cities:-What-India-needs-to-learn-from-Berlin .

Mixed Use Tall Building in Delhi

DDA and NBCC to construct a 100 storey building

The Delhi Development Authority has awarded land to the National Buildings Construction Corporation in East Delhi for the construction of a 100 storey tower for housing, commercial and recreational use.
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"... which means mixed use development, designed in a manner that there is access to public transportation such a Metro in the vicinity and has walkable neighbourhoods. ... While Noida and Gurgaon have seen vertical growth, Delhi is not known for highrise buildings. ..."
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Refer http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/dda-nbcc-join-hands-to-build-delhis-first-100-storey-building .

Carbon is browning the Taj Mahal

Carbon particles from fuel combustion, vehicle exhausts, trash burning , brick making are causes

A team of scientists led by Georgia Institute of Technology's Mike Bergin and Sacchichida Tripathi from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur investigated the cause. They used scanning electron microscopy. Culprit >> Carbon Particles. Sources >> fuel combustion, vehicle exhausts, trash burning and brickmaking.
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"... the pristine white exterior of the Taj Mahal's famous dome and minarets started to sport a brown hue. Since the grit is not water soluble, every few years the structure now has to be cleaned by painstakingly applying and removing a layer of clay. ..."
"... researchers began by placing small pieces of pristine white marble at several locations around Taj Mahal's main dome for two months. ..."
"... contained particles of dust, brown organic carbon and black carbon. ..."

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Refer http://www.dogonews.com/2015/1/23/scientists-identify-the-culprits-responsible-for-the-browning-of-indias-taj-mahal .

Largest Solar Panel Factory

4 Billion Dollars Solar Factory

Solar Panels will be manufactured.
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"The Indian state of Gujarat is set to be home to the largest solar panel manufacturing facility in the country. ..."

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Refer http://www.energylivenews.com/2015/01/12/4bn-solar-factory-to-be-built-in-india

Whither Mumbai. Future Of The City.

Prevent the Megapolis from turning into a Necropolis?

Coordination between Centre and State is required. Mumbai. Various projects are pending clearances. This one is a take on Urban Management and the author is concerned about the 'financial' index of the city vis-a-vis rest of the worlds' cities. Multiple Structures must come together.
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"... Two issues are crucial to Mumbai’s development: the provision of affordable housing and planned open spaces within the city. While these two could be hard to achieve, given that the existing per capita open space ratio (area of open space a citizen has access to) is a mere 0.99 square metre, it is the need of the hour. In this context, I am happy to note that the chief minister has announced the increase in the floor space index of up to four for the construction of houses for police and public sector employees. ..."

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Architecture India News notes that the terms "sustainable living" and "stakeholders" are intertwined or linked to each other as if this is a necessity. 'What does that mean', you ask? 'So what', you ask? We'll not comment on that. . . We will. . . >> Paisa Paisa.
It's a given? Capitalist Trader will decide sustainability?
Refer http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-city-is-the-solution-not-the-problem/99 .

Chandigarh City, Le Corbusier

Celebration of Chandigarh City to Commemorate the 50th death anniversary of Le Corbusier

Celebrating Le Corbusier’s Chandigarh is a tribute to the legendary architect on his 50th death anniversary. Chandigarh is a world and living heritage. There were supposed to be a no. of creative, intellectual and spectacular events. Public involvement was the aim.
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"... also keeping in mind that we are seeking UNESCO transnational inscription for the city. ..."
"... This was meant to depict day and night and the engineering department has completed making it, which people can now view on the geometric hill. ..."
"... Corbusier ushered in modernism in India, and his buildings have no Colonial hangover, and nowhere in the world has anyone made a city like Chandigarh. Yes, this is an opportunity for us to look at the heritage of Chandigarh, which is a world and living heritage. So, the Department of Tourism, Chandigarh; Chandigarh College of Architecture; and Department of Urban Planning, Chandigarh, have planned a series of events, with international appeal, to celebrate his legacy with a series of lectures, seminars and other events. ..."
"... The city was designed for five lakh people, and we are almost 12 lakh now, but the city is ..."
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Find this at http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/corbusiers-architecture-is-timeless/
Our inputs: He is known for beton brut - 'naked concrete'.

