MADE IN INDIA

Nine forward-thinking studios on a mission to transform their country

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India's rapid growth since its independence, both in population size and rate of urbanisation, has created a series of hurdles for its built environment professionals. Tackling this vast country's architectural landscape goes hand in hand with addressing issues caused by its fast-paced development - social inequalities, tensions between tradition and modernity, contrasts between urban and rural, and India's role in the global climate crisis all playing their part. Yet a new breed of architecture professionals come armed with passion, ideas and tools designed to foster and bolster India's creative growth. From building with natural materials to supporting traditional crafts, and from site-specific approaches to imaginative, collaborative social action, thinking outside the box is welcome; and for the nine young studios profiled here, it's 'challenge accepted'.

01 MITTI ECO CONSTRUCTIONS
Tamil Nadu

‘We aim at progressive architecture delivered in a sustainable manner,’ say the founders of young Tamil Nadu-based studio Mitti Eco Constructions. ‘We seek contextual ideas to kickstart our projects, allowing these ideas to shape the process and fuel our enthusiasm. This excitement drives us from concept to final handover.’ Set up by Fawaz Thengilan and Vishnu Kuruvanachery, the practice may be only four years old, but it already has a rich portfolio and high aspirations, blending creativity and technical expertise, and working with a diverse mix of collaborators, from engineers to skilled workers.