ID Honours 2025 commemorated the best of contemporary Indian architecture and design. Our advisory panel, comprising stalwarts like Nozer Wadia, Sanjay Puri, Khushnu Hoof, Tony Joseph and Martand Khosla, shed light on 52 trailblazing architecture and design studios. These firms are represented by leading, imaginative designers; architects whose work over the last few years exemplifies a dedication to form, built structures, sustainable design, and material innovation.
Here are the five winners from the Sustainable Design category.
Petchimuthu Kennedy, Earthscape Studio
Two projects that absolutely stunned us by Earthscape Studio were Into the Wild and The Wendy House. Into the Wild is an expansive, self-sustaining structure that folds and flows in a fluid form. The studio calls this technique “fold architecture”, and this residence is a paragon of such adaptable design. With base materials that comprise earthen mud popular amongst artisans and locally abundant lime that has a long tradition in Indian architecture, the home’s interiors are automatically cool in temperature, soothing to the eyes, and intrinsically connected to the outside environment. The farmhouse is a modern one; its rooms and furniture (such as the bed, bar counter, pantry, seating pieces) are designed circularly to fit in with its skeletal framework, all the while creating an inviting oasis for all those who come in.
The Wendy House is similarly designed; 8 acres of dense forest land in Palakkad has been given justice through this residence. Earthscape Studio used materials such as Sithu kal – bricks layered in a traditional Madras style, broken tiles from factories, reused rods for structural frames, reused mudga tiles, and mud that’s poured into the walls. Both of these projects reflect Architect Petchimuthu Kennedy’s commitment to practising earthen architecture, and Earthscape Studio’s attempt to connect the bridge between nature and humans. “We believe that each person or living element has different perspectives on any sight, so a building has to respond according to their different perspectives and emotions. Architecture has to be a connecting bridge,” notes the firm.
Yogalakshmi and Venkatesh, Vy Architecture Studio
In a land where migratory birds make temporary homes, 2970 sq ft of Vedanthagal (Tamil Nadu) was granted to Vy Architecture Studio to create a home for a family that wanted the ideal urban getaway. “Vaazh” is the result; a spacious residence that respects its fragile surrounding environment, blending in with the vulnerable vegetation and aquatic life around. Principal architects Yogalakshmi and Venkatesh pivoted the home around a central courtyard, a trait that is common to traditional Tamil homes. The communal spaces, or thinnai as the firm calls them, comprise this courtyard and a living room, and the private spaces of bedrooms, kitchen and bathrooms are found tucked away in the home’s interiors.
A wall curves through the volume of the courtyard and shelters its interiors from the harsh sun. What sets this home apart is how this curve connects the ground and the roof, creating a three-dimensional recreational area. The courtyard invites not just the family, but also neighbouring wildlife like birds, insects, dogs, and cats, turning the home into a sanctuary for all. Here, the home celebrates the climate’s veracities—bare feet on cool, damp soil, raindrops from the open roof, stargazing at a clear blue sky—breathing life into the narrative.
Chennai-based Vy Architecture Studioaims to innovate eco-parametric architecture with a primary focus on sustainability. Their architectural language pays homage to the earth, and works at making liveable spaces with a minimum carbon footprint. Through their work, they aim for architectural excellence by combining eco-friendly practices with parametric design methodologies.
Sriram Ganapathi and Siddharth Money, KSM Architecture
A wide area of 81805.72 sq ft, and the aim to build a sustainable work factory. This is what KSM Architecture was offered, based on which they created Metallic Bellows, an impressive factory office in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu, that is equal parts eco-friendly and functional. Since the office exists in an industrial zone, and is right opposite the factory, principal architects Sriram Ganapathi and Siddharth Money ensured to make it as environmentally-friendly as possible. This would ensure better health for the workers, and connect the workplace to its serene surroundings.
On listening to the project’s backstory, it’s no wonder that it turned out this way. Its architecture was inspired four main ideologies. First was BV Doshi’s interrogation of whether there is an opportunity to approach a design from a mono-material perspective. Second, the abundant natural vegetation that grew unabashedly in the area, along with the easily accessible, locally available clay brick kilns. The fourth inspiration was KSM Architecture’s aim to minimise carbon emissions in construction processes.
