A home that stays more than 10 degrees cooler than Delhi’s scorching summer heat, without an air conditioner — sounds almost unbelievable.

That’s exactly why Anita and Vijay’s story caught people’s attention.

When The Better India shared a glimpse into their thoughtfully designed home, viewers weren’t just fascinated by the cooler temperatures. They were drawn to a larger idea: that everyday homes can be built to work with nature instead of constantly battling it.

Within days, the story travelled far beyond social media feeds. Messages poured in, conversations began, and a decades-old experiment in sustainable living suddenly found a much larger audience.

A home built for Delhi’s climate

Nearly four decades ago, while Delhi was steadily filling up with concrete structures, Vijay’s father designed a home around the city’s climate. Instead of relying on energy-intensive cooling systems, the house used simple yet effective principles: a central courtyard open to the sky, cross ventilation, insulated ceilings, air ducts, and cool Kota stone flooring.

The result is a home that remains significantly cooler than the outside temperature,........

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