Two Anant Fellows in Sustainability and Built Environment, Mishal Desai, a hypnotherapist and farmer from Gujarat with expertise in psychology and clinical hypnosis, and Gopika Rao, an economics graduate from Thiruvananthapuram with aspirations in Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG), represented the Fellowship at the Singapore International Water Week 2024 hosted by Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) recently. The fellows from India presented innovative proposals aimed at enhancing the resilience of India’s coastal communities in the “Condensations” programme and contributed their insights to a student workshop.
These proposals were developed as part of the “Unbuilding Architecture” module under “The Archipelago Agenda,” which was first introduced at the UN Water Conference in New York City in March 2023.
Initially established by Pratt Institute (NY USA – has an on-going partnership with Anant), Pace University, and Singapore University of Technology and Design, the Archipelago Agenda brings together stakeholders to develop scalable, nature-based solutions for water scarcity and safety in urban archipelagos. India’s Daman/Diu Islands were added to the agenda through Anant National University, the only Indian University partner in the initiative.
Diu, an island region, faces critical challenges such as water scarcity, reliance on mainland resources, and vulnerable water access. As a microcosm of global climate change struggles, Diu offers a unique context for developing resilient living solutions. The Fellows researched Diu’s built and unbuilt environments, analysing its architecture, design, and layout within India’s development framework. These explorations challenge conventional architectural paradigms and seek sustainable design solutions aligned with the island’s cultural values.
Divided into teams focusing on both micro and macro scales, the Fellows created localized interventions and masterplans. Micro-level solutions incorporated traditional knowledge in an integrated design project, while macro-level analyses examined existing and proposed developments to create a comprehensive plan for sustainable development. These proposals, spanning urban and residential spaces, advocated for multi-use areas that promote collaboration, community engagement, and sustainability. The synergy between built and unbuilt environments was central, aiming to address inefficiencies and promote a resilient future.
The Anant Fellowship in Sustainability and Built Environment is Anant National University’s flagship one-year residential programme, empowering future solutionaries to design and preserve an equitable built environment. The programme has trained over 160 Fellows from 18 countries across 6 continents, offering hands-on learning guided by experts in academia and industry.
