Bridging Rural and Urban Communities Through Circular Sustainability
Located in a lush, forest-adjacent site in Wada, Maharashtra, this community development project is envisioned as a platform to bridge rural and urban communities through circular sustainability. It brings together indigenous wisdom and contemporary design to foster collaboration, learning, and regenerative living. The built environment, shaped by natural building techniques and passive design strategies, uses mud, bamboo, lime, terracotta, and recycled materials to create immersive, biophilic spaces. At its heart, a Catalan vault–inspired community centre—crafted around existing trees—anchors the project’s commitment to environmental sensitivity, cultural continuity, and inclusive growth.
With only 20% of the site developed, the remaining landscape is devoted to ecological regeneration—featuring food forests, permaculture farms, water bodies, butterfly gardens, and nature trails. These systems restore biodiversity, support aquaculture, and enhance soil health through traditional farming practices. Passive cooling strategies such as ventilated courtyards, shaded water features, and thermal mass walls ensure low-energy comfort in Wada’s hot, humid climate. Designed by Blurring Boundaries, a team of architects in Mumbai known for integrating biophilia and sustainability, the project is a living demonstration of how architecture can support both people and planet.
Construction is led by local tribal masons and artisans using ancestral techniques, while the design process invites collaboration from urban volunteers, potters, and stakeholders. This participatory model encourages mutual learning, fosters cross-cultural exchange, and strengthens the connection between urban curiosity and rural wisdom. We worked closely with the community to ensure that the development responds sensitively to local context while encouraging innovation.
Financial sustainability is embedded in a circular economy framework—revenue is generated through eco-tourism, farm-to-table hospitality, cultural workshops, and sustainability education. The project also supports women’s entrepreneurship and rural livelihoods by promoting craft-based products, regenerative agriculture, and skill-sharing platforms. As conscious architects in Mumbai working beyond city limits, Blurring Boundaries sees this initiative as a replicable model for climate-resilient, community-led growth across India.
Rooted in environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and inclusive design, the project reflects a shift toward regenerative thinking in architecture. It’s not only a space—it’s a shared system that fosters resilience, self-sufficiency, and a renewed relationship between built form, landscape, and community.