Originally reported and written in January 2023, this story has been republished as part of our archival content.

Bengaluru architect Sharanya Iyer’s enterprise is aptly named ‘Studio Verge’, for her work “is on the verge of the old and new, of urban settings and the natural environment,” she says. 

The 41-year-old architect focuses on making ‘earth buildings’ — those made of earth as a material of construction, and using sustainable earth-friendly techniques.

She gives these eco-friendly buildings a contemporary feel, with a minimalist aesthetic and facilities that ensure comfort and convenience. Studio Verge, founded in 2013, has been involved in over 50 projects over the past decade in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Telangana. 

“Around 25% of these projects have been earth buildings. But these days I am being more selective, and 75% of my projects are based on sustainable construction techniques,” Sharanya says. 

“Interestingly, nowadays five out of seven inquiries I get from individuals are for earth homes. That is so exciting! However, in the case of office buildings, this is not the case. There is a mindset that they should have a certain look with glass facades. Apart from independent houses and apartments, I have done a few schools and learning centres.”

Often, the image associated with that of mud homes is a dark, cramped home where walls can be washed away in heavy rain. There are anxieties and misconceptions, says Sharanya. But earth homes need not have a traditional look. In fact, Sharanya’s design aesthetic is minimalist and each project aims to achieve a balance between functional needs, sustainability, durability and ease of maintenance, she explains. 

Her journey with eco-friendly construction began when she was a student at Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University (JNAFAU), Hyderabad. 

“In 2003, a family friend asked me to design and construct a meeting space for a self-help group. The site was in Zahirabad, Telangana. I enthusiastically did my research and found out that laterite stone was the locally available material. So, that’s what I primarily used in construction. That experience taught me that sustainable solutions need to be linked to local materials, knowledge and skills to have a wider impact,” she says. 

Her next exposure to earth construction was a month-long mud construction workshop at Puducherry offered by the Earth Institute in Auroville. Many architects begin their journey in earth construction with this workshop, she says. She also went to COSTFORD in Kerala to learn the Laurie Baker style of alternate........

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