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.
Our urban landscapes are undergoing a rapid transformation, pressured by burgeoning populations and increasing demands on city infrastructure. To address these escalating challenges, urban planners continually revise zoning regulations. In Delhi, for instance, a significant regulatory change introduced mandatory stilt parking on small urban lots with four habitable floors above. Gurugram, a satellite city, subsequently adopted […]
K’s Veranda, the latest pizzeria in the story of K’s Charcoal in Ahmedabad, embodies the spirit of Hiren Patel Architects + Design (HPAD) — crafting spaces that breathe, balance, and belong. What once was a lively, open lawn beside the restaurant has blossomed into a soulful retreat. Here, walls seem to melt into the landscape, and the indoors […]
Set on a 1 acre plot, this North Goan Home inspired by Portuguese Architecture was built a century ago by the erudite Dr. Aquilino Almeida. He was a famous surgeon and doctor of Western India, having been well educated in Edinburgh. He had travelled the world on deputations across Africa, Middle East, Afghanistan. Being Royal Medical […]
Amidst the quiet rhythm of nature, this farmhouse emerges as an architectural retreat – a seamless balance of leisure, comfort, and understated luxury. Designed as a contemporary sanctuary away from the bustle of the city, the residence is imagined as a space where modernity meets serenity, and architecture becomes a bridge between people and the […]
As industrial landscapes evolve, so do the spatial and cultural demands of the workplaces within them. In response to the growing operational and experiential needs of an existing agro-industrial unit in India, this office extension is conceived not as a mere addition of square footage, but as a spatial and philosophical intervention—anchored in ideas of […]
Tucked within the leafy lanes of Sagar Society, Hyderabad, this 7,450 sq. ft. villa rises as a contemporary residence deeply anchored in tradition and nature. Three towering trees frame the structure at its entry, their organic silhouettes tempering the scale of the built form and setting the stage for a home that balances architectural gravitas […]
“Even within the smallest green lies all the purity and freshness of Eden.” This idea became the seed for Eden Moss, a home nestled in an ecological environment and imagined as a breath of freshness, evoking the scent of mud after rain, and seamlessly intertwined with nature while still embracing comfort and contextual charm. Nestled […]
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 […]
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 […]
Aangan is a modern residence that seamlessly integrates with the lush environment of Kerala, showcasing a tropical home design. Designed to embrace the region’s warm climate, the house features a striking sloped terracotta roof at varying levels, enhancing both its aesthetic appeal and functional efficiency. The structure is enveloped in a vibrant tropical landscape, adorned […]