About

Why I’m Obsessed with Timber

I’ve always seen timber as more than just a building material—it’s a path to construction that actually respects the planet. My studio, SAFE, is all about pushing the limits of sustainable architecture, especially in a country like ours where old wisdom meets new tech.

What I Bring to the Table

• Years of research, hands-on trials, and collaborations with global institutions like TU Delft.
• Deep dive into seismic-resistant timber buildings, inspired by local Northeast Indian traditions like the 'Assam type house'.
• Developed a hybrid timber-concrete system (we call it 'Hyber') for tall structures even in earthquake zones.
• This system cuts down a building’s CO2 footprint by 41% compared to regular RCC—yeh chota number nahi hai (that’s no small number).
• Created a Rhino3D/Grasshopper parametric timber design tool for quick, early-stage visualizations.
• Our glue-free timber joinery tech, tested for massive load, means less chemicals and a greener site.

My Approach

• I’m all about collaboration—no top-down gyaan (lecturing).
• Sourcing timber as locally as possible, like for our 'Aangan' house where every log came from within 100km.
• Always looking for ways to upcycle, reuse, and make the most of what’s around.

I’m not promising easy answers, but if you want to build something truly sustainable with timber, let’s push the boundaries together.