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If you think sustainable architecture is mostly about energy ratings and lower carbon, this conversation will stretch your frame. We sit down with Indian architect Chitra Vishwanath, founder of Bangalore-based Biome Environmental Solutions, whose work treats buildings as ecosystems that belong to their climate, their soil, and their communities. Her approach is direct, grounded, and refreshingly practical: start with what you have, especially the resources already on site, and design so the building strengthens the systems around it.
We talk through Biome’s origin story in a rapidly changing India, then get into the hands-on realities of ecological architecture in dense urban conditions. Chitra shares how excavated earth can become compressed stabilised earth blocks, why testing soil composition matters, and what durability looks like when you detail for water properly. We also dig into craftsmanship and employment, and why “green building” has to include people, skills, and dignified work, not just materials.
Water becomes the turning point: rainwater harvesting, groundwater recharge, and wastewater reuse at both building and city scale. It’s a powerful reminder that urban sustainability can be regenerative, reducing flooding while bringing wells and aquifers back to life. We finish with a clear challenge for the next 20 years: practise architecture as teamwork, stay open, and don’t be afraid of risk when the goal is a healthier future.
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