Nandini Krishnamurthy : Design Opportunities Water (Team - Coastal Maharashtra)

Nandini Krishnamurthy : Design Opportunities Water (Team - Coastal Maharashtra)

THE FUTURE WATER SCENARIO
The word 'coast' conjures an image of an amplitude of water spreading across miles, magical, which when touched for quenching needs, then vanishes, existing as the 'living mirage' of reality. The coastal waters of Maharashtra too, are abundant and salty, far from being 'short and sweet', and this very fact blindfolds the common minds with the availability of huge expanse of drinking water. Till today masses are unaware of the depletion of the limited drinking water, which sounds ironical when the context is referred to Coastal Maharashtra, but alas, the fact is turning true. But, I guess, by 15 years, Design would establish itself in the main market and help the people realize the true picture of water conditions in Coastal Maharashtra. It would spread the fact that rainwater (due to heavy rainfall) could help replenishing the groundwater and could be of more help to our sustenance.

Bringing changes in the architectural features, with the motive to save water, would not really harm the existing scenario of urbanization, rather it would make a huge difference in nourishing the natural resources and simultaneously, save space and energy wastage. This idea could be further progressed by getting the sloping roofs together to collect the rain water to a certain extent. Looking into the details, the roofs sloped inwards tapering to form an enclosed structure with the upper open base. The basic layer of the roofs are made up of concrete for strength and shelter. To prevent the contamination of the collected water, the concrete layer could possibly be over layered by an inexpensive water proof layer for anti leakage and conservation. A mesh-like structure could be placed over the structure to cover the opening and hence avoiding the macro impurities. The pipes taking away the water could contain filter simultaneously filtering the water for general use.

Taking the rising population and urbanisation into account in the next 15 years, I guess, this concept would aid the situation and would keep up the high demands for water if established in large scale. The basic advantages would include factors like less expenditure in establishment, serves the general comfort of shelter and heat (would by then be battling the global warming). There would always be a hope of achieving the best out of the current issue, and I think, 15 yrs, are enough to implement this dream, only IF awareness hypnotises the minds for the good and I also think that its time to get to work for it...

Nandini Krishna Murthy : (Team - Coastal Maharashtra)

Design Scenarios for Water in India: DCC2008 ends with a bang

Image: The Kerala team and the Rajasthan team seen making their group presentations to the class

Design Scenarios for Water in India: DCC2008 ends with a bang
Each of the five groups made very interesting presentation of the numerous design opportunities that the groups had explored and decided to include in their presentation. As mentioned earlier each group had made an initial round of design opportunity capture using the small A5 size format provided and through these they had individually explored a wide range of design opportunities through the medium of small thumbnail sketches and a brief write-up that was appended below the sketch concept in the format that was provided. The groups then presented these explorations to the whole class and each of the groups had a chance to show and tell their design explorations and to get feedback from the class as a whole as well as from the teachers and visitors present. This stage is an important aspect of design since the feedback provided could either strengthen the individuals conviction or help redirect it to an area with greater promise of achieving a good result. This kind of discourse is an integral part of the design exploration journey and the use of sketches, words and texts as well as built models are all part to the process of dialogue and discourse that is inherent in the process of design.

All the groups then went back to their respective spaces and moved into the field to explore the concepts with experts in the field. This gave them a further opportunity to expand on their ideas as well as to clarify specific details that needed such clarification be it technical, operational or socio-economic in nature. The groups continued their research and exploration and then as a collective decided to focus on their next assignment which was the creation of a manual that could be used to sensitise the people of the specific region that had been assigned to each group. Based on this kind of expert input and on their continued imagination and articulation of the design opportunity that was identified by the group the final manual was structured and prepared for presentation and this brought the class to the final assignment that was an individual one, however the teams were still expected to interact and provide peer group supports to the individual by providing feedback and technical support in realizing the objective of preparing an individual scenario. The task as stated and set to the included the exploration and inploration of the concept of the chosen design opportunity with a time horizon of about 15 years through which the individual student was required to imaging all the possibilities as well as challenges that could be faced in realizing the said opportunity and through this process try and figure out ways to help the community or business realize the particular opportunity. The individual student explorations were submitted to the teachers after a gap of three days and since the class was to conclude the grades were decided and the pictures of all the A3 size sheets were placed on the NID server for being accessible to all the students in the class. Each student was photographed with their scenario offering and they had been asked to submit an email with a 200 word description of their individual scenario.