4D Living Housing Unit by IDC Bombay

IIT-Bombay Industrial Design Centre (IDC) comes up with shared serviced homes

Dedensification will allow upward mobility. Resources will be shared. Ownership and rental are mixed. Housing is a product?, or a service? :-)
The Housing unit displays how spaces and facilities may be shared. T'is called 4D.
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"... After four years of planning and design, and visiting slums across the country, the centre came up with the two variants of 3D and 4D living spaces which are both affordable and sustainable.
The 3D home, designed by three IIT-B students, is fit for a family with stowaway couches, chairs and movable walls. ... their project allows people to make optimum use of every inch of the space. The idea can be incorporated to accommodate a family of six in a 100 sqft space, ..."
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Refer http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/IIT-B-centre-designs-affordable-shared-serviced-homes/articleshow/45916407.cms .

Water Smart City

Technology is what makes a Smart City? Here is Water Smart City now.

A water smart city should be about a water-literate community.
Refer http://www.thehindu.com/features/homes-and-gardens/design-watersmart-cities/article6793872.ece .
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"... These groups are community groups and not the traditional NGOs. They champion a local lake as a resource as they are closely affiliated to it in the sense of geography and take great pride in it as a community property. They work closely with authorities and institutions ..."

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ANI says in jest, Water Smart City?, or a Smart "Water City"?

This Smart - Equitable City Makes More Sense.

The powerful and the political even change the policy

The World Bank said that 'natural' migration from rural areas to urban centres 'should not' be stopped. "Deprivation due to disparity" may have been acknowledged but the various forces at play have not been interpreted correctly in the context of time, place, locale. The powerful and the political class fulfill their nefarious agenda by even 'changing' policy, which is a criminality. All rural schemes seem to be 'mechanisms' of giving away rural land to the builders. Centralisation of basic services is desired.
Refer http://www.indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/city-must-be-equitable-not-smart .
‪Medha Patkar, founding member of Ghar Bachao Ghar Banao Andolan says...
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"... Why can’t lakhs of people in a megalopolis afford a house? Urban planners are invariably biased against poor dwellers. Land distribution and allocation is tilted against the masses. With no limits to houses per family and thousands of cars (each requiring space at home, the office and on the road), new infrastructure is created for the rich, usurping large chunks of land.
The majority of the population, including construction workers, who are the real builders, is left without even a small piece of land to erect shelters. Instead of a right to shelter, housing schemes further distort the priority and allocation.
Hiranandani Gardens in Mumbai is the worst example of how concessions under the Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976, were misused. The holder of the power of attorney during the purchase of land later taken over by the government at the cheapest rate got it back in the name of a development scheme at the same rate, 40 paise per acre. The condition that it would be used for low-cost housing stands violated and the Bombay High Court’s order to build 3,144 houses for the needy, before any further construction, has not been obeyed either.
The Adarsh Society and Lavasa cases being fought by us are indicative of how the politically influential get hold of the desired land in violation of all laws and regulations, even by changing policy. But the poor struggle against eviction and “illegality” throughout their lives. Legal workers and legal voters they may be, yet they are treated as illegal residents.
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The answer lies in a housing policy that includes low-cost rental and dormitory accommodation for temporary migrants, reserving land for “site and service” schemes for the poor. No free houses, but self-reliant, participatory community or cooperative housing schemes by and for the poor that lease out land on a long-term basis, are a solution. The land in the hands of a few landlords, individual and corporations, should be requisitioned and redistributed.
The goal of minimising uncontrolled migration can be attained not through aggressive and divisive regional politics but through rural development. Ensuring adequate livelihood sources developed in the neighbourhood, based on the natural and human resources available within a local unit, should be the priority. This will not exclude industrialisation; on the contrary, it will promote it.
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Above all, no urbanisation that exploits the working classes within should be acceptable. We have to think of ways to evolve equitable and sustainable alternatives in each sector of urban planning, be it water, energy, waste management or housing. Smart cities are not the answer, as those will only replicate an anti-poor bias. Shanghai, Singapore or even Curitiba, an example of sustainable urban planning, cannot be taken as readymade models. India needs to evolve a new, truly indigenous paradigm based on the constitutional values of equity and justice."

