Taru Leading Edge

‘The Habitat Design Studio’

Human habitat is not just a geographical space occupied by a set of humans in the context of urban/rural environment, characterized by government’s classification norms. At Taru, we believe it is an ongoing process of developing and maintaining a public space that is livable, lovable, sustainable, inclusive, and accessible; in other words, a human-scape that brings happiness, pride, opportunity and sense of responsibility to the people, systems and institutions using it.

With this foundation, Taru launched ‘The Habitat Design Studio’ to address issues and provide solutions using design thinking approach along with current design/planning/market tools especially in transforming urban, peri-urban and rural spaces towards smart, resilient and sustainable habitats. Established in September 2016, the Studio has conceptualized and developed proposals for sanitation knowledge centre and neighbourhood lake conservation & lake front development, to begin with.

Key areas of interventions of Studio will include providing innovative design and management solutions to eco-spaces, congested settlements, crowded markets; heritage sites, economics zones, institutional spaces, with options for making them design appropriate, viable for using and expanding opportunities, and ensuring sustainability.

Some of the Key Projects are:

Urban 95 Project

To make lasting change in the landscapes and opportunities in Pune that shape the crucial first five years of children's lives, for those who care for them, and for everyone, Taru Leading Edge and EcoFirst India as a part of the partnership between Pune Municipal Corporation and BvLF Foundation implemented Urban 95 Project demonstrating and pilot strategic, scalable infant, toddler and caregiver -friendly interventions across Pune city. The project is a significant initiative towards changing city’s landscape and design within child friendly framework.

Design Hackathon

Taru Leading Edge and the Faculty of Architecture at Sri Sri University are committed to finding innovative habitat solutions to the humanitarian crises that result from Disasters and Climate Change and pave the way for budding architects to build better. As a part of these efforts, Taru in partnership with Sri Sri University have launched a Design Hackathon – “Designing like people matter: Disaster risk-reduction for resilient architecture” in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha. Three winners from SSU have been selected by the Jury of Hackathon. More details: https://indiaeducationdiary.in/design-hackathon-conducted-at-sri-sri-university-for-disaster-risk-reduction-for-resilient-architecture/

Urban Design Competition- - Coimbatore

Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) with GIZ India, Taru Leading Edge and Urbanista under the “Sustainable Urban Development - Smart Cities” (SUD-SC) project as part of Indo-German Bilateral Technical Cooperation has launched the Co(Vai) Design Competition - a national level ‘Urban Design Competition’ (UDC) that aims to jointly design and facilitate with a diverse set of stakeholders the implementation of integrated civic projects that are of key relevance to the sustainable development of Coimbatore. The competition invites multi-disciplinary teams of professionals from diverse backgrounds (Architecture, Urban design, Landscape Design, Social Sciences, Humanities, Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Spatial Planning and allied fields) to participate and present implementable ideas that are scalable, sustainable, inclusive in nature, based on local needs and multisectoral in their approach.

The top three entries will be awarded contracts to further refine their design solution for implementation and get an opportunity to collaborate with international experts from India and Germany.

More information on participation and the process is available on the official website: https://www.covaidesign-competition.org. You can also visit Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation "Main Links" for the same: https://www.ccmc.gov.in/ccmc/