Some of the individual scenarios are shown here below along with the brief text that was provided by the student as part of their submission. I have chosen five such scenarios, one from each group to be shared here as an example of the scenario visualization assignment. These are listed below and are hyperlinked to the individual offering. Here below.

The five groups and the chosen individuals are linked here below:
1. Jasjyot Singh Hans : Northeast Hills: Design opportuinities for Water.
2. Aarti Srikant Lagvankar : Kerala Rainforest: Design opportunities for Water.
3. Kaveri Gopalakrishnan : Himalayayan Foothills: Design opportunities for Water.
4. Geetika Kejriwal : Desert Rajasthan: Design opportunities for Water.
5. Mitsu Shah : Coastal Maharashtra: Design opportunities for Water.

Jasjyot Singh Hans : Design Opportunity - Water (Team - Northeast Hills)

Image: Jasjyot Singh Hans : Design Opportunity - Water (Team - Northeast Hills)

Jasjyot showed me the preliminary sketches that he had made in his sketch book over the last weekend when he had traveled to Delhi and was therefore delayed in preparing the final sheet. However, on the next day he showed up with the final scenario which is a rich representation of his thoughts about the concepts that he proposes for water based opportunity in the Northeast Hills.

Email sent in by Jasjyot about his scenario shown above is quoted below:

WATER AND AWARENESS

For this assignment, we had to imagine ourselves 15 years from now and look at ourselves in whatever profession we see ourselves in and what we could do about the design opportunity chosen in the previous assignment and how we could go about it. I had chosen to work in the area of awareness, as among north eastern India as we figured, the lack of which was the major problem for water related problems that prevailed. I see myself working in the area of animation and hence came the idea of targeting children because they would find the animation films interesting and we could effectively communicate with them through the medium and since they are the next generation and will be facing these problems, it was found necessary to instill certain values towards natural resources and ways to deal with a crisis so they can have a better understanding and could perhaps, inspire others with their truthfulness, innocence and involvement in the cause.

Tying up with an Non-Governmental Organization that works for a similar cause was considered as they could have better reaches in the area and could also have representatives that could make people living in remote tribes and villagers aware of 'what could be done' in their local languages. For this, we made two animated characters that had common middle class 'relatable' names according to their area so children could relate themselves to them better.

With the advancement of the idea, restricting ourselves to just films did not sound very efficient so it was thought that if it could be made a whole package by accompanying it with brochures, posters, flags that could be distributed in schools to the next generation, that is, the children that carried out the message simply but effectively. For controlling landslides and minimizing their impact trees could be planted near downhill settlements. This could reduce soil erosion as well. Schools and other institutions could organize tree plantation programmes that could involve children to help for the cause.

Jasjyot Singh Hans (Team - Northeast Hills)

Aarti Srikant Lagvankar : Design Opportunity - Water (Team - Kerala Rainforest)

Image: Aarti Srikant Lagvankar : Design Opportunity - Water (Team - Kerala Rainforest)

When I visualise myself fifteen years from now in Kerala, my very first step would be to motivate the people to undertake steps for conservation of water. Since it is very difficult to change the mindset of people after a certain age, I believe that the children should be the target.

It is easy to mould a child's mind at an adolescent stage itself. It is very evident that kids have started moving away from books and the age of video games has begun. So I thought of designing an arcade game in which the player will be a droplet of water which has to approach various obstacles (industries, careless individuals, pollution, etc.). At every obstacle, the player would be asked a question related to water conservation. If answered correctly the droplet moves on as it is and if not it becomes polluted and hence the child gets to know what factors create water problems and how to get rid of them.

Similarly, water cartoons could be made. Films are also a great way of creating awareness amongst both the children as well as the adults.

A part of the money earned from tourism (major source of income) could be used to install water recycling systems on a household or community level.

Aarti Lagvankar (Team - Kerala Rainforest)

Kaveri Gopalakrishnan : Design Opportunity - Water (Team - Himalayayan Foothills)

Image: Kaveri Gopalakrishnan : Design Opportunity - Water (Team - Himalayayan Foothills)

Q:15 years hence, what do I see myself doing in the Himalayas with water (reference to previous understanding) ?

