The Earthy Vagabond

With creativity and innovation, architect Vinu Daniel is leading the way towards aesthetic and sustainable building practices

- VARUNI MOHAN

Vinu Daniel, the visionary architect and founder of Wallmakers, has come a long way in his journey towards sustainable architecture. His work across his award-winning career has reshaped the way we think about buildings and their relationship with nature. Brought up in Abu Dhabi, where the natural environment influenced Vinu's perspective on this from early on. He tells us, "My father had a dislike for city life, so we moved to a home on the outskirts, close to the desert. I would walk in that desert heat to catch my bus to school and then go into the ultraurban city to study. The desert and the city were bereft of trees and when I went for family visits to Kerala, the lush green landscape would leave me absolutely fascinated. Because of this, I look at trees with a sense of wonder and awe even now." This deep and genuine respect for nature is at the heart of Vinu's work. Pursuing architecture was not an intentional decision, but more the outcome of choosing a field that seemed "artistic".