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Resilient and Culturally Rooted Architecture

bySejpal and Parekh AssociatesStudio in Mumbai; takes projects across IndiaStarts from₹250 ₹ per Sq. Ft. of Built-up AreaView full gallery

We approach design as an act of stewardship, harmonizing contemporary needs with the enduring wisdom of our cultural landscape.

This is our zero-footprint administrative office in Karnataka, built for the Tibetan community. The edifice is constructed from mud bricks made on-site and features a central courtyard, demonstrating our principles of using local materials and creating climate-responsive, communal spaces.

We restored this century-old structure in Lonavala, bringing its grand wooden roof and intricate mosaic floors back to their original glory. This project was a labor of love, preserving architectural heritage while adapting the space for contemporary life.

An interior view from a boutique homestay we designed in the Kumaon Hills of Uttarakhand. The expansive windows and warm wood paneling are designed to frame the majestic landscape, creating a seamless connection between the indoor space and the natural world outside.

This video explains our 'Sacred Forest' garden concept, which won at the International Garden Festival in France. It details how we draw inspiration from India's 'Devrai' tradition to create resilient, biodiverse landscapes that work in harmony with nature.

A detail of the filler slab ceiling in the Bylakuppe administrative building. This low-carbon construction technique reduces the amount of concrete and steel needed, showcasing our commitment to innovative and sustainable building methods that minimize environmental impact.

The meditation pavilion at the Uttarakhand homestay in use. We designed this space with a delicate butterfly roof to be a place of stillness and reflection, where the architecture itself encourages a connection to the serene mountain surroundings.

The completed exterior of a 10,000 sq ft industrial facility for Volvo in Nagpur. This project shows how our design principles can be applied to large-scale commercial architecture, creating functional, well-lit, and efficient workspaces that are integrated with their environment.

This diagram illustrates the key planning ideas for a rural community center. It shows our process of mapping existing features like venerable trees, creating climatic responses through breezeways, and integrating vernacular features for a design rooted in local identity.

About Featured

Our practice emphasizes the 'filler slab' construction technique to reduce the reliance on concrete and steel. By utilizing clay pots as filler elements within the roof slab, we improve thermal performance and structural efficiency, ensuring your building stays naturally cool while minimizing its carbon footprint.

Sustainable architecture from Karnataka to France. — Approved by the tribe
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Sejpal and Parekh Associates

Studio in Mumbai; takes projects across IndiaStarts from ₹250 ₹ per Sq. Ft. of Built-up Area

We are SAPA. We see buildings as living entities that should harmonize with their surroundings rather than dominate them. Our work draws from the concept of the 'Devrai', creating spaces that foster community and respect the environment.

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The Lateral Verandah House finds its footing on a sloping hill in Lonavala, its unique timber frame creating a dialogue with the landscape. We used raw basalt walls to ground the structure, a nod to the region's architectural history, creating a space that feels both of the earth and elegantly light.8
The transformation of the old Ambico Ice Factory was a hands on process of excavation. We spent months carefully scraping away layers of plaster to reveal the original brickwork and retrofitting the structure, a surgical intervention to stabilize what time had worn away.

Featured Architectural Projects

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Malik ArchitectureTakes projects across India; Visit office at Ballard Estate, Mumbai
The facade of the School of Arts and Sciences at Ahmedabad University demonstrates our approach to climate-responsive design. The integration of terracotta louvers, extensive glazing, and verdant rooftop gardens creates a building that breathes, connecting the interior learning environments with the natural landscape.7
We design libraries as sanctuaries for knowledge and quiet contemplation. At the Lilavati Lalbhai Library at CEPT University, floor-to-ceiling wooden bookshelves create a warm, immersive environment, with carefully planned sightlines that draw the eye through the multi-level, subterranean space.
Our designs foster moments of spontaneous interaction and repose. Here, the sunken courtyard of the Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum in Ahmedabad becomes an informal amphitheater, where the interplay of light, shadow, and landscape creates a dynamic social space.
The experience of art is shaped by its environment. In the Vismaya private museum, we manipulated form and light to create dramatic, atmospheric galleries, using focused illumination and dark, monolithic partitions to highlight individual artifacts and guide the visitor's journey.

Featured Architectural Projects and Design Philosophy

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RMA ArchitectsTakes projects across India; Visit office in Kala Ghoda, Mumbai
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
We designed this community space as part of a hospitality project on a coffee estate, creating a natural amphitheater for gatherings. The structure is nestled within the landscape, fostering a deep connection with nature and offering a place for quiet reflection and shared experiences.6
This collection of images speaks to the heart of our work. It features an aerial view of the BIEC's sustainable green roof, a prayer wheel in Nepal scaled for a child's touch, and the organic, termite-mound-inspired form of the Bio Diversity Centre at the Agastya Foundation.
The Earth Alive project is our experiment in playfulness and repurposed architecture. Here, we transformed shipping containers into a multi-level structure with a watchtower, creating a space for learning and exploration that rises from the rewilded landscape.
The Art School at Agastya Foundation, pictured here at dusk, was designed to inspire the rural children who use it. The structure takes its cues from the surrounding rock formations, creating a space that feels both protective and connected to the earth.

Creating spaces where nature and architecture meet

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Mistry ArchitectsTakes social impact projects across India; Visit Design Studio in Indiranagar
This modern farmhouse, reflected in the tranquil water, represents our ideal of equilibrium. We design homes that balance clean, contemporary aesthetics with a deep connection to the natural landscape, creating a serene retreat from the city.8
We see large-scale housing not as a grid of repeating units, but as a living community. This aerial view shows our approach to breaking monotony with staggered plots and varied housing types, creating a more human and navigable neighborhood.
A home should be filled with light and life. This double-height living space, opening directly onto a green lawn, illustrates how we choreograph spatial volumes to create bright, airy interiors that connect seamlessly with the outdoors.
We reinterpret traditional concepts like the courtyard for modern living. This central green space in our Kathmandu housing project acts as the community's heart, fostering interaction while providing natural light and ventilation to the surrounding homes.

Architecture Rooted in Context and Human Experience

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Team3Takes projects across India; Visit studio in Lado Sarai, New Delhi
A once-disused attic from a 1920s building, reimagined as a vibrant, light-filled workspace. By introducing a central skylight, we transformed a dark, forgotten area into a functional and inspiring environment, demonstrating how sensitive retrofitting can unlock the hidden potential in heritage structures.8
This lively hub at Woodstock School is a testament to placemaking. We transformed an ordinary corner under the deodars into the school's social nerve center, a space co-created with the community that now feels like it has always belonged.
Restoration is about reviving the spirit of a place. Here in Old Delhi, we brought a historic haveli back to life as a cultural center, carefully preserving its aged patina while making it a vibrant backdrop for art, culture, and community gatherings.
In response to the pandemic, we reimagined a disused open space into an outdoor learning environment. Using materials already on-site, these curved benches and quiet corners demonstrate circularity and how thoughtful design can create spaces for contemplation and connection.

Featured Heritage Architecture and Adaptive Reuse Projects

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Aishwarya Tipnis ArchitectsTakes projects across India; Visit studio in Greater Kailash, New Delhi

More from Sustainable Architecture by Sejpal and Parekh Associates

Zero-Footprint Architecture: The Bylakuppe ProjectMountain Retreats: A Homestay in UttarakhandHeritage Restored: Breathing Life into Old StructuresFunctional Spaces: Industrial & Commercial ProjectsArchitecture in Nature's EmbraceDesigning for Community: The Gramam Pranganam Vision

More services by Sejpal and Parekh Associates

Heritage RestorationInterior DesignLandscape Architecture
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