Comparing Traditional vs. Sustainable Building Design

By Auroma Architecture | Principal Architect: Trupti Doshi

Did you know that buildings account for nearly 22% of India’s total CO₂ emissions? The stark difference between a sustainable building vs traditional building is more than just about design — it’s about our planet’s future. At Auroma Architecture, led by the visionary Architect Trupti Doshi, based out of Pondicherry, India, we believe that every building is either part of the problem or the solution. Let’s explore the core differences and why the sustainable choice is no longer optional — it’s essential.

The Philosophy Behind Building Design

To Architect Trupti Doshi, buildings are more than shelters — they are living beings. Her approach fuses ancient wisdom with modern science, ensuring that homes become nurturing mothers, schools become inspiring teachers, and workplaces become dynamic entrepreneurs. Every space is a soul-soaked creation that breathes, adapts, and transforms lives.

What Defines Traditional and Sustainable Building?

The sustainable building vs traditional building comparison begins with intent:

• Traditional buildings typically rely on concrete, steel, and fired bricks — high-carbon materials that ignore local climate and culture. Design is standardised, often inefficient.

  
  

• Sustainable buildings, as envisioned by Architect Trupti Doshi, use locally sourced earth, lime, reclaimed timber, and natural finishes. They are deeply climate-responsive and promote wellbeing.

  
  

Lifecycle Cost: Investing in Longevity

Traditional construction may appear cheaper at the outset, but often results in high operational and repair costs. The lifecycle cost of sustainable buildings, however, is far lower. Projects like the Sharanam Centre, built from unfired earth and lime, operate without AC, reducing long-term energy bills significantly. Sustainable design is not just about saving nature — it’s about saving your money over decades.

Thermal Comfort Without Compromise

Most traditional buildings in India rely on air conditioners to fight heat trapped by glass façades. In contrast, Trupti’s designs optimise thermal comfort through natural materials, correct orientation, deep verandahs, and courtyards. Buildings like the Auroma French Villaments remain cool even in peak summer without mechanical cooling, offering comfort that’s free from fossil fuels.

Material Sourcing: Ethical and Local

Where do your materials come from? In conventional construction, material sourcing spans continents — cement, steel, tiles, paints — all require massive energy and long transport. At Auroma Architecture, we use materials within a 50km radius when possible. Unfired earth, fly ash bricks, lime, and reclaimed wood are not only low-carbon but also elevate the sensory and cultural experience of space.

Energy Usage: Design Before Devices

Instead of designing buildings that require machines to function, Trupti asks — Why not let the building do the work? In traditional construction, high energy usage is built into the design. But with climate-smart orientation, daylighting, passive ventilation, and solar strategies, our buildings reduce energy needs by up to 70%.

Long-Term Maintenance: Ageing Gracefully

Buildings should grow wiser, not wearier. Traditional concrete structures often require repainting, waterproofing, or retrofitting every few years. In sustainable design, long-term maintenance is built in. Lime plasters, natural finishes, and breathable materials grow more beautiful with age, just like heritage structures that have lasted centuries.

Sharanam: A Living Testament

Our landmark project, Sharanam Rural Development Centre, built using earth from its site, is a beacon of what’s possible. Recognised by the United Nations, it trained over 450 unskilled villagers, became a hub of community transformation, and operates entirely without air conditioning. Vaulted roofs amplify sound without microphones; every brick was laid with purpose and soul. It is not just a building — it is a movement.

Why Clients Choose Auroma Architecture

When you work with Architect Trupti Doshi, you’re not just hiring an architect — you’re engaging a visionary. Whether it’s a school where children learn angles through door hinges, or a home that harvests its own water and grows its own food, our projects go beyond form. They are ecosystems that support life. Choosing Auroma means choosing values, vitality, and visionary thinking.

Act Before You Miss Out

Every year, more families, institutions, and entrepreneurs reach out to us with one regret: “We wish we had known about you earlier.” Don’t let that be you. If you are building a space that matters, it deserves the depth of care and craft that only Auroma Architecture can offer.

To book a consultation with Architect Trupti Doshi, please fill out this form. Our team will schedule your appointment and guide you forward.

Summarising: A Future Built on Wisdom

The choice between a sustainable building vs traditional building is ultimately a choice between short-term convenience and long-term wisdom. With proven advantages in lifecycle cost, thermal comfort, material sourcing, energy usage, and long-term maintenance, the sustainable path is no longer the alternative — it is the intelligent default.

At Auroma Architecture, we invite you to build not just with hands, but with heart. Together, let’s shape a beautiful future — because of you.