When Aurangabad-based architect duo Pooja and Piyush Kapadia set up their design studio in 2003, they wanted to stick to sustainable architecture, focusing on efficient construction methods with steel.

Benefits of steel construction

“Steel is almost endlessly recyclable, meaning nothing goes to waste. It is fire-resistant, earthquake-resistant, and has a lesser environmental impact when compared to conventional construction materials,” says Piyush.

Another advantage of steel is that India is the third-largest producer of it, allowing for quick assembly that reduces construction time.

Steel structures offer flexibility, large spans, precision in workmanship, and require minimal labour on site.

For instance, they erected the basic steel structure of their client Ashok Amritkar’s house in Aurangabad in just eight days. The entire constriction of the 2700 sq ft home was done in six months!

“Steel is also highly durable,” Piyush says. Pooja and Piyush, both graduates from the Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Aurangabad, also believe in reducing the use of natural resources.

Steel vs RCC construction

Conventional structures rely on large amounts of cement, aggregates, sand, water, with only a small amount of steel.

“In RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) buildings, the  water-to-cement ratio changes with each batch mixed, leading to inconsistencies in strength,” explains Piyush. Fluctuating sand prices can also increase costs significantly.

The high water requirements often result in drilling multiple bore wells on-site, depleting the existing water table. “Using steel as a structural framework reduces water usage by over 40 percent,” he adds.

Architect Rimpesh Sharma notes that steel structures require highly skilled labour and allow for minimal margin for error, which can deter developers.

Challenges in steel construction

“Even a millimetre of imprecision can create gaps in the structure, leading to water seepages, stability issues, and other concerns,” he says.

Additionally, securing bank loans may also be a challenge, as steel buildings require liquidity from the outset, and banks often struggle to assess the construction’s value.

Despite these challenges, steel has the potential to emerge as a credible eco-friendly alternative and Pooja and Piyush are attempting to prove just that.