Lohia Worldspace

                                    Equity by Inclusivity Need for Universal Design in Real Estate When it comes to public buildings, group housing or other such projects with a diverse spectrum of end-users, it is best to think of Universal Design as a part of the Ten Commandments. Accessibility may mean different things to different people, but to some it's independence itself. How every project that is birthed in the 21 st century should be sustainable, likewise, it is imperative that they be barrier-free.  Universal Design is the design and composition of an environment so that it can be accessed, understood and used to the greatest extent possible by all people regardless of their age, size, ability or disability. It is not designing for the ‘minority’ and should not even be considered a ‘special requirement’. It is just another touchstone of ‘good design’, to make something more conveni...

The Housing Paradox The Affordable Housing Crisis Amid High Vacancies The 2011 census, even though now a decade behind, brought an interesting housing paradox to light. The findings were such: Out of 90 million, 11.09 million housing units were listed vacant, or 12 percent of the total urban residential stock. To put it into perspective, this is sufficient to house as many as 50 million people i.e. 13% of the urban population. On the other hand, the nation is suffering a housing shortage of nearly 19 million housing units.  Yes, we have the same questions, how and why? The Problem These vacancies have been seen majorly in the western parts of India, with the vacancy rates being as high as 19% in Gujarat and 16% in Maharashtra. Cities in the outskirts of metropolitan areas are prone to higher vacancy rates than central regions.  Just looking at the figures, it can be speculated that the housing crisis could be averted to a great extent, solely by efficient management of the exi...

Walking the Talk Benefits of Walkable Cities & Neighbourhoods What similarity in opinion does a disappointed father, a lifestyle coach or a doctor working in a multi-specialty hospital have? They all think that walking is good for you. Wait, even you must think that walking is good for you. But do you walk often though? That’s a discussion best saved for another day. Health and economic benefits put aside, there is much good that walking can do, at a neighborhood or city level too.  We are living in a fast-paced motorized world, where vehicles have the run of the streets and traffic jams are a part and parcel of life. What we also live in, is an evolving society of increasing consciousness that is counting steps and calories from sunrise to sunset. We are using technology to steer our lives towards a healthier direction and this motto can be effortlessly peddled in walkable neighborhoods.  Before we go ahead, let’s see how walkable cities are better for us. Health  A ...

Social Impact Meets Real Estate Human beings are defined by their actions. These actions, whether in the past or future, have reverberations. Often unintended and unwitting, these reverberations can be hard to trace back to their origin. They can be equal parts good or bad, like two sides of a coin, or they can weigh in in unequal proportions. In this tech-enabled world, we now have a science for everything, even calculating the good we do, as well as the bad. All of it, of course, is backed by data and can be transcribed to a piece of paper for the world to see.  It is becoming more and more popular by the day to be #Woke and #Accountable. We have rambled on in the past, about the salient responsibility that has been rested on our shoulders to be advocates of sustainability and leaving the world better than how we inherited it. But often while trying to get every structural detail and trying to meet every microscopic requirement, it is easy to lose sight of the bigger picture. Why...

“Smart Features That Deserve a Place in Your Sustainable Home” Choosing a home for yourself and your loved ones can be considered as one of the most crucial decisions that one has to take in their life. Making sure that every single box on that checklist is ticked can be stressful and overwhelming at times. You get to hear a thousand and one different opinions that can send your head ringing. The market on the other hand is of little help, flooded with innumerable options, each better than the one before. Our choices directly impact not just ourselves but also the environment. In the 21 st century, making sustainable choices is the only morally acceptable lane to drive on and we are ready to reiterate so, as many times as we need to. Smart living is not just about getting things done at the press of a button but also leaving a hospitable world behind for future generations to thrive in.  Often times you might want to do away with smart features because of the immediate investment,...