Siddharth Hande - Rethinking resources: The True Value of 'Waste'

Hearing Architecture

The Hearing Architecture podcast, proudly sponsored by Brickworks, presents Again and Again and Again, a mini-series hosted by Hilary Duff.

Each week we bring you interviews and conversations as we seek better ways to understand, harness and deploy the expertise and knowledge of professionals currently within the design community, at home and abroad. Our guests are all experts on circularity within the building industry and share the aim to display that waste is not an accident, but the consequence of decisions made at the design stage. Here is our opportunity. We as designers have an opportunity to do better.

Going from a linear to a circular mindset requires a huge transformation in the built environment and can only be successful with an innovative approach and through partnerships for change. In this episode I meet with an individual who offers both and operates at the periphery of the built industry.

Siddharth Hande a Data Scientist and Social Entrepreneur and is founder and CEO of Kabadiwalla Connect. His organisation is working to transform the informal waste supply-chain in cities in the Global South, including his own hometown of Chennai, India.

His location and subject of investigation might appear foreign at first, both geographically and in its analysis of industry not specific to architecture. But Sid is considering the circular economic paradigm from a global perspective, and is proving that circular solutions based on data do have an application to a much boarder context.

Sid studied in Australia, at my university no less. But I first crossed paths with Sid at the UIA international Congress of Architecture in Copenhagen in July 2023 when I saw a presentation Sid gave on the Circular Economic perspectives and data-driven social change.

In our conversation today, we discuss what this fascinating organisation is doing in Asia, and how he is spreading the word abroad. I learned about the current informal waste supply-chain in cities such as Chennai. And how Kabadiwala Connect is integrating informal actors into the formal waste management system; to deliver low-cost and low-carbon, waste management solutions that cities in the Global South need to support their growing economies and populations.

This has been Again&Again&Again, a mini-series of Hearing Architecture, proudly sponsored by Brickworks, made possible with the support of the Alastair Swayn Foundation. This episode was recorded during a period of residency with the Danish Arts Association in Copenhagen. Thank you so much for listening and thank you to our international guest Siddharth Hande of Kabadiwala Connect. Thank you for identifying how bottom-up systems can be a success and how a city might leverage existing informal infrastructure and urban actors into an innovative movement.

Let’s watch this space and we look forward to speaking with you again in the future.

Our sponsor Brickworks also produces architecture podcasts hosted by Tim Ross. You can find ‘The Art of Living’, ‘Architects Abroad, and ‘The Power of Two’, at brickworks.com.au or your favourite podcast platform.

If you’d like to show your support please rate, review, and subscribe to Hearing Architecture in your favourite podcast app. If you want to know more about what the Australian Institute of Architects is doing to support architects and the community please visit architecture.com.au

This is a production by the Australian Institute of Architects Emerging Architects and Graduates Network, in collaboration with Open Creative Studio. The miniseries Again&Again&Again is proudly supported by the Alstair Swayne Foundation. The Institute production team was Madelynn Jenkins, and Claudia McCarthy, and the EmAGN production team was Daniel Moore.

This content is brought to you by the Australian Institute of Architects Emerging Architects and Graduates Network, in collaboration with Open Creative Studio. This content does not take into account specific circumstances and should not be relied on in that way. This content does not constitute legal, financial, insurance, or other types of advice. You should seek independent verification or advice before relying on this content in circumstances where loss or damage may result. The Institute endeavours to publish content that is accurate at the time it is published, but does not accept responsibility for content that may or will become inaccurate over time.

Supported by: State Workshops

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia where this podcast was produced, as the first storytellers, the first communities and the first creators of Australian culture. I extend that respect to the Traditional Custodians of country throughout the multiple places abroad where this podcast was recorded. We thank Traditional Custodians for caring for Country for thousands of generations. and recognise their profound connection to land, water, and skies.