Humanscapes is an 18,000-square-foot, net-positive energy, experimental housing complex located in Auroville, India. The mixed-use development of residences, community and workspaces besides being sustainable, addresses the issues of skill development and capacity building of construction labour, who are mostly distressed migrants in India to improve their economic condition and reduce construction waste in the habitat sector to meet India’s commitment to IPCC. The showcased habitat project has integrated five goals as part of the sustainable human settlement program –

• Integrated environmental planning of water, energy and waste cycle
• The human ecology, using the principles of the “Cohousing” concept of living for inclusive socio-economic development with increased environmental benefits.
• Establish a collaborative network of knowledge resources called ‘SustaiNet’, to facilitate further dissemination.

This NZEB Knowledge Series webinar hosted Suhasini Ayer – Guigan, head “Auroville Design Consultants”, a planning and architectural design studio, primarily focused on planning, designing and implementing the applied research development projects within Auroville to field test the innovations and research carried by CSR and other organisations within Auroville.