Ar. Malaksingh Gill

Some Frequently Asked Questions about our practice


Will a structure built with natural materials like lime, mud, stone be as strong as a concrete structure? Is it safe?




It is a common belief that structures made in mud will be weaker than a conventional brick and cement mortar structure / R.C.C. structure. The answer to this question lies within all the old structures that we see in our cities and villages - all made in times when no cement was available and all still standing the test of time with little or no degradation to speak of. On the contrary, ask a structural engineer how long does a standard R.C.C. building last. You will be surprised to know that while the text book life of an R.C.C structure is 60-80 years, while practically about 50-60 years. And we can still find structures - right from forts and wadas to humble rural dwellings - made of mud, stone and/or lime which have crossed the age of 200-300 years!

Besides, we combine the findings of our research in the locality of the site with tideous structural calculations before constructing - be it for load bearing walls, wooden members or filler slabs.

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(Image: The Padmanabapuram palace, Kerala - A mud and timber structure standing tall for 415 years!)



What about costs? Aren't such structures usually luxuriously exotic?



It is believed widely that alternative construction practices are a luxury that can only be afforded by the rich. However, Ar. Malaksingh Gill believes that ecology and economy are not two separate things, but two sides of the same coin. While the total cost of a project depends entirely upon the users' preferences of the finishing material, we as architects encourage a cost effective, high utility construction. We believe in getting back these alternative materials and technologies in the domain of not just the common man, but also the standard poor (in terms of money, but rich in terms of natural resources) Indian villager. And the impact of a project is much wider than the structure itself; it becomes a template for the locals to replicate and benefit from. Thus, we can proudly say that all the projects that we have made so far have been completed within the standard rate of a cement concrete house built in the same area.

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(Image: Traditionally, a mud house in a village like this tribal pada is constructed with zero budget - the materials and the labour coming from the community itself)



And what about maintenance? Don't mud houses require tireless efforts to maintain?



This is another common question that we often encounter. However, the answer cannot be a simple 'yes' or a 'no'. To begin with, we believe that maintenance is an essential part of architecture and defines the relationship of a user with the house. This can be compared to a traditional Indian meal and instant food. While we know that the latter is hassle free, would we then keep indulging in instant foods not thinking about our health?

But having said that, the miantenance aspect depends entirely on the design brief, which reflects the lifestyle preferences of a user.

Let us take the example of flooring. While we understand that the traditional and most sustainable flooring is of cow dung, we only recommend it for say, a farmer living on his field / in a village who owns cattle. However, the lifestyle of an urban client being completely different, we suggest other natural alternatives for flooring such as terra cotta tiles.

Similarly, for mud walls, wood finishing etc, we suggest a few natural additives that make the maintenance of a house hassle free.

(Image: Terra cotta floor finish)



Using wooden members entails felling of trees. How can that be considered eco-friendly?



Often people are of the opinion that wood is one of the most eco-damaging building material. The fact that using wood is connected directly to felling of trees makes one perceive so. In reality, it is not so simple.

Firstly, we must understand that any act of building, and therfore using any building material as an impact on the environment. Our quest is to reduce this footprint as much as possible while providing healthy shelters.

Having said that, we must stress on the fact that wood is far from being the most harmful building material. It is a renewable resource. While trees do take long to grow fully, good management ensures that they do not deplete completely, like the raw materials used to make most of our modern day building materials.

Secondly, the embodied energy of wood is way lesser as compared to any of these other materials. Simply put, it makes much less energy to produce, process, transport, install, dismantle, reuse, recycle and decompose wood than cement, steel etc.

Moreover, we are against monoculture like that of teakwood for construction. Just like we believe in using local materials, we also believe in working with the locally available (and therefore locally used) timbers. In Maharashtra, they generally are Ain, Neem, Babhul, etc. Thus, by using various different types of timbers for different functions we reduce the damage onto the environment.

(Image - Different types of wood used in the roof frame, the flooring, posts and railings)



What is the role of the architect in building with local materials and technologies?



While we have already said how it is of utmost importance to learn from the locals and apply their indigenous knowledge into a structure, the architect plays a pivotal role in this adaptation. We must understand that the contexts of a traditional dwelling and a new intervention vary completely.

Therefore, it is necessary to analyse the minutest detail before integrating it in the new structure. Most of the times, the traditional knowledge is passed on through word of mouth and through practice. Therefore, we see it as a product but not as the string of processes that lead to the evolution of the product.

Questioning and analysing these products therefore gives us the root of the solution that can be applied.

With regards to labour, we have said that we work with the local masons, carpenters and craftsmen.

Many times, they themselves are not well connected with their own traditional knowledge and need to be retrained. Also, what they possess in terms of skill, they lack in terms of management and professionalism. The drawings need to be explained to the workers in their language and executed accordingly. It is here that the architect needs to fit in and act as the hub of the wheel - supporting all the spokes and helping to move the project towards completion.



Malaksingh Gill | Architect



04-Ground Floor, Mahim House Building, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Marg, New Moghul lane, Mahim (W), Mumbai - 400016 | Tel: 9820442390 | architectmalaksingh@gmail.com