Seminar on Planning and Design of a Sustainable Campus- Township at APIED

A two day intensive seminar on ‘Planning and design of a sustainable campus-township’ was 

held at the Arvindbhai Patel Institute of Environmental Design recently. The Institute was host 

to prominent architect and Urban Planner Lalit Kishor Bhati who is also the co-ordinator of 

Auroville Integral Sustainability Institute at Auroville.

‘Sustainability’, defined as the capability of continuation with minimal long term effect on the 

environment; is actually a very broad concept that needs to be understood at both micro and 

macro levels. The rapid progress of development and Urbanization in recent times, especially in 

India has caused a tremendous shift in the mindset of people regarding the previous fixed and 

limited views on design and planning. This increasing awareness has led to demand for design 

professionals who have the required knowledge and skills to deal with sustainable design and 

planning at the campus as well as township scale.

Not unknown to most people, APIED has been lightyears ahead of its contemporaries when it 

comes to equipping its students to deal with the complex issues of environment sensitive design. 

The campus itself, constructed in about 1984 at Vallabh Vidyanagar is a prime example of a 

sustainable design. Like the saying goes- ‘ The learning environment shapes the individual’, 

APIED has forever encouraged and inspired its students to fully comprehend the responsibility 

towards environment that comes with being a designer.

A first in a series of many, this seminar saw presentations by Ar. Lalit Kishor Bhati on the 

planning of Auroville and an overall understanding of the broader concept of designing 

sustainable campuses-townships. This was then followed up with group studies by the students 

and after selecting a site on the river Mahi, their take on the various approaches toward the 

design of an experential learning centre therein. Positive inputs and guidance from planner 

Lalit Kishor Bhati and refreshing ideas and presentations from the students truly made this a 

thought provoking and invigorating experience for all present.

With these series of seminars,  APIED aims to estabilish itself on the forefront of the changing scenario and critical discourse on sustainability.