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Complete sub city zoned out of Delhi parts

DDA envisions a complete sub city located in area of 20-24 hectares

A Smart City is to be zoned out of Dwarka, Rohini and Narela. It will be equipped with latest technologies and waste-management techniques.
Refer http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-01-02/news/57611557_1_electric-buses-dwarka-smart-city .
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"... 2000 flats are being proposed for citizens aged 60 and above. 800 of them are being planned in Dwarka, while rest in Rohini and south Delhi. We have already appointed a management consultant and on January 15 we are calling in the architect for the design. We are also in talks with the banks to see if reverse mortgaging facility could be allowed ..." ... "... also plan to bring in cycle sharing project, where through last-mile connectivity, people would be able to use the road through dedicated cycle tracks and park them at metro stations. Besides, we are contemplating on e-buses (electric buses) and study is being currently done by an institute ..."

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Andhra Pradesh's Capital City Master Plan 'outsourced'. Enter Singapore.

Joint development of parts for core capital area, capital city area and larger regional level.

Singapore Government will design a master plan for building the new Andhra Pradesh capital near Viyaywada. It will not be rigid imposition. There would be joint development of parts of master plan which will be for the core capital area, capital city area and the larger regional level.
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"... "We have a strategy to move forward and everything will be done systematically and scientifically. We want to build a capital that is economically, socially and environmentally sustainable," Naidu said.
As the Chief Minister said the master plan for the "core capital area" of "8 or 15 sq kms" would be ready in six months, Iswaran, too, maintained some details of the project would expectedly be ready by mid-2015. ..."

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Find this at http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/infrastructure/singapore-to-design-master-plan-for-andhras-new-capital/articleshow/45418636.cms .

National War Memorial And War Museum

War Memorial and War Museum to be built now

This is being actively considered by the Indian Government now. The National War Memorial was first proposed in the 1960's.
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"... "A proposal to construct a National War Memorial and National War Museum to commemorate our brave soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifice for the country, is under active consideration," Mr Parrikar said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. ..."
"... Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who was also Mr Parrikar's predecessor in the Defence Ministry, announced an allocation of Rs100 crore for the a war memorial, which he said would be constructed in the Princes Park area near India Gate in the national capital. ..."
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Find this at http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/government-considering-building-national-war-memorial-defence-minister-manohar-parrikar-713985 .

Building Bye Laws For Municipal And Metropolitan Bihar

Bihar Passes New Building Bye-Laws

Now Bihar has a framework for any construction development programme for its municipal and metropolitan areas.
Only G+1 with 7 m ht. on 12' wide rd.
G+2 of 10 m ht. allowed on a more than 12' wide rd., but FAR within 150 (they use 1.5).
G+2 of 16 m ht. allowed on 16' wide rd., but FAR 180 (they use 1.8).
G+3 allowed on 20' wide rd., but FAR 200 (they use 2).
G+5 allowed on 30' wide rd., but FAR 250 (they use 2.5).
On 80' wide rd., FAR is 300 (they use 3).
On 90' wide rd., FAR is 350 (they use 3.5).
On 100' wide rd., FAR is 350 (they use 3.5).
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"... old and new buildings with the height of 16 metres from the level of a road with a width of 16 feet would have a 1.8 floor area ratio.
The builder will have to take a structural stability certificate for constructing a building of 15 metres height. ... the process has been simplified for constructing a building on a plot of 300 square metres. All the new buildings will be earthquake resistant.
As per the bylaws, only ground plus one storey building with a ceiling of 7 metres will be allowed on 12 feet wide road. One can construct G+2 (of 10 metre height) on a road more than 12 feet wide, but the floor area ratio (FAR) would not exceed beyond 1.5. Likewise, on a 16ft wide road, G+2 (of 16 metres height) with FAR 1.8 is allowed. On a 20ft wide road, a G+3 building could be constructed with FAR 2 and on 30ft road, it could be G+5 with FAR 2.5.
This apart, a G+3 has been allowed on 20ft road while G+5 on 30, 40 and 60ft road would have FAR of 2.5. On an 80ft wide road, the FAR would be 3.0, for 90 and 100 feet it would be 3.5 each. Any new building would have to spare minimum 25 percent and a maximum 35% of the total area for parking. Buildings constructed in groups on a bigger plot would have to spare additional 15 percent land for the movement of ambulance. ..."
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Also read about a linear accelerator at Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) and a superspecialty hospital.
Find this at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Govt-approves-building-bylaws/articleshow/45353302.cms .

