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Our Sustainable Architecture & Design Philosophy

byMasons InkProjects across Bengaluru & Kochi; Visit Studio in Ashok NagarStarts from₹3,200 per sq ftView full gallery

We are here to shift how we think about the spaces we inhabit. Here is a look at our architectural philosophy in action.

In conversation with The Creators Cohort, we discuss our passion for sustainable design, the challenges of working with mud, and the importance of perseverance for young architects.

A feature on our project, 'The Courtyard House', a co-working space that blends vernacular architecture with contemporary design. This film explores how we use traditional methods to create modern, sustainable buildings.

A teaser for our feature on 'The Showcase', exploring how tradition and modernity can blend seamlessly to create spaces that are beautiful, sustainable, and accessible to all.

We were thrilled that 'The Courtyard House' was featured as the Project of the Week by The Creators Cohort, celebrating its blend of tradition and modern sustainability.

Our co-founder Sridevi Changali on a panel discussing 'Creating Holistic Design in the Realm of Five Senses'. We believe architecture should engage all the senses.

Our co-founder Sridevi Changali was invited to speak at the Young Architects Festival in Calicut. It's always an honor to connect with the next generation of architects.

Our co-founder Rosie Paul at the Young Architects Festival. We love sharing our journey and passion for sustainable design with fellow professionals.

We were proud to mentor the 'Nirmana' Materials and Techniques Workshop at YAF 2022, sharing our hands-on knowledge of natural building.

Curating the 'Nirmana' workshop was a wonderful opportunity to dive deep into sustainable materials with enthusiastic young architects.

We curated an event at COP27 focused on Culture, Gender, and Resilience. We aimed to highlight the role of women as custodians of culture and key agents in building climate resilience.

About Our Philosophy in Action

We do not just draft blueprints. Whether we are hosting a hands-on mud-building workshop or speaking on a panel about climate resilience, our goal is to demystify sustainable construction. We want to show you that building with earth and lime is not an archaic practice, but a necessary, viable, and beautiful future for modern homes.

Leading voices in sustainable, vernacular design. — Approved by the tribe
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Masons Ink

Projects across Bengaluru & Kochi; Visit Studio in Ashok NagarStarts from ₹3,200 per sq ft

We are Rosie and Sridevi, the team behind Masons Ink. We believe a home should breathe and ground you, which is why we spend as much time on-site with our hands in the mud as we do at the drafting table. We are here to prove that sustainability is not a luxury, but the only way forward.

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The central courtyard, or 'Thotti', of our Basavanagudi house is the breathing heart of the home. It connects the living spaces while inviting light, air, and even the rain inside, creating a constant dialogue with nature. This space features exposed laterite stone walls and traditional wooden pillars.10
This is the oculus of an ornamental brick dome we created for a meditation space. The intricate corbelled brickwork is not just structural but also sculptural, playing with light and shadow to create a serene, inspiring atmosphere.
A view of the dining hall in our Vinaya residence project. This space is defined by an arch leading to the kitchen, a high vaulted wooden ceiling, and a Lohi lime plaster accent wall, demonstrating how natural materials create warm and functional living areas.
Our design process begins with detailed drawings like this cross-section. Here, we blend Rajasthani wooden arches with Kerala-style seating, clearly mapping out the use of natural materials like burnt brick vaults and stone slabs to create a unique, culturally rich home.

