Natural Building Design & Construction
Available across Karnataka
We design and build homes and commercial spaces using local mud, lime, stone, and wood, combining traditional South Indian methods with modern needs, and offer hands-on owner participation in the building process.
Pricing Guide
Rustic Adobe Farmhouse
Structure & Shell
- Foundation: Stone foundation with Lime/Mud mortar to minimize cement usage.
- Walls: Constructed using Adobe (sun-dried mud bricks) or Cob (hand-sculpted mud) with approx 1.5 ft thickness for thermal mass.
- Lintels: Stone or brick arches used instead of standard RCC lintels.
Roofing & Ceiling
- Structure: Exposed sloping roof using mild steel or simple timber trusses.
- Cover: Standard clay Mangalore Tiles for heat reflection and breathability.
- Ceiling: Exposed truss view or bamboo mat lining (no false ceiling).
Flooring & Finishes
- Flooring: Traditional Red Oxide (IPS) or Clay Terracotta tiles in living areas.
- Walls: Internal Earth plaster (mud finish) in natural ochre tones; external exposed stabilized mud or lime-wash.
- Decor: Basic mud murals (e.g., bottle inserts for light).
Doors & Windows
- Material: Reclaimed/Upcycled wood sourced from demolished houses.
- Style: Traditional shutter windows and simple wooden doors with iron hardware.
Utilities
- Plumbing: Standard CPVC piping compatible with solar water heaters.
- Electrical: External conduit wiring (industrial look) or casing-capping.
Urban Stabilized Earth Home
Structure & Masonry
- Walls: Compressed Stabilized Earth Blocks (CSEB) or Exposed Laterite Stone masonry for uniform edges suitable for gated communities.
- Foundation: Mud-Lime-GGBS concrete or well-ring pile foundation.
- Lintels: Brick segmental arches or Jack arches.
Roofing System
- Intermediate Floors: Filler Slabs (terracotta pots inside concrete) or Brick Vaults to reduce weight and heat.
- Terrace: Combination of flat terrace (surki waterproofing) and partial sloping clay tiles.
Flooring & Finishes
- Flooring: Kota Stone, Tandur Stone, or polished pigmented oxide in bedrooms.
- Walls: Smooth Lime Plaster finish internally in pastel earthy tones.
- Kitchen: Masonry counters with stone slab tops (civil structure only).
Joinery
- Windows: New Honne/Sal wood frames with grillwork or high-quality upcycled teak.
- Doors: Paneled wooden doors with brass fittings.
- Features: Integrated window seats or Bay windows.
Sustainability Features
- Water: Integrated rainwater catchment sumps.
- Cooling: Design includes wind catchers or convection vents.
Premium Heritage Courtyard Villa
Architectural Features
- Core: Central 'Thotti' (Courtyard) with open-to-sky arrangement, intricate drainage, and surrounding pillars.
- Roofing: Complex geometric timber trusses with 'Monkey Top' facade detailing.
- Ceilings: 'Mucchige' (traditional wooden flat slab) or Rohtak/Cloister Domes in specific zones.
Premium Finishes
- Plaster: Multi-coat Lohi or Araish plaster yielding a glass-smooth, washable marble-like finish.
- Flooring: Premium Bethamcherla stone, Athangudi tiles, or Red Oxide with hand-drawn borders.
- Art: Integrated niches with stained glass work and corbelled brickwork.
Heavy Timber Work
- Pillars: Solid wooden pillars (Jackfruit, Teak, or Rosewood) with carved capitals for verandahs.
- Joinery: Antique restored doors with Manichitrathazhu style locks and colored glass.
- Staircase: Solid wood or stone cantilevered steps with artisanal wooden railings.
Systems
- Bathrooms: Oxide-finished walls with premium brass/copper finish fittings.
- Ventilation: Clerestory windows and intricate 'Jali' (brick lattice) work.
About Natural Building Design & Construction
Why I Build With Nature
Building with earth is my way of staying rooted. I don’t just put up walls - I listen to the land, use what’s around, and let homes grow from the soil up. For me, Saralatheya sobagu! (The beauty of simplicity) is not just a slogan, it’s how I approach every project.
How I Work
- Every project starts with the land itself: soil, climate, even the way old houses look around here.
- Local materials first - mud, lime, stone, wood. It’s just easier on the planet and makes the house feel like it’s always belonged.
- I mix old-school South Karnataka and Kerala techniques with what works for life today. So, you get a home that’s both practical and has that classic mannina mane (mud house) vibe.
- I’m big on light, cross-breeze, and making sure rooms spill into courtyards or verandahs. Indoors and outdoors should talk to each other.
What Goes Into My Homes
- Courtyards (Thotti mane) that pull the sky right inside.
- Earthen roofs and vaults - cool in summer, cozy later.
- Arches for support, less concrete, and better flow.
- Sit-outs (Jagali) for those slow mornings or evening gossip.
- Ceilings with reclaimed wood - nothing wasted, everything with a story.
What I Offer
- Full-cycle natural home construction, even in busy places like Bangalore.
- Commercial builds too, if you want your business space to breathe easy.
- Got the itch to get your hands muddy? My owner-builder model means you’re part of every step, learning mud house construction techniques as you go. That way, your home is really yours, inside out.
Meet your Expert
Praangana
93 connects in last 3 months
My Story
We’re Praangana - means courtyard in Kannada. For us, home is that open sky feeling, rain on your face, sun on your toes. We get excited by old lime kilns, local materials, and sharing it all. Our open houses, like the Basavanagudi Thotti Mane, let folks touch mud walls, feel cool lime plaster. Owner-builder? Yeah, our clients build with us, learn with us. It’s messy, fun, and real. Together, we grow. Simple joys, big heart.
My Work
Sustainable & Vernacular Architecture - We design and build homes with mud, laterite stone, lime, and wood. We also do owner-builder architecture workshops.
Healthy, Breathable Materials - Love working with traditional lime plaster walls, oxide flooring, and local wood. Homes with low carbon footprint.
Courtyard House Design - We make totti mane - cozy verandahs, arches, wooden trusses. Indoors meet outdoors, air and light everywhere.
Tradition Meets Innovation - Mixing old and new. You’ll see a wooden lock next to a Mexican brick dome. We like experimenting.
