1. Rammed earth The residence of Dr Achutshankar in Karyavattom, Kerala, is built out of soil by architect duo Guruprasad Rane and Manasi Puliyappatta of sustainable architecture firm ‘Bhoomija’.

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About the material: Soil, sand, gravel, clay, and a stabiliser come together in a damp mixture to form the material.

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As Rane points out, “The walls are breathable and porous because of the rammed earth.” He adds that this quality also helps the home regulate its temperature and humidity levels.

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2. Timber The team at SJK Architects — a Mumbai-based architectural firm has designed a retirement home and skill centre in Awas, Alibaug, using forms of timber.

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These were Glue-Laminated Timber (GLT) and Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) which are engineered woods.

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The architects share that CLT and GLT are carbon-negative (emit less than zero CO2 equivalents), and thus, renewable — provided the timber is sourced from sustainably managed forests. The material is tolerant to warping and cracking.

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3. Ventilated terracotta Picture a construction material that keeps the structure cool in the peak of Indian summers, provides acoustic insulation (cuts noise levels by up to 15 percent), and looks pretty!

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The ventilated terracotta tiles used by GPM Architects to design the Defence Office complexes in KG Marg and Africa Avenue, Delhi, is one.

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The architects share, “By reducing solar heat gain, decreasing the air conditioning load, they [the tiles] save up to 30 percent energy costs.”

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4. DGU glass Architect Vineeta Singhania Sharma of Confluence used this material as one of the principal elements in the design of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) office at Indirapuram.

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Sharma adds, “It [DGU Glass] has excellent thermal insulation properties and maintains a more stable internal temperature, reducing the reliance on heating and cooling systems.”

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“This leads to significant energy savings and a lower carbon footprint.”

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5. Clay bricks The architects at Amit Khanna Design Associates (AKDA) have designed a residential space in New Delhi using clay bricks.

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The fact that they are locally available, can be combined with other materials such as glass or wood, have longevity, and are cost-effective — makes them a great option.

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