“Mud is (raw).” “Sustainable architecture isn’t pretty.” Architect Guruprasad Rane of the firm ‘Bhoomija’ in Kerala would often hear some of these opinions being shared by his clients who wanted a new space built for them.
“But now that is slowly changing,” he says. “Clients these days are open to . In many cases, clients have approached us with a conventional cement design in mind.
But we have introduced them to cob, soil and other materials that could work well,” the architect shares. In tune with this, sat down with a bunch of architects who disproved the belief that cement is the only material suitable for construction. They believe it is time to do away with such ideals and make way for more planet-friendly perspectives.
The architects in this piece converge on a verdict that responsible design and great aesthetics can indeed go hand-in-hand. Keeping conscious design at the fore, they are building a new India — one that is in tune with sustainability. We deep-dived into their projects and understood the ethos behind each material used.
Here are five that impressed us — 1. Rammed earth The residence of Dr Achutshankar in Karyavattom, Kerala, always draws two glances from any onlooker. The first is because of its beautiful, rust-coloured exterior that perfectly compliments the mud on which it stands, and the second is because people can hardly believe the .
Standing proud of their creation are architect duo Guruprasad Rane and Manasi Puliyappatta,.