RAHUL BHUSHAN: A CRUSADER OF VERNACULAR ARCHITECTURE

Architect Rahul Bhushan is on a mission to revive vernacular architecture. In this interview, he discusses his growth trajectory, his passion for local architecture and running an architectural practice in the mountains

- Seema Sreedharan

An architect, an educator and an activist—for Rahul Bhushan, all these roles converge. His studio NORTH is not just an architectural practice, but an organisation that works towards the economic growth of indigenous communities, cultural preservation, environmental sustainability, and social development. His passion for vernacular architecture is palpable, and he is on a mission to educate the world about its importance. Sustainability is more than just a philosophy for Rahul; for him, it’s the only way forward.

We sat down with him for a candid chat, and what ensued was a passionate conversation about one’s roots, climate change, and the environment. We’ve often asked the question, “Can design change the world?” Rahul truly believes good design can change the world. Here’s an excerpt from the conversation.

Seema Sreedharan (SS): You speak about architecture and design with such passion. One would imagine that you always wanted to be an architect. How did architecture happen to you? Rahul Bhushan

(RB): I chanced upon the architecture entrance exam while trying to avoid the dreaded engineering degree that my family had been pursuing for generations followed by an obvious government job. I always wanted to start my own thing and I aced the exams, getting accepted into all the NITs. My childhood always revolved around building my own team and assigning them tasks—for things like cleaning up an area in the forest to build a shivling, or starting a club in college that was a community of creative people who helped each other through their fields. More than specifically architecture, I always wanted to do righteous deeds inspired by our rich mythology. I would say looking back, I think all the dots were perfectly aligned to what I am doing now, as if I found my ikigai and followed it with a pure, undoubting faith and let the universe unfold its magic and its plan for me.