Our Work and Recognitions
We believe that building a home is a long-term commitment to the earth and your family. Here is a look at the projects that have resonated with our clients and design communities.
A proud moment for us as our Audumbara project was featured in Interior Exterior Magazine. This spread highlights our approach to vernacular and earth design techniques.
Another look at the feature on our Audumbara residence, showcasing the project's principal details and our design philosophy.
The magazine feature details the material palette of the Audumbara project, including CSEB, Kota stone, terracotta, and teakwood, celebrating natural and sustainable design.
A page from the Interior Exterior Magazine feature, showing the living, dining, and kitchen spaces of the Audumbara project.
The article discusses how we integrated traditional building methods into a contemporary design language for the Audumbara home.
This page from the magazine highlights the bedroom and study spaces, focusing on the use of natural light and earthy materials.
We were honored to have our Audumbara project voted 'Project of the Week' by Volume Zero's audience. This image shows the beloved indoor swing.
Another shot celebrating our 'Project of the Week' win, focusing on the beautiful interplay of light and shadow on the patterned floor.
The sunlight streaming through the large circular window in the Audumbara house, a key feature that captured the audience's attention.
This image from the feature shows the elegant teak and rattan dining set we designed for the Audumbara project.
About Our Work in Their Words
When you see our projects like the Audumbara residence featured in Interior Exterior Magazine or voted as Project of the Week by Volume Zero, it is validation that vernacular methods work. We don't focus on trends; we focus on material integrity. Using compressed earth blocks (CSEB) and Kota stone isn't just an aesthetic choice—it is a decision that significantly lowers the heat load of your home and reduces the need for artificial cooling. The praise we receive is usually for the atmosphere, which is simply a result of getting the basics right.
Our approach to design is simple: we want homes that feel like they belong to the tropics, not just sit on top of them. Recognition from publications and peers is important to us because it highlights the viability of sustainable building in an urban context like Bengaluru.
The Audumbara Experience
Our recent feature in the April-June 2024 issue of Interior Exterior Magazine was a proud moment for our team. It provided a deep dive into the construction of the Audumbara house, specifically how we managed to incorporate a circular window and a vaulted CSEB roof without compromising structural integrity or comfort. These aren't just design flourishes; the roof acts as a thermal buffer, and the window facilitates natural ventilation that moves air through the entire floor plate.
Why Vernacular Matters
When we build, we are essentially acting as stewards of the site.
- Material Sourcing: By utilizing earth from the site itself to create compressed bricks, we drastically cut down on the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing and transporting traditional burnt bricks.
- Passive Climate Control: Techniques such as high ceilings, strategic placement of glass blocks, and using thermal mass materials like Kota stone ensure that the interior temperature remains comfortable regardless of the Bengaluru summer.
- Local Skills: Every project we do connects us with master artisans from Rajasthan and local carpenters. Our furniture—the teak chairs, the rattan weaving, the hand-painted handles—is an extension of this belief that local hands produce the most honest work.
Being named 'Project of the Week' by the Volume Zero community was a reminder that people are looking for these alternatives. They want homes that are healthy, durable, and deeply personal. We invite you to look through our work and see the thought process behind the details.
Tropic Responses
I started Tropic Responses because I wanted to prove that luxury could be gentle on the earth. My team and I work hands-on with local materials like soil, stone, and teak to build homes that are cooler, quieter, and truly built to last. If you want a space that feels grounded, I would love to walk you through how we do it.
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