BNCA Students Study and Promote Sustainable Traditional Built practices in Gundalwadi

PUNE : In a notable initiative that blends traditional knowledge with contemporary rural development, second-year students and faculty from Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture (BNCA) have completed an in-depth documentation of sustainable housing practices in Gundalwadi village. The study is  centered on eco-friendly construction techniques.

The project involved a detailed examination of traditional homes constructed using locally available materials such as stone, mud, lime, and bricks. This effort builds upon BNCA’s ongoing work over the past four years, during which similar architectural documentation has been carried out in Bori Budruk (Junnar), Dhakale (Baramati), and Pargaon (Ambegaon).

Moving beyond documentation, the BNCA team has proposed the construction of key public infrastructure in Gundalwadi—including a community hall, Panchayat office, and bus stop—using sustainable building techniques derived from traditional practices. Professor Ar. Sayali Kulkarni highlighted that the project involved extensive engagement with the villagers, fostering discussions on adapting vernacular architecture for modern needs while carefully considering its advantages and limitations.

The project has also received national recognition, securing first prize in a Documentation of Heritage competition organized by the Council of Architecture (COA) last year. BNCA Principal Dr. Anurag Kashyap expressed pride in the students’ contribution, emphasizing the institution’s commitment to instilling environmentally responsible design thinking early in architectural education.

The initiative was undertaken in collaboration with Urvee Public Trust and involved mentorship with reputed organizations such as COSTFORD (Kerala), the Auroville Earth Institute (Pondicherry), and Hunnarshala Gurukul (Saswad).

A recent exhibition in Gundalwadi presented the findings to local residents, activists, and educators. In addition to academic work, students conducted hands-on demonstrations of sustainable construction methods for local contractors, ensuring that this knowledge remains rooted within the community. The students efforts were highly praised by teachers from Sahyadri School, Mr. Milind More and Mrs. Deepa More, Founder Chairman of Fourteen Trees Dr. Praveen Bhagwat and Founder Chairman of Urvee Public Trust, Ar. Amruta Naidu.

As the project progresses towards submission, BNCA aims to collaborate closely with the Ministry of Rural Development and allied institutions to translate these insights into tangible improvements for rural Maharashtra.