In a remarkable educational initiative, the Related Study Program (RSP) at Auroville and Pondicherry has been at the forefront of reviving and examining the sustainable practices in architecture that build habitable buildings with the least impact on the environment. The students learned the possibilities of brick masonry with hands-on experience by making arches, vaults, and domes with the assistance of Ar. Nivetha Annamalai and Ar. Yatharth Laad from Studio Courtyard. The RSP also envisioned the students to experience buildings like Savitri Bhaven, International House, residences of Sacred Groves, Nandanam Kindergarten, and the bamboo center with assistance from the architects themselves navigating through the challenges and the elements of the building and the philosophies that influenced the design. Exploration in the city of Pondicherry begins with the heritage walk in the white town of the city, assisted by Ar. Ashwathambi from INTACH, followed by days of exploration and documentation of the dynamics of the planned city and the influence of French architecture and a blend of Tamil and French architecture.
