SpaceMatters in collaboration with Arohi, an NGO working towards the welfare of rural Himalayan communities is working to promote sustainable building strategies aimed at strengthening the assets of rural mountain communities in Kumaon. The KumaonBuild Initiative is an open source work-in-progress repository of ideas, concepts and resources to design, build and construct in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand. It seeks to enable and build upon the essential through documentation, design, training, projects combining existing local knowledge systems and skills with newer influences, technologies and approaches. Its aimed at intersecting settlement planning and built practices with access to livelihood, promotion of cultural heritage and innovation at low cost, scalable and sustainable building practises.