Return of vernacular design in urban India marks a new era of Independence

Vardha Aggarwal & Chirag Gupta

India’s cities are in constant motion, with glass facades, flyovers, and contemporary apartment towers punctuating neighborhoods. Amid this surge toward the modern countercurrent is emerging: the return to vernacular design.

This movement redefines progress, seeking freedom from homogenised global templates by reclaiming design languages rooted in place, climate, and culture.

This “new independence” is where architects and homeowners weave local traditions into the fabric of modern living. It is the rediscovery of India’s architectural DNA that speaks to memory and the demands of 21st-century urban life.

Let’s explore the return of vernacular design in urban India.

Traditionally, vernacular architecture referred to structures designed by and for local communities, using region-specific materials and cultural practices. It was inherently climate-responsive, economically efficient, and deeply tied to social life.

In urban India today, “vernacular” is being reinterpreted as a philosophy guiding contemporary construction. Localised material choices, stone, brick, bamboo, lime plaster, adapted for modern building codes. Cultural symbolism, regional motifs, and ritual spaces that anchor urban homes in identity are being embraced in designs.

Courtyards, Corridors

Modern vernacular design in urban India is about translating principles. One of the main aspects is orientation & layout, which aligns buildings to capture breezes and avoid harsh sun exposure. Further, shading devices like deep overhangs, verandas, pergolas, and vegetation to mediate heat.

Ventilation strategies like courtyards, cross-ventilation corridors, and high clerestory openings are integrated into urban buildings to lend a local touch.

We also try to incorporate regional motifs and symbolic geometries that reflect Indian identity. We design spaces for traditional activities, pooja alcoves, central chowks, or shaded otlas, without sacrificing contemporary layouts

The vernacular revival celebrates materials as storytellers in the designs of Chirag and Vardha. Sandstone, laterite, and basalt offer structural integrity and cooling properties. In urban homes, they manifest as accent walls, flooring, or carved facade panels.

Handmade Bricks

Furher, handmade bricks provide texture and warmth, often left exposed to age gracefully. Once rural symbols, now finding new life in urban furniture, cladding, and partition screens. Each material carries the memory of a place, embedding the home in a tangible geography.

With the modern essence, vernacular designs are seeking a sustainable and contemporary touch. For example, solar pergolas atop traditional flat roofs and rainwater harvesting tanks embedded in courtyards redefine the overall idea.

Smart lighting and automation are concealed within carved wooden panels or stone niches. Additionally, 3D-printed jaalis replicate historical patterns but with precision and durability.

In India’s architectural journey, the return to vernacular design is a declaration of independence from imposed, one-size-fits-all templates. These homes and spaces tell us that independence is the ability to live and dream in ways that are deeply, unmistakably our own.

Ar. Vardha Aggarwal and Ar. Chirag Gupta, Principal Architects at Sculpt Design Studio