0.4 billionBricks About billionBricks Housing is a basic necessity and a human right, the first step of empowerment towards emerging out of poverty. Co-founders of billionBricks Prasoon Kumar and Anurag Srivastava envision “a world where no one is homeless, and where everyone has access to opportunities for economic and social upliftment” (Rebel, 10 Restorative Innovation Initiatives from Singapore You Should Know 2018). billionBricks is a design and innovation studio with the sole purpose of providing high-quality solutions to end homelessness, to tackle the lack of inadequate housing to the less developed areas. Consisting of a dedicated team of architects, designers, engineers and urban planners committed to using design and technology as its tools to innovate shelter and infrastructure solutions, their solutions are innovative, scalable and sustainable. Their approach empowers communities to replicate their solutions on their own. This approach reduces dependencies on support, creates ownership and pride, and unlocks untapped potential for change. As such, in this case study, we will focus on billion Bricks’ Konchur sustainable model village project that takes place in Kocnhur Karnataka, India. Website: https://www.billionbricks.org/ All photos are courtesy of billionBricks
by Natalie Tsang, Mary Agnes Angel 35
Case Study: powerHYDE Project Name: powerHYDE Location: Rural India Date Designed: 2019 Date Completed: In Progress Size: 3.4 Ha Design Team: bB Studio: billionBricks + Architecture BRIO + fUSE Studio Program: Solar Power Community of 170 Homes
Abstract powerHYDE is an affordable and self-sustainable housing solution for India’s rural homeless population. The project designed around three primary considerations, namely the considerable demand for housing, the need for sustainable use and production of energy, and a self-financing strategy that grants independence and self-sustenance to residents. With the use of modern design and technology, it is thus the world’s first carbon-negative housing for the homeless and upon successful completion, aims to be scaled and customised to solve homelessness in other contexts.
Cultural and Historical Context India is home to one of the poorest people in the world. Over 70% of India’s rural population left out of the country’s financial institutional system do not receive government subsidies and housing loans, and thus many are left homeless. In response to India’s alarming homeless rate, in 2016, India’s Government aimed to build 40 million rural dwellings to support its homeless population for five years. In order to achieve this goal, there would need to be at least 20,000 new homes constructed daily. However, with this institutional barrier, the most miserable people will not have access to these dwellings. Furthermore, India is the world’s third-largest producer and consumer of power, but poor distribution has been one of the biggest challenges. It is believed that around