University of Bath Student Awarded 2026 RIBA Norman Foster Travelling Scholarship for Research on India’s Salvage Economies
The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has announced that Yukta Chegu, an architecture student at the University of Bath, is the recipient of the prestigious 2026 RIBA Norman Foster Travelling Scholarship. The honor recognizes Chegu’s forward-thinking research proposal, which explores the vital role of informal salvage networks in modern construction.
Rethinking Construction Through "Rubble Futures"
Chegu’s winning project, titled Rubble Futures: Mapping India’s Informal Salvage Economies as a Blueprint for Global Circular Construction, aims to dissect the intricate processes behind the recovery and recirculation of demolition waste. By focusing her fieldwork on Bangalore—alongside investigations in other major Indian urban centers—Chegu intends to document the mechanisms that allow informal laborers to reclaim and repurpose construction materials.
The project is more than a local study; it is an attempt to translate grassroots ingenuity into scalable, international solutions. As the global construction industry faces mounting pressure to reduce its carbon footprint, Chegu’s research seeks to identify how these decentralized, informal practices can be integrated into the formal building sectors of the United Kingdom and Europe to foster a more truly circular economy.
Bridging the Gap Between Informal and Formal Systems
"The scholarship will enable me to undertake research for my project," Chegu noted in a statement. "This will involve gathering first-hand information on India’s informal construction re-use systems to translate them into actionable strategies for more sustainable, circular construction practices globally."
By examining the life cycle of materials through the lens of Indian salvage markets, the research aims to challenge conventional waste management hierarchies. The study will culminate in an analysis of how these methods can provide a blueprint for a more resilient, resource-efficient future in the face of climate change.
A Legacy of Excellence
The RIBA Norman Foster Travelling Scholarship, established in 2006, continues its tradition of supporting the next generation of architectural talent. Awarded annually to a student who demonstrates exceptional promise and original inquiry, the £9,000 ($12,000 USD) grant serves as a catalyst for investigating the sustainable future of our global cities.
Chegu’s success highlights the growing importance of academic research that looks beyond traditional architectural design toward the logistical and ecological realities of material reuse. Her work promises to bridge the gap between global sustainability goals and the practical, often overlooked, reality of urban material flows.