Small Plot Owners In Delhi Can Submit Information And Start Constructing

Small House In Delhi? No Sanction Needed Now.

Plot owners with plots up to 100 square metres area can start construction after submitting all required information in one page. For plots above 100 sqm and till 20,000 sqm, the authorities have 30 days to respond for approval after submission to them by plot owners. If no response comes then it would be deemed approved! For plots above 20,000 sqm, a single window clearance mechanism is being devised wherein people from the Urban Development Ministry alongwith others will reject or approve. A Secretariat for the same is proposed. So this is going to be a single reference 'ready reckoner' after the 1983 notification. Changes notified over the years will be of course included.
#Delhi #BuildingByeLaws #ByeLaws
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"... In a move that would bring huge relief to applicants seeking approval of building plans, the norms have been simplified and rationalized to cut down red tape and corruption. While small residential plots of size up to 100 sq metres have been exempted from sanction procedures, a 30-day deadline has been fixed for approving or rejecting building plans on plots in the range of 100 sq metres and 20,000 sq metres. ..."
"... Delhi Urban Arts Commission (DUAC) in association with Delhi Development Authority (DDA) and municipal bodies completed the simplification exercise and submitted draft simplified bye-laws to ministry. ..."
"... "We have clearly defined and specified the powers and competency of professionals and agencies such as engineers, architects and town planners. It also specifies which project needs clearance from Heritage Conservation Committee, Archeological Survey of India or National Monument Authority. These aim at ending confusion and other agencies unnecessarily trying to play some role in getting such clearances," an official said. ..."

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Find this at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/No-sanction-needed-to-build-small-house/articleshow/45696802.cms .

Solar photo voltaic cells across the slope of a dam in Maharashtra

India's First Solar Farm on Dam Wall

Solar photovoltaic cells are being erected across the slope of a Dam. This is an India-first.
The panels will be erected on the downstream slope of the Morbe gravity dam across the Dhavari river. This will generate 20MW power. The topography of the dam is its main feature. 32 million units power will be generated and fed into the grid.
This solar panels installation is different from the land ones. Mounting structures cannot be heavy. Structural integrity of the dam itself will be compromised otherwise. Although panels are being erected on the surface of dam reservoirs and canals, this is the first time -- possibly in the world -- that engineers are using the slope of a dam. India also has solar panels over canals.
Quote: 'India receives 4-7 kWh of solar radiation per square metre per day, with 300-325 sunny days in the year. India has abundant solar resources, as it receives about 3,000 hours of sunshine every year, equivalent to over 5,000 trillion kWh.'
A 1 MW solar power installation on top of a canal in Mehsana district was built. The pilot project spanned 750 metres. The project generates 1.6 million units of clean power and by covering the surface of the water, prevents 9 million litres from evaporating every year. Estimate is that by using one-tenth of the existing network of 19,000 km for solar panels, 11,000 acres of land and 2,000 million litres of water can be saved.
Punjab is also interested in the same and it has an extensive network of canals. Nano technology may be used to provide lightweight structures to support the panels over canals.
#SolarPower #Dams #DamsIndia #SolarPowerIndia #SolarFarm #SolarPanels #Maharashtra #Punjab #Gujarat #Kerala
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"... The panels have to be installed carefully, considering that the slope of the dam is earthen. "It extends for 3 km and we are erecting the panels on the slope," Rahul Gupta, the 27-year-old founder of Rays Power told indiaclimatedialogue.net. ..."
"... "Land is the biggest constraint," said Gupta, "so there is a huge potential in erecting panels over dams. The central government is proposing to help develop such technology." ..."
"... Since the Narmada dam authorities are presently building 19,000 km of canals to carry water to drought-stricken Saurashtra and Kutch, the scope for using these for solar power is immense. With declining costs of solar photovoltaic panels, the cost of such power has dropped from Rs 17 crores ($3 million) to Rs 11-12 crores ($1.8-1.9 million) per MW. Eventually, the canal network will extend for around 85,000 km. ..."
"... Meanwhile, Kerala is planning to set up another 1 MW pilot project where the panels would float over the reservoir of the Meenkara dam in Palakkad district. ..."
"... The National Hydroelectric Power Corporation is also planning to set up a 50 MW floating solar panel project in Kerala ... "
"... While conventional solar projects require 4 acres of land to generate 1 MW of power, with an investment of Rs 7 crore ($1.1 million), a floating alternative will call for 10-20% less surface area and cost Rs 6.5 crore ($1 million) per MW. This will generate power costing Rs 7 (11 cents) a unit, a rupee less than the conventional solar power system.
The Damodar Valley Corporation -- which straddles Jharkhand and West Bengal -- also plans to install 1,000 MW worth of solar power by covering 2,500 km of irrigation canals. ..."