And so brick was chosen as the mono-material. A single-story brick-covered structure, this building has glazed office rooms adjacent to lush green gardens, with wide brick paved walkways connecting the various spaces. The traditional system of Jack arch (a tried and tested, mortar-less shallow arch system) with downstand beams and peripheral beams is used to make brick feel lighter, seeming to float over a space as brick has the impression of being heavy and solid. Shaded glass surfaces, lightweight filling material, and glorious glare-free light that waters in through its wide windows create a natural cooling system, otherwise difficult to replicate in the tropical region. Brick, when compared to cement in concrete, can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 70%, resulting in an overall CO2 reduction of around 50 tons. This architectural marvel is a sustainable success story.
Spearheaded by Sriram Ganapathi and Siddharth Money, KSM Architecture has evolved from a single project practice to more than a hundred successfully completed projects in the last thirty-three years. The rationale of the firm has always been simplicity in design approach. Functional requirements remain the main focus, with due regard to climatic parameters, especially indoor climate, vegetation, natural light and ventilation.
Snehal Suthar and Bhadri Suthar, tHE gRID Architects
Through these two projects, tHE gRID Architects turns a mundane workspace and a learning centre into impressive, fluid, and biophilic architectural marvels. “Pravaah,” a Sanskrit word that means flow or fluidity, is a workspace located in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. However, on first sight, it appears nothing like an office, and stands like a graceful collection of swirling white hills that camouflage with the austere environment around. The design concept for Pravaah was meticulously developed in response to its hot and arid Western climate context and the site facing the southwest. One of the project’s pivotal aspects was the deliberate choice to use a single construction material called ferrocement, crafted by skilled artisans. This decision significantly reduced carbon emissions while also empowering the local workforce. As a result, the design prioritises biophilic elements, ample ventilation and natural light, people’s mental and physical well-being, all the while having a strong foundation in architectural and aesthetic integrity.
“Tarang,” which translates to “waves” in Sanskrit, is a centre for alternative learning in Gandhinagar constructed by artisans of the “So Hath-100 Hands” Foundation for Building Artisans. Created to house a wide variety of versatile artistic activities within, Tarang was completed in 2023. The project was intended to draw inspiration from nature and emulate its organic shapes, utilising materials with low-embodied energy to minimize the carbon footprint of buildings. Skilled artisans were employed to promote sustainable building practices. Deep, earthen, arched interiors instantly feel intimate and familiar, which is what this curved form succeeds in doing due to its biophilic design approach.
Endlessly innovative and committed to native craftsmanship, tHE gRID Architects is an Ahmedabad-based design studio established by Bhadri Suthar with her spouse and partner Snehal Suthar. Recognised as one of India’s leading architectural practices, the studio has gained global acknowledgement for its innovative and sustainable approach, with work spanning architecture, interiors, landscapes, and furniture design. With over 100 national and international awards, their designs emphasise simplicity, contextual relevance, and clarity, drawing from Indian roots and vernacular traditions while integrating modern sensibilities.
Reny Lijo and Lijo Jos, LIJO.RENY.architects
The House Veiled In Brick is a fantastically dramatic name for an architectural project that is equally stunning. Its inception came from wanting a careful balance of seemingly opposing needs—privacy and openness, shade from the sun and connection to the outdoors. But it is in contrasts and challenges that LIJO.RENY.architects excels. The studio designed a house that exemplifies their commitment to material authenticity through its exposed brickwork and raw concrete. A distinctive brick veil defines this residence, enveloping a diverse array of spaces, built and unbuilt, private and public, shaded and open to the sky. This veil ensures privacy and tranquillity while still embracing openness and natural light.
With primary materials being exposed brick and raw concrete, The House Veiled in Brick’s showstopper is its central courtyard. Opened up to the sky, it leads indoors to where full-length glass windows allow fresh light to filter in. Inside, the living room also benefits from the east façade’s brick veil, extending from the sit-out and entry court along the entire eastern side of the house. The family space folds outwards into a dining room, with a passage providing access to two bedrooms and a kitchen. At the end of the passage, a small court, open to the first floor, enhances spatial dynamics and facilitates cross ventilation, ensuring the interior remains cool and airy. This design element not only integrates with the natural environment but also promotes a biophilic connection, enhancing the occupants’ well-being.
Established in 2005, LIJO.RENY.architects is an internationally renowned, award-winning design studio founded by Reny Lijo and Lijo Jos, in Thrissur, Kerala. LIJO.RENY.architects embraces an open-ended approach to design philosophy. Instead of binding themselves with a specific style or philosophy, they recognise the unique personality of each project, shaped by client needs, site requirements, and social context. This allows them to infuse spaces with rich narratives, creating environments that resonate deeply with their users and communities.
