On a typical summer time afternoon in India, when the solar scorches the streets and the warmth clings to your pores and skin, you step indoors hoping for respite. However as an alternative, the partitions appear to radiate the heat proper again at you. The fan spins sooner, the air-conditioner hums louder — and nonetheless, the area feels heavy.
It’s a well-known discomfort, and but one we not often query. Most trendy houses, modern in concrete and glass, had been by no means constructed for consolation. They had been constructed to rise rapidly, to look polished, to impress. However at what price? To the earth beneath them, and to the individuals dwelling inside?
That query stayed with Krithika Venkatesh, a younger architect from Chennai. Years in the past, standing at a mining website stripped uncooked for building supplies, she felt the disconnect between design and nature and knew she had to decide on a special path.
Her enterprise, ‘Studio for Earthen Structure’, is not nearly constructing homes; it is about crafting houses that breathe, age gracefully, and tread flippantly on our planet. She builds buildings that breathe with the land — cooler in summer time, cleaner to stay in, and much gentler on the planet.
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Her instruments? Mud, lime, reclaimed wooden, and centuries of forgotten knowledge. Her mission? To point out that consolation and sustainability don’t should be at odds — and that magnificence can rise from the soil itself.
“Throughout my research, we had the possibility to discover varied fields — and I regularly realised that modern structure simply didn’t resonate with me.”
Discovering inspiration in a grasp’s footsteps
The fog of ordinary architectural apply started to clear when Krithika encountered the inspiring work of Laurie Baker, a reputation synonymous with sustainable and humane constructing in India.
“Within the third yr of structure at Mohammed Sarthak AG Academy of Structure, Chennai, I used to be launched to Laurie Baker, an architect from Kerala, the place we had alternatives to go to his institute, keep there, and perceive his strategies,” shares Krithika.
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“He was a Gandhian, deeply dedicated to utilizing native supplies and low-cost strategies, particularly for presidency tasks like slum boards and housing items. I knew instantly that this was the place I wished to start,” she provides.
This was a lightbulb second for Krithika. “I used to be making an attempt to include all his strategies in my venture. I used to be finding out and researching extra. After which I discovered it very fascinating how good it was to make use of native supplies and artisans.”
What lies beneath: mining the reality about trendy building
Additional down the road, sensible stints with like-minded architects and a deep dive into earthen supplies cemented her resolve. Nevertheless it wasn’t simply the attraction of conventional strategies that drew Krithika in. A tough-hitting have a look at the darkish aspect of typical building supplies actually solidified her path.
“Another vital level for me to get into vernacular structure was that we did a dissertation on building supplies and the place they got here from. So, I visited varied mining websites in Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Jharkhand,” Krithika explains.
What Krithika noticed at these mining websites was a world aside from the shiny exteriors we’re used to admiring. “We have a look at modern aluminium panels or polished granite flooring and barely cease to ask — the place did this come from?” she says. “Behind all that shine is a a lot darker story — environmental harm, supplies that don’t go well with our local weather, and scars left behind by mining.” It was a actuality test that pushed her to rethink not simply what we construct, however how we construct.
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The sheer waste and destruction left a long-lasting impression on her. “I realised we weren’t actually paying the complete price of the supplies we had been utilizing. As an illustration, we would purchase a sq. foot of granite for Rs 300 — however take into consideration the large quantity of sources that go into extracting and producing that piece of stone,” she displays.
The influence on native communities was simply as devastating — polluted water, ravaged landscapes, and disrupted lives. This eye-opening expertise led to a basic query: “Are you able to construct with out utilizing these supplies? Or are you able to construct with out scraping out too many sources from the planet?”
The concrete conundrum: magnificence or beast?
For Krithika, the reply was a powerful sure. And her gaze fell squarely on one of many largest culprits in mainstream building: concrete. “Concrete was not designed for residential buildings, however for it to take up the mass vibration of commercial items,” she explains.
She would not mince her phrases about its environmental footprint. “A single bag of cement makes use of round 25 litres of recent water, even when it is a dry manufacturing unit. And only one tonne of cement is required to construct a 500 sq. foot room, which releases round one tonne of carbon dioxide into the air,” Krithika explains.
