An Architect Is Building Cottages, Toilets & Bunkers With a 100% Recyclable Material
Have you ever seen a house being transported from one place to another? Yes, like a complete house. Me neither, until Moon Bhandari (38) sent me this picture. The house being transported from the factory to the location. It’s her farmhouse in Nagpur being shipped from the assembly site to the final location. And I must admit it’s a sight to behold. Moon and her family had the home built last year, and they’ve spent a few vacations here. Sharing their insistence during the prefabrication stages that the farmhouse be built sustainably , Moon says, “The material that’s been used is very unique, and it doesn’t harm the environment.” She is referring to the silica composite blocks that architect Shridhar Rao (49) of the Gurugram-based ‘R+D Studio’ calls “a game changer in sustainable construction”. The blocks are 100 percent recyclable, he says, adding that they are 80 percent foundry dust (burned sand from metal casting) and 20 percent plastic waste. How ‘waste’ becomes building material While the farmhouse is one example of such a project built using the blocks, a series of 10 toilets in Punjab has also been constructed with them. The first of these was at the Amritsar international airport; Shridhar says the idea was sparked when a student, Ruhani Verma, noticed that the public parking space did not have public utilities and started a movement to have these built. “That’s when we got together and proposed the idea of a toilet that would be 100 percent green,”
In a world where sustainability is increasingly becoming a priority, architect Shridhar Rao of Gurugram-based R+D Studio is making waves with his innovative approach to construction. Rao has developed a unique building material made from 100% recyclable silica composite blocks, which are composed of 80% foundry dust (burned sand from metal casting) and 20% plastic waste. This groundbreaking material has been used in various projects, including a farmhouse in Nagpur and a series of 10 eco-friendly toilets in Punjab.
The story of this revolutionary material began with a farmhouse in Nagpur, built for Moon Bhandari and her family. Bhandari, who insisted on a sustainable construction process, was impressed by the uniqueness of the silica composite blocks. The farmhouse was assembled in a factory and then transported to its final location, a sight that left a lasting impression on those who witnessed it. The family has since enjoyed vacations at their eco-friendly home, which was constructed with environmentally friendly materials.
Rao's innovative approach to construction has not only benefited residential projects but has also extended to public facilities. A series of 10 toilets in Punjab, including one at the Amritsar international airport, have been constructed using the same recyclable material. The idea for these green toilets was sparked by a student named Ruhani Verma, who noticed the absence of public utilities in the airport's parking area. Verma initiated a movement to address this issue, and Rao's team proposed the concept of a 100% green toilet, made from their recyclable building material.
The transformation of waste into building material is a testament to the potential of sustainable construction practices. Rao's work with the silica composite blocks highlights the importance of repurposing materials that would otherwise end up as waste. By utilizing foundry dust and plastic waste, R+D Studio is not only reducing environmental impact but also promoting a circular economy, where resources are reused and recycled efficiently.
The success of Rao's projects has garnered attention and inspired others to adopt sustainable construction methods. The farmhouse in Nagpur and the eco-friendly toilets in Punjab serve as tangible examples of how innovative materials can contribute to a greener future. As more people become aware of the environmental consequences of traditional construction methods, there is a growing demand for sustainable alternatives.
Shridhar Rao's work with the silica composite blocks is a game-changer in sustainable construction. By turning waste into building material, Rao's team is paving the way for a more environmentally conscious future. The farmhouse in Nagpur and the series of toilets in Punjab are just the beginning, as R+D Studio continues to explore new possibilities with their revolutionary material. As the world increasingly prioritizes sustainability, projects like these demonstrate the potential for innovative solutions to address environmental challenges.
