Putting Earth On The Map

Three young architects from India - Shruthi Ramakrishna, Agnimitra Bachi, and Ajinkya Unhale – and one urban systems engineer from France, Jeremie Gaudin, give expression to their passion for working with natural materials through the Bangalore based Made In Earth Collective

What led to the formation of Made In Earth Collective?

SR: All four of us have followed different paths during our studies, work and volunteer experiences but something became very clear when we met and then started working together – now it’s only Sustainable Architecture for us. We believe that a sustainable approach to creating buildings is no more an option; it is a necessity and a joy to make things as meaningful and natural as possible, in their context. Instead of seeing the use of local and natural materials as a limitation to architecture, we look at it as an infinite realm of possibilities.

We officially started the studio in Bangalore in 2015 but the idea of Made In Earth had been brewing in us for quite some time. Much of our work and the way it has evolved has been shaped by this city and its people. We knew that we wanted our work to be rooted in an urban context, and we love the challenges of bringing natural materials closer to people, rendering our traditional techniques to newer aspirations and lifestyles. What drives us is to make these techniques both desirable and competitive, culturally and economically for our clients and contractors alike. We like to see our design approach as a dialogue with natural materials like clay, lime, wood, straw and stone. With a taste for experimentation and innovation, our practice is focused on creating contemporary expressions that are both elemental and eco-friendly.

So, what brought you all together?