ACEDGE

Swati Janu is an architect and artist dedicated to working on issues of social justice, ranging from housing rights to participatory planning. Awarded the Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture in 2022, she believes in the importance of combining grassroots engagement with policy advocacy for long term impact. A graduate from the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi, she also holds an MSc in Sustainable Urban Development from the University of Oxford, UK. She is the founder of Social Design Collaborative – a community-driven art and architectural practice that focuses on inclusion in the built environment, making planning and public policies accessible to underrepresented communities. The studio also supports self-organised communities through the design and building of urban commons such as schools, libraries, day care centres, and community centres.

Architect and urban innovator transforming waste into opportunity. Creator of Dumpcrete, an internationally recognized sustainable building material made from legacy waste. His work spans urban planning, water systems, and air pollution solutions, backed by grants from Youth4Climate, Swarovski Foundation, and Indian Government. Currently consulting with Saroja.Earth on biomass management and serving as a Next Generation India Fellow with the UN Foundation, he bridges technical expertise, policy insights, and creative vision to build more sustainable cities from their most challenging spaces.