Construction Journal
Periodic updates from the build site — progress notes, photos, and lessons learned.
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Molding CSEB — compressed stabilized earth blocks with lime
Wall blocks are being made on-site using compressed stabilized earth block (CSEB) technology — soil and lime, pressed and cured, drawing on techniques pioneered at the Auroville Earth Institute.
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Plinth reaches over 4ft — and a water tank tucked under the courtyard
The plinth came up higher than planned, over 4 feet — which led to an idea: instead of digging a separate pit, the 7-day water storage tank was built directly under the courtyard.
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The mortar mix — lime, m-sand, surkhi & soil
In place of cement, stone masonry is bound with a mix of lime, m-sand, surkhi and soil — sourced, soaked, and used on the foundation.
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PCC layer at the foundation — and a lesson in leveling
A PCC layer was laid across the foundation trenches; an unlevel section was corrected with masonry steps to keep loads transferring straight down.
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A 360° look at the site — layout, storage, and logistics
A 360° video tour of the 9,500 sqft plot — where the soak tank, borewell, storage shed, debris, and material piles sit, and how the site was laid out so labour movement was never hampered.
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Excavation complete — earth cut to depth
Hand excavation was not possible on the hard ground — a JCB was brought in, and broader pits were dug to reach the required depth.
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Site survey and layout marking
The old storage room came down by hand, reusable materials were salvaged, and the building footprint was marked on the ground.
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Requirements — family, site, and design goals
A short profile of the owner family, the site context, and the key requirements guiding Advait’s design.
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Introduction — how the team came together
How Yogesh, Adwait, and Vishal met and shaped the open, earth-conscious vision for Advait.