This post is created by The Better India and sponsored by Wingify Earth.

The Symbiosis University Hospital and Research Centre (SUHRC) in Lavale, Pune, has been awarded the prestigious 2021 Surface Design Awards in London, winning the title of ‘Supreme Winner’. IMK Architects, based in Mumbai, were responsible for the design of the hospital and extensively researched Compressed Stabilised Earth Bricks (CSEB) for use in the construction process. CSEB was chosen for its low carbon footprint, structural strength, and toxin-free maintenance. The bricks are formed by compressing damp soil under high pressure, requiring no fire, unlike kiln-fired bricks. Dry inorganic subsoil, non-expansive clay, aggregates, and cement are commonly used to make these bricks, which have been used in buildings across the world, from France to Egypt, Somalia to Mexico.

The IMK Architects team visited the Auroville Earth Institute, which had already conducted extensive research on CSEB, to identify a material with a low embodied energy for their green campus project. They wanted to use something hyperlocal, and soil from the land was a perfect fit. Although the clients were hesitant about using the material initially, they saw the benefits of CSEB towards the end of the project. The building was completed in a year and a half, with a second phase of 600 beds completed in six months.

IMK Architects has been using CSEB in other buildings on the campus since 2005, experimenting with facades to reflect light and create a beautiful green space. The Bhuj-based Hunnarshala Foundation helped the architects understand the bricks, suggesting they try corbelling and give them a faceted edge. Training masons to make the bricks since 2005 has enabled one to become a supervisor and train others. Rahul Kadri, Partner and Principal Architect at IMK Architects, is now busy building schools, libraries, hotels, and housing projects.

WingifyEarth encourages such proactive actions to safeguard the environment and keep it clean.

#WingifyEarth in partnership with 'The Better India'