Two things close to my heart-art,and children.
Children come up with the best ideas-fresh and from the heart.
The 60s,among many things,were an era of sunny optimism and endless possibilities,besides being one of great unrest and dramatic change.

An eco-friendly art school-cum-ashram, Ketu (shooting star-symbol of creativity on a journey) which aims to tackle issues of waste, energy efficiency and sustainable development in the himalayas.

Since water is a primary issue, being life source, I intend to create a place where individuals can make conscious attempts to make intelligent choices for life, whether young or old. Love for the land and ideologies like 'art for arts sake' will inspire.

Ketu is registered with Eco-schools.org (Britain) and Greenpeace, for guidance in its research center and eco farms (careful use of water and recycling systems) where locals can relearn from their environment. Funds are hence derived, while volunteers trained by myself (or from sister ngos) teach primary children and interested locals of other age groups. Insights from outside sources are turned into working models-work with ngos, stories published In journals, installations,perhaps have the childrens work spread online. Education starts at home, with parents being taught the right way to live.

The ashrams will spread, and the Himalayas themselves become a land of great change. An ambitious project, but one that can work.

Kaveri Gopalakrishnan (Tram - Himalayayan Foothills)

Geetika Kejriwal : Design Opportunity - Water (Team - Desert Rajasthan)

Image: Geetika Kejriwal : Design Opportunity - Water (Team - Desert Rajasthan)

RAJASTHAN is known for colors,culture and tradition and so i have chosen a fair to bring about awareness in the area. WATER UTSAV will be an event in which the community gets together to discuss about necessary water related issues. Like any other fair there will games here but with a twist...there will be a 'camel coaster ride which will go around the area showing water shortages and its solutions leading to a happy ending. A forum for people to discuss there views and get to know about the technicalities and also encourage them to find new ideas. The value water has been known in rajasthan since ever but through this mela they would get to know what exactly can be done. Rather than being taught in books people will experience the whole thing and would feel the need to work for the cause.The mela acts like a stimulant.

In the next 15 years I see the idea transferring itself from the paper to a small village to a district to many other districts and finally the whole area. In the illustration I have shown how the plan is carried forward by first reaching out to a sarpanch of the village, convincing him, arranging for the necessary funds and thus starting on a small scale. The key factor here is succeeding in this and carrying on the task to other villages. As more and more villages organise the fair even the funding would increase. The money earned could be invested to build a community rain water harvester.Rjasthan water day could be celebrated with fairs all over the state. In this way people will have fun and also gain the necessary knowledge.

Geetika Kejriwal (Team - Desert Rajasthan)

Mitsu Shah : Design Opportunity - Water (Team - Coastal Maharashtra)

Image: Mitsu Shah : Design Opportunity - Water (Team - Coastal Maharashtra)

Tourism is an increasing occupation and along with it, there is also an increasing demand of hotels.

Keeping the magnificent backdrop of Konkan in mind, I would like to set up an eco-friendly hotel-cum-rejuvenation centre-cum-camping area.

The centre aims at spreading awareness and promotes conservation of our natural resources.

It targets a very large mass (tourists and locals).

It would be located a couple of hours away from the main cities like Mumbai and Pune, hence making it accessible to the hush-push city-ites who are always in a hurry and run on a very tight schedule.

Since it is the coastal region, the main attractions will be:-

Beaches, diving (sighting of the rare coral which is a great impetus for tourists, both local and foreigners), nature cure, ayurvedic massages, yoga, nature trails, bird watching etc.

The centre will have its own farms where organic vegetables, fruits and herbs will be grown. Its gardens will be full of tropical flowers and healing plants.

It will use alternate energy resources like solar and hydro. It will have an eco-friendly lighting system, compost waste food and bio-degradable cleaning agents.

The garbage will be split up into bio-degradable and non-biodegradable. The bio-degradable can be collected in paper/cloth bags and be taken to the compost pits every day. The non-biodegradable can be sent to the treatment plants.

The centre will also have rain-water harvesting systems that will help in retaining ground water and conserving water from the primary source itself.

Its rooms and bathrooms will have a sensor system, which will help to conserve water and electricity.

To spread awareness amongst the guests, guided tours will be arranged throughout the centre area.

There will be green-room information packs in every room.

Posters and tags will be put up throughout the premises.

Further on, the centre staff will also be made aware of the situation and be educated to the aim of the centre.

Mitsu Shah (Team - Coastal Maharashtra)