SAaTh—Sustainability in Action and Thought—embodies this vision by promoting sustainable practices across the architecture, construction, and design sectors. India, home to 18% of the world’s population but just 4% of its freshwater, faces a critical challenge: balancing development with sustainability. The construction industry, while essential to economic growth, consumes 12% of global freshwater and generates up to 30% of global landfill waste. The over-extraction of natural resources for construction has placed the planet in an ecological overshoot, requiring “1.5 Earths” to sustain current lifestyles. This situation demands a transformative approach to building practices, one that reduces resource consumption while supporting sustainable development.
Ethos Foundation, in collaboration with Mphasis F1 Foundation, aims to address this challenge through Project SAaTh (Sustainability in Action and Thought). This is a program built around fostering architects’ social responsibility integrated with an approach towards sustainability. SAath encourages innovative solutions and promoting sustainable construction practices. It also seeks to create opportunities to reverse the ecological debt incurred by unsustainable development. In addition to that, the initiative focuses on aligning the construction sector with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in areas like water conservation and responsible resource use.
To catalyze this shift, Ethos Foundation and Mphasis F1 Foundation are inviting architects, educators, students, and professionals to take action. The time to act is now—every building, every decision, and every idea can make a difference. Join us, with the following initiatives that are being offered.
At Ethos Foundation, we firmly believe that educators and students are the unsung heroes shaping our future. Project Inspire is our initiative to honour these changemakers who are driving real, transformative change. They challenge the ordinary and usher in sustainable practices while creating ripples of impact that extend far beyond the classroom.
We are looking for such inspiration from Architecture, Design, and Planning faculty members for the Design Educators Awards and the Student of the Year Awards to students taking personal action including but also beyond their design journey.
By celebrating these efforts through Project Inspire, we recognise that change is driven by the passion and dedication of individuals who dare to make a difference.
Recognising that educators play a vital role, we equally honour the students. They are true catalysts of change who will carry forward the vision of sustainable practices and its future. Their creativity, commitment, and passion are the driving forces behind a better society.
This initiative is open to educators across India who are making a profound impact through their teaching practices. By submitting examples of your innovative methods and student outputs, you can highlight your unwavering commitment to sustainability and inspire others in the field.
Editor’s Note: Some places feel rooted because they belong to their surroundings rather than trying to stand apart from them. Coffee Sangam in Andhra Pradesh takes this approach through a raw, tactile palette of brick, stone, teak, and mild steel. The random rubble compound wall extends the landscape into the architecture, while the Corten steel […]
Envisioned as a contemporary home rooted in Indian sensibilities, this residence sits on a south-facing urban plot. The design accommodates the evolving lifestyle of a multi-generational family. The project integrates architecture and interiors to create functional, climate-responsive, and emotionally connected spaces. Each level balances privacy with interaction. The design also allows flexibility for changing family […]
Editorial Note: Some homes are shaped by the memories, objects, and stories their residents carry with them. Ungana in Chennai, meaning “merge” in Swahili, brings together a well-travelled family’s collection of antiques and everyday rituals within a narrow urban plot. A double-height living space becomes the heart of the home, connecting the kitchen and dining […]
House of the Framed Atrium explores how a contemporary home can revolve around light, connection, and shared experiences. The design follows the ideas of a Living Atrium, Living with Nature, Framed Volumes, Vertical Living, and Timeless Materiality. The residence connects a sequence of interconnected spaces around a dramatic triple-height atrium. The atrium forms the heart […]
A Mock-up That Became a Home – For an architecture practice, a mock-up often helps test an idea before the team translates it into a larger project. It allows architects to work at full scale, examine materials and construction techniques, and understand their limitations. The process also gives them room to test different brick bonds and […]
The house began not with a formal brief, but with a conversation about the kind of life the clients hoped to build within it. Set between the denser urban fabric of Kannur and the quieter residential landscapes of North Kerala, the project responds to a desire for openness and connection. At the same time, the […]
“Pravah” — A House That Breathes is envisioned as the main concept of this home revolves around a fluid, light-filled home where architecture becomes a continuous experience of movement, air, and connection. Located in Pal Gamtal, Surat, the project is a residential redevelopment on a 1,850 sq.ft. plot within a dense urban fabric. The site, […]
Timeless architectural features, such as courtyards, are always associated with bringing the naturally public forms to the world’s heart, building the most peaceful, secluded outdoor areas. These outdoor spaces maximize the living experience with their private space feature, which gives one the option for leisurely relaxation, recreation, or gardening. Furthermore, it has also been a […]
Architecture font choices go beyond style—they shape how your work is perceived. From portfolios to presentations, the right architecture font instantly communicates clarity, precision, and personality. As architects, we design not just with space but with every detail, including typography. Selecting a strong architecture font shows your commitment to visual storytelling and design consistency. In […]
The Indian farmhouse accommodation goes on to capitalize on a mature evolutionary synthesis of ancestral aesthetics and contemporary features. With this, the outside and the inside of farmhouses became places of comfort with nature. In this blog, we delve into 15 incredible farmhouse designs that entail a harmonious blending. While they exhibit different spaces in […]