Studio for Earthen Architecture

Ar. Krithika Venkatesh founded Studio for Earthen Architecture, a Chennai-based practice that designs eco-friendly residential homes built from earth and lime instead of cement and concrete. A graduate of Mohamed Sathak A.J. Academy of Architecture, she was inspired early by Laurie Baker's sustainable work in Kerala. The studio builds mud homes using rammed earth, adobe and laterite blocks, lime, cob, handmade tiles and reclaimed wood — materials that keep interiors naturally cooler and free of toxins. Her process is site-specific: she studies soil, vegetation and water table and runs geotechnical tests. Working with about 55 artisans, she directs most project cost to fair artisan wages, with completed homes across Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.