The studio’s design ethos is deeply intertwined with the existing environment. A generous outer courtyard serves as a vital transitional zone, promoting natural ventilation and establishing an immersive connection with the surrounding forest and mature trees.
Project Name: SOIL AND SOUL STUDIO
Studio Name: Iki Builds
Location : Chevella , Hyderabad, India
Area : 1,400 SFT
Completion Year : 2024
Project Status : Built
Photography Credits : Vivek Edara
This open-air space extends the living area outdoors, blurring the boundaries between the built and natural. Internally, a thoughtfully integrated mezzanine level optimizes vertical space, providing a private sleeping area while maintaining an airy feel in the main living zone. A discreet basement offers storage and utility space, contributing to the uncluttered aesthetic. Strategically placed large openings frame captivating views, ensuring a constant dialogue with the natural world. The presence of a 30-year-old neem tree in the front yard further anchors the structure within its context.
Pioneering Construction Techniques: A Symphony of Earth and Innovation
This project distinguishes itself through its resourceful and environmentally conscious construction methodologies, each carefully chosen to minimize its carbon footprint and maximize thermal comfort:
* Load Bearing Structure without Concrete Foundation and RCC Framed Structure: The studio is designed as a load-bearing structure, eliminating the need for a conventional concrete foundation and RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) framed structure. This approach significantly reduces the embodied energy of the building and minimizes the use of cement and steel.
* Debris Wall Technique: Breathing New Life into Waste: The studio’s walls are a testament to circularity, constructed using an innovative “debris wall” technique. Salvaged demolition debris from nearby structures being replaced by concrete forms the primary aggregate. This reclaimed material is meticulously combined with site-excavated soil (from the basement), a minimal amount of cement (less than 6%), and lime as a stabilizer. This carefully calibrated mixture, refined through multiple iterations, not only repurposes construction waste but also delivers exceptional thermal performance, naturally maintaining an internal temperature at least 5°C cooler than the exterior. The resulting thick, earthy walls offer inherent insulation and a unique textural richness.
* The Madras Roof Technique: A Time-Honored Approach to Thermal Comfort: The roof over the main living space employs the traditional Madras roof technique, a sustainable flat roofing method prevalent in South India. Locally sourced wooden battens form the supporting framework, upon which small bricks (“achikal”) are laid diagonally and bound together by a lime mortar. To enhance the mortar’s strength and longevity, traditional admixtures such as jaggery, gugal (Indian bdellium), and karrakai (Terminalia chebula) are incorporated. Often, a layer of limecrete – a mixture of lime and broken bricks – is added above the brickwork to further enhance insulation and waterproofing. Typically finished with terracotta tiles for weather protection, this cement and steel-free roof offers superior thermal comfort, natural breathability, and a distinct traditional aesthetic well-suited to the regional climate.
* MMT Shells: Minimal Material, Maximum Structural Integrity: For specific roof sections, the innovative MMT (Minimal Material Technology) shells, developed by Ar. Vinu Daniel, offer a contemporary approach to sustainable roofing. These thin-shell structures minimize the use of steel and cement without compromising structural integrity. Cast using wire mesh and minimal steel reinforcement, the shells feature a mud binder base coat that seamlessly integrates their aesthetic with the earthy tones of the walls, creating a cohesive visual language.
* Lime Flooring: A Natural and Sustainable Foundation: The flooring throughout the studio reinforces the commitment to natural materials. Lime flooring, pigmented with surkhi (pulverized brick) for a warm hue and stabilized with lime, provides a breathable and aesthetically pleasing surface that complements the overall material palette. Lime, a natural binder, contributes to a healthy indoor environment and significantly reduces the embodied energy compared to conventional cement flooring.
* Casuarina Pole Roofing for the Courtyard: Reimagining Scaffolding as Architectural Element: Demonstrating resourceful design and a commitment to minimizing waste, the open courtyard dining area is sheltered by casuarina poles. These slender poles, initially used for scaffolding during the construction process, have been thoughtfully repurposed as the primary roofing structure for the courtyard. This ingenious reuse minimizes waste and creates a light, permeable roof that allows diffused eastern sunlight to filter through, establishing a seamless visual and material connection with the surrounding earth adobe walls and the natural landscape.
