Having struggled over two months to complete a 100 sqFt storage room built out of steel, bricks and cement, it was delightful relief to complete, in about a week, a 700 sqFt space using just half a bag of cement and 250 gms of steel wire. The other materials that went into creating the space -bamboo, coconut mats, coir ropes, reeds for thatch, and granite pillars - came from within 20 kM of the site. It’s a locally grown building. …read on

Living with a windmill requires adjustments that our electricity-centred lives don’t quite prepare us for. You can’t switch a windmill on or off - the wind does that. Since you can’t predict when that might happen, you need to store the water as you get it. And if you store it at a reasonable elevation, you can later use gravity to direct the water to where you want. …read on

Every expedition requires a basecamp at which to stay close to the target; to plan and begin the climb. pointReturn site has lacked even a basic shed. Every tool and requirement has had to be brought in and taken away at the end of the day. The site is also devoid of human habitation for close to a kilometer all around, and so susceptible to petty thefts. A rudimentary space to lock away basic requirements was therefore decided as necessary. Otherwise there is little justification for a time and money guzzling mini fortress in bricks, cement and steel. …read on

I have chosen that buildings at the pointReturn site should adopt best practices from tradition and bring in modern aids only where they make environmental sense. Village homes used to be built of dug out soil and roofed by curved tiles made by the local potter. Country wood from fast growing trees were used for windows and doors. Steel and cement played little or no part. …read on

The two pit latrine has been proven to be an ideal system for mass sanitation and is widely being promoted in India. But sitting in urban India, try getting some information on how to go about putting one togther and you will hit a wall. Where can you buy the special pans that are central to it? Not easy at all. Maybe my experience will be of some use to others considering building one. …read on