Sense N Sensibility – 20th Edition
The 20th edition of Sense N Sensibility, organized by the Ethos Foundation, brought together architecture students, educators, and enthusiasts from across the country for a powerful session themed “Voices of the Earth and Voices of the People.” This lecture series is a cornerstone of the responsible design initiative supported by the Rainmatter Foundation, aiming to place sustainability, community, and context at the heart of architectural practice.
This edition featured two exceptional speakers. Ms. Sushma Iyengar, a pioneer in community development, shared her decades of experience working with rural communities, focusing on craft, local knowledge, and the idea of development rooted in dignity. Ar.
Aditya Sharma presented Mittivanam, a project shaped by ecological thinking and landscape wisdom, emphasizing sustainable design as a path of renewal and responsibility. Together, their talks offered powerful reflections on how design can respond meaningfully to both people and the planet.
The session was broadcast live across 11 institutional partners, reflecting the growing momentum of responsible design education. Participating colleges included Dayananda Sagar Academy of Technology and Management (DSATM), PSG Institute of Architecture and Planning, Amity University Madhya Pradesh, Veer Surendra Sai University of Technology, Odisha, Jindal School of Art & Architecture (JSAA), MRSPTU GZS School of Architecture and Planning, Bearys Enviro-Architecture Design School (BEADS), BMS Yelahanka, Piloo-Mody College of Architecture Ajay-Binay Institute of Technology, Amrita School of Architecture, and JBR Architecture College, Hyderabad.
Feedback from Participants
Attendees shared several meaningful takeaways that reflect the impact and relevance of the session:
“Easy communication with others, sharing information quickly, staying updated and connected, learning new ideas, and building social or professional networks.”
“The emphasis on sensibility and a human-centred design approach was very valuable.”
“The session was really inspiring and helped me think in a new way. It motivated me to explore new ideas and look at things from a different perspective.”
“The Sense and Sensibility 2.0 session encouraged me to think beyond conventional design boundaries and adopt a more human-centered, emotionally connected approach to architecture. It showed how sensitivity and creativity can coexist in every design.”