India recently overtook its sub-continental neighbor, China, to become the most populous country in the world with a demography of over 1.4286 billion people. As data from the United Nations also estimates an annual population growth rate of 0.7%, the country’s built environment is set to interact with a new discourse of demography and present its own perspective on how to build for billions. It is set to engage with new challenges of infrastructure, transportation, and adequate housing, which on the surface will force cities to constantly expand as a response to these dynamic needs. However, a critical look at the population distribution within the country reveals that the majority of Indians still live in rural areas as it caters to 65% of the population despite increasing rural-urban migration. This suggests a nudge in a different direction. One where the design and development of the rural areas take precedence over the cities. One that explores architecture in rural areas, its relationship with the cities, and its future as a primary framework to house the exploding population.
"The soul of India lives in its villages" is a famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi that still deeply resonates with the demographic landscape of the country. It speaks to the vast cultures, arts, and traditions that are still nurtured in rural areas, as well as the scenic natural resources like lands, minerals, and rivers that make up the countryside, and the economic foundations of farming, fishery, and forestry still practiced by traditional villages.