The carbon emissions and the general carbon footprint of such buildings are extraordinarily excessive. “Past that, concrete absorbs quite a lot of warmth through the day and re-radiates it at night time. That’s one of many the explanation why it’s so troublesome to remain inside a concrete house after sundown,” she explains.
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Other than the energy-intensive manufacturing of concrete, Krithika factors out its comparatively quick lifespan and the well being hazards related to trendy concrete and its finishes. “After cement concrete, follows plaster and heavy, poisonous paints on high of those layers,” she provides.
Krithika additionally labored on a research together with the Indian Institute of Know-how, Madras in 2020 to measure the indoor air high quality index for Chennai households. “And we discovered that flats had quite a lot of VOCs (Risky Natural Compounds). We discovered the air high quality index was so dangerous, in comparison with the outside, contributing to ‘sick constructing syndrome’ as recognised by the WHO,” she explains.
Respiration partitions and earthy flooring
So, what is the antidote? For Krithika and her group, it is a return to the knowledge of conventional constructing practices, utilizing supplies which are form to the earth and to the individuals who inhabit the buildings. Her method to constructing emphasises the usage of pure and regionally sourced supplies, and we now have damaged it down for you.
| Constructing Component | Typical Supplies | Studio for Earthen Structure (Krithika’s Method) |
| Basis | Strengthened Concrete (RCC) | Stones and bricks with lime-based binders (context-specific) |
| Partitions | Cement blocks, concrete | Mud (cob), adobe (sun-dried bricks), regionally sourced burnt bricks |
| Structural Body | New metal or concrete | Reclaimed wooden from demolished buildings, handled with pure oils (e.g., cashew nut oil, linseed oil) |
| Roofing | Concrete slabs, steel sheets | Handmade pan tiles, Madras terrace roofing, Kadapa stone slab roofs |
| Partitions / Interiors | Plywood, drywall (gypsum boards) | Recycled timber for wood flooring and mezzanines |
| Waterproofing | Chemical-based sealants and membranes | Vajram — a standard collagen-based sealant derived from animal bones |
| Wall End / Plaster | Cement plaster, artificial paints | Lime plaster, mud plaster, cow dung plaster, pure lime washes |
| Flooring | Vitrified tiles, polished concrete | Handmade Atamudi tiles (electricity-free), native pure stones (Kadapa, Andhra Kota, Tandur) |
The influence was such that not solely did it give individuals a more healthy choice to stay but additionally the power that was working with these pure supplies noticed a betterment of their well being. “A couple of of my painters who do lime wash and lime plastic have advised me that since they began working with pure substances, they didn’t encounter an issue of sinus” she shares with a smile.
Dhanajayan (52), who has been a mason since he was 15 years previous, shares that he enjoys working for sustainable buildings. “I’ve at all times been eager about lime buildings since not lots of people are concerned in setting up buildings utilizing conventional and previous strategies that remove concrete or cement,” he shares.
Completely happy shoppers, pleased planet: A win-win
Phrase of Krithika’s distinctive method has unfold, and her shoppers are enamoured with the outcomes. “Slowly, by phrase of mouth, I bought quite a lot of tasks,” explains Krithika. They admire not simply the aesthetic attraction and the connection to nature, but additionally the holistic method that considers every little thing from water administration to the very air they breathe indoors.
Krishna Subramanian, a happy shopper of Studio for Earthen Structure, shares his expertise of setting up an eco-friendly house 35 km away from Tirupathi, Andhra Pradesh. “Once I bought to learn about Krithika’s agency in 2020, they had been comparatively new to sustainable structure, however I took this up as an experiment,” shares Krishna, who was captivated with setting up an eco-friendly home.
Whereas the preliminary outlay could be barely increased because of the expert craftsmanship concerned, Krithika is evident about the place the cash goes. “Round 70 p.c of the entire building price goes on to the artisans. It’s not about extracting sources to construct a construction; it’s about investing in individuals to allow them to construct higher, extra significant areas for us,” she explains. This give attention to truthful wages and valuing conventional expertise resonates deeply.