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Find this at http://www.huffingtonpost.com/darryl-dmonte/maharashtra-races-to-buil_b_6343148.html .

Testing and display of Textile Reinforced Concrete (TRC) - Green Building Lab.

India's First green building lab. After FRC there is now TRC.

A 'green building laboratory' was inaugurated at Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association (ATIRA). IGB Lab is India's first innovative and green building laboratory. The laboratory will be used for testing as well as display of Textile Reinforcement Concrete (TRC). The lab has been established with international partners and India's CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre, Chennai.
They want to convince Architects about TRC's feasibility. Until now, for green buildings, FRC (Fibre Reinforced Concrete) was being used. Technology for manufacturing TRC in India does not exist as of now. TRC requires alkali-resistant glass as raw material which is used to make warp-knitted structures and alkali resistant glass is not available in India. Import duty is high.
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"... Textile-reinforced concrete is a type of reinforced concrete in which the usual steel reinforcing bars are replaced by textile materials. Instead of using a metal cage inside the concrete, this technique uses a fabric cage inside the same.
According to experts, TRC is 80% lighter than fiber-reinforced composite (FRC) and stronger. This lab is an attempt to make the builders aware about this green building technology. ..."
"... TRC can also be used for curved structures and in comparison to FRC gives extra carpet area to builders."
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Find this at http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/First-green-building-lab-in-country-opens-at-Ahmedabad-Textile-Industrys-Research-Association/articleshow/45594989.cms .

Famished For News!

Scroll Down for News

So the Introductions are over and it is time for News. News has already begun as you have noticed. You just need to scroll down and find more news. Introductions were spread, scattered later in between! On this Project expect news items in blitzes for a few days interspersed with brief lulls, or long lulls, or very long blitzes.
Thanks. You may invite your friends, colleagues, associates, family to G+1 this Page, and the Posts, and of course you can Follow the Google+. Spread Buzz, Spread Some Love! Share At Will.

Cooling Solution That Is Energy Efficient. Private Enterprise.

Jointless Pipes carry water and water is circulated.

Modern technology is used to provide an effective cooling solution. You lay joint less polypropylene pipes on roof and walls with water flowing through them and connect them to a circulation tank. Pipes can be covered. A small pump and fan for the radiator are needed. Solar panel can provide the power. They call it thermodrain and is costing Rs. 100/sqft. This may not be as effective everywhere. Humidity also plays its roll.
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"... has now developed a modern solution that mimics the age-old techniques used in constructing heritage buildings. ..."
"... heritage buildings like Taj Mahal, Lotus Temple and Gol Gumbaj ensure a cooler clime inside is that they have thick walls that act as a barrier to heat. The scale of construction was always grand, resulting the structure acting as a heat capacitor. And a water body close to the building drains the heat stored ..."
"... Water will pass into the tank through a radiator, which releases the heat stored in the water into the atmosphere and recirculates cooler water through the house, resulting in temperature of the structure being brought down. ..."
"... had this system installed at the smarak three years ago. We then switched from a 72-ton AC system to a 42-ton one, saving a lot of money. ..."

