Top 6 Sustainable Architecture Practices in India
- Rajvardhan Agarwal
- Feb 15, 2022
- 4 min read
The term “sustainable architecture” rings a bell of familiarity in the mind of every architect.
This is because sustainability is a fundamental design principle imbibed into our academic curriculum and professional practice. Sustainability in architecture is a long-standing concept that enhances the user experience by using natural building elements and promotes a harmonious co-existence of the natural and built environment.
A sustainable building design reduces the stress on earth’s resources by resorting to renewable energy. It’s the same reason why sustainable architecture is also labeled as green architecture as it reduces the negative impact of construction activities on nature.
Truth be told, sustainable architecture practices are the need of the hour, now more than ever. The rapid growth of construction activities has necessitated the adoption of low-impact sustainable design concepts. Owing to this, architects in India are embracing green architecture principles to lead the way forward.
Sustainable Architects in India
Leading architects in India have weaved the foundation of their practice around sustainability. In India, many architects residing in Auroville and Dharamshala are renowned for their practice in sustainable architecture.
The use of energy-efficient products, locally available materials, native construction methods, and natural ventilation techniques are prevalent practices of sustainable architecture in India.
Biome Environmental Solutions headed by Chitra Vishwanath is a green architecture practice based out of Bengaluru. Vishwanath’s inclination towards ecology conservation and sustainable building design proposes a diverse scope of work for her firm. Biome is involved in multi-scale projects related to sanitation, ecology, water harvesting, and eco-friendly materials.
The Paper Workshop in Bengaluru designed by Biome rediscovers the planning of workspaces. The use of mud bricks, granite slabs, and patterned ceiling fenestrations make the building an excellent example of sustainable architecture. A striking feature of the project is the incorporation of teak leaves in RCC floor slabs that imprints textures on the slab surface, creating beautiful patterns.
Footprint E.A.R.T.H. led by Yatin Pandya is a sustainable architecture firm in Ahmedabad, India. Pandya addresses environmental issues of building construction by learning from vernacular architecture. The firm is engaged in architecture, interior design, building conservation, product design, and affordable mass housing. Alongside, the organization undertakes research work for alternative building technology and environmental studies.
The elementary concerns for building design at Footprints E.A.R.T.H. include sustainability, socio-cultural appropriateness, affordability, and humaneness. The Global Mission School in Gujarat is a landmark project of the organization where outdoor and indoor spaces have been merged by creating an interplay of courtyards.
A self-taught architect, Delia (Didi) Contractor was an iconic figure practicing sustainable architecture in northwest India. Her design philosophy was to combine rural traditions with modern requirements. The use of bamboo, adobe, and stone can be predominantly seen across her architectural work.
Didi Contractor was a board member of Dharmalaya, an organization dedicated to compassionate living and sustainable village development. Contractor actively participated in the project by designing eco-friendly Himalayan earthen construction techniques.
Benny Kuriakose and Associates are architectural designers and conservation consultants based out of Chennai. Kuriakose, the principal architect of the firm, derives his design motivation from his roots – the vernacular architecture of south India. He predominantly uses stone, bricks, and wood across all his works.
The Huilekere House, Coorg is a residential project by Kuriakose whose design is inspired by the ancestral homes of Coorg locals – Ainmanes. The sustainable house design has a courtyard and front verandah to depict spatial hierarchy, which is an element of south Indian vernacular architecture.
Established in 1981, Ashok B Lall Architects is a Delhi-based organization that specializes in sustainable building design. Popular for its low-energy sustainable architecture solutions, the firm is also involved in educational research projects. The design philosophy of the firm is to prioritize design strategies and technologies that promote energy conservation and sustainability.
A residential project in Civil Lines, Delhi is a classic example of green architecture by Lall. Using low-energy embodied and recyclable materials was a key sustainable element of the project. Alongside, the use of bamboo, terrazzo, and woodwork and stone coupled with passive cooling techniques made the design tailor-fit for the climate of Delhi.
Auroma Architecture led by Trupti Doshi is a Pondicherry-based architecture practice. She is an architect and integrated sustainability engineer. Her works include ecological designs, rainwater harvesting, eco-friendly materials, waste management, use of renewable energy, and thermal comfort. Doshi is a believer in the philosophy that buildings are complex living organisms that are a part of the bigger cyclical loop of nature. Also a TEDx speaker, Doshi has lectured on the subjects of environmental entrepreneurship, smart cities, and sustainability.
A collaborative project with Orif. Daug King and Ar.Jateen Lad, Doshi designed the International Institute of Integral Management, Auroville. The project aimed to reduce energy consumption by providing thermal comfort through passive cooling techniques. The installation of green roofs was an integral part of the design.
Final Thoughts
Architecture practices such as the ones mentioned above are holding the torch for sustainable architecture in India. The introduction of Indian Green Building Rating Systems such as IGBC and LEED has encouraged architects to create environment-conscious designs. Conferences and exhibitions about green architecture are helping develop a well-rounded approach to building design. Access to sustainable design ideas through digital portals has also helped in developing a sustainable outlook towards building designs. Activities such as material sampling and procurement have become simpler with the emergence of virtual platforms such as Archmozzo.
All in all, the growing implementation of sustainable architecture in India is encouraging the development of holistic building design.
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