Sustainable Architecture and Natural Home Designs

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PraanganaConsults at studio in Mysuru; Travels to Bengaluru & Karnataka
This is a bedroom in the Waghoba Ecolodge, a space designed for tranquility and immersion in nature. The vaulted ceiling, made from conical pottery tiles, and walls of stabilized adobe blocks create a cool, earthy sanctuary, while the large window opens directly to the restored forest landscape of Tadoba.8
This is the exterior of a residence we designed in a dense Bangalore neighborhood. We used earth from the site itself and debris from the old, demolished house to construct the new walls, creating a structure that is both modern and deeply rooted in its own history and place.
The interior of the Atelier school in Bangalore showcases our belief in designing for the future. The open, light-filled space is defined by partitions made from paper tubes and a bolted steel frame, all chosen so the building can be easily disassembled and its components reused, eliminating waste from the very start.
In this quiet courtyard nook, an intricately patterned brick screen, or jali, filters sunlight beautifully. This detail is more than just decoration; it’s a passive cooling strategy that allows for ventilation while providing privacy, demonstrating how traditional craftsmanship can create both comfort and art.

Featured Ecological Architecture Projects

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Biome Environmental SolutionsStudio in Vidyaranyapura; projects across Bengaluru & India
This view from the Debris Block House in Bangalore captures our approach to seamless indoor-outdoor living. The ground floor opens completely to the landscape, while skylights and a multi-level staircase draw natural light deep into the home.8
We call these the glowing portals of the Lakehouse in Hyderabad. As dusk settles, the wood-clad volumes frame the landscape, creating a dramatic and serene connection between the home and the distant city lights over the water.
This is a vision for a mid-rise coastal residence in Mumbai. The design is a carved volume with integrated planters and framed openings, creating a dialogue with the sea while modulating privacy, light, and ventilation for urban living.

Sustainable Architecture and Contextual Design Portfolio

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CollectiveProjectStudio in Indiranagar; Projects across Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad & India
We design homes as interconnected stories, not just rooms. This view of a residence shows our use of organic geometry and natural materials like wood and stone to create a space that flows across multiple levels, always feeling open and connected.8
Our architecture embraces the environment around it. The exterior of this home integrates natural stone, wood paneling, and abundant greenery, allowing the structure to blend seamlessly with its surroundings and become a living part of the landscape.
We believe buildings can talk, especially through the interplay of light and form. Here, sunlight streams through carefully placed openings, interacting with the home's organic, flowing structure to create a dynamic and ever-changing atmosphere.
Craftsmanship and material honesty are at the heart of our work. This brick dome is a feature of our 'True Ceiling' series, showcasing a radial pattern of bricks that is not only visually striking but also a functional element of our sustainable design approach.

Our Signature Architectural Projects

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Studio BhoomiTakes projects across Bengaluru; Visit Design Studio in Narayana Nagar
This home in Basavanagudi, Bangalore, is a testament to our belief in complex, layered design that feels organic and rooted. We integrated exposed earth blocks, traditional bay windows, and multiple balconies, even allowing a palm tree to grow through the structure, truly merging the building with its landscape.8
A quiet corner for reflection. This space combines a traditional indoor swing with a modern filler slab ceiling made of clay pots, reducing concrete usage while creating a unique visual texture. The large circular window frames the world outside, making nature a part of the home's interior life.
The spiritual heart of the home, this central courtyard features a Tulasi Katte, bathed in sunlight from a skylight. An antique wooden pillar stands as a silent witness, grounding the space in tradition and craftsmanship, creating a serene connection between the sacred and the everyday.
We use architecture to paint with light. Here, a patterned jaali skylight casts intricate shadows on an exposed brick wall, a dynamic display that changes with the sun's journey across the sky. This is how we create spaces that feel active and ever-changing, without using any energy.

Eco-Friendly Homes That Breathe With You

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Sathya ConsultantsProjects across Bengaluru & Hyderabad; Visit Studio in Banashankari
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What makes us different? We blend art with architecture, crafting bespoke solutions for every residential and commercial space. We are your partners from the initial concept all the way to the final completion of your project.

Sustainable and Human-Centric Architectural Designs

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Green Ladder ArchitectsTakes projects across Delhi NCR & Bengaluru; Visit office in Greater Noida

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What kind of project are you looking to start?

Sustainable home designRammed earth constructionVernacular home interiorsEco-friendly renovationTraditional courtyard designNatural building materialsVintage interior design

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