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Find this at http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-a-building-technology-to-usher-in-cool-climes-2051543 .

Let Us All Gear Up! Project ANI.

For Whom Is The News Meant? .. Architecture News India ..?

Ok Now, Let's Gear Up. For Whom Is This News Meant?

   The Project 'News Architecture India' is meant for Architects, Consultants, allied service providers, Contractors, Fabricators, Vendors, Manufacturers, Suppliers and the 'General Public', of course. In fact, the 'General Public' is the main recipient (let's make it clear as we begin) or the intended audience, because the news over here shall be from general or normal news sources.
   Now, the following shall be covered or 'touched': 'Building', 'Construction', 'Technology', 'Design' of course, whenever they are touching or nearing Architecture', ok? This is being mentioned specifically. You attempt something like this, and then you'll figure the reason of our mentioning it like this (sit pretty in a couch for hours together with eyes shut and think and then you'll figure). Go Figure. They are all very vast realms or subjects in themselves.
   The following is guiding us and shall be apparent as we trundle along: Method (includes Design Solutions), Technique, Technology, Science. ModusOperandi? Yes. 

Base is "Architecture".

Proof Lies In The Pudding

Background Checks? Owner is an Architect

Proof lies wherever. The owner, founder of Ether Domains is an Architect and runs his own small tootaa phootaa Consultancy. Visit Environs and you may download the visiting card from there.

The Proof Is In The Pudding.

Infosys Mysuru to display expertise to UD Ministry - Smart Cities

Mysuru Campus as precedent for Smart City India

Infosys is set to leverage its 'showcase Mysuru Campus' capability, ability and provide its expertise to the Urban Development Ministry in building Smart Cities. They have a precedent set, in other words, in smart infrastructure planning and sustainable building technology. They will develop their 350 acre campus, a mini city, as a model smart city to demonstrate advances in Urban Development. It's got 12 million square feet built up area and can house 15,000 trainees, 8,000 employees and several thousand contract workers. Infosys uses radiant cooling, day lighting and effective retrofit strategies to reduce energy consumption. The Command Centre will be in Bangalore.
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"... The $8.3-billion company's smart city concept is based on leveraging the power of data and technologies in building and using IT to minimise energy and resource consumption, increase use of renewable energy and reduce waste. ..."
"... "With our experience in computing technologies and in managing urban spaces totalling 2,600 acres, with a built-up area of 39 million square feet across the country, our model ecosystem at Mysuru will serve as an example of smart city innovations," Sikka said on the occasion. ..."
"... "The command centre analyses data of energy consumption, building operations and uses advanced algorithms for energy saving, predictive maintenance to ensure operational excellence," the statement added. ..."

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Find this at http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/infosys-to-offer-expertise-in-building-smart-cities-727239 .

Energy Efficient Design - Architecture Curriculum

India must change focus from emissions and cuts to areas like energy efficiency.

The Prime Minister calls for pushing green technology and international cooperation. He has called for a review of the curricula in architecture and civil engineering colleges so that energy-efficient design is incorporated majorly. Preparations for INDCs (Intended Nationally Determined Contributions) was discussed.
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"... India must highlight its achievements in energy efficiency, conservation and clean energy and see what more can be done in these areas, instead of focusing solely on emissions and cuts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested.
Speaking at the first meeting of the revamped high level panel on climate change, Modi also called for setting up a consortium of nations with high solar energy potential, an official statement said. ..."
"... INDCs are steps every country is expected to take to tackle climate change, keeping in mind their domestic circumstances and goals. These submissions will form the basis for negotiations at the United Nations (UN) climate change conference in Paris in December. India is expected to submit its INDCs to the UN by June. ..."
"... a paradigm shift in global attitudes towards climate change, from carbon credit towards green credit ..."
"... “The prime minister said India looks at the global concern and awareness on climate change, as a great opportunity for working towards improving the quality of life of its citizens, and making a positive contribution for mankind,” the statement added. ..."

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Find this at http://www.livemint.com/Politics/jyXR8Ynz5WaRqcH9xA1vyO/PM-Modi-calls-for-green-technology-push-international-coope.html .