Sustainable Architecture & Construction
Available across India
We design and build homes and spaces using local materials, energy-saving techniques, and a collaborative process that keeps you involved at every step.
Pricing Guide
Architectural Design & Eco-Consultancy
Core Design Scope
- Climatic Analysis: Sun path and wind direction studies to orient the home for passive cooling and reduced AC load.
- Space Planning: Volumetric layouts with double heights and mezzanines to maximize perceived space on smaller urban plots.
- Structural Integration: Specialized load-bearing drawings for Mud Block or Rat-Trap Bond masonry to minimize concrete use.
Technical Documentation
- Exposed Wall Detailing: Precise brick-laying patterns and symmetry planning since there is no plaster to hide errors.
- Services Planning: Pre-planned electrical conduits and plumbing lines tailored for exposed walls where cutting later is impossible.
- Custom Fenestration: Designs for pivoted windows, jaali ventilation walls, and skylights for light-shadow play.
Material & Site Advisory
- Material Selection: Guidance on sourcing local soil, boulders, and upcycled materials like bottles.
- Periodic Oversight: Site visits by senior architects to ensure artisan craftsmanship matches the design intent.
Turnkey Handcrafted Eco-Construction
Civil Structure & Masonry
- Foundation: Rubble trench or stone masonry customized to soil capability to reduce cement usage.
- Walling: Labor-intensive Stabilized Mud Blocks (SMB), Rammed Earth, or Rat-Trap Bond brickwork left unplastered.
- Roofing: Filler Slabs using clay pots or waste tiles inside concrete to reduce volume and heat gain.
Artisan Finishes
- Flooring: Hand-polished Red, Yellow, or Green Oxide flooring or natural stones like Kota.
- Fabrication: Custom mild-steel staircases, railings, and geometric skylights for internal courtyards.
- Joinery: Upcycled timber frames or pivoted steel-glass window combinations with ventilation jaalis.
Eco-Systems
- Water Management: Grey-water recycling piping setups and rainwater harvesting integration within civil works.
- Waste Integration: Optional use of site debris or non-biodegradable waste in non-load-bearing partitions.
Remote Farmhouse & Retreat Construction
Site-Adaptive Structure
- Vernacular Walling: Heavy reliance on Random Rubble Masonry (stone walls) and Mud Concrete for open environments.
- Material Sourcing: Utilization of excavated soil for mud walls and site-found boulders to reduce material purchase costs.
- Passive Cooling: Structural design featuring deep verandahs and open courtyards to manage heat naturally.
Remote Logistics
- Labor Accommodation: Includes costs for setting up temporary sheds and food for skilled city artisans staying onsite.
- Procurement: Sourcing materials within a 50km radius to minimize transport costs and carbon footprint.
Rustic Finishes
- Flooring: Rough-cut stone or durable cement oxide finishes designed for high foot traffic and mud.
- Outdoor Integration: Construction of stone benches, plinths, and semi-open pavilions.
About Sustainable Architecture & Construction
Our Philosophy
We believe a home should feel honest, rooted, and alive. For us, building sustainably isn’t just about saving the planet, it’s about creating spaces that invite you in and make you want to stay. Some parts of the journey can get messy - decisions take time, and not everything will be super fast or slick. But what you get is a space with a soul.
Design Approach
We focus on connecting the built and the natural. Instead of just building walls, we shape the way light and air move through your home. Courtyards, skylights, and large windows aren’t just design features - they make rooms brighter, cooler, and more comfortable. Most of the time, this means you barely need to turn on the AC or lights during the day.
Materials & Techniques
Our projects feature earth block construction, local stone, exposed brick, and concrete. We use what’s available on-site whenever we can - like boulders for rubble walls. Techniques like rat-trap bond brickwork and filler slabs save energy and keep interiors comfortable. Sometimes, we get creative with upcycled building materials, like using bottles filled with soil for walls.
Projects & Process
We design sustainable homes for city plots, community centers, farmhouses, and more - mostly in Bengaluru but open to Pan-India work. The process is collaborative and hands-on. We explain, discuss, and decide together so every choice supports comfort, longevity, and a story that feels yours.
Meet your Expert
Studio Alaya
44 connects in last 3 months
My Story
We’re Studio Alaya, thirteen years young and still figuring things out. Bengaluru is home, but our work travels everywhere. It’s been wild - some days tough, some days full of joy. We’ve changed, but our thing for building spaces that actually feel alive? Still strong. We want homes to hold real stories, not just look pretty. Big shoutout to folks who’ve trusted us, waited for us, and stuck around. Let’s see what the next year throws at us.
My Work
Sustainable Architecture & Interiors - We design and build homes, farmhouses, and community spaces, always eco-conscious and responsible, all across India.
Mud Block & Stone Construction - We use mud block architecture and locally sourced stone for raw, honest facades that blend with the landscape.
Collaborative Design Journey - Best homes happen with client and team together - trust, patience, and celebrating every step, even the housewarming.
Natural Light & Ventilation - We craft every opening for natural light ventilation, framing views, adding skylights, or jaali walls for playful patterns.