Sustainability & Plurality in Built Environment - a case study of RECONSTRUCTION: opportunities and barriers to a inclusive, sustainable and plural response By Radha Kunke John DSouza, CED, 29 th March 2011 SETDEV final Seminar, Hyderabad

First, A TRIBUTE

… Then the question… What we know

Post Disaster.. the built environment constructed over hundreds of years will be reconstructed In just ten years… Thus, every decision, action has immediate impact.. The slogan.. Build Back Better.. But what is BETTER?

We look at 3 Disasters Gujarat earthquake Tamil Nadu tsunami Bihar Kosi floods

The Gujarat earthquake of villages in 21 districts of 25 districts. 370,000 houses destroyed, 922,000 damaged loss of Rs. 21,262 crores.

The tsunami of 2004 damaged more than 150,000 housing units in the states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Pondicherry estimated damages of Rs crore ($228.5 million)..

In Bihar, August 2008, the flood waters of the Koshi damage across 3000 sq km of land area in five districts 3,40,000 dwellings were destroyed

Gujarat The reconstruction was a progressive owner driven approach choice of building materials and technology firmly in people’s hands. created spaces for people’s knowledge system to be expressed. initiative legitimized traditional and alternative practices and

TN Tsunami Government responded with total control over reconstruction process with little or no choice or control in people’s hands. Agency like UNDP decided guidelines NGOs implemented using outside labour & materials Delegitimized and rejected traditional practices of the people.

Bihar Kosi Floods Delay due to conflict between centre & State People went ahead with their own reconstruction Using bamboo and mud as materials Old IAYconcrete houses in dis-repair Some Combo techniques evolved by people

What we know is the S & T of construction -Dominant -Traditional -Alternative In -building materials, -design, & -techniques and methods

KNOWLEDGE SWARAJ Not so much about Getting rid of rule by the “the other”.. Or self-sufficiency.. But being capable of governing, ordering our built environment,

In construction.. 70% of the people build their own homes - all different, using a variety of locally available materials, completely custom- built and contextualized, energy efficient and user-friendly. ( Plurality, Sustainability) natural materials being used: mud, stone, grass, bamboo, wood and a host of other local materials,

Plurality in Reconstruction 30% Of BE built by Govt. /Mainstream Government’s policies Institutions, govt. & private alike Do not recognised the 70%, dismissing them as frail, temporary and unsafe structures. They reject the dominant, in favour of the modern and new materials of concrete and steel.

The Case Study

The 30% does not recognise the 70%, dismissing them as frail, temporary and unsafe structures. They reject the dominant, in favour of the modern and new materials of concrete and steel.

Sustainability in reconstruction Looked more as DURABLE, TOUGH… So stronger buildings, heavier materials.. Concrete, Steel etc. Thus, Guidelines in TN.. Embankments on the Koshi.. As also the Japanese nuclear plants!

RCC.. ‘safe’ and durability If technical requirements are not strictly followed, they only end up becoming a hazard during calamities.. People are not familiar with its requirements, nor can they maintain/repair themselves. Costs are also high..

Jugaad

Jugaad.. Contd..

The Lawrie Baker Option: filler slab, exposed brick, rat trap.. Combo..

The larger policy decisions are being clearly being taken away from the people and are being made by the Establishment

Radha Kunke, Architecture & Development Need to articulate & mainstream Ethics in Built Environment. based on plurality, sustainability, justice, swaraj, and ahimsa