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“Once you examine with concrete buildings, lime buildings are each labour-intensive and 15 p.c increased in price. If 50 kg of cement prices round Rs 400, the identical quantity of lime would price Rs 600 to 700,” shares Dhanajayan, explaining the associated fee.
Whereas Krishna agrees with the associated fee — he spent greater than 40 p.c of what he had allotted — he’s additionally pleased that he was concerned in ability switch for the artisans. “Because it’s a labour-intensive job, we have to spend extra and supply the assist required for the artisans,” Krishna clarifies.
Krithika’s dedication to sustainable structure extends past simply the supplies she makes use of; it is deeply ingrained in her moral method to land itself. “If you happen to get me a bit of land which is on a wetland, I cannot take it up as a venture as a result of it’s going to create points for the constructing when it comes to water supply, decomposing, and many others,” she asserts.
‘We use solely what fits the native soil’
Krithika’s design course of is deeply rooted in understanding the native context. “We go to the positioning, keep there for every week not less than, perceive the soil, vegetation, and water desk, dig up the soil, and do a soil check with a geotechnical engineer,” she explains.
She prioritises hand-dug wells over bore wells to faucet into the higher aquifer, which is a layer of water-holding rock or soil that’s nearer to the bottom floor and may retailer and supply water. She believes that documenting conventional structure in surrounding villages (round 70 villages in Tamil Nadu) is essential for understanding native constructing practices, materials proportions, and artisan information.
“The group labored intently with us and actually valued our enter,” says Krishna. “We went via six or seven design iterations earlier than finalising the plan.” The development took a few yr and a half to finish, with some delays resulting from COVID-19.
A core precept of her work is minimalism, and she or he encourages shoppers to multi-use the areas successfully. “There’s nothing like an eco-friendly bungalow that you may construct — in keeping with your wants and never your desires,” she explains.
She additionally educates shoppers in regards to the way of life adjustments vital for eco-friendly dwelling, resembling utilizing pure options to harsh chemical compounds in wastewater administration. “The second you deliver a biodiesel tank the place it’s a must to decompose your gray and black water on the website, you can not utilise harsh bathroom cleaners, as an alternative, it’s a must to go for pure cleaners. Sure way of life adjustments are required to stay in our houses, which we assist the shoppers perceive,” Krithika provides.
“The open courtyards and low home windows may invite species like snakes and bugs sometimes into your houses, however it’s worthwhile to be ready since that can be part of dwelling along with nature,” shares Krishna, highlighting the life-style adjustments one may must make, whereas not compromising an excessive amount of on consolation.
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Working with artisans is central to Krithika’s apply. She emphasises truthful wages, insurance coverage protection, and respect for his or her expertise, actively difficult the caste-based inequities and lack of dignity typically related to conventional crafts.
Suggestions is repeatedly sought from artisans to grasp and handle their challenges, fostering belief and collaboration. She has constructed a group of 55 craftspersons specialising in varied strategies like stone foundations, Madras terrace roofing, and lime plastering.
“Krithika ma’am has been open to experimenting and study from the mason, since we now have first-hand expertise with the supplies. She can be very thoughtful in relation to design execution and will get our opinion as as to whether it may be executed properly,” shares Dhanajayan, who enjoys creating arches out of black stones.
A motion in the direction of sustainable structure
Krithika sees her work as half of a bigger shift in architectural considering. “I believe there’s a motion in the direction of sustainable structure. To start with, individuals can incorporate one or two rammed earth partitions within the construction, a mud plaster, and lime plaster,” she provides.
She actively contributes to this burgeoning motion by sharing her information and sources. “We’re additionally pitching into authorities tasks the place we’ll be capable of discuss these strategies as a result of they’re on the forefront of local weather change.”
By way of Studio for Earthen Structure, Krithika, an architect and a mom of a two-year-old, is not simply setting up buildings; she’s cultivating a conscious method of constructing that respects the earth, celebrates native craftspersonship, and finally creates more healthy, extra soulful houses. In a world more and more dominated by the chilly uniformity of concrete, her earth-kissed creations provide a breath of recent air – fairly actually.
Edited by Saumya Singh; all photos courtesy Studio for Earthen Structure
