Tatva
Organic composites reimagine future urban materials
Duration
4months / 2023
Supervisors
Aakash Patel
Project tags
Design Research, Prototyping, Testing
72% of surface area in the city of Mumbai is completely concretised. Mumbai alone generates 1500 tonnes of concrete waste everyday.
Tatva is a material exploration project wherein sustainable composite materials have been explored to create alternative, sustainable and economical solutions to reduce dependancy on concrete.
Historically, the drainage system of Mumbai was designed to clear only 50% of rainwater thorough drainage pipeline and the remaining 50% percolated into the ground. This framework was suitable 100 years ago but rapid development resulting in lack of open spaces has overburdened the drainage system.
In the present time, every inch of the city has been inhabited and built upon. Concrete is ubiquitous in nature, making it difficult for rain to seep into the ground.
At Mumbai’s squatter settlements, one in every five people is vulnerable
Inadequate drainage system has made settlements, such as slums in Mumbai, vulnerable during rains.
The derived problem statement is:
‘With rapid urbanisation, there is increase in concretisation of cities causing a gap between man and nature thus resulting in issues such as flooding. How might we find a sustainable material to reduce dependancy on concrete which will aid in flood control and mitigate urban development impacts on ecosystems.’
A visual catalog of 18 different natural fibers tested as concrete composites — including banana, jute, walnut shell, aloe vera, and more. Each material presents a unique textural and structural potential.
A diagrammatic flow of the making process — from raw fiber to blended mix, combined with gluten binder and recycled concrete, resulting in a finished tile.
A stack of experimental eco-tiles showcasing the outcome of material trials using natural fibers and recycled concrete. The rough textures and varied coloration reflect the tactile, iterative nature of material exploration aimed at replacing traditional cement.
Eighteen tiles created from diverse fiber composites are laid out to demonstrate variations in texture, color, and finish. These were tested for sustainability, cost-efficiency, strength, and recyclability.
Select fiber samples (clam shell, jute, walnut shell, bamboo) shown to have high compressive strength — a critical factor for structural application.
Materials such as walnut shell, clam shell and avocado pit exhibit high thermal resistance, making them suitable for applications in warm or fire-prone environments.
Jute and clam shell are highlighted for their economic feasibility and ease of scaling — essential for real-world adoption of sustainable materials.
Tatva: Designing Regenerative Materials for Future Cities
This visual set anticipates a regenerative future where cities are built from waste, guided by biomaterials and maintained through inter-industry collaboration. Tatva not only prototypes a tile—it prototypes a mindset shift